cannot stop thinking about how good the fabrication of consent in squid game wasโฆ like yeah, the participants consent! over and over, from agreeing to the slapping game to ringing up the number of their own accord to meeting at the location to signing a separate sheet once more upon arrivalโฆ they can even disband the game if the majority decrees it. but this is all performative. because of course theyโll agree - of course theyโll come back.
the second episode is even all about addressing this โconsentโ, and that potential audience superiority: โso why donโt they just leave???? if they can??? why did they even do all this to start with?? itโs so extreme, to do all that just for money, i would neverโ
because, the show says, look at what theyโre returning to. look at the life thatโs offered as their alternative. debt up to their ears, money-brokers beating them up, poverty at its worst. do you see? do you see how yeah, joining that game is optional, but itโs optional in the sense of choosing to be stabbed or shot: theres consent, but not actual desire. that theres agreement, but under exploitation. thereโs a reason only poor people are chosen to compete and itโs so obvious but i fucking love how the show handles it and addresses any audience superiority anyway
