GenerationX

The best part of the season so far is the introduction of immunity idol puzzles. The next immunity idol should be adorned with thin strips of metallic garland and unlocked via "TINSEL". The worst part of the season so far is that once again the producers have designated a loser tribe (SET NIL).

This season was better than I expected, though the cop storyline plodded. My observations: 1. The Russian roulette scenes with the recruiter were highlights. 2. The Front Man as player 001 worked well. Apparently, wearing 001 in The Squid Game is the equivalent of a quarterback wearing a red jersey in practice. 3. The logic as to how to get the triangles' guns after the riot was the only smart part of an otherwise fatally flawed plan. 4. I didn't like the shoot out at the Escher staircase, because I came to really admire the visuals of the staircase. So impressive. I hated seeing it marred with bullet holes. I hope the circles get on that before S3 starts.

I didn't know anything about this show other than recognizing its name until this past weekend. A relative insisted my wife and I watch it, so we did. It certainly packs a punch. My observations: 1. I became suspicious of the old man as he wandered the fake streets in the marble game talking about how much it resembled his old neighborhood. It seemed too precise a re-creation to have been a coincidence. 2. The one laugh I had (gallows humor, of course) was why the doctor and his cohorts were executed. Because we can't have anyone damaging the integrity of the games! 3. I'll never understand the rules of the squid game itself. The most fierce playground battles we had were simpler fare, like tetherball and four square. 4. The extended epilogue was an interesting narrative choice that spent just as much (or more) time setting up a season two than it did resolving season one. 5. Finally, I agree with everyone that episode 6 stands out. The storylines of the six lead players were played out tragically and perfectly. I knew where one of the stories was going, because I am big fan of The Sting (and its opening scene).

I'm hoping that stunt performer guy is simply putting on an act. I'm not sure how his "I am a complete tool" act will benefit his game, but again, I'm holding out hope that it is just an act.

I'm as big of a puzzle fan as anyone. I have been a GAMES magazine subscriber for decades, and I once renamed a Survivor episode in a TWoP post (S4:E6): "A Night I/We Divide with Gina". That said, I appreciate social/strategic gameplay much more than challenge/puzzle gameplay. The former is far more difficult. Sam didn't have a pile of challenge wins and advantages to allow him to skate through votes.

I found myself rooting for Sam. He adapted and pivoted well, while being entertaining in interviews. He played a far more active game than Rachel, who didn't have to do anywhere near the scrambling Sam did due to her immunity wins and advantages. She certainly played well and deserved the win; I just had more appreciation for his game.

Agreed. The most useful "long-term" strategy is the reverse-engineered "strategy" someone professes at Final Tribal to have used to get to the finals. The more a finalist can plausibly claim that what actually happened was their strategy all along, the better.

Paths to Victory: Rachel - Win immunity or fire-making challenge. Sam - Someone (likely Sue, the Sultaness of Soot) beats Rachel in fire-making. Sue - Pulls the fiercely loyal, didn't even need the Hidden Immunity Idol card while Rachel and/or Sam somehow offend most of the jury. Teeny - Promises to vote for any of the jury members as the winner of S50. .

Best ep of the season! Well played.

Random thoughts on episode 11 - "120% < 600%": Kyle's vote for Teeny was purposeful foreshadowing of his jury vote The time clock for the journey challenge was ingeniously designed Filling out 90 minutes with a suspenseless Tribal is tough.

Random thoughts on episode 10 - "Gone, Gaby, Gone": Are we forming a new society or creating a community? Which is it, show? This is the most wishy-washy, flip-floppiest cast ever My favorite character this season is Genevieve's Teeth I'm right-handed, but I would've definitely held the tray with my left hand to balance the balls. My left hand is my mitt/catching hand, and my right hand is for throwing.

Sam's confessional about trying to get people to trust him while admitting they shouldn't trust him was about as funny a mini-monologue as I've seen this season.

I disagree with the spoilers above about Strawberry Shortcake. I thought I heard this voice:

We're calling it the Bat Bib at our house.

Tiyana - I know you are distraught at not making the jury. And the consequences are that in a couple of weeks, I won't recognize your name or your face. You can take solace, though, in that after a couple of months I won't recognize the name or face of anyone who made the jury or the goat who gets no votes at the final tribal. I may remember the winner or runner-up for a year or so, then they're gone, too. So, in summary, if you bump into me in 2026 and tell me you won S47, I'll just congratulate you on your win.