Key points
- Artist Co shares plunge 21pc after show’s release
- Final season praised by critics, divides general audience
- Viewers criticise ending for straying from original message
- Squid Game remains Netflix’s most-watched show globally
ISLAMABAD: Shares in South Korean companies linked to Netflix’s blockbuster series Squid Game slumped on Monday following the release of the show’s final season, which received a lukewarm response from audiences despite topping global streaming charts.
Artist Co., the entertainment agency in which lead actor Lee Jung-jae holds the largest stake, saw its shares fall by as much as 21 per cent. Artist Studio Inc., a subsidiary of Artist Co., dropped 24 per cent, while Dexter Studios Co.—a South Korean visual effects company and production partner on Squid Game—fell by 8.5 per cent, according to Bloomberg.
“A lot of the criticism revolves around the show’s conclusion — some viewers felt it didn’t align with their interpretation of the series’ overall message,” said Kim Hern-sik, a pop culture critic based in Seoul. “It’s extremely difficult to surpass the success of Season 1 — it was a worldwide phenomenon.”
Approval ratings
The third season of Netflix’s anti-capitalist dystopian drama premiered on 27 June and topped Netflix’s global TV rankings across all countries, according to FlixPatrol, a site that tracks streaming service performance.
While the new season received an 83 per cent approval rating from professional critics, audience reception was more mixed, with just 51 per cent approval on Rotten Tomatoes.
First released in 2021, Squid Game quickly became a global cultural touchstone, sparking worldwide conversations with its stark social commentary and striking visual style.
It remains Netflix’s most-watched series of all time, amassing around 600 million views across its first two seasons. The Korean thriller has also secured six Emmy Awards.
