Wazzup Pilipinas!?
The game is far from over—and the world is watching like never before.
Netflix has crowned a new all-time launch champion, and to no one’s surprise, the honor goes to the brutal, brilliant, and culturally seismic titan: Squid Game. With the explosive debut of Season 3, the South Korean dystopian thriller has once again rewritten the rules of television history, pulling in a jaw-dropping 60.1 million views within just three days of its release. It’s a staggering feat that makes even the streaming giant’s past blockbusters look tame in comparison.
And this isn’t just about clickbait headlines or inflated hype. The 368.4 million hours watched in its opening weekend catapults Squid Game: Season 3 into the top ranks of Netflix's most-watched TV seasons of all time—claiming the #9 spot with unprecedented velocity.
A Global Phenomenon Reignites
Ever since it erupted onto the scene in 2021 like a Molotov cocktail of social satire and survival horror, Squid Game has become more than a series—it’s become a global movement. The show, masterfully helmed by creator Hwang Dong-hyuk, blends dystopian desperation with savage critiques of capitalism, inequality, and the price of human dignity. It's television as warfare—and audiences worldwide are addicted to the carnage.
Season 2 had already proven that the phenomenon wasn’t a fluke, raking in 68 million views in four days. But Season 3 managed to eclipse that figure a full day earlier, sending a clear message: the obsession with Squid Game isn’t waning. It’s mutating into something even bigger.
The Metrics of Mayhem
Netflix’s updated methodology—calculating “views” by dividing total hours watched by the show's runtime—means that those 60.1 million views likely represent fans who devoured the entire season in one sitting. It’s not just an indicator of popularity, but of compulsion. Viewers didn’t just want more Squid Game. They needed it—urgently, hungrily, perhaps even maniacally.
And this urgency translated across borders and time zones. While Netflix hasn’t released region-specific stats, Southeast Asia, including the Philippines, is believed to be a crucial engine behind the show’s meteoric rise. Hwang Dong-hyuk himself has praised the fervent support of Asian fans, recognizing their role in propelling the series into the stratosphere.
More Than Just Numbers: A Cultural Touchstone
The real power of Squid Game isn’t just in its viewership—it’s in its impact. Few shows have so thoroughly dominated social media, inspired fashion lines, prompted philosophical debates, and been referenced in political discourse. Its masked villains, haunting playgrounds, and agonizing dilemmas have become universal shorthand for the cruelty of modern life.
It’s not just a Korean drama. It’s the drama of a generation.
The Future of the Franchise
So, where do we go from here?
While Netflix has yet to confirm a Season 4, fans are already clamoring for another round of psychological warfare. Series creator Hwang Dong-hyuk has hinted at his willingness to return, stating that if Netflix calls again, he’ll “absolutely” lead the next chapter. No US remake has been greenlit either—but with numbers like these, the question isn’t if, but when.
And if history is any indication, Squid Game doesn’t do silence. It makes noise—and lots of it.
Game On, World
With its brutal aesthetic, soul-crushing suspense, and relentless emotional stakes, Squid Game: Season 3 has proven itself not just a show, but a juggernaut. One that commands screens, dominates conversations, and dares viewers to question the very systems we live in.
It is, once again, the reigning monarch of streaming. And in this kingdom, the games are only getting deadlier.
So buckle up. The game may have started as fiction—but for millions, it now feels all too real.
Let the next round begin.
Ross is known as the Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas - An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Professional by profession and a Social Media Evangelist by heart.
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