Squid Game, the survival thriller from Korea that still holds the record for Netflix‘s most-watched show, recently ended its three-season run. Despite a large wait, viewers still tuned in to see how things unfolded and ended in Seasons 2 and 3, which had great viewership numbers as well. Naturally, the streamer is campaigning for the show to sweep the award shows, but this didn’t exactly work with the Television Academy and its Emmys ceremony. Squid Game Season 2 did not receive a single nomination, and Netflix Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria has something to say about it.
Bajaria spoke to Variety about this weird omission for the Korean giant created by Hwang Dong-hyuk. The show’s impact is unmatched, but it is a reality that, after Season 1, things were not the same. The follow-ups just didn’t have the same power in terms of cultural effect. Season 1 was well-received by award organizations, and in 2022, it earned a total of 14 nominations at the Emmys, and ended up winning in six categories. This year, the show received zero nominations, and Bajaria addressed the terrible snub:
“Squid Game had an incredible cultural impact. Biggest show in the world. That first season really made Emmy history, and people loved this last season too. I am disappointed for director Hwang and the cast. For director Hwang to not be recognized in that way, considering the amount of audiences around the world who loved it so much and that it really resonated with people… I’m disappointed when it doesn’t get recognized in the way that it should have.
“I think if you’re really looking at excellence in television and excellence in storytelling, it is in every single way. So when you deliver that, yes, it’s surprising when it doesn’t get recognized.”
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That Said, Netflix Did Score Some Emmy Nominations
As disappointing as it was to see Squid Game get completely snubbed at this year’s Emmys, everyone’s favorite streamer did get some Emmy nods. Adolescence, the 2025 crime drama, landed a whopping 13 nominations, with young star Owen Cooper becoming the youngest person ever to get nominated in the best supporting actor category.
Bajaria said the following about the surprising hit being recognized by the Television Academy: “I think what’s really interesting about Adolescence to me is, not only is it groundbreaking television, but it was our second-biggest English language show ever, with 142 million views. It’s having that kind of incredible cultural impact where it starts helping change law in the UK. So to be recognized for their amazing storytelling with Emmy nominations, but also that kind of cultural impact, that’s really amazing.”
Despite staying in second place to HBO’s 142 nominations, Netflix garnered 120 nods in total. Shows like Black Mirror, Sirens, Bridgerton, and Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story were also part of the ballots for the show that will take place on September 14. Bajaria continued:
“This goal is always to aim for excellence and great entertainment across all categories of TV. We’re really seeing that reflected, if you look across all of the 14 program categories. From drama and comedy and stand-up and limited and docs and animation and live and unscripted. I think that is really exciting for all of the teams in this building today.”
Source: Variety
Squid Game
2.5
/5
- Release Date
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2021 – 2025
- Network
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Netflix
- Showrunner
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Hwang Dong-hyuk
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Lee Jung-jae
Seong Gi-hun / ‘No. 456’
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Wi Ha-jun
Detective Hwang Jun-ho
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
