“Squid Game 3” Birth Scene Sparks Backlash: Viewers Heavily Slam Director

Netflix’s “Squid Game“ may be breaking global viewership records, but it’s not immune to backlash, especially following one scene that has left viewers severely turned off. The moment in question? A jarringly unrealistic birth scene in Episode 2 that has become the most talked-about, and yet also the most criticized, moment of the season.

At the center of the controversy is Player 222, Kim Jun-hee, played by idol-turned-actress Jo Yuri. Midway through a deadly game, her character suddenly goes into labor and gives birth in mere minutes with the help of another player. Though emotional in theory, the scene was met with disbelief online.

“How actually ridiculous is Squid Game? Like, who can give birth to a whole child in five minutes?”, an audience member said in a tweet that’s gone viral with over 7.5 million views. On top of it, many other female viewers called the moment “absurd,” “misinformed,” and “written by someone who clearly has no clue about childbirth.”

In particular, some mentioned the lack of signs of postpartum effects, raising questions about the placenta, the bleeding, and the lochia, adding that the character “literally gets up and walks off with the baby like she just took a nap.”

Meanwhile, some questioned the post-birth action scenes, saying, “She’s jumping rope while holding a newborn. That baby’s brain would be shaking”, while others noted that even if it’s fiction, the birth and post-birth sequence just shows “lazy writing and zero research.”

The fact that the show’s director is male and unmarried has only fueled further criticism, with many pointing out a lack of female perspective in crafting such a crucial scene. Some comments from popular Korean forums like theqoo included:

• The director obviously never gave birth. But did he not even do basic research?
• There were tons of production staff, so it’s crazy that no one flagged this as a problem

Alongside the fans said the scene “ruined the show”, several pointed out that the baby’s birth marked the beginning of a narrative decline, criticizing the logic behind later episodes, especially the decision to make the newborn baby the winner of the Squid Game – a choice that’s been dubbed a “pro-life” and “misogynistic” message by frustrated viewers.

Nevertheless, despite the storm, “Squid Game 3” continues to top Netflix charts globally.