“Squid Game,” the dystopian Netflix drama that exploded into an international smash hit, made history on Monday, picking up multiple drama awards.
Lee Jung-jae, the star of the series, took home the top acting prize and became the first person from a foreign-language show to win best actor in a drama. And Hwang Dong-hyuk won the drama directing Emmy.
The series, Netflix’s most watched new series ever, according to the streamer, was also up for the Emmy for best drama, an award “Succession” ultimately won.
Coming into Monday, the show had been nominated for 14 Emmys and won four, including awards for guest acting, stunts production design and visual effects. (These awards were presented earlier this month in the Creative Arts Emmys ceremony.)
Lee praised the show and those involved with it for making “a realistic problem we all face come to life so creatively.”
“Squid Game” tracks contestants as they take part in a tournament of childhood games played to the death. The series, which tapped into real-world concerns about economic disparity and moral bankruptcy in South Korea and beyond, became a global phenomenon, inspiring many a Halloween costume — “Squid Game”-style tracksuits and black masks — and spiking interest in Dalgona candy.
Park Hae-soo and Oh Young-soo were nominated in the best supporting actor category, and Jung Ho-yeon earned a nomination for best supporting actress. All three played contestants in the violent, high-stakes tournament.
Source: Television - nytimes.com
