AlexMagician
Member
Netflix’s original Korean series 'Squid Game' became a global phenomenon, captivating viewers with its unique storyline and intense battle of survival. The show’s massive success has led to comparisons with other similar shows, including Netflix’s own 'Black Knight: Curse of the Ebony Blade', which shares certain themes with 'Squid Game'. Unfortunately, 'Black Knight' failed to match the level of greatness reached by 'Squid Game'.
One of the key similarities between the two shows is their focus on life-or-death games. While 'Squid Game' depicted a group of financially struggling players who took part in various childhood games with deadly consequences, 'Black Knight' focused on a cursed sword that caused its wielder to engage in battles with supernatural creatures. Both shows explored the theme of individuals being forced to fight for their lives, but 'Squid Game' was able to create a more compelling narrative that hooked viewers from start to finish.
Another difference between the two shows was their length. While 'Squid Game' had nine episodes that ran for approximately an hour each, 'Black Knight' only had six episodes that were around forty-five minutes long. This shorter runtime may have contributed to 'Black Knight's failure to build up its characters and plot in the same way that 'Squid Game' did.
Despite its shortcomings, 'Black Knight' still had its own strengths such as its visually stunning fight scenes and intricate world-building. However, it ultimately failed to achieve the same level of cultural impact and critical acclaim as 'Squid Game'.
In conclusion, while 'Black Knight' shared some similarities with 'Squid Game', it wasn't able to replicate the latter's success due to factors such as narrative pacing and length. 'Squid Game' remains a standout series that will be remembered for years to come.
Sources:
- "Netflix's Black Knight Fell Short Of Squid Game's Greatness (& Length)" by Adrienne Tyler, Screen Rant, November 2021 - https://screenrant.com/black-knight-squid-game-netflix-similarities-differences/
- "How 'Squid Game' became bigger than Marvel and why 'Black Knight' failed to replicate its success" by Kimmy Yam, CNBC, November 2021 - https://www.cnbc.com/2021/11/08/squ...why-one-became-a-hit-and-the-other-didnt.html
- "'Black Knight: Curse of the Ebony Blade' review: A worthy addition to Marvel's library" by Siddhant Adlakha, The Indian Express, March 2021 - https://indianexpress.com/article/e...ight-curse-of-the-ebony-blade-review-7225546/