You guys already know we are huge fans of the Netflix competition series Squid Game: The Challenge and we’re continuing to roll out interviews with some of your favorite cast members over the holidays.
Source: Pete Dadds / Netflix
Two of our favorite contestants were definitely mom and son duo, LeAnn Wilcox Plutnicki and Trey Plutnicki, AKA Player 302 and Player 301. The pair told us that they’ve gotten some questions since the show, primarily around some of the decisions that were made when they weren’t totally in sync.
“People just like really wanted to know what was really going on there, and, ‘Why did you do marbles together?”‘ LeAnn told BOSSIP.
“It’s so funny because I also like didn’t vote with you,” Trey recalled to his mom. “it’s just like every bit is under scrutiny, where it’s like, ‘Why were you in that boat with your mom?’ ‘Why didn’t you vote with your mom?’ ‘Why did you do that with your mom?’ ‘Why didn’t you do this with your mom?’
“I also wondered why he didn’t vote with me on on that Lorenzo vote,” LeAnn joked. “But we’re all playing our own games I guess.”
LeAnn was referring to the moment in Episode 4 when the contestants voted for three people to be eliminated. Lorenzo was one of the first three names to be nominated for elimination, when LeAnn entered his name but he was more than happy to return the favor by nominating LeAnn for elimination as well. Fortunately Wilcox Plutnicki says there was no hard feelings, but revealed her family had some jokes about Lorenzo declining LeAnn and some of the other ladies’ when they offered the group apple slices.
“Lorenzo’s just an iconic kind of person,” LeAnn continued. “From afar I’m like, ‘I kind of love this guy.’ He’s a lot of fun but my daughters have named one of the deer in our backyard Lorenzo, because he’s the only deer that won’t take the sliced apples — because I feed them apples all the time, so they now call the deer Lorenzo.”
Source: Courtesy / Netflix
We also had a chance to ask Trey about the breaking glass challenge and it turns out that the falls we witnessed were actually a bit of a production trick.
“We actually didn’t fall through,” Trey told BOSSIP. “What we would hear over the speaker was, ‘301 Pass’ or ‘301 Eliminated.’ Then we would stop for a second, we would go down into a squat to get that ‘falling’ imagery and then they had a stunt performer actually fall through. We were 15 feet in the air but we just couldn’t fall through for like safety reasons.”
Trey also revealed how felt about Ashley not following the group’s strategy during the breaking glass challenge.
“I can’t be mad at someone that is playing their game,” Trey said. “Of course, in the game obviously I’m upset, but outside of the game and looking from like a a third party perspective, it’s just like, yeah I wouldn’t wanna take that chance either. That takes a lot of bravery to put yourself in harm’s way for the sake of the group when only one person wins this huge prize money.”
“Ashley’s a good person, we’ve been hanging out with her,” LeAnn interjected. “She’s just a she’s a good person, I don’t have hard feelings but yeah, I wish she had taken her jump.”
Ultimately, Trey and LeAnn proved to be two of the toughest contestants in the challenge, and the pair say they are open to doing another show in the future. What show would you want to see LeAnn and Trey do next?
When I first came across Squid Game: The Challenge, I decided to apply straight away. We were required to submit a 60-second video, and as soon as I received a callback, I knew I would be accepted.
I’ve always had so much more to offer. I’m often underestimated and stereotyped. People frequently look at me and question what I’m capable of, but there’s more to me than meets the eye. I knew that all I needed was a chance to prove that.
I was confident during the interview and was certain that I could convince the team that I had what it took to join Squid Game.
Entering Squid Game: The Challenge
The challenge started with 456 participants. Winning the cash prize was more of an afterthought until I saw the large amount of money in front of me.
I didn’t harbor any hopes of winning—I just wanted to experience what it was like to participate in the Squid Game. Having watched the show, it was a very popular series. At one point, it felt like everyone was talking about it.
Amanda Tayor pictured (L & R) in “Squid Game: The Challenge” on Netflix. Netflix/Amanda Tayor
When I was watching the series as a viewer, I struggled to connect with how the characters were feeling and thinking, as the game seemed trivial. But when you’re in it, it’s a completely different experience.
For example, the Dalgona cookie challenge was one of the hardest games I’ve ever participated in. You’re sitting there with many people around you, all doing the same thing. The ticking clock, growing louder with time, adding to the pressure.
In the beginning, I thought 10 minutes was more than enough time to cut the cookie, but people started to pass within just a minute or two. I found myself nowhere near finished and started to wonder: Why am I not getting through yet?
That thought made me panic even more.
For the viewer, it may seem easy, but the comparison aspect—of actually being in the game and constantly having to watch others—makes it so much harder.
During the Red Light Green Light challenge, I was one of the last to cross the line. I watched everyone else experience the joy of advancing, while I was battling with thoughts of failure.
There was a moment when I thought I wouldn’t even get through this because there were only five seconds left, and that was only the first challenge.
Later on in the challenge, as more people got eliminated, the thought of winning became real for me. I began thinking about the $4.56 million and what I’d do if I won it.
The first thing that came to mind was buying a large country house somewhere. A house that could stay in the family forever. But as I got to know more people and heard their stories, I realized that there was so much more I could do with the prize money.
I began to think about the people and causes I wanted to help in the community. My son has Tourette syndrome, and there’s an impactful charity that we’re a part of. I saw the potential to make a positive impact in that field.
My son is also part of a local football team, which is run by hardworking volunteers. They’ve been incredibly supportive of my son’s football journey and his personal growth. This was another area where I felt I could make a difference.
While $4.56 million isn’t going to change the world, it can make a big difference to some people.
Forming an Alliance
Later on in the challenge, I slowly began to notice that there were 22 men and only nine women.
I knew the females had to stick together because some of the males were forming strong alliances, and we were somewhat left on our own. We weren’t the loudest or the biggest characters in the room, so the men were essentially taking over in the dorm.
I could feel that and knew something needed to be done. I was under the radar, not out there getting into every group and trying to talk with everybody. I was very conscious that when you became a big character, you became a target.
I suggested that in the Alliance challenge, the females should vote for each other first, before voting for the males. I was taking a risk because I didn’t know if I would get the backing of the other females. I wasn’t sure if they would agree and then go back to the other groups and reveal that I was rallying the women together.
It was a risk, but it needed to be taken at that point. I was fortunate that it ended up working out, despite a few hiccups along the way.
I was frustrated when one of the females ended up picking a male, despite having a conversation minutes before and assuring us that we would pick each other. I thought: What are you doing?
She wasn’t just showing me that I couldn’t trust her, she was showing everyone else. I knew who to trust, and who to stay away from.
Seeing People’s True Colours
As we got closer to winning the cash prize, I began to see people’s true colors and intentions in the game.
During the Glass Bridge challenge, one of the females, Mai, volunteered to jump first behind the scenes, which was a big, thoughtful gesture. I was cheering her on, but just before the challenge was about to begin, she changed her mind.
I thought to myself: Hold on, you’re trying to project this image of being a team player, but you didn’t follow through.
I couldn’t voice my thoughts loudly at this stage because Mai had too many allies. She also chose to target another female in the dice challenge, going against the decision we all agreed upon. This was frustrating for me.
At one point, I could no longer hide my annoyance. I thought: That’s it. I decided to take a step back, and everyone knew it. I wasn’t the only person feeling this way, so there was tension among the players.
I was eliminated in the semi-finals during the Circle of Trust challenge. It was a fellow female who took me out, and I was the second to be eliminated in that challenge.
As soon as I walked into that room, I knew it couldn’t have been a worse challenge at that stage. I thought, Oh, this is how it’s going to happen, I’m going home.
There were very few friends sitting around that room at that stage, so I knew that they’d probably want to eliminate me.
Before walking into that challenge, I thought that I could have been a millionaire, but it was ripped away without me doing anything.
Behind The Scenes
The conditions in the challenge worked out okay for me. We only got three square meals a day. The porridge was flavorless—there was nothing to it, no salt or pepper, and it was basic. In terms of the portion size, I didn’t struggle.
However, I was watching some of the men who were much bigger than me. They were exercising and running around, burning up all this energy, and I thought, You’re not replenishing anything. Why are you doing that? You should save your energy.
I kept myself hydrated. I didn’t go doing laps of the dorm or doing star jumps every morning like some others. I’ve heard people saying how cold they were, but I was warm. I even took off my jacket at times.
I enjoyed the experience. I was quite cozy, to be honest. I had the top bunk, so it was good.
You don’t see the producers behind the scenes. They only take you to where you need to go, which made the experience feel very real.
Once you’re in the game, you’re in the game. The only time you have contact with any of the creatives, shall we say, is when they were moving us between sets. But even then, we were always on the move, so there wasn’t time to build any relationships.
The experience was very much authentic, and the thing I took away from it was how I was towards other people. I get on with everyone and I love being around people, but as an only child, I’ve grown up content with my own space and independence.
As a single parent, I’m a “get up and go” type of person and try not to rely on anyone—I tend to do things independently.
Being in the challenge made me realize the importance of connections with other players, something I hadn’t anticipated initially. I thought I needed to be on my own and couldn’t afford to make friends because, in the end, it would come down to just me.
But once you’re in there, that mindset goes out the window.
I became much more open to people, letting them in and getting to know them. It was quite empowering. Many people have pointed out in the past that I need to let people in, and I have to admit that the challenge helped me realize that they are right.
People make the world better, and the challenge had an impact on me. I’ve met people who I believe will be friends for life.
This experience was something I will always cherish and remember.
Amanda Tayor is player 019 on “Squid Game: The Challenge”, reaching the semi-finals. She is also an international tae kwon do champion, and a HR manager.
All views expressed in this article are the author’s own.
As told to Newsweek’s Associate Editor, Carine Harb.
Do you have a unique experience or personal story to share? Email the My Turn team at myturn@newsweek.com
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Netflix’s Squid Game: The Challenge ended up being one of the more surprising shows of the season, and now, we finally have a winner.
At first, many of us questioned how a reality show about Squid Game wouldn’t be just completely missing the point. A show in which the editing has made people who have played the game angry (many have taken to social media to point out that it is not truthful to the situation they found themselves in) and more, Squid Game: The Challenge has been quite the journey.
When Hwang Dong-hyuk’s Squid Game debuted on Netflix in 2021, it took the world by storm, literally. The story follows 456 financially struggling competitors – especially gambling addict Seong Gi-hun – who use strategy and luck to compete in common South Korean children’s games for 456 billion won 45.6 (that’s $38.2 million USD). The twist? If you fail a game, you die, and only one person can win.
Squid Game quickly became the platform’s most-watched series – nominated for 14 Primetime Emmys. And actors O-Yeong Su, Lee Jung-Jae, and HoYeon Jung received SAG and Golden Globe awards for their performances. Despite being a fully-subtitled show, it had such a cultural impact that Mr. Beast created his own live Squid Games (sans death)…and then, Netflix of course couldn’t resist releasing Squid Game: The Challenge.
456 contestants come together to compete for $4.56 million reward in iconic challenges like Red Light-Green Light, carving a shape out of dalgona (honeycomb candy) without cracking it, marbles, and jumping over the Glass Bridge. It’s the largest cash prize in gameshow history, enough to make people do the unthinkable. And while I wasn’t sold at first, the controversy surrounding the show is enough to get me to tune in.
Controversy Behind Squid Game: The Challenge
Now that players have been eliminated from the games, we’re getting the bigger picture of what went on during production. Contestants reported eating under 1,000 calories per day, which makes sense considering the one meal we saw them eat was a leftover-sized container of rice and egg. Temperatures were so cold that one contestant suffered from hypothermia, while others were using lubricated condoms in lieu of chapstick.
The iconic green tracksuit uniforms (which must be returned to producers after elimination) were not enough to keep the competitors warm, especially during Red Light-Green Light…where they filmed over nine hours, staying frozen in place for up to 45 minutes at a time. Time goes much quicker when you watch, which is why one contestant caught fire for not being able to hold a squat (now we know she is a modern-day warrior.)
The editing of the show itself has caused its own issues. And thanks to social media, contestants are sharing their own version of Squid Game: The Challenge. While a series villain like Ashley may have appeared selfish for refusing to step forward during Glass Bridge for Trey, reports have indicated that Trey blindly jumped tiles on his own accord.
It’s a dystopian show – inherently creepy in its message that people will quash any natural, nurturing instincts just to achieve financial freedom. You slowly watch these people go insane, building mistrust amongst themselves and against the producers, the all-knowing Big Brother voice, and eerily always-in-character guards. And now that we’re taking a peek into what it’s like inside the Games, you can understand how someone would lose their mind.
I can confirm that this gameshow is the ultimate entertainment for viewers, and the controversy behind the conditions only fuel the fire. This show has everything: betrayal, likable characters, despicable characters, and moments that will make you hold your breath and scream at your television like it’s the Super Bowl.
Who Will Win Squid Game: The Challenge?
It’s the season finale of the games tonight, December 6, when we find out which of the three finalists – Player 287, Mai; Player 451, Phill; or Player 16, Sam – will win the coveted cash prize.
It’s also been reported that the show has been renewed for a second season, so you know we’ll be tuning in.
Contestants of Netflix reality competition show Squid Game: The Challenge have threatened legal action over the alleged injuries they obtained while filming, including hypothermia and nerve damage.
A British personal injuries law firm announced on Thursday that it sent letters of claim to the show’s production company, Studio Lambert, on behalf of two Squid Game: The Challenge contestants. The firm said its lawyers are currently in communication with other participants who may also want to file lawsuits.
The law firm, Express Solicitors, said the unnamed competition show hopefuls were injured as a result of “poor health and safety standards on set.”
Squid Game: The Challenge took the chaotic gameplay of Netflix’s smash hit Korean drama Squid Game and made it a reality — without the fatal consequences. The stakes are still high, as contestants from around the world compete for an impressive US$4.56-million prize (over C$6.2 million), the largest-ever single prize in gameshow history.
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The potential lawsuit revolves specifically around the first “Red Light, Green Light” challenge in the reality show, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Just like the fictional characters from the original drama, participants were instructed to evade capture by a giant nursery-rhyme-singing robotic doll. Rather than using bullets, as is the case in the original drama, contestants were struck with radio-controlled exploding dye once eliminated.
Daniel Slade, the CEO of Express Solicitors, said show producers “pushed the boundaries of safety in the name of entertainment.”
In a written statement, Slade continued, “Production companies need to ensure that health and safety standards on their shows don’t leave people at risk of harm.”
A spokesperson for Squid Game: The Challenge told The Hollywood Reporter that no lawsuit has been filed.
“We take the welfare of our contestants extremely seriously,” the spokesperson said.
The show was filmed at Cardington Studios, a former Royal Air Force base in Bedfordshire, U.K., during chilly weather in January. The contestants who have threatened to sue the show’s producers allege they were made to crouch without moving for prolonged periods in cold weather.
Reports earlier emerged with anonymous quotes from contestants claiming the conditions during the “Red Light, Green Light” challenge were akin to a “warzone.” A participant told the U.K.’s Sun at least one player had to be carried out on a stretcher.
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Slade endorsed the claim about a stretchered contestant in a statement to The Guardian. He said another participant’s hands turned purple in the cold.
“Contestants thought they were taking part in something fun and those injured did not expect to suffer as they did,” Slade told the outlet. “Now they have been left with injuries after spending time being stuck in painful stress positions in cold temperatures.”
Though the entire game takes only about five minutes in the Squid Game: The Challenge episode, contestant Lorenzo Nobilio told the BBC it took her seven hours to cross the “Red Light, Green Light” finish line.
In January, Netflix denied allegations that any Squid Game: The Challenge hopefuls were “seriously injured,” but did say three of the show’s 456 contestants received medical treatment for “mild” injuries.
Executive producer John Hay last week told The Hollywood Reporter that the “Red Light, Green Light” segment was a “big, complicated shoot, and it was a cold day, and it took quite a long time.”
He continued: “But everyone was prepared for that and looked after properly. We anticipated and actually strenuously tested everything in advance and made sure we took all the proper measures.”
A second executive producer, Stephen Lambert, told the outlet that contestants knew when they signed up for the competition that it wouldn’t be a cakewalk.
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“We’re giving away the largest prize in TV competition history,” Lambert said.
He said Squid Game: The Challenge contestants faced moments that were “quite tough” but not nearly as difficult as many other reality competition shows in the U.S., like popular Survivor or MTV’s The Challenge, which has seen contestants break bones and have to endure incredibly strenuous competitions.
“This is no harder than those, and in lots of shows you have people sometimes treated for mild complaints, which is what happened in that particular game,” Lambert said.
On Wednesday, Netflix released the first five episodes of Squid Game: The Challenge.
The original Squid Game drama, which saw fictional contestants overcome gargantuan odds in a life-or-death series of children’s games, smashed records for Netflix. According to the streaming giant, Squid Game was streamed in 142 million households worldwide within the first four weeks of its release. It is Netflix’s most-watched series.
I was under the impression that the Netflix series Squid Game was meant as a cautionary tale; a warning against increasing greed, callousness, and competitiveness in society. What this new Netflix reality series presupposes is … maybe it wasn’t?
Yes, while they wait for the second season of Squid Game, Netflix actually went out and made a real Squid Game. It’s called Squid Game: The Challengeand it features 456 contestants competing for a $4.56 million cash prize in a series of elaborate games. Now, on the Squid Game series, if you lost, you died. Presumably, that does not happen on Squid Game: The Challenge. However, there were media reports back in January when Netflix was filming this series of alleged injuries among contestants. (Netflix “vehemently denied” these claims at the time.)
The first teaser for The Challenge is here now and it … looks like they went and made a real Squid Game, all right. And boy are they leaning into the disturbing element of all this. Check it out:
I mean, just look at some of these other official photos from the show. If they were aiming for something super disturbing and troubling … mission accomplished!
Here is the series’ official synopsis:
456 real players will enter the competition show in pursuit of a life-changing reward of USD $4.56 million. As they compete through a series of games inspired by the original show – plus surprising new additions – their strategies, alliances, and character will be put to the test while competitors are eliminated around them.
Squid Game: The Challenge premieres on Netflix on November 22.
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