Why Player 299 Joined Squid Game: Unveiling the Motivation Behind Bullying

The Challenge in Squid Game was an emotional rollercoaster for Player 299, who faced bullying despite joining for a heart-wrenching reason. Following the global success of the award-winning K-drama, Netflix created a real-life competition series with 456 players vying for a grand cash prize at the expense of their lives, with some adjustments from the original Squid Game in terms of games and rules.

The core concept remained unchanged. Players are required to either forge alliances or compete against each other in order to emerge victorious. However, during the notorious Dalgona Challenge, the detrimental choices made by Spencer, known as Player 299, resulted in him being targeted and bullied by his own team.

The sight was difficult to witness as the other players backed him into a corner, leading to the elimination of numerous members of his group. The situation becomes even more devastating upon discovering the reasons behind Player 299's participation in Squid Game: The Challenge and his perspective on the entire ordeal.

Squid Game: The Challenge put Player 299 in the hot seat

Spencer, Player 299, is a cancer survivor who wanted to join Squid Game: The Challenge to meet new people and build friendships.

The rules of the Dalgona Challenge are different from the K-drama and the remaining contestants were divided into four groups. One member from each group would go into the playground to select their Dalgona shape. If they couldn't reach an agreement, all players would be eliminated. During the first round, Player 299 became visibly emotional.

His teammates tried to calm his nerves, urge him not to give up, and stand his ground. But once it was his turn, everything changed for the worse. Player 299 was left as the odd one out with only the umbrella shape remaining. Faced with the decision of whether to eliminate himself or risk eliminating more of his team with the umbrella, he made a choice. He even struck a deal with another player.

Player 299 shocked his teammates by choosing the umbrella, sparking anger and accusations of betrayal. Many expressed their frustration and wished he had been eliminated instead. In a recent Entertainment Weekly interview, Player 299 opened up about his experience on the show.

Growing up introverted and shy, Player 299 was determined to give every participant a fair chance to win. He emphasized that in a competition like Dalgona, not everyone is there to make friends, but he wanted to support everyone as best as he could. Despite the inability to support each other in the game, he was glad that everyone had the opportunity to participate.

Regretting not staying up later the night before to hear more players' stories, despite his elimination, Player 299 saw the silver lining even as his team criticized his decision. Squid Game: The Challenge Batch 1 is currently available for streaming on Netflix. For more information about the show, read on below.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z netizen, I have mixed feelings about Player 299's motivations for joining Squid Game: The Challenge. On the one hand, I understand his desire to meet new people and build friendships. After recovering from cancer, it's understandable that he would want to make the most of his life and have some new experiences.

On the other hand, I think it was naive of him to think that he could make friends in such a cutthroat competition. The other players were all there to win, and they were willing to do whatever it took to get ahead, even if it meant hurting others.

Ultimately, I think Player 299's decision to join Squid Game: The Challenge was a mistake. He was clearly not prepared for the emotional and physical toll that the competition would take on him.

I also think that the show's producers should have done a better job of screening the contestants. They should have made sure that everyone who participated was mentally and emotionally prepared for the challenges that they would face.