“Squid Game: The Challenge” Red Light Green Light Party & Reality Meet-and-Greet Recap 🦑🚦

As a huge fan of both the original “Squid Game” series and Netflix’s reality game show remake “Squid Game: The Challenge,” the chance to meet official contestants from the game show cast at a popular LGBTQ+ venue in New York City was an opportunity I couldn’t miss.

Rocky dressed up in a Squid Game track suit.
Rocky, “Player #287” 😉

The Squid Game Stop Light Party

Squid Game Party in NYC

Player #141 Dash and Player #016 Sam, famous for their memorable participation in Squid Game: The Challenge, hosted this party with a blend of charisma and warmth.

Rocky and Dash
Dash, Player #141

February is a popular month of the year for traditional Stop Light parties.

Stop light parties, also known as stoplight parties or traffic light parties, are parties at which guests wear different colors to indicate their relationship-seeking status. They’re especially popular around Valentine’s Day.

Oftentimes, it can be signaled by the color of the clothes you wear, a bracelet, a handkerchief, or a necklace. At this party, they gave everyone a double-sided bracelet. One side was red and the other side was green.

As you can probably imagine: choosing red means you’re unavailable and/or not looking to meet anyone, whereas displaying green indicates that you’re single and/or open to meeting someone. (No yellow at this party, though some may have that option.) Yours truly went with green. ✌🏼

Rocky in Squid Game: The Challenge costume.
Squid Game Party Prep

A stop light party couldn’t have worked more perfectly paired with the Squid Game theme which is a television series famously known for its first challenge: Red Light, Green Light.

Squid Game: Red Light, Green Light
Image Source: Squid Game

The Inclusive 3 Dollar Bill

While having the party in Manhattan would have made the logistics a bit easier, I was excited about the party being hosted at 3 Dollar Bill: a popular LGBT-friendly venue.

Domenic, Rocky, and Dash
Photo with Players: Dom & Dash

I think 3 Dollar Bill has the right atmosphere for something like this. It is trendy and very large, and the music was at just the right volume where it was comfortable to dance or talk, and you didn’t have to scream or struggle to hear what people were saying while chatting near the bar.

The cast indeed had many LGBT players in the first season.

Despite the venue’s affiliation as a gay bar and nightclub, it still provided a safe and inclusive space for gay individuals and allies alike. My sister and her boyfriend joined as did many non-LGBT contestants from Squid Game: The Challenge. I appreciated them choosing a diverse setting which did justice to the theme of inclusivity in “Squid Game.”

Celebrity Meet & Greet

The most special aspect of this party was that it offered fans the rare opportunity to meet, network, and befriend actual reality show contestants. The reality stars in attendance were so friendly and charismatic that they bridged the gap between them and their fans.

Sam and Rocky
Sam, Player #016

In terms of popularity, it’s true that Squid Game: The Challenge didn’t take off as much as the original series did a few years back but it was still very cool to meet the reality show contestants in real life. The contestants were so friendly and I actually spent a decent chunk of time talking with them throughout the night.

I consider myself a Squid Game super fan so I was definitely a bit “star-struck” to meet them in real life. Having the fandom congregate in one space was pretty neat too.

Rocky and Phill
Phill, Player #451

By the end of the night, I had met so many major players from show: Sam, Dash, Phill, Spencer, LeAnn, Jada, and Jackie, just to name a few.

LeAnn and Rocky
LeAnn, Player #302

Stepping Into Squid Game

Between seeing people in green tracksuits, recognizing actual contestants from the show, and admiring the Squid Game circle, triangle, and square icons up on the television screens, I really felt like I stepped into a microcosm of Squid Game in my reality.

Squid Game Symbols

The energy inside 3 Dollar Bill was contagious and I loved every moment of it.

Before the party, I ordered a Squid Game tracksuit along with some sets of player numbers. I talked to the hosts in advance and they said that tracksuits weren’t required but were totally encouraged and that it would be awesome if I wore one. So I did!

Rocky for Season 2

During the party, I was actually asked to join one lady on her podcast and I had to awkwardly break the news to her that I was just a fan. 😅 My sister (who wasn’t even wearing Squid uniform) was mistaken for one of the contestants and scored a free drink.

Those were just two of many silly mishaps from the night.

Really, though, it was so cool to spend time talking to some really awesome people from the show. One of my favorite contestants who, aside from Dash, really spent a good chunk of time chatting with me was in the incredible: Spencer!

Spencer and Rocky
Spencer, Player #299

You may recall Spencer from his numerous moments of screen time during the Dalgona challenge… 😅

Reasons to Love Squid Game

Color Aesthetic of Squid Game

Unity In Diversity

This party, if nothing else, was a showcase of how “Squid Game” touches hearts universally. The atmosphere highlighted the shared human experience that connects so many of us.

Critics of the show say that Squid Game is a dark series, but the life-or-death stakes and elements of violence have nothing to do with why I love it so much.

Jackie and Rocky
Jackie, Player #393

Social Commentary

The series does a great job of getting viewers to think about society. I appreciate how Squid Game draws attention to the disparities between the wealthy and the poor. It also portrays the desperation people experience driven by debt. More to the point, it captures the extreme measures people can be pushed to within a capitalist society.

Vinny and Rocky
Vinny, Player #261

Character Development

Both the original series and the competition have rich character development. Many of the Squids from the reality show who got the most screen time were the same Squids in attendance at the party in Brooklyn, New York!

Rocky and Dash
Dash, Player #141

Cultural Insights

Squid Game offers a glimpse into South Korean culture, both through the games played which are all rooted in traditional Korean game culture as well as the societal pressures that motivate the characters to opt into the competition.

The Aesthetic

The visual presentation of Squid Game is striking and symbolic. I really love the bright colors used across the game arenas and uniforms, and how it is used in contrast with such a “dark” theme throughout the series.

Image Source: Squid Game

Even the female voice of the announcer is so cheerful that it feels so peculiar juxtaposed with the horrific circumstances of the competition.

Squid Game Auditions

Ever since I first got wind of the game show, I have thought about auditioning. Now, after having the chance to meet the cast from Season 1, I think I want to try out for Season 2.

Dom, Rocky, and Dash in NYC
Photo with Players: Dom & Dash

I know the show was surrounded by controversy and is amid numerous lawsuits, but if a second season does come to fruition, I think it’s something I’d love to experience. I’m still thinking about it, but it’s on my radar.

The Elites
Image Source: Squid Game

If you’re one of the elites, please forward my name to the casting crew at Netflix. Thanks in advance. 😁

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