The Best Episode of TV in 2021, and Why It’s Special
I can best describe the emotional impact of “Gganbu,” the sixth episode of Squid Game, by sharing an early-morning exchange I had at the dog park a few weeks ago. A small group of us were talking about the series, and someone overheard and asked what episode we were talking about.
“Episode 6,” I said.
“Which one is that?” she asked.
“The marble one,” I told her.
“Oh,” she said. And then her soul left her body. Her dog stopped barking and lay down at her feet as her spirit rose past the trees and into the sky. Only a husk remained on this Earth, and her empty shell cast its eyes to the ground as she repeated the word again, like an echo of what was once alive. “Oh.”
I could relate. Before I watched myself, I was part, , , or any other show or movie with more people who died than survived? Basically, who was strong, smart, or clever enough to survive the winter—or at least strong, smart, or clever enough to outlast their peers? So I was honored when my name came up and it gave them pause.
