Why Squid Game is called Round 6 in Brazil and Season 2 connection

When Squid Game first took the world by storm, it ignited conversations from Seoul to São Paulo. Fans all across the globe were enthralled by this gripping survival story, which quickly became a cultural phenomenon. However, the project was formerly known as Round 6 before it became the worldwide phenomenon that it is today.

Why, then, was the name changed? And why did some nations, like Canada and Brazil, continue to use Round 6 when everyone else switched to Squid Game?

The real reasons for this change were never officially confirmed. However, in this article, we will delve into the meaning of the name and see how this change affects (and or relates to) everything—from town politics to the second season's six lethal rounds. Yes, Round 6, as in the Russian Roulette game.

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Round 6: The name that almost was

Picture this: Hwang Dong-hyuk and his team sitting around, brainstorming a name that would encapsulate the brutal, cutthroat nature of the game. They chose Round 6. Simple, clean, and to the point. But as the show evolved, the creators realized the name wasn’t quite... squid-like enough.

The title, Round 6, initially seemed to reflect the structure of the game. After all, we have a sequence of six rounds of violence and desperation. This name, however, didn’t capture the eerie, existential quality the show later came to embody.

Enter Squid Game, a name dripping with symbolism and mystery. The squid is a creature that thrives in the deep, shadowy waters, a fitting metaphor for the players trapped in this dark, game-filled nightmare. It’s not just about the game. It’s about survival, childhood, and the undercurrent of societal critique. But was there more to it? Why switch gears at all?

The name Squid Game opens up an emotional and cultural landscape that Round 6 simply couldn’t. It taps into a deeper well of global meaning, resonating with people from different backgrounds. The change also aligns with the show’s thematic depth—layering childhood innocence with the darker, more twisted aspects of survival.

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Juego del Calamar: When Squid Game gets lost in translation

In some Spanish-speaking countries, Squid Game became Juego del Calamar. However, this is not a real childhood game, such as the squid game. Translation shouldn't be just about swapping words but about capturing the essence of a story. While Squid Game works for global audiences, Juego del Calamar doesn’t quite have the same punch. Jogo da Lula? Neither. There is no such a game like this in Brazil, either. (Though some of us do fondly refer to the series as Jogo da Lula anyway.)

Well, in the end, it’s the squid that draws us in. The squid, with its tentacles and elusive nature, metaphorically drags us deep into the murky waters, much like the characters trapped in a cycle of deadly games and violence. Adaptation and translation: while the names vary, the essence remains the same.

The translation reflects the cultural differences between regions, but Squid Game, with its emphasis on the squid, feels more universal. The creature isn’t just an animal; it’s a symbol of predation, escape, and the inevitability of survival. And that essence is something that transcends languages, giving Squid Game its unique flavor.

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Jogo da Lula: A Brazilian conspiracy theory

Now, here’s where things get spicy. In Brazil, there’s a conspiracy theory that Squid Game would not have been called Jogo da Lula, which is the literal translation into Portuguese, just like Juego del Calamar is into Spanish. Why? Because the name “Lula” is deeply tied to Brazil’s president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Lula is a highly polarizing figure in Brazilian politics, and his name is associated with both admiration and controversy.

The theory behind not using Jogo da Lula as the name for the show suggests that if used, it could have stirred up unwanted political associations, creating a backlash that Netflix might have wanted to avoid. Why it was kept as Round 6 in Canada, though? Not a clue.

But in Brazil... Imagine the potential storm: a show about deadly games, now entangled with political associations. The title Jogo da Lula would risk turning a global hit into a political battleground in Brazil. For Netflix, Round 6 was a safe bet, side-stepping any controversy while keeping the focus on the game itself. But the decision wasn’t without its implications. Brazil was left with a title that, while neutral, lacked the symbolic depth that Squid Game offered—until we got Squid Game Season 2!

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Six rounds of survival: The Recruiter and Season 2

So, what does Round 6 have to do with season 2? Well, the six rounds of Russian roulette orchestrated by the Recruiter make the title even more fitting. Six rounds, each more brutal than the last. It’s not just a number; it’s a countdown to destruction, a representation of the grim fate that awaits every player.

The six rounds in Season 2 mirror the game’s original title, creating a perfect synergy between the title and the plot. So, even if we did not have six rounds of the official Squid Game, we did have 6 rounds in it anyway. Fantastic!

In Season 2, we see that the six rounds are more than just structural elements; they represent a relentless, inevitable progression toward chaos. This connection highlights the thematic resonance between the original title and the growing tension in the narrative. The six rounds symbolize the cycle of death and rebirth that the players go through, each round progressively stripping them of their humanity.

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Conclusion: The name game complete

From Round 6 to Squid Game, the journey of the title tells the story of the show itself: evolving, shifting, and adapting to new cultural realities. Whether it’s the translation into Juego de Calamar, the political whispers around Jogo da Lula in Brazil, or the symbolic resonance of six rounds in Squid Game (or Round 6) Season 2, every name carries weight. And as Squid Game continues to grip viewers, its title will remain a key part of the story—layered, meaningful, and full of untold secrets.