What Beats Rock: The Ultimate Squid Game Edition Breakdown
The internet has a knack for creating simple, endlessly entertaining games, and one of the latest viral sensations is "What Beats Rock?" The game's premise is delightfully straightforward: start with "Rock," and then find something that logically or creatively defeats it. The winner then becomes the new item to beat, creating a chain of imaginative one-upmanship. But what happens when you take this simple game and apply it to one of the most complex and brutal fictional worlds of our time? We're talking, of course, about Netflix's global phenomenon, Squid Game.
A recent video explored this very concept, creating a fascinating and surprisingly deep chain of victors based entirely on the characters, items, and tragic events of the series. It’s a masterful blend of simple game logic and intricate narrative analysis. In this blog, we’ll break down this entire Squid Game edition of What Beats Rock, exploring the justification behind each move and diving deep into the show's lore. Get ready, the light is green.
The First Move: Rock is Beaten by Paper
The game begins, as it must, with Rock. In the classic game of Rock, Paper, Scissors, the answer is simple: Paper covers Rock. But in the world of Squid Game, "Paper" takes on a far more sinister meaning. Here, Rock is defeated by the folded paper ddakji from the very first game Salesman plays with Seong Gi-hun at the train station.
This isn't just any paper. It's the gateway to the entire ordeal. That simple piece of paper represents a contract, a tempting offer of immense wealth that is, in reality, a ticket to a life-or-death competition. It symbolizes the illusion of choice given to the players. They see the paper, the potential winnings, but they don't see the rock-solid, brutal reality of the violence it will lead to. The paper, with its promise and deceit, effectively covers and nullifies the brute force that "Rock" might represent. It's a psychological victory, proving that in Squid Game, the threat of a contract can be more powerful than a physical blow.
The Prize's Power: Paper is Beaten by the Piggy Bank
So, Paper has beaten Rock. What beats Paper? In this universe, all that paper—the money, the contracts, the hope—is ultimately consumed by one single object: the giant, transparent Piggy Bank suspended high above the players' dorm.
Every time a player is eliminated, their share of the prize money, a physical representation of their life's value in this cruel game, is funneled into this glowing receptacle. The Piggy Bank becomes a powerful symbol of the system itself. It is the ultimate goal and the ultimate source of greed and conflict. The paper money holds no power on its own; its only purpose is to fill the bank. The bank is the manifestation of the game's allure, hanging over the players, reminding them of what they stand to gain and what everyone else has lost. It consumes the paper, making the Piggy Bank the clear victor in this round.
A Contestant's Will: The Piggy Bank is Beaten by Kang Sae-byeok (Player 067)
How can a human being beat a giant container of cash? This is where the logic shifts from symbolic objects to the indomitable will of a character. The video posits that the Piggy Bank is beaten by none other than the fiercely resourceful North Korean defector, Kang Sae-byeok.
Sae-byeok, Player 067, represents a force that directly opposes what the Piggy Bank stands for. She is not just in the game for herself; her primary motivation is to use the prize money to reunite her family. Her determination, skill, and sheer grit make her one of the most formidable players. The video suggests she has the skills to "smash a piggy bank," and this is true both literally and figuratively. Her character is defined by her desire to break the system that holds her and her family captive. She sees the Piggy Bank not as an object of worship, but as an obstacle to be shattered to achieve her goal. Her personal strength and motivation are more potent than the allure of the money itself, giving her the edge.
A Tragic End: Kang Sae-byeok is Beaten by a Shard of Glass
Sae-byeok's incredible run, however, comes to a devastatingly tragic end. In one of the most harrowing games, the Glass Bridge, contestants must jump across a series of glass panels, some tempered and some not. The challenge concludes with the bridge exploding, sending shards of glass flying. It is one of these shards that fatally wounds Sae-byeok, lodging in her abdomen.
This is a brutal but logical turn in our game. Despite all her skill, resilience, and powerful motivation, she is ultimately brought down by a random, cruel piece of the game's architecture. The Shard of Glass represents the arbitrary and unforgiving nature of the competition. It doesn’t matter how strong you are or how noble your goals are; in Squid Game, death can come from anywhere, at any time. It's a stark reminder that the game itself is the ultimate enemy, and its sharp edges can cut down even the strongest of players.
The Ultimate Survivor: The Shard of Glass is Beaten by Seong Gi-hun (Player 456)
If a shard of glass symbolizes the deadly nature of the game, who could possibly beat it? The answer is the one person who survived it all: Seong Gi-hun, Player 456. While the glass bridge claimed the lives of many and critically wounded Sae-byeok, Gi-hun managed to make it across. He is the ultimate survivor.
Gi-hun's victory here isn't about physical strength but about endurance and a complicated mix of luck, empathy, and a developing ruthlessness. He navigated the deadliest parts of the competition and lived to tell the tale. He represents the human capacity to endure unimaginable trauma and emerge on the other side. His survival is a direct refutation of the glass shard's deadly power. This complex chain of logic, where a character's resilience beats a physical object, is exactly the kind of creative thinking that makes the What Beats Rock Game so addictive. Gi-hun beat the games, so he also beats the piece of it that killed his friend.
The System's Enforcer: Seong Gi-hun is Beaten by The Front Man
Gi-hun may have won the money and survived the arena, but did he truly win? The end of the first season suggests he did not. As he prepares to leave to see his daughter, he spots the Salesman recruiting another victim and realizes the games are still going on. He makes a choice to stay and fight the organization. This puts him in direct opposition to the leader and overseer of the games: The Front Man.
The Front Man, Hwang In-ho, represents the unshakable, faceless power of the system Gi-hun is trying to fight. Even with billions of won, Gi-hun is just one man. The Front Man has the resources, the manpower, and the authority of the entire organization behind him. He controls the game from the shadows, ensuring its continuation. While Gi-hun won the competition, he is still a pawn in a much larger game, and The Front Man is the one moving the pieces. In a direct confrontation of power and influence, The Front Man currently holds all the cards, making him the victor over the game's supposed winner.
The Ultimate Wildcard: The Front Man is Beaten by... Milk?
This is where the chain takes a wild, speculative turn into the world of fan theories. What could possibly beat the enigmatic and powerful Front Man? The video proposes a surprising answer: Milk.
This theory stems from a subtle line of dialogue from Oh Il-nam (Player 001) in episode 6. While delirious with a fever, he talks to Gi-hun, seemingly mistaking him for his son. He mentions, "My son... he's a good son. He’s a good boy. He was so good at his studies, but he got beaten up a lot... because he didn't drink his milk." Fans have connected this cryptic line to The Front Man, who was revealed to be a past winner and the brother of detective Hwang Jun-ho.
The theory suggests that this is The Front Man's hidden weakness or a symbolic representation of his past. Does it mean a carton of milk could literally defeat him in a fight? Of course not. But in the logic of What Beats Rock, symbolism reigns supreme. If the "son who doesn't drink milk" is indeed The Front Man, then Milk represents a past he has run from, a potential vulnerability, a childhood detail that undermines his current powerful and intimidating persona. It’s a chink in his armor. While the video's host rightly questions this, noting The Front Man could easily force someone else to drink milk, the symbolic power of the theory is undeniable. It's a brilliant, creative leap that shows just how deep the fandom has dived into the show's lore.
Conclusion: The Unending Game
So, what have we learned? The chain is as follows:
Rock -> Paper (Ddakji) -> Piggy Bank -> Kang Sae-byeok -> Shard of Glass -> Seong Gi-hun -> The Front Man -> Milk (?)
This journey through the logic of Squid Game demonstrates that the simplest concepts can become incredibly complex and meaningful when filtered through a rich narrative. Each step reveals something new about the show's themes: deceit, greed, human will, tragic fate, survival, and ultimate power.
What do you think? Do you agree with this chain? What do you think beats Milk? Perhaps the Old Man himself, who planted the clue in the first place? The possibilities are endless. That's the beauty of it.
If this deep dive has sparked your creativity, why not try your hand at the original challenge? Test your own chains of logic with the What Beats Rock Game and see what incredible connections you can come up with.