Why Ali is the Most Important Character in Squid Game | Ali Abdul Explained 

Poor Ali. 😢 Please install Raid for Free ✅ IOS/ANDROID/PC: clcr.me/GenerationOchi_Raid and get a special starter pack 💥 Available only for the next 30 days

Sang woo doesn’t ask Ali to call him by his name he asks him to call him hyung which is an honorific used by younger males to refer to older males. It means older brother so that’s why Ali looks so honoured to be told he can use that honorific for Sang woo and it makes the part where Ali is yelling hyung before he dies more heart breaking because he’s not calling Sang woo by name but by older brother.

Ali is certianly not a capitalist. He is the representation of expoited worker. He simply asks for the money owed in his work. I like that he doesnt alteast seem to feel bad for hurting his boss. It is an accident in all accounts, and the same injury that ali himself has gotten with no pay out or awknowledgement of restitution. I wish there was a longer conversation with sang-woo around thier opposite places in the capitalist system as it is the theme of the whole show

He was the first to show an act of kindness in the games and that same person, shown that kindness, paid it forward at the end of the game. Sang-woo got to see humanity over and over and constantly chose to step on it as some kind of weakness to exploit.

Ali’s boss should be the one in the games because he is the one gambling ali’s money. I think you could do a whole video comparing ali and his boss.

I believe in the NY Times a critic referred to Ali, as a poorly written, bordering on a racist portrayal of an immigrant. A UK critic who has descended from Pakistan immigrants, disagreed and said it is one of the better representations of the "good immigrant". Ali tries to play by the rules, tries to help, serve, join in and still will get ultimately screwed over. This critic argued Hollywood would not have killed off Ali in such a way, his death would be heroic to make the audience feel better about themselves. The fact the show doesn't pull it's punches is one of the reasons I enjoyed it and it made such an impact. I honestly don't think anything coming out the States would do the same.

I didn't even notice this until you mentioned it that Ali lost his two fingers at his workplace. I actually like how it basically comes full circle when his boss gets his hand stuck in one of the press rollers. I like this take, Ali died as a loyal friend, not as the simple naive victim that got betrayed. Of course he wanted to survive, but he could never bear the idea of sacrificing others to get there, especially not his new older brother. So he played along with Sang-Woo, despite probably knowing deep down it's a fraud. Ali died a hero in my eyes.

If anybody thinks, that Ali’s greedy boss is an exaggerated caricature of reality, I gotta say that he is not exaggerated at all. I live in Korea and seen a lot of undocumented foreigners being treated like this. I’m half Korean and it’s already a minor pain in my ass. Ali’s injury is, no doubt, pretty bad, but some people lose limbs working at factories.

Most badass moment of the show was Ali holding gi-hun up He’s eyes I stood up from my chair and I was like “like man is a badass, no way he did that”

If I knew even one person with a heart like Ali's I would believe in humanity.

“And it was no one’s fault but his own. He got distracted...playing Raid shadow legends...” My god I was about to rage at you if you actually blamed Ali for his injury 😂😂

Ali's character is the main reasons why this show is a more optimistic critique of our society rather than a pessimistic one. It's true that many people had ill intentions and that the pure characters ended up being betrayed and killed at the end. But his kindness led to great things. Ali saving Gi-hyun enabled him to win, and helped put Gi-Hyun in a position to put a stop to the cycle as hinted by the ending. This show depicts a cold and heartless world, but it also shows that acts of kindness can create a snowball effect and encourage people to take a stand and change the whole system.

I thought that Ali was the coolest character in the show. The conviction on his face as he was holding Gi Hun in Red Light Green Light was everything that you needed to know about the character. A strong and selfless person who was hellbent on trying to bring as many people up with him as he could. Then to see him give the money to his family to leave immediately before returning to the games to return to them solidified it. Im sure this wasn’t intent of the director but I viewed Ali as a parallel to the demonized socialist that tries to invest resources and energy equally into his community but is ultimately swallowed by the individualistic and cutthroat Capitalistic nature of the world, the games and Sang Woo.

I'm glad the writer/director included a character representing the lowest of the low -- a person without status even among those lowly citizens who are already desperate and debt-ridden. There are so many at the bottom of any society who are despised, exploited and generally ignored. Squid Game isn't so much about the games but what humans must do to each other in desperate times (when was there ever not a desperate time in the real world?), and that there are other humans who create and exploit these desperate times because the lives of the vast majority of ordinary humans are cheap or worthless to them.

In Korea you simply don’t call someone by name (unless you are close friends and age difference is less than 6 months). Sang-Woo is older than Ali, that’s why Ali calls him “Bro”. 1 year age difference, and you have to say “Bro”, or “Sis”. Also Sajang-nim, Isa-nim, kwajang-nim, panjang-nim, kisa-nim, sonsaeng-nim, sonbae-nim etc. If you don’t use those words, it means that you are uncultured, uneducated, mean and rude person.

I’ll take an early stab and will later correct or modify as needed… Ali is a refreshing highlight that even ethnically homogeneous cultures, those with differences exist & matter equally?

BTW “hyung” is like “big bro” said between one male to an older male with whom he’s close. At least based on my time spent watching kdramas.

I don’t buy the argument Ali made himself a willing martyr when surrendering his marbles to Song Woo. Did Ali know Song Woo would betray him? No. He knew the POSSIBILITY of it, but I don’t believe he knew what the actual outcome would be. Just as he knew the possibility that he might be deceived. Yet he can’t countenance it because, despite all evidence to the contrary, he still harbors hope that men (and Song Woo in particular) can overcome their baser nature when forced into a moral dilemma. This belief, I think, is also reflective of Ali himself. When the confrontation with his boss turns ugly, he stills considers that an exception rather than the rule. By that same token he absolves himself of any responsibility he might feel toward his injured former employer, because he doesn’t see the person willing and/or capable to commit violence as an accurate reflection of himself. It’s this dedicated belief that men are generally good that leads Ali to trust Song Woo, a choice fueled by both necessity and hope. I think that’s what makes Song Woo’s betrayal so heartbreaking. It’s only fitting the Ali should be both the lesson and path to redemption for Song Woo at the end.

Thank you for this video. I've been saying that if Squid Game's commentary wasn't that Korean-centric, Ali would be the rewarded one because he was the only one who stayed morally good while everybody, the protagonist included, at some point had murderously selfish moments.

honestly i'm so grateful for new asian shows coming out cuz it means generation ochi could make a new vid on it

There is currently a refugee crisis going on in Europe. It dehumanizes both sides. The inclusion of several migrant characters - Ali Abdul, Kang Sae-byeok, and Player 276 - is especially relevant today. The popularity of this show and of this character specifically gives me hope.

Thank you so much for featuring me in my basket 🤩 Excellent analysis of Ali and his steadfastness to his principles throughout the games. Prince Ali, fabulous he!

Ali deeply reminded me my husband here. Loyal, altruistic, hard-working, soft hearted,just and generous. I as someone who was raised by psychopath mother and abused since early childhood really appreciate those qualities. He helped me with my rehabilitation and taught me how to trust people again. Yet his kindness and loyalty sometimes lets him down in life. Because not everything in life works according morality and justice. I keep reminding him that a dose of healthy egoism and and ability to walk on others' heads is needed to thrive in life. Because that's exactly what I did back in my past to survive in my family and make my abusive mother take the responsibility for her actions. I made my revenge, I had to overcome my altruism and soft side. It's just a society we live in. So he teaches me, and I teach him these missing parts. World doesn't work according justice Good people die, evil live and feel no remorse. There's no karma thing exists to punish them. It's up to you to stick to your morals and lose your life, or sometimes walk on others' heads and survive. We need people like Ali to make world more humane and compassionate. i just don't want my close people to be in his shoes and risk their lives.

Ali was so sweet, he was my favorite and I was prepared for him to die but not like that, he died because he was too trusting😭😭

And that´s, perhaps, the only death that Sang Woo truly felt, and finished breaking him.

Generation Ochi: Squid game is one of the biggest critiques of capitalism.. Also Generation Ochi advertising Raid Shadow Legends xD

If only Ali was like a mirror - good for good people and evil to evil, he would succeed in life and not end up in the heartless Squid game))

dude... this video was masterful. The way you explain the psychology of these characters is wonderful. By watching your videos, you explain how I feel and what I cannot put into words when I'm watching such an intricate tvshow.

I'm so sorry I can't give you money so you don't have to awkwardly support raid shadow legends. Much respect, amigo.

4:25 actually sangwoo allows Ali to call him 헝 or "hyeong" which means older brother and what guys call their older friend (but only by extremely close people)

I loved Ali as a character: he was just so sweet but the longer I think about him…it’s just I feel like he’s too good to be true, a sacrificial lamb of sorts written to shed light on class warfare.

(This contains spoilers) Though I love Ali, I knew he would die after watching the very first episode. I mean, he risked his life to save a literal stranger. Though kindness is a good thing in moderation, it has its limits, especially in a life and death case. In squid game, there were two types of players. The majority of them adjusted to the situation and learned to accept that others had to die in order for them to win. But a few of the players, like Ali, didn’t want anyone to die and that’s the reason why they were killed off. In a messed-up world, there may still be kindness and good left, but that will soon perish. Ali was too nice, he never would have won the games anyways.

ali my beloved

I never realized that Ali has missing fingers until now

If we look at Sang-woo and Ali, they do seem perfect for each other as companions. For Ali, he is at the bottom of the social hierarchy while Sang-woo is at the top; despite both being in very different stratas in the society, both have been wronged by the evils pervading the country and corrupting the systems at play.

I don't forget you Ali Abul, R.I.P🕊️🕊️😭😭😭

If Ali is an illegal immigrant, then by definition he would have minimal paperwork and traces in South Korea. So I wonder how the game makers even found him and knew his financial situation

Can you do one on jang deok-su

They made the whole movie but they didn't do proper research on Pakistan because as a Pakistani I can tell you all that marbles are very popular game among kids here, Odd and even game is played by every child here..

Damnit! Who's chopping onions??

heartbreaking death, really hope the theory he's alive is true

I really love watching these videos cause they give me another way to think about these characters and the show. Nice work🔥🔥

bro that sponsership ad lmao wtf, ali a true gamer!!!!

When I saw Ali, I *knew* what would happen to him (bc this happens to so many POCs in media), but I felt so bad when I saw exactly what happened... Never trust a guy named Sangwoo ✋😭

sponsor ends at 4:07

Starting off with the mention with call by his name and not by 형, cmon is like 3 minutes search for the translation of the word alone

Well story wise show would end pretty fast without him

Kind of funny how Ali actually does better than the majority of players, even though he's foreign and probably unfamiliar with many of these Korean children's games!

Thanks for the vid. I cried. I love Ali. As I brown person watching this show, my soul felt for Ali. His humility and culture, I really felt. His is the richest of them all in character and he died with honour. I believe his only regret was that he did not see his family again in this life. When Ali ran away with the cash from him wounded boss… I think he vowed never to do that to someone else again. And he didn’t. He couldn’t.

Pls keep making these! I love them!!!

That sponsership intro felt like something out of a fever dream lol

Ali's death is an end of a fairytale.

Ali will always be my favourite

Sang woo is such a backstabber he literally helps him in the first half of the episodes and then he’s just a liar and then he even kills kang saebyeok (and yes I spelled it right) which was Gi Hun’s best friend but I finished squid game and I forgot but did Gi hun know that sang woo got Ali killed on purpose?

You made me love ali even more 😭

Ali did not deserve to be betrayed

This is an extremely well made analysis on Ali. I enjoyed it, but maybe tone it down on the word soup? I feel like your verbage got extremely convoluted to get your point across and at times it did feel a bit annoying.

I absolutely love your content and narrations, please consider doing a series on Netflix's Dark, you have no idea how much I'd enjoy that, and others alike

2 people I loved in this show were Ali with his love for humanity and the detective and his endless love for his brother. The first risked his life for friends and the 2'nd choosed to risc his life for his beloved brother. They were winners. Ali didn't cheat on himself and the cop accepted the death from his own brother. To be honest, i watched the serial because of them. I should admit, I expected a happy ending for the cop.😢

Me at the beginning: I think I’m mentally stable enough for this vid! Me after: UE… ue… U…Ue…UE Eu UEUEUEUEUEU ueueueu eu uE🙁😭😭

awesome breakdown of Ali

That ad transition was smooth

You gonna do a follow up on explaining high rise invasion because season 2 is supposed to come out roughly somewhere is January

Prince Ali, fabulous he, Ali Ababwa

That's the best sponsored ad placement i've ever seen!

I gave this video a like, but I can't continue watching it to the end. My heart hurts man.

This is so sad😭. Ali was pure hearted, but betrayed by the friend he thought he could trust.

I’m so glad I found your channel, I love Borderland and Squid games so it’s cool to hear your thoughts 😊

I hope gihun will help out Ali's family with his prize money

I'm really impressed by your videos!! I see you got a whole bunch on Squid Game and even the live action for Alice in Borderland (which is one of my favorite manga!) You gained a new sub and I'm looking forward to more of your videos

Thxs ! I relate to Ali so much. Because I was Born and raised in East Germany during Socialist - Kommunist times and moved to west capitalistic Germany by the Age of 12 and still to this Day I feel foreign and not prepaired to be that egoistic and greedy in this capitalistic System. Its a bit sad 😢 I think only people that experienced both worlds (Socialist/Communist vs. Capitalist) can truly understand or rather feel the difference. I think the world is still fighting about these two different ideas and meanwhile capitalistic systems takes over and ruins the whole world. Its sad to me.

Ali was a nice guy and sadly that’s why he couldn’t survive

jeez this made me cry

anyone else notice that there is no blood around ali after he "died"?

I've been waiting for this!!!!!!!

Ali was a sweetheart i cried when he died

You should be a poet

maybe Ali is alive and the guard was the one trying to stop squid game!

In short ali's character introduces the nature of the people of whole Bangladesh, India and Pakistan. We are always the stronger among all others but we never show attitude at all. We always keep the peace , harmony and affection in our mind.

Wait are you a Philosophy major lol

You should do one on Deok Su or Byeongi/The doctor

Ali, most important because he’s the hottest !..

Music playing at 7:50? It’s really familiar but I just can’t remember it

17:38

this is very random but imagine being the guard who had to change the players outfits into the tracksuits

I'm just waiting for the Hellbound review

I have arrived 👁👄👁

whats the name of the song at 9:40 ?

My name is ali

i was laughing so badly when min yu called ali an illegal alien XDD

Wow

Hi bro can you do videos on K dramas Like all the new ones now because squid game isn’t as popular now

I thought he was American-

There is a hint of all your takes that screams “I hate capitalism” idk what it is…can’t put my finger on it. I would like to hear your take on what “morals” socialism/communism espouses. Or do we ignore the millions of people who’s lives have been outright extinguished because of it?

I'd rather have an AI generated voice over than this narrator's voice. Think William Shatner mixed with Tucker Carlson.

early !!

Sang Woo Straight Hair Korea Evil Ali Curly Hair Pakistan Good See they’re completely opposite

Too bad that actual Pakistani people are so far from being helpful. I wish the writers made him Bangladeshi or Indian instead.

I hate raidshadowlegends

There's an onslaught of characters, and I really didn't care about him one way or the other. Even if he were one dimensional, there's enough going on that he wouldn't take away from the story.