Two TV shows stand out when it comes to bizarre yet harrowing depictions of dystopian futures. For fans of fiction set in chaotic years to come, Squid Game and Snowpiercer both offer distinct yet unforgettable visions for the worst-case scenario of humanity’s tomorrow. Whether it’s deadly games or a frozen world divided by class, both series depict extreme endgames for what awaits after the collapse of society as we know it.
The popularity of both shows proves there’s a clear audience appetite for cautionary tales about where unchecked financial inequality can lead. Viewers are drawn to stories that reflect real-world anxieties through heightened, often brutal scenarios. However, there’s a third option for those who can’t get enough of Snowpiercer and Squid Game, and it quietly delivers something just as gripping.
3% is a four-season Netflix series that takes the best elements of both shows and welds their themes into a chilling projection of society’s future. Blending ruthless competition with stark class division, it feels like a natural companion piece to both Squid Game and Snowpiercer. For fans of either series, it should absolutely be considered essential viewing.
3% Mixes Snowpiercer’s Class Struggle With Squid Game’s Deadly Competition
A Brutal Dystopia Where Survival Depends On Beating The System
At its core, 3% presents a near-future where society is split between the impoverished Inland and the utopian Offshore. Every year, 20-year-olds are given one chance to pass The Process, a series of intense and often psychologically punishing tests. Only 3% succeed, earning a place in the paradise that is Offshore while the rest are left behind.
This setup immediately echoes Squid Game, where desperate contestants risk everything for a shot at a better life. Much like Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) in Squid Game, central 3% protagonist Michele Santana (Bianca Comparato) enters because the risks of not doing so far outweigh the literal danger of The Process. The tension comes not just from whether characters will win, but from what they’re willing to sacrifice to get there.
At the same time, 3% channels Snowpiercer’s exploration of rigid class structures. In Snowpiercer, Andre Layton (Daveed Diggs) fights against a system that keeps the elite comfortable while the lower classes suffer. Similarly, 3% constantly questions whether the Offshore truly deserves its privileged status, or if it’s built on exploitation and illusion.
What makes 3% particularly compelling is how it merges these ideas. The competition isn’t just about survival. It’s a tool used by those in power to maintain inequality. The Process becomes a form of control, convincing the masses that success is possible while keeping the system intact.
This dual focus gives 3% a unique edge that distinguishes it from both Squid Game and Snowpiercer. It’s not just a thriller or a social commentary, it’s both at once, using high-stakes drama to explore deeply unsettling ideas about merit, fairness, and systemic oppression
It’s Criminal How Obscure 3% Is
Netflix’s Most Underrated Dystopian Series Deserves A Wider Audience
Despite arriving years before Squid Game became a global phenomenon or Snowpiercer adapted the 2013 movie into a gripping series, 3% remains surprisingly under the radar. Premiering in 2016, 3% was Netflix’s first Portuguese-language original series and one of its most innovative early ventures into creating original sci-fi, yet it never achieved the same level of international recognition as later dystopian hits.
All 3 Seasons Of Squid Game, Ranked Worst To Best
With the central Squid Game series all wrapped up after season 3, it’s time to take a look at each installment to discover how they stack up.
That lack of visibility is hard to justify given how gripping 3% is from start to finish. The show has rightfully gained recognition for its sharp writing, tightly constructed narrative, and willingness to challenge its audience. Each season builds on the last, expanding the significance of the difference between Inland and Offshore while deepening the relatable themes that ensure this unique dystopian vision resonates.
The characters in 3% are another major highlight. Michele Santana is a compelling lead, but she’s far from the only standout. Fernando Carvalho (Michel Gomes), Rafael Moreira (Rodolfo Valente), and Joana Coelho (Vaneza Oliveira) all bring different perspectives to The Process and have their own reasons for participating, making the story of 3% far from predictable.
What’s more, unlike some dystopian series that rely heavily on spectacle, 3% focuses on ideas and character-driven tension. The individual tests in The Process are often more psychological than physical, forcing participants to confront moral dilemmas rather than just brute-force challenges. This approach makes 3% feel fresh despite obvious comparisons to the games in Squid Game. They’re conceptually similar, but worlds apart in execution.
For Netflix subscribers who were captivated by Squid Game or drawn into the class warfare of Snowpiercer, 3% offers something just as gripping, if not more so. It’s a hidden gem that deserves far more attention, and once discovered, it’s hard to stop watching.
- Release Date
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2016 – 2020-00-00
- Network
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Netflix
- Directors
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César Charlone, Daina Giannecchini, Jotagá Crema, Philippe Barcinski
- Writers
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Ivan Nakamura, Pedro Aguilera, André Sirangelo
