Squid Game concludes with a chilling, heart-wrenching final chapter
The much-anticipated third season of Squid Game has arrived on Netflix, continuing the suspenseful narrative of survival and brutality. Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), our protagonist, returns to the deadly games, this time seeking not only to survive but also to bring an end to the competition.
In this season, the games become more intense and lethal, with players fighting for their lives amid the ever-present threat posed by the masked VIPs and the Front Man (In-ho). The VIPs, symbolising the wealthy elite who exploit the players for sadistic entertainment, make a chilling return to exert their control and influence over the games.
A significant new character, No-eul (played by Park Gyu-young), faces her own struggles on the island. Facing a moment of despair, she contemplates suicide but is ultimately influenced to live by events involving the infant on the island. During the climactic sequence, In-ho activates the island’s self-destruct mechanism as authorities close in, but both No-eul and Jun-ho manage to evacuate safely, along with some of the VIPs and island staff.
Gi-hun's performance in season three speaks volumes, telegraphing the depths of his pain and suffering. The audience still roots for him, but in season three, they also worry for him as his soul is broken beyond repair. Player 001 (Lee Byung-hun), who was presumed dead, makes a shocking return as the Front Man full-time, adding another layer of complexity to the game.
Season three features a variation on jump-roping as one of the games, and the cross necklace belonging to the not-so-dearly departed Thanos finds new importance as other players consume the hidden stash of drugs he left behind. The story finds a way to punctuate this vicious final chapter in a memorable, very terminal way.
Player-on-player attacks are actively incorporated into the competitions in season three, adding a new level of danger and unpredictability. The prize money in season three has increased exponentially due to the player brawl and subsequent rebellion.
The season ends with several characters finding some resolution. Gi-hun's allies reunite with their families, No-eul prepares to travel to China after hearing her daughter might be alive, and Gi-hun's fortified hotel is planned for renovation. In a final scene, In-ho visits Gi-hun's daughter in Los Angeles to inform her of his death, giving her Player 456’s bloody tracksuit and remaining winnings. This moment hints at the continuation of the games beyond Korea, as an American recruiter is seen playing the traditional ddakji game, revealing the franchise’s expansion to a global scale.
In summary, Season 3 focuses on Gi-hun’s attempt to stop the games from within, No-eul’s personal struggle intertwined with her survival and hope for her daughter, and the ominous return and eventual shift in the actions of the masked VIPs, culminating in a dramatic and explosive conclusion that sets the stage for future international iterations of the deadly games. Squid Game Season 3 is now streaming on Netflix, consisting of six episodes.
- The tech-savvy readers of Io9 and enthusiasts on Gizmodo can anticipate detailed reviews of the latest Squid Game season, delving into its depiction of future technology and the exploration of political and social themes in entertainment.
- As the third season of Squid Game unveils an expansion of its lethal games and the emergence of new characters like No-eul, movie and TV aficionados will surely be entertained and gripped by the suspenseful narrative playing out across six episodes.
- For technology-loving enthusiasts, the surprising appearance of the cross necklace belonging to the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Thanos in Squid Game's third season wraps up the story in a unique, memorable manner, weaving together various cinematic universes for a captivating viewing experience.
