Squid Game Season 3 : A Flawed but Thematically Potent Finale
(Review)
Squid Game Season 3 (released June 27, 2025) concludes Netflix’s global phenomenon with a mix of devastating character resolutions, audacious narrative swings, and lingering frustrations. Picking up immediately after Season 2’s failed rebellion, the final six episodes deliver ultraviolent games and philosophical weight—yet struggle to recapture the originality of Season 1. Here’s a detailed analysis.
Narrative Conclusion & Major Twists
- Gi-hun’s Sacrifice: Broken by his rebellion’s failure, Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) regains purpose when Player 222 (Kim Jun-hee) gives birth mid-games. The VIPs forcibly enroll the newborn as a player, escalating the horror. In the finale (“Sky Squid Game”), Gi-hun jumps to his death to ensure the baby wins the ₩45.6 trillion prize, declaring, “We are not horses. We are humans…”.
- Front Man’s Ambiguity: Lee Byung-hun’s chilling antagonist spares Gi-hun earlier to break his spirit, believing they share nihilistic trauma as past winners. Their final confrontation is minimal, emphasizing the games’ inescapable cycle.
- Spinoff Setup: The final scene reveals the Front Man in Los Angeles, observing Cate Blanchett as a recruiter playing ddakji with a homeless man—teasing Squid Game: America.
Verdict: Gi-hun’s arc ends poetically, but the baby twist polarizes. Some praise its dystopian audacity. others deem it ludicrous
Character Arcs & Performances
- Lee Jung-jae’s Masterclass: Gi-hun’s journey from catatonic despair to self-sacrifice is a “career-best performance” (Total Film). His wordless anguish in early episodes conveys trauma more powerfully than dialogue.
- Supporting Standouts:
- Trans fighter Cho Hyun-ju (Player 120) and mother Jang Geum-ja (Player 149) deliver warmth amid brutality, though their deaths feel rushed.
- Im Si-wan’s crypto-bro Lee Myung-gi shines as a morally ambiguous wildcard.
- Weak Links: The VIPs (mostly English-speaking) return with “cartoonish” acting and “cringe dialogue,” undermining tension. Detective Jun-ho’s subplot is dismissed as “dull” and unresolved.
Games & Production Design
| Game | Episode | Description | Reception |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hide and Seek | 2 | Players hunt each other with knives in a Van Gogh-inspired maze. | “Most harrowing violence” (IGN); “Overly literal” |
| Jump Rope | 3 | Teams skip ropes on a bridge; missteps cause fatal falls. | “Visually stunning” but mechanically thin |
| Sky Squid Game | 6 | Teams battle on platforms; one must be pushed off alive to advance. | “Heart-stopping finale” (D |
Production Notes: Chae Kyoung-sun’s sets (e.g., a “Starry Night”-themed maze) remain a highlight—blending childhood whimsy with visceral terror. However, CGI for the baby player distracts.
hematic Depth & Critiques
- Capitalism & Humanity: The season reinforces wealth disparity themes but becomes “heavy-handed” (NPR). The VIPs’ cruelty and players’ self-destructive votes echo real-world inequities, yet lack Season 1’s subtlety.
- Redemption vs. Nihilism: Gi-hun’s sacrifice challenges the Front Man’s worldview, arguing that humanity persists even in oppression. The baby’s victory symbolizes generational trauma—and fragile hope.
- Missed Opportunities: Gi-hun and Front Man’s conflict is underdeveloped, while the rebellion’s aftermath feels underexplored.
Reception & Legacy
- Praise: “Staggeringly excellent finale” (Total Film) : Lee Jung-jae’s performance hailed as “one of TV’s greatest” (Decider).
- Criticism: “Frustratingly safe” (DiscussingFilm); “repetitive structure” (NPR); “baggy pacing” (The Guardian).
- Audience Split: Rotten Tomatoes scores plummet to 50% (vs. 83% for Season 1), citing rushed endings and abandoned subplots.
inal Verdict
Squid Game Season 3 is a B+ finale elevated by its lead actor’s brilliance and unflinching violence, yet dragged down by narrative bloat and thematic repetition. It succeeds as a visceral thriller but stumbles as a societal allegory. Gi-hun’s arc concludes with tragic grace, while the spinoff tease risks diluting the franchise’s impact.
For fans: Watch for Lee Jung-jae’s performance and the jaw-dropping baby twist.
For skeptics: The VIP scenes remain insufferable, but the games deliver signature suspense.
Where to Stream: Netflix (full season released June 27, 2025).