'Squid Game' S3 Ending Explained: What Happens to Player No. 456 and a Hollywood Twist
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Squid Game, Netflix's biggest show of all time, marked its grand finale with an unexpected star-studded twist—featuring a Hollywood actor in its mysterious final scene.
The epic K-drama series sees 456 cash-strapped individuals compete in a series of fatal survival games on a remote island for the chance to win 45.6 billion Korean won (approximately $33.6 million), with the losers of each game round being met by their deaths.
The third and final season saw Gi-hun (played by Golden Globe nominee and Emmy/Screen Actors Guild Award winner Lee Jung-Jae)—also known as player No. 456 and the winner of the previous competition—at his lowest point following a failed rebellion against the game master, known as the Front Man (played by Lee Byung-hun), and the death of a friend, after losing another friend in Season 1.
However, Gi-hun regains his sense of purpose after the death of Jun-hee (player No. 222, played by Jo Yu-ri), who gave birth to a daughter during a deadly round of hide-and-seek in the competition. Following her heartbreaking death, Gi-hun makes it his mission to protect the newborn at all costs, especially after the infant is entered into the competition as No. 222 following Jun-hee's death.
Countless bloodbaths, several betrayals and 454 deaths later, Gi-hun, the baby and the baby's father—player No. 333 (played by Yim Si-wan), also known as Myung-gi—make it to the final game.
A still from "Squid Game" Season 2, featuring player No. 456 (played by Lee Jung-jae) and player No. 222 (played by Jo Yu-ri) and player No. 120 (Park Sung-hoon).
A still from "Squid Game" Season 2, featuring player No. 456 (played by Lee Jung-jae) and player No. 222 (played by Jo Yu-ri) and player No. 120 (Park Sung-hoon).
Netflix
Gi-Hun, the True Savior
While Gi-hun couldn't overthrow the games via the attempted rebellion, he ends up dying in place of the baby, mirroring the fate of Jesus Christ, who was believed to have died in the place of others in the Christian faith.
The final game, which has three rounds, sees contestants be forced to push at least one player off each of three giant pillars in order to move onto the next round. Each round begins as soon as a button at the center of the pillar is pushed down.
Myung-gi initially attempts to eliminate Gi-hun but later the pair end up holding on for life at the edge of the pillar, which sees Myung-gi fall to his death.
Player No. 456 (played by Lee Jung-jae) pictured in "Squid Game" Season 3.
Player No. 456 (played by Lee Jung-jae) pictured in "Squid Game" Season 3.
In a heart-wrenching moment, Gi-hun realizes he had yet to press the button to officially start the game, which meant there still needs to be an elimination in the final round. Choosing to save the baby and eliminate himself, Gi-hun places the baby on the ground before plunging to his death. With his final words being: "We are not horses. We are humans. Humans are...," Gi-hun falls backwards off the edge of the pillar in a crucifix position, similar to Christ's crucifixion.
The parallels with the Christ figure were also seen just before the fatal hide-and-seek game when Gi-hun is seen standing in front of a giant glowing knife cut-out backdrop that bears the shape of a cross.
Several crosses were also shown on a checkered wall in the players' sleeping quarters. Gi-hun's green jacket also always had a red cross badge, signifying his vote against a move to the next round of the games, but perhaps symbolizing his Christ-like savior designation.
Player No. 456 (played by Lee Jung-jae), being taken away by the pink-suited guards.
Player No. 456 (played by Lee Jung-jae), being taken away by the pink-suited guards.
Netflix
'Squid Game' Lives On With a Hollywood Twist
The island where the games are held is eventually tracked down by detective Jun-ho (played by Wi Ha-jun), who has been on a quest to locate the remote gaming facility after initially infiltrating it back in Season 1 disguised as a pink guard. The Front Man, who is also Jun-ho's older brother, later orders an evacuation of the facility and the venue is blown up and destroyed after both the detective and his brother make it out alive separately.
A still from "Squid Game" Season 3 on Netflix, showing detective Hwang Jun-ho (played by Wi Ha-jun).
A still from "Squid Game" Season 3 on Netflix, showing detective Hwang Jun-ho (played by Wi Ha-jun).
Netflix
Six months later, in one of the final scenes of the series, the Front Man is seen in Los Angeles dropping off a box of Gi-hun's belongings, including his numbered green tracksuit and a bank card containing the rest of his prize money, to Gi-hun's daughter, who moved there in Season 1.
The Front Man is later driven down a street in Los Angeles and looks out to a side street from his car. He spots a woman in a grey suit playing the "ddakji" game, a Korean children's game played using folded paper squares, with a man. It is the same game that was played by the Salesman character in previous seasons to recruit players for the deadly competition.
A still from "Squid Game" Season 3 featuring the Front Man character (played by Lee Byung-hun).
A still from "Squid Game" Season 3 featuring the Front Man character (played by Lee Byung-hun).
Netflix
A close-up of the woman's face reveals it is none other than Cate Blanchett, the Oscar- and Golden Globe-winning Hollywood actress.
The final scene sees her staring straight ahead at the Front Man in his car, as the man playing the "ddakji" game says, "Alright, let's go again." With her gaze uninterrupted, she replies, "As you wish," as the scene ends.
The mysterious ending might mean that the deadly competition has gone global and lives on in the United States. Could this mean there may be an American spin-off of the Squid Game franchise on the cards? Only time will tell.
Squid Game Season 3 is available to stream now on Netflix.
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