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Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Squid Game' Series Finale: Who Survived and How the Final Scene Could Set Up a Spinoff
[This story contains MAJOR spoilers from the season three finale, 'Humans are…'] The Squid Games are over — or are they? More from The Hollywood Reporter 'Squid Game' Creator Explains His Hero's Fate and Talks Spinoff Potential RTL's Sky Deal Signals "Get Big or Get Out" Strategy for Europe's TV Giants Comcast to Sell Sky Deutschland to Bertelsmann's RTL Group The finale of the third and final season of Netflix's global hit series Squid Game has now been released into the world, and the ending from series creator Hwang Dong-hyuk accomplished two things. Hwang, who writes and directs every episode, delivered on his promise that this final season of his anti-capitalist thriller would conclude the story of protagonist Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae). The returning Player 456 met a tragic ending to conclude his second round competing in the deadly Games, which explains why Hwang said all along that the streamer's most-streamed series would only be a three-season story. During the final and fatal 'Sky Squid Game,' Gi-hun went into the last round as one of three remaining players, along with Lee Myung-gi (Yim Si-wan), aka Player 333, and — in the series' most evil twist to date — the newborn baby who was born earlier during the Games. That baby of Player 333 and Jun-hee (Jo Yu-ri), the latter who sacrificed herself for her baby's survival in the previous Jump Rope game, ends up as the Game's winner. After a fight for survival with Player 333, Gi-hun had emerged alive, but had failed to press the button to officially start the round. Per the game's twisted rules, there had to be one death per round, so Gi-hun ended up sacrificing himself in heart-rendering fashion so the baby, who had taken on Jun-hee's Player 222 role, could survive. This leaves the baby as the sole survival among all of the contestants who had been introduced in both seasons two and three. This season brought about the devastating deaths of fan-favorites also including transgender former soldier Hyun-ju (Park Sung-hoon), aka Player 120, who was stabbed by Player 333 while trying to save Jun-hee and her baby; and mother Geum-ja (Kang Ae-sim), aka Player 149, and son Yong-sik (Yang Dong-geun), aka Player 007, the latter who was killed by his mother during the Hide and Seek game so Jun-hee and her baby could continue on. Outside of the players, the series did leave several survivors, including the game's enigmatic overseer, The Front Man (Lee Byung-hun), who ended his time on the series by tracking down Gi-hun's estranged daughter, Ga-yeong (Jo Ah-in), in Los Angeles. Gi-hun had left his daughter behind in order to go back into the Games for season two, motivated by his survivor's-remorse and hopes of destroying the Games from within. In the six-month time jump that ended the series, viewers saw Gi-hun's daughter holding the debit card that we know contains the prize money from the first game that Gi-hun won: 45.6 billion won, which translates to about $31.5 million. Whether The Front Man's visit to Gi-hun's daughter is truly altruistic remains open for interpretation. Detective Hwang Jun-ho (Wi Ha-jun) and his helper in tracking the island, Choi Woo-seok (Jun Suk-ho), were also alive by the series' end. And in another twist of empathy, The Front Man left his brother an even bigger windfall when the Detective returned home to find Jun-hee's surviving and healthy-looking child, along with the 45.6 billion won prize money that comes with Player 222's winning title. But the final-final moment that viewers saw with The Front Man was the biggest surprise of all. After Front Man's brother had finally discovered the location of the Games, the VIPs and Pink Guards evacuated the island before one final, brief encounter between the brothers. With the Games infiltrated, The Front Man destroyed all evidence by blowing up the island; he and his brother both escaped to safety, along with the baby. So the Squid Games are now effectively over, right? Not so fast. After delivering the items to Gi-hun's daughter, The Front Man is seen driving through Downtown L.A. where he hears the all-too familiar sound of The Recruiter's ddakji game. (Gong Yoo played the Korean Recruiter who died in season two.) Peering through an alley, The Front Man then spots a new Games 'Recruiter' — played by none other than two-time Oscar-winning actress Cate Blanchett in a major cameo that was kept secret until the show released. On the streets of L.A., Blanchett's character was dressed in the Recruiter's familiar suit and packed an equally mean wind-up slap, this time across the face of a desperate American who no doubt is being recruited for the deadly Games. We can only assume her character is recruiting American players — could they be for a U.S. version of the show's eponymous death game? Netflix has not confirmed if or how the show's franchise will continue on and while creator Hwang has indicated his interest in a possible spinoff, he has suggested setting a potential follow-up story in the past to explore the big time gap between seasons one and two. In a final season interview, he told The Hollywood Reporter any spinoff conversations are only in the beginning stages but that 'I think the story ended in a manner where it doesn't need a further story to be told. So I am not too interested in telling a story that continues on from the conclusion. If I were to do a spinoff someday, I think I would rather choose to go back and see what happened during that time gap [between seasons one and two].' So what the future holds for the Squid Games — and Blanchett's possible role in them — remains the biggest lingering question now hovering over Netflix's most globally popular show of all time. With this ending, Hwang has again accomplished two things. First, he left hope. Not only did Jun-hee's baby survive and emerge as the winner, but there was also that callback to the first season — when the family of Gi-hun's friend from the first round of the Games, the deceased Sae-byeok (Hoyeon), is reunited — and the cliffhanger of this season's heroic Pink Guard, No-eul (Park Gyu-young), getting a call that her child who she thought was dead may be alive. But then there is the despair of seeing the Games continuing on with Blanchett's Recruiter, in whatever form they may take. So until Netflix weighs in on that future, Squid Game leaves us left to ponder Gi-hun's final, unfinished words: 'Humans are…' The final season of Squid Game is now streaming on Netflix. Read THR's take on the finale cameo and full final season interview with creator Hwang Dong-hyuk. Best of The Hollywood Reporter 'The Studio': 30 Famous Faces Who Play (a Version of) Themselves in the Hollywood-Based Series 22 of the Most Shocking Character Deaths in Television History A 'Star Wars' Timeline: All the Movies and TV Shows in the Franchise
Graziadaily
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Graziadaily
How Does Squid Game End? The Shocking S3 Finale Explained
Just like that, Netflix's biggest hit Squid Game has come to an end with its third and final season. And if you've stopped crying long enough following the death of Gi-hun (Player 456 played by Lee Jung-jae) and taken some time to reflect on the incredible series, chances are you have some questions. The third season of Squid Game began in the midst of the deadly rebellion that started in the season two finale. Ultimately though the rebellion fails and the games continue as before. Oh Young-il (Lee Byung-hun) is no longer a player and has resumed his role as the Front Man' – not that Gi-hun knows this of course and he's struggling with survivors' guilt. Squid Game S3: Lee Jung-jae as Seong Gi-hun ©Netflix Meanwhile the brother of Young-il, whose real name is In-ho, Hwang Jun-ho (the detective played by Wi- Ha-joon) is searching for the island but is continually sabotaged by Captain Park. Luckily Woo-seok (Jeon Seok-ho) comes to his aid. Jun-ho is then able to help rescue Gyeong-seok (Player 246, played by Lee Jin-wook) thanks to the efforts of Pink Guard No-eul (Park Gyu-young) who had met him at an amusement park before the games. No-eul rescued Gyeong-seok because his daughter was diagnosed with cancer – he entered the games to try and win the money for her care - and wouldn't survive without her father. Then comes the next game: hide-and-seek during which Jun-hee (Player 222 played by Jo Yu-ri) is badly injured and gives birth to a baby girl. Following that is Jump Rope, in which Jun-hee is sadly eliminated. Gi-hun manages to get her baby girl to safety but when she dies, the newborn is forced to enter the competition and take her dead mother's number. Yes, really. This is where it gets a bit (more) confusing because there's a lot going on. Being the great guy that he is, Gi-hun begins to protect the baby and just before the final game is set to begin he is summoned in front of the Front Man, who – after revealing his identity - offers Gi-hun a proposition. He claims that if Player 456 kills the other players ahead of the final game, he and the baby will win the 37th Squid Games as the next round can't proceed with just two people. Obviously Gi-hun doesn't do this. The final game, Sky Squid Game then commences. The aim of the game is to move across three different pillars, each a different shape, and push at least one other player off the pillar. By the third and final round, only Gi-hun, Lee Myung-gi (the baby's father aka Player 333 played by Yim Siwan) and the baby remain. Myung-gi attempts to kill both Gi-hun and the baby at knife point, but ultimately falls to his death leaving Gi-hun and the baby as the victors. Or so we thought. Realising that the game will only end when one victor is left standing, Gi-hun sacrifices himself – following a powerful speech about how humans aren't horses which reminds us of his conversation with the Front Man in season one - for the baby and jumps from the platform. Player 222, the baby, is declared the winner of the 37th Squid Games. Initially Gi-hun was intended to survive, but series creator Hwang Dong-hyuk ended up changing his mind. He told TUDUM, 'As I began to write and develop the storylines for Seasons 2 and 3, I realized I needed a resolution that would bring both the game and Gi-hun's journey to a close. 'I need to wrap up Gi-hun's journey and convey a message to the audience right now. The message I wanted to communicate was that if we solely pursue our immediate self-interest, and refuse to self-restrain, sacrifice, or bear any costs, and if we don't put our heads together, we have no future.' Seeing that his detective brother has finally found the island, the Front Man detonates timers that explode across the island, erasing any evidence of the games, but first grabs the baby. The final few scenes of Squid Game season three all take place six months later. Six months after the end of the games, No-eul visits Gyeong-seok at the amusement park, learns that his daughter is doing well, and also receives word that her own daughter – who we were all led to believe had died during a previous Squid Game - may have escaped North Korea and could be in mainland China. The Front Man leaves the baby with his brother, along with her 4.56 billion won prize money. 456 is a pretty important number because, it was also the number of…. Well remembered main man Gi-hun. As for Gi-hun's prize money from the first Squid Game which he left in the hotel, that was given, by the Front Man, to Gi-hun's daughter Ga-yeong – the one who moved away with her mother in the first season and wanted nothing to do with her father. He also informs her that he has passed away. In the very final scene of Squid Game , as the Front Man is driving through LA he sees someone who appears to be a recruiter for an American version of the games (Cate Blanchett). She's winning a game of ddakji against a man in and alley and doesn't say anything, but it's a powerful scene. Cate Blanchett's cameo in Squid Game S3 ©Netflix Nope, that's it. The words, 'Game Over' which flashed on the screens when evacuation protocols were started also seeming referred to the series as a whole as well. It makes sense really, without the Squid Games there can be no Squid Game ! The fact that season three would be the final season of Squid Game was confirmed back in July with a statement from series creator Hwang Dong-hyuk who wrote, 'I am thrilled to see the seed that was planted in creating a new Squid Game grow and bear fruit through the end of this story.' Notorious director David Fincher is however directing an English-language Squid Game spin-off but sources have revealed that Cate Blanchett's cameo in the final scene of Squid Game is not intended to set up any future storylines 'at this time'. The pair do have a history of working together though, most notably in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button , so never say never. Daisy Hall is a News and Entertainment writer on Grazia, specialising in TV and film meaning that you can count on Daisy for the latest (and best) recommendations
Time of India
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Squid Game Season 3 ending divides fans: Internet compares finale to Game of Thrones, calls it 'useless extension' of the series.
Squid Game Season 3 ending: We never thought Squid Game and Game of Thrones would end up in the same sentence aside from both having game in their titles. But now, fans are drawing strong parallels between the two after Squid Game Season 3 ended with what many are calling a disappointing and unnecessary finale. Viewers say the gripping survival drama, once praised for its originality and emotional depth, has now fallen into the same trap as Game of Thrones, which faced massive backlash when it ended in 2019. Fans of both shows believe their final seasons rushed through complex storylines, neglected character arcs, and ultimately delivered endings that felt disconnected from everything that made them great. Squid Game Season 3 ending: Who won the game and what happened to Gi Hun? The final round of Squid Game Season 3 took viewers on an emotional journey. In a haunting setup dubbed the 'Sky Squid Game', only three players remained: Gi-hun (Player 456), Myung-gi (Player 333), and Jun Hee's newborn daughter (Player 222). Yes, a baby, added as a contestant in the show's darkest twist yet. Suspended atop towering platforms, Myung Gi met a grim fate during a brutal confrontation with Gi Hun, falling to his death. But the game wasn't technically over. To win, Gi-hun still had to press a button, essentially choosing whether to eliminate the infant. Instead, Gi Hun did what only he could. He walked toward the button and said, 'We are not horses. We are humans.' Then, without hesitation, he pressed it, sacrificing himself so the baby could live. His fall marked one of the show's most powerful moments. In doing so, he made Jun-hee's daughter the official winner of the ₩45.6 billion prize (around USD 33.5 million). Why are fans criticising the ending? Despite Gi-hun's dramatic final choice, many fans were left confused and unconvinced. For a character who had been the driving force of the story, his sudden death didn't sit right with some viewers. Gi Hun was supposed to take down the system, not die for it. Others questioned how a baby could win the game without participating in every round, calling it a forced plot device. To many, the ending felt like a stretch, as if the creators were looking for a way to keep the series going after its massive success. The finale has sparked a wide range of reactions online, with some calling it bold and others simply calling it unnecessary. One user wrote, "Final episode… never seen a series end that badly. Is that how the GoT fans felt all this time?" Squid game season 3 spoilers Final episode.. never seen a series end that badly is that how the GoT fans felt all this time Another added, "The concept of going back into the games with a whack plan, leaving all that money unattended and sacrificing yourself for a random baby while your own daughter was waiting on you for years… the show should've ENDED after season 1." Squid game season 3 spoilers //.......The concept of going back into the games with a whack plan, leaving all that money unattended n sacrificing yourself for a random baby while ur own daughter was waiting on u for years.. the show should've ENDED after s1 A third fan mentioned, "Squid Game season 3's ending showed us that capitalism always wins no matter what" – okay, and season 1's ending also showed us that. still was a useless extension of the show." 'squid game season 3's ending showed us that capitalism always wins no matter what' - okay and season 1's ending also showed us that so. still was a useless extension of the show "Squid Game season 3 pulled a literal GOT. You had me the first 4 episodes…you had it…then it felt rushed, and you stumbled into the finish line," mentioned one user. Squid game season 3 pulled a literal GOT. You had me the first 4 episodes…you had it…then it felt rushed and you stumbled into the finish line. @squidgame "Season 3 of Squid Games is almost comparable to the last season of Game of Thrones. Super shit," wrote another. Season 3 of Squid Games is almost as comparable as the last season of Game of Thrones. Super shit However, several users defended the finale, saying it stayed true to the show's central message — that life is inherently unfair and capitalism dictates the game. Some even argued that the ending was powerful in its bleakness, reinforcing that no matter how hard you fight, the system wins in the end. As expected, the internet remains split, with some calling it a brave move and others seeing it as a letdown. Created by Hwang Dong Hyuk, Squid Game stars Lee Jung Jae, Lee Byung Hyun, Wi Ha Jun, and Park Sung Hoon among others. Squid Game Season 3 is now streaming on Netflix. For all the latest K-drama, K-pop, and Hallyuwood updates, keep following our coverage here.
Cosmopolitan
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Cosmopolitan
‘Squid Game' Season 3 Finale and Ending, Explained
A winner has been crowned and the games have officially come to an end. The Squid Game finale is officially here and it's not pulling any punches as we find out who truly comes out on top at the end of the games. With a heart-pounding final game still going on, it's anyone's guess who it all comes down. But as we've already seen with this show, the Front Man has plenty of tricks up his sleeve. So is he about to pull the biggest twist of all? You're going to definitely want to see how it all wraps up. Here's the ultimate break down of the season 3 finale of Squid Game. Yes, the name of the game is Sky Squid Game and there are officially three players left: Lee Myung-gi (Player 333), Seong Gi-hun (Player 456), and Kim Jun-hee and Myung-gi's baby who is now playing under Player 222. Gi-hun is still trying to protect the baby for dear life, but Myung-gi is only thinking about his own survival at the end of this. After clearing the requirements for the next round, they are about to move to the final round when they start to fight as one of them must die in order for the games to end or else they all end up dead. While Gi-hun prepares to move onto the square pillar, Myung-gi stops him with the giant pole and tells him to give him the baby instead and stay in the triangle tower. In his crazed state, Myung-gi believes that there is a deeper reason for Gi-hun's protection over the baby, but Gi-hun tells him that it is because he promised Jun-hee that he'd protect her. Knowing that there is no reasoning with Myung-gi, Gi-hun sets the baby down on the bridge, backs up to retrieve the knife, and jumps toward the square pillar before it's too late. He ends up in a fight with Myung-gi, who eventually threatens to throw the baby off the ledge. Myung-gi tells him to drop the knife, which Gi-hun agrees to in order to protect the baby, but they soon start fighting again, leading them both off the ledge of the tower. At the same time as all of this is happening, the VIPs are enjoying the show, but the Front Man AKA Hwang In-ho gets a notice from one of the Pink Guards that something has gone awry. Kang No-eul, the Pink Guard who helps Park Gyeong-seok (Player 246) to escape, discovers her file which states that her daughter is actually deceased. Upset by the reveal, she points the gun to herself as she watches the final game unfold on the screen. Meanwhile, Hwang Jun-ho, who found Gyeon-seok on a boat, swims over to find out the island now that he officially knows where it is. Gi-hun, holding both himself and Myung-gi from the ledge, attempts to try to pull both of them up. However, the jacket that Myung-gi is holding onto breaks apart and he falls to his death. Gi-hun is then able to pull himself back onto the ledge of the tower, but soon realizes that the button in the center wasn't pressed meaning the round never started and Myung-gi's death does not count. As the coast guard arrives to Gyeong-seok's location, the Pink Guard warns In-ho that they are close to finding out the truth as Jun-ho arrives on the island and Gi-hun presses the button to officially start the final round. Gi-hun, realizing what must happen in order for the baby to survive, places the baby in the middle of pillar before stepping out closer to the ledge. With his back turned to where the VIPs and the Front Man are watching he says, "We are not horses. We are humans. And humans are..." before he falls back and officially eliminates himself from the game. Player 222 is declared as the winner and the game has officially ended. Knowing that the Coast Guard is officially close to discovering the island, the Front Man immediately starts to evacuate the everyone. No-eul, seeing everything unfold, decides to not go through with her plan and escapes using her supervisor's mask. Despite seeing bombs that are counting down, Jun-ho still goes inside to try to confront In-ho sees him come up to the final pillar to get the baby. Jun-ho asks him why he did it all, but In-ho turns his back and proceeds to escape. As all the Pink Guards and workers escape, we see Gi-hun one last time as his eyes show the explosion happening on the island, burning down all the evidence that the Squid Games ever existed. As the Coast Guard approaches Jun-ho who has swam out of the island, a mysterious man is seen breaking into the hotel where Gi-hun was staying at and discovers the cash he left behind. Shockingly, no! The episode then jumps ahead six months and gives us an update on how everyone else is doing. Back at the amusement park where she used to work, No-eul sits for a caricature of herself done by none other than Gyeong-seok. He notes that she looks familiar and she reminds him that she used to work there. All of his sudden, his daughter appears and No-eul says she's glad to see that she's okay. No-eul offers her a lollipop before leaving the amusement park. As she leaves, she receives a call from Park Man-cheol from South Men, North Women who had been tracking down her daughter. He says that she was sighted in China, but cannot 100 percent confirm it is her yet, shocking No-eul. At Moojin Penitentiary, Choi Woo-seok is finally let go after being arrested for breaking into Captain Park's home. He reveals to Jun-ho and the guy who didn't protect him when he got arrested that he plans to renovate the hotel that Gi-hun left behind and turn it into a proper business. When Jun-ho returns to his apartment, he discovers Player 222 along with a debit card filled with the prize winnings. At the airport, Cheo, Sae-byeok (Player 67 from season 1)'s brother, reunites with his mother thanks to the help of Man-cheol. Meanwhilek, No-eul is seen boarding a plane for China in the hopes of finding her daughter. We soon find ourselves in California, where a man steps out of a vehicle and rings the doorbell. A young girl opens the door to discover that In-ho is there. He has a box with the circle, triangle, square on top and says that he has come on behalf of Gi-hun to give her something. She tells him that she is upset and does not want what is in the box as he has disappeared from her life and has been ignoring her. In-ho tells her that he is actually dead, which prompts her to accept the box. She opens it up to discover Gi-hun's jumpsuit from the games along with a debit card. As she tries to catch up with him to ask him something, the car drives away. While out and about in Los Angeles, In-ho's car stops in front of an alleyway where he sees a man playing ddakji with a blonde female recruiter. The camera pans to show that it's actually none other than Cate Blanchett (yes, we know!!!) as she stares at In-ho before his car eventually drives away. Yep, and that is how the show officially ends! The ending is actually a hint at the upcoming American version of the series that is currently being developed by David Fincher. However, whether Cate Blanchett is actually involved or when it's happening still remains to be seen. Still, it seems like Squid Game is not really dead and we might be in for another wild ride!
Cosmopolitan
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Cosmopolitan
Squid Game season three ending explained: who wins, who dies and who loses
The third and final season of Squid Game has hit our screens and we are seriously gagged at the drama, the twists, and, ofc, the deaths. The Hunger Games-meets-Battle Royale Netflix show has given us so many jaw-dropping moments we're sad to say goodbye but, if the finale of the last episode is anything to go by, we may have more twisted games to sustain us at some point in future... Anyway, before we look to the future, it's time to unpack the past: here is what went down in the finale of Squid Game season 3. Keep reading for your cheat sheet on who won, who lost and how the saga resolved itself... The winner of Squid Game season 3 is...a baby? Specifically, the baby is the child of Player 222: Kim Jun-hee, a player who is conned by her ex, Player 333, Lee Myung-gi, into buying into a cryptocurrency scam. It's revealed that she's pregnant with Myung-gi, baby and knew this going into the games, which she did in the hopes of winning a better life for herself and her baby. After Jun-hee gives birth in episode 2, the baby enters into gameplay as it is revealed it must live or die according to the rules of the game. In a game of Jump Rope, with the baby successfully saved by Gi-hun for that round, Jun-hee jumps off the ledge, knowing that time is running out and deciding to accept her fate. With Jun-hee out of the game, it's announced that her baby is taking her place as Player 222. When the final game is announced, Sky Squid Game, the other players are enraged and try to kill the baby first but she is protected by Gi-hun. The number of players dwindle as Myung-gi joins Gi-hun in protecting the baby. But, when just Myung-gi, Gi-hun and the baby are left, Myung-gi (who, let us remind you, is the baby's father) attempts to kill the baby so that he can win the game. Gi-hun attacks Myung-gi, who falls to his death. Due to the complicated rules of the game, which require you to press the button to officially start the button, Myung-gi's death doesn't count: amidst all the drama, no-one pressed the button. Gi-hun then presses the button to start a new round and sacrifices himself so that the baby can live. Hwang In-ho, the Front Man, then takes the baby. After a six month time jump, Hwang Jun-ho (the police officer who infiltrated the game to avenge his brother who he thinks has who actually is the Front Man) comes home to his flat to find the baby and a credit card loaded with all the money from the game. The choice to have a baby win the game was, of course, unexpected. But the show's creator, Hwang Dong-hyuk, explains that is was a necessary creative decision. "Ultimately, the baby represents the future generation,' he tells Tudum. 'I believe we also have the responsibility and duty to try everything that we can in our power to leave a better world for the future generation,' he continues. 'The baby coming out [as] the winner was in line with the meaning of Squid Game.' As you may well remember, Gi-hun was the winner of Squid Game season 1, meaning that he is sitting on a pretty major fortune. But what happened to it? In season 2, it was sitting on a bed in the Pink Motel, but then disappears. Season 3 gives us an answer as to where it ends up. Front Man takes the cash, deposits it into a bank account and then flies to Los Angeles to meet with Gi-hun's daughter: giving her the money and informing her of her father's death. When in Los Angeles, Front Man is driving downtown and hears the slap of ddakji tiles on the ground. When he looks up, he sees a well-dressed stranger playing the game with a distressed man, suggesting that there is now an LA recruiter enlisting American players to a form of the game. The best bit? The recruiter is played by none other than Cate Blanchett. 'We thought having a woman as a recruiter would be more dramatic and intriguing,' says Hwang in an article for Tudum. 'And as for why Cate Blanchett, she's just the best, with unmatched charisma. Who doesn't love her? So we were very happy to have her appear. We needed someone who could dominate the screen with just one or two words, which is exactly what she did.' Wowza, we didn't see that one coming!
