Squid Game 3

Presentation

Previous Review

Overview

Synopsis

The deadly games will finally finish in this last season. Will Seong Gi Hun triumph against the Front Man?

My Opinion (No Spoiler)

First of all, I’m extremely happy that the series has finally come an end. I could not bear the wait anymore. Now, I’m generally satisfied with the ending of the drama. I think season 3 is a great continuation and finalization of the events from season 2. Characters’ development is very good with each of them staying true to their values, whether they’re good or bad. The clash between those who believe in humanity and those blinded by money is even more present until the last scenes. The new games were as good as the previous ones, I really enjoyed them. As for the ending, I found it bittersweet, but quite realistic at the same time. The messages conveyed by the drama are clear, though disheartening. I would only have 3 small criticisms. First, characters from season 2 were rapidly gotten rid of in season 3 (like way too fast), when they’d spent so much time introducing them. Second, that would be Jun Ho. I’m not going to spoil anything, but he could’ve done better. Third, I still have unanswered questions regarding some characters – one in particular. But in a nutshell, I really appreciated this last season. It put a good final point to the whole story.

Analysis

• Characters’ development and ending
  Seong Gi Hun
  The Front Man
  Kim Myung Gi
  Kim Jun Hee
  Jang Geum Ja
  Cho Hyun Ju
  Kang Dae Ho
  Min Su
  Kang No Eul
  Hwang Jun Ho
• The games
  Hide and Seek
  The rope jump
  Flying Squid Game
• Messages
  VIPs are symbols
  The cycle will never end
  Humans are
  ‘Hodie mihi cras tibi’
• The ending
• Questions we asked in season 2
  Will Jun Ho finally suspect the fisherman?
  Will Gi Hun realize that Number 001 is the Front Man?
  Will the games be destroyed?
• Questions left unanswered

Characters’ development and ending: After 2 seasons in this new round of games, it’s about time we get insights on characters’ ending. Though most of them are tragic, there’s one undeniable point. They all follow their narrative arch until the end.

Seong Gi Hun: Let me start with the main character Seong Gi Hun (Lee Jung Jae). When he entered the games for a second time, he was determined to put an end to them. Though his riot end of season 2 was unsuccessful, he still managed to defeat the Front Man (Lee Byung Hun). However, he does so in a symbolic way rather than by winning the games again. Indeed, Seong Gi Hun is the embodiment of humanity. He’s the leader of the players who would rather live in debt than die in the deadly arena. All along, he’s always been protecting others and helping the antagonistic team. On top of that, he’s made it very clear that he didn’t want to be used as a pawn, a toy for entertainment. Although, Gi Hun loses himself after the rebellion and blames himself for everything, he’s brought back to sanity thanks to Jun Hee. Seong Gi Hun is a man of honor. He makes promises and keeps them. That’s what happened with Sae Byeok and her brother he protected. Here again, he promises Jun Hee that he’ll take care of her baby and that’s what he does. Against all odds, he successfully jumps the rope with the baby and even keeps her safe until the last minute of the final game. To me, Seong Gi Hun shows how good, kind, benevolent human beings can be. But also how sacrificial they are willing to become in order to protect the innocent. When Seong Gi Hun chooses to kill himself rather than Jun Hee’s baby in the last game, he proves to everybody that: 1/ You can rebel against the system and refuse to play the game in your one way 2/ A person can choose someone else’s life over his 3/ Humans can be loyal, devoted, protective, sacrificial and so much more 4/ The Front Man and the VIPs were wrong to believe that human beings were all the same and would do quite anything for money and survival. This death is a brutal awakening for us viewers, players, VIPs and especially the Front Man that humanity prevails. His death even saddens the Front Man, at least that what I think. Though he was his antagonist all along, Gi Hun deeply shook the Front Man’s beliefs to their core. He had grown attached to him and secretly wished for him and the baby to survive.

The Front Man: In season 2, the Front Man joined the game as Player 001 before faking his death during the riot. This event particularly upset Gi Hun, as he felt responsible for his death and that of his childhood friend. In season 3, the Front Man has regained his role as the secret organizer of the games. However, I couldn’t help but think that he had started to change a little bit. Indeed, the latter would constantly propose alternative scenarios to the VIPs that would favor Gi Hun and Jun Hee’s baby indirectly. This is proof that he’s recovered a small piece of his humanity in Gi Hun’s presence. He went from trying to subdue Player 456 by making him give up on his ideals that human life is worth more than money to saving a life himself (Jun Hee’s baby at the end of the game). He had no obligation to do so, as the island was about to explode. He could’ve chosen to disappear, but he didn’t. Of course, we can argue that he did so because she’s the sole winner of the games and that’s the rule, but then why would he give Gi Hun’s money to his daughter in the US? This just shows that the Front Man has somehow changed, even if it’s just a little. There’s another great moment for me that represents a turning point in the Front Man’s behavior. By the end of the drama, Gi Hun and several other players are preparing for the final game. During their dinner, they are given a hint that they will have to choose who to eliminate between themselves. For the greedy group, that’s the best opportunity to get rid of Jun Hee’s baby without much effort. But Gi Hun is ruthlessly protecting her. The night before, Player 456 is called by the Front Man. There, he discovers that his former ally in the arena is none other than the Front Man. On top of that, the latter gives him a chance. The same he received from the former Player 001 when he was himself playing the games. The Front Man puts a knife on the table and tells Gi Hun that if he wants to survive, his only chance is to kill everybody else. Other players are well fed, drunk and deeply asleep. There will not be better occasion. Interestingly, that’s when Gi Hun’s and the Front Man’s paths diverge. In the past, the Front Man took his chance. He slit everyone’s throat and became who is he today. Out of survival instinct, he betrayed his humanity. Whereas Seong Gi Hun refuses to do so. He knows that not seizing this chance may result in him and Jun Hee’s baby dying, but he refuses to compromise. At some point in the drama, Gi Hun even sees Sae Byeok’s ghost who brings him back to himself when he’s about to do the irreversible. I think that’s a game-changer for the Front Man. Gi Hun’s decision not to follow in his footsteps, followed by his sacrifice, revive hope in him that maybe humanity is worth saving. The Front Man is aware that he’s just a gear in the system too, that this type of sacrifices may not change the world, but at least it can change a life. That’s why he pursues Gi Hun’s work by protecting Jun Hee’s baby and entrusting her to his brother. Now one question remains: Will we see the Front Man in the US version of the games?

Kim Myung Gi: Kim Myung Gi (Im Si Wan) may be a terrible character, but he’s super interesting to analyze. He’s the absolute opposite of Gi Hun. When the latter believes in love, friendship, loyalty, empathy and all these qualities human beings are capable to express, Myung Gi represents the capitalistic view. He’s proven more than once that he’d do anything for money. His life, his world and his feelings are driven by it. That’s why he doesn’t hesitate to kill others in the hide and seek game, although he’s technically done his part. To increase the price money, he teams up with Nam Gyu (Roh Jae Won) and goes on a killing spree. In the process, he ends up killing Hyun Ju in front of Jun Hee and their newborn. Myung Gi is also individualistic. He would never put himself in danger if his survival were at risk. That’s why he doesn’t help Jun Hee cross in the jump rope game. Her ankle is busted and he could’ve tried to save her. Yet, he chose not to because he knew that jumping together would increase his risk of dying. This scene was heartbreaking, because it highlights how calculating and cruel human beings like Myung Gi can be. And this idea is even more present at the end when he threatens Gi Hun to kill his own baby, so he can win the game and the money that comes with it. However, Kim Myung Gi is not just a dark evil character. There’s another side to him that emerges in the drama which is softer and kinder. This almost gives the impression that he could be humane as well. But the greedy side of him always wins the battle. That’s what happens when he switches teams with Jun Hee before the hide and seek game. He wants to protect her and their baby, he wants to have the good role for once. He knows he’ll be more capable of killing than her. And he’s right. But once the game begins, his greed just takes over and erases the humanity in him. When he kills Hyun Ju (Park Sung Hoon) and meets Jun Hee’s eyes, he can feel that he’s gone too far. She’s lost the last ounce of love she could’ve had for him. By the end of the show, Myung Gi shows that he could potentially be good again. When he starts eliminating other players in the flying squid game, he intends on protecting his baby. As a father, he wants to endorse that role. But then, instinct kicks in again and gets the best of him. To me, Myung Gi is one of the best written characters of the show. He’s always at the fringe between good and bad. You can feel that he could do good, but circumstances and his true human nature prevent him from doing so. He actually represents a good percentage of the population. Not all of use are capable of sacrificing ourselves for others like Gi Hun or Hyun Ju. We are not strong or brave enough either to rebel against the system. We’re simply trying to survive – whether in the games or out there – and sometimes this means not lending a helping hand to others and/or doing bad things to protect ourselves. I’m not saying this is how we are and be resigned in the face of these behaviors. But I’m also realistic and definitely would praise the show for showing different types of human beings.

Kim Jun Hee: Kim Jun Hee (Jo Yu Ri) grows stronger in the games. She used to be scared and anxious about the future. But motherhood transforms her. She gives birth in the hide and seek game and asserts herself more after that. She’s not alone anymore and needs to prioritize her child. That’s why she decides to confide her daughter to Gi Hun instead of Myung Gi. She doesn’t trust him and even fears him a bit. So, there’s no way she would put her baby at risk. Her final conversation with Myung Gi is quite interesting because she stands up against him and tells him that her baby is hers only. She doesn’t want to associate herself with him anymore, nor does she have hope that Myung Gi will turn a new leaf. She knows him enough now. Jun Hee also refuses to play the games at the end. She’d rather end her life than jump the rope and die for entertainment. I really liked that character to be fair. Although she looks vulnerable and fragile, Jun Hee has a certain inner strength that makes her brave and determined. As a mother, she dies to protect her child; as a player, she dies to rebel against the system.

Jang Geum Ja: Jang Geum Ja (Kang Ae Sim) is the wisest of all characters. You can feel that she’s been through a lot in life and thus has learned resilience. She’s also a mother who ended up in the games to protect her son. But her mother instinct also pushes her towards Jun Hee. When the latter gives birth, Geum Ja stands by her side. She also commits the gravest, but most compassionate act for her son. Five minutes before the end of the game, Geum Ja and Jun Hee are in front of the exit. Yong Sik (Yang Dong Geun) arrives in a state of disarray. He’s not managed to kill a single person yet. His fate is soon to be sealed. So when he sees Jun Hee’s baby, he has a final glimmer of hope. If he kills the innocent child, he’ll live. But Geum Ja interferes. On the one hand, she wants to protect Jun Hee and her baby. He may be an easy prey, but he’s innocent and pure. On the other hand, Geum Ja wants to preserve her son’s integrity and humanity. She doesn’t want him to live by assassinated an innocent life, which is the worst crime of all. She can’t bear the thought of having him live with the guilt, resentment and hatred against himself for committing such a sin. She wants him to remain untainted as well. Therefore, she does what a mother should never do, but what was a necessary evil in that situation. She uses the binyeo (hairpin with a knife) to stab her son. That’s obviously not enough to kill him, but at least it stops him. A second later, the countdown is at zero. The game is finished and Yong Sik is killed by the guards. When she gets out, Geum Ja desperately begs others to stop the game. Her plea is however unheard. People would not even stop to save a baby. She’s lost her faith in humanity. She feels terribly guilty for the death of her son. And she’s lost her purpose to life. Even if she goes out, what would be the meaning of her life? She’s just an old lady with no children anymore. And she’s the reason why she’s left all alone. Her final act of generosity goes to Gi Hun. She persuades him that he’s not responsible for the failed riot. He needs to get back on his feet and protect Jun Hee and her baby. By doing so, Geum Ja gives a new purpose to Gi Hun and passes the torch to him. She can now leave in peace, knowing that Jun Hee’s baby (the reason she lost her own child) is safe. She then commits suicide in the night.

Cho Hyun Ju: She’s the heroine of the show. She stands for all the good qualities human beings can have. She’s empathetic, protective, kind, devoted, but also brave, strong, smart. She could’ve exited the hide and seek game alone, but instead went back for Geum Ja, Jun Hee and the baby. This cost her her life, as she’s killed by Myung Gi five minutes before the end of the game. Cho Hyun Ju is proof that there are individuals who would do good in the games. But she also showcases that doing good doesn’t always have a positive outcome. Sometimes, it can boomerang in your face and make you pay the highest price.

Kang Dae Ho: Kand Dae Ho (Kang Ha Neul) is a coward. He pretended to be from the Marines in order to be integrated to the group. But in reality, he’s never been strong. From what I understood, Dae Ho was raised by a military father who was very strict with him. He was surrounded by sisters, so he felt more at ease with women. Yet, his father wanted to make a man out of him. He forced him into the military where Dae Ho greatly suffered. He entered the games with lots of traumas related to guns and war. That’s partly the reason why he could not bring the ammunition to the rest of the team during the riot. He got scared and hid like a coward. In a way, I found it hard to entirely put the blame on Dae Ho. We don’t know his life and his traumas, so I could get why he would be emotionally overwhelmed by the rebellion. Anyone, myself included, could’ve felt scared and refused to go back in that situation – you don’t know that for sure until you’ve lived it. In the hide and seek game, Dae Ho becomes Gi Hun’s scapegoat. Player 456 can’t bear the guilt of having failed everyone, so he projects his hatred onto Dae Ho – the actual physical reason why the riot was unsuccessful. Of course, both are responsible, but only one can survive. Dae Ho’s final monologue shows that we are all weak. We can make mistakes and be submerged by fear. However there are situations where such reactions, betrayal and cowardice are not accepted. One mistake can kill you, and that’s exactly what happens to Kang Dae Ho. To be honest, I had a lot of empathy for this character. I could feel that he wanted to do good, but he hurt everyone instead.

Min Su: Min Su (Kang Daniel) is guilt embodied. He’s not a mentally strong character to begin with. He’s often been bullied by others, even in the games. He witnessed Se Mi’s death without doing anything to save her. That night now haunts him. He feels overwhelmed by guilt and thus uses drugs to overcome it and play the games. At the end of the show, he is killed in the flying squid game. On the first platform, he sees Thanos’, Nam Gyu’s and Se Mi’s ghosts. All of them trying to bring him down with them. Unconsciously, Min Su is projecting is guilt. Hallucinations created by the drugs are not helping. On the contrary, they are convincing him that he’s not worth it and should die, joining the others at last. Min Su is pushed to his death by Myung Gi. Though it was cruel, I think it was a liberating death for Min Su. He was torturing his own mind and could only be free through death.

Kang No Eul: From what I can remember, Kang No Eul (Park Gyu Young) is the only character of the show who managed to save a player from the games – without having him to win of course. As a guard, she shot Gyeong Seok (Lee Jin Wook) and brought him to the operating room. There, she pretended to be on others’ side only to betray and kill them all. She threatened the doctor to save Gyeong Seok’s life which he did. After that, No Eul disguised Gyeong Seok has a guard and put him on a boat to escape. Gyeong Seok was rescued by Jun Ho who had FINALLY found the island, while No Eul stayed behind. She wanted to erase all files related to Gyeong Seok to protect him. Of course, the main officer (Park Hee Soon) was not going to let her go so easily. She disobeyed orders and became a liability – this draws a parallel with her past in North Korea where she did the exact same thing. But No Eul wins their fight and discovers the archives, where thousands of files from all the players are present. She destroys Gyeong Seok’s by setting fire to the room, but encounters hers on the way out. Inside, the file mentions that her daughter is dead. That’s the final blow for No Eul. The reason why she participated in the games and tried so hard to earn money was to find her daughter. If she’s indeed dead, she’s got no reason to live anymore. Just like Geum Ja with her son, No Eul has lost her purpose. She sits on the couch and prepares herself to die. However, she saved by Jun Hee’s baby. She hears her crying. This sound revives her maternal instinct. It’s not because her daughter is mentioned as dead, that she’s actually gone. And even if she’s already passed, would her daughter want her to kill herself and abandon like that? Luckily for No Eul, she receives a call from the organization in charge of finding her daughter. They may have found traces of her in China. Hope is not dead yet. Once out of the game, No Eul checks on Gyeong Seok and his daughter before embarking for new adventures. Kang No Eul completes the trio of devoted mothers in the drama, alongside Geum Ja and Jun Hee. She’s also strong and badass. Once her mind is fixed on something, she doesn’t stray away from the objective. She vowed to save Gyeong Seok and she did. Many underestimated her, but to me she’s one of the strongest characters of the show.

Hwang Jun Ho: Jun Ho (Wi Ha Joon) definitely deserves an award for the most useless, naive and incapable character of the drama. He blindly trusts the wrong people, is easily manipulated, and refuses to see the truth, even after Choi Woo Seok’s (Jun Suk Ho) numerous warnings. Instead, Jun Ho keeps on following the fisherman’s lead, even if he’s been incapable of finding the island for years now. However, I think we can agree on the following: Jun Ho had 2 jobs and thankfully he managed. The first one was to discover the island. Yes, I admit, it took him millions of years to finally find it. But he still did. And that’s what triggered the destruction of the arena. Jun Ho now knows the truth and is about to inform the coast guards. This means that there will be an investigation if the games are uncovered. This is a risk the Front Man can’t take. Hence the explosion. Better to get rid of everything, rather than make the games known to the public. Let’s say that Jun Ho accelerated the destruction of the South Korean arena. Although he didn’t solve anything with his brother. Indeed, Jun Ho now knows that the Front Man asked the fisherman to save him – like how could you not suspect it? – but he also had a chance to confront him. And to do what? Nothing! He just stared at him leaving with Jun Hee’s baby. Of course, Jun Ho could’ve killed his brother, but knowing the character, this would’ve never happened. So first mission: Find the island – check. Second mission: Take care of Jun Hee’s baby. At the end of the drama, Jun Ho is entrusted with Jun Hee’s baby. She’s in his apartment, in a cradle, sleeping soundly. Jun Ho also finds a credit card with her that has the entire price money on it. In the blink of an eye, Jun Ho has turned into a father and a billionaire doing quite nothing. The most important and difficult part remains for him. He doesn’t intend to go back to the police, nor can he now look for his brother. He has to be responsible for the baby and can’t waste his life chasing after the Front Man. I believe that this was In Ho’s objective by entrusting Jun Hee’s baby to Jun Ho. If his brother becomes a father, he will assume his responsibility. Therefore, he will make the child and her security pass before the rest, meaning that Jun Ho will raise the baby instead of looking for his brother. The Front Man knows that his brother is a reliable person, he will give love to a baby who’s not his, just like he did to a brother who was not biologically related to him. At least, that’s my theory. So, second mission: Raise the baby – check.

The games: This new season introduced us to 3 new deadly games that took the lives of many of our favorite characters.

Hide and Seek: Of course, there’s no way to mention the new games in this season without talking about Hide and Seek. And there’s quite a lot to unpack, because a lot happens, people. This game decimated players and conveyed so many messages. But before I jump into that, let me explain it to you. Players are split into 2 groups. Those in blue will be given a time to hide in the arena that is like a neighborhood with walls, doors and stairs. Each blue player is given a key that allows him to open doors. There are 3 shapes of keys: round, square and triangle. So depending on the key you have, you can only open certain doors. Once a door is open, you can’t go back. Some doors can lead to a room without issue, others to your fall. The red players are the ‘hunters’. Each is given a knife and must kill at least one blue player within the 30 minutes of the game. They are however allowed to kill more than just one person. Finally, there are exits that exist. If you can find them and open the door, you’ve won. However, you need the 3 shapes of keys to successfully open the exit door. I can already hear you gasp, and yes, the outcome of this game is terrible. Amongst our characters, Dae Ho Hyun Ju, Myung Gi, Yong Sik are blue players, while Gi Hun, Jun Hee, Min Su, Nam Gyu and Geum Ja are red. Before the games, everyone is given a chance to switch teams. Myung Gi convinces Jun Hee to change with him; she becomes blue and he red – and you’ll see this will have terrible consequences. Same for Geum Ja and her son. In a spit of filial piety, Yong Sik forces his mother to take his place. He’ll have more chances to kill a blue player, while she can hide. Dae Ho desperately tries to take Gi Hun’s spot, but the latter refuses. He’s resentful towards Dae Ho for not bringing the ammo during the riot, leading everyone to their deaths. When the game starts, Hyun Ju decides to protect Jun Hee and Geum Ja. They manage to hide well until the last 10 minutes when Jun Hee starts having contractions. Supported by Geum Ja, she gives birth to her baby, while Hyun Ju stands guard. Unfortunately for Jun Hee, she’s broken her ankle in the games and can’t walk anymore. In the meantime, Hyun Ju finds the exit nearby thanks to the keys Jun Hee, Geum Ja and her have. But she decides to go back to them and guide them towards the way out. Unfortunately for her, Hyun Ju is killed by Myung Gi. The latter has teamed up with a drugged Nam Gyu and both are on a killing spree. The more blue players die, the more price money they’ll get. Shortly after, Geum Ja and Jun Hee find the exit. However, they end up face-to-face with Yong Sik who’s still not managed to kill anybody. When he’s about to kill Jun Hee’s baby, he’s stopped by his own mother. On another side of the arena, Dae Ho runs for his life. He’s being chased by an angry Gi Hun who only wishes him dead. Unsurprisingly, Gi Hun succeeds. Other players are interesting to follow in this game such as the shaman who lets her followers be used as sacrificial lambs to save herself, only to be used by Player 100 when she tells him she’s found the exit, and then killed by Min Su under the influence. Hide and Seek is a game that revealed player’s real face and darkest side. It made so many victims in just 2 episodes that it was hard to watch the rest of the drama.

The rope jump: The rope jump is another great game to display the most horrible side of human nature. In that game, players are given 20 minutes to pass a bridge, while jumping on a rope. There’s a hole in the bridge which complicates the game. But it’s fairly doable if you just have the courage to try. However, you will meet your death many meters down if you fail. This game is what seals Gi Hun’s fate in the drama. Indeed, Jun Hee’s ankle is in bad shape. She can’t even stand on her foot, so jumping several times is out of the picture. So she decides to make the best decision for her baby. She entrusts her to Gi Hun and asks him to meet on the other side. This scene is particularly cruel because VIPs are the ones forcing Jun Hee’s baby to participate. If it had not been the case, Gi Hun would’ve helped Jun Hee jump and her baby would’ve been safe anyway. However in the current scenario, he needs to cross a first time to bring the baby safely, then go back and cross again with Jun Hee. After minutes of consideration, no one dares try the game. Pressed by time, Gi Hun takes his chance. He crosses the bridge with the baby. Meanwhile, others are gathering on the bridge to cross over. In that situation, there’s another setback for Gi Hun, preventing him from crossing again. Players who have successfully crossed are now blocking the way out of the rope and pushing others to their death. Once again, that’s a way for them to increase the money they’ll win. Though Player 456 puts an end to that masquerade, the clock is ticking and the end of the game nearing. By the end, Myung Gi remains with Jun Hee. He wants to convince her to try her chance, but never proposes to carry her unlike Gi Hun. As this would mean he’d potentially die in the process. Jun Hee is not dumb. She now knows Myung Gi better than anyone else. She lets him go, and advances the rope. She’s aware that Gi Hun will never make it in time to cross again, so she decides to just die there. Her final words are directed at Gi Hun. She’s begging him to protect her baby.

Flying Squid Game: Hide and Seek broke my heart because we lost many beloved characters. But the Flying Squid Game broke me because the ending could’ve been so different if only they had pressed that damn button. But let me rewind and explain the rules first. There are 3 pillars that players have to advance on. On each of them, they have to eliminate one of them and push that person from the pillar. You have 15 minutes to do so. The game starts when you press the button at the center of the pillar. Only deaths registered during the game period count. At the beginning, the outcome of the game seems clear. Remaining players, among which Myung Gi, have teamed up and decided to eliminate Jun Hee’s baby, Gi Hun and Min Su. Though they pretend to be randomly selecting the victims of the sacrifice, everyone knows that they have planned the night before. In the first round, they wish to get rid of Jun Hee’s baby, the easiest prey. However, Gi Hun is so protective over her, that they pick Min Su. Myung Gi is also the instigator of that change of heart, emphasizing that they don’t have enough time in the first round to separate Gi Hun from the baby. However, it gets harder in the second one. Gi Hun is a target, so he plays all in. He instigates discord between the players, helped by Myung Gi. The once unified team then starts fighting against each other. Gi Hun kills one of them to defend himself and the baby, Myung Gi pushes others to increase the price money and reduce the risk of losing on the last platform. In the end, Myung Gi kills the only player they could’ve killed on the last platform, while the one designated as “the lunch box” commits suicide. He doesn’t want to be a sacrifice, so he’d rather end it here. This leaves us with the worst combination possible on the last platform: Gi Hun, Jun Hee’s baby and Myung Gi. And one of them has to die, so the game can finish. Myung Gi obviously doesn’t want to lose his life or the money, so he threatens Gi Hun. He’s willing to kill his own baby in order to win. But Gi Hun doesn’t back off so easily. Instead, he starts a fight against Myung Gi and wins against all odds. This could’ve been the perfect ending if there wasn’t one forgotten detail that highlights the cruelty of the games. Neither Myung Gi nor Gi Hun had pressed the final button to start the game. This means that the round hasn’t begun and that Myung Gi’s death was all for nothing. Someone else still has to die on that platform. When everyone expects Gi Hun to throw Jun Hee’s baby and win a second time, he does otherwise. He sacrifices himself, making the baby the winner of this new edition. When I say that this game broke me, I’m definitely not kidding. People’s greed and hatred resulted in not enough person on the last pillar to sacrifice. It also forced our favorite lead to end his life, because he didn’t follow the rules. If all players had sacrificed only one game-mate, several would’ve lived. Unfortunately, we know that Squid Game can be cruel.

Messages: As usual in that drama, characters’ behaviors, situations, events and games convey a lot of great messages worth analyzing.

VIPs are symbols: They represent the rich and powerful who have too much money to entertain themselves and are completely dehumanized. Their masks are a proof that they are animals, only interested in survival instinct but also anonymous because they could be just any billionaire looking for fun. In a way, we can also consider that VIPs are us, viewers. Just like them, we are anonymous figures behind our screens watching the drama for entertainment. If we put that theory into perspective and extend it on a broader scale, are we not all spectators of the world’s cruelty, passive bystanders watching the events unravel without taking much action to change and/or challenge the system?

The cycle will never end: It’s a sad statement to make, but that’s the tough reality we live in. Squid Game perfectly shows how the world uses people’s despair and turns it into entertainment. On the one hand, you have people who often are poor, in debt, and in very precarious situations. They are desperate for money and would do quite anything to get themselves out of this hellish life. Their hopelessness is so great that they tend to forget the positive things they have. It’s the case for Gi Hun or even Gyeong Seok for instance who had their respective daughter. On the other hand, you have the rich and powerful. They have so much money and time to spare that they get bored easily. They are constantly looking for ways to entertain themselves. And what better way to do so than by playing God? How thrilling could it be to bet on people as if there were horses in a race and to choose their destiny? How great is it to have someone’s life in your hand and play with his hope? These are the two sides that rule the world. The dynamics between these two classes have always been the same and if we believe the game, they will forever remain as such. As long as poor people are desperate for money and rich ones have too much for entertainment, the games will keep on existing. It’s a cruel cycle that will never end. That’s exactly what the final scenes of the drama showcase. When the Front Man goes to the US to give Gi Hun’s daughter his money, he stumbles upon a recruiter in the street playing ddakkji. They share a long look. Yet, you can decipher different emotions in characters’ eyes. Cate Blanchett’s character seems arrogant and proud of playing the game and sending people to their death. Meanwhile, the Front Man has a long stare. He seems tired and weary of it all. He’s seen and lived too much brutality. But he also seems desperate to see that the games still exist and are in full swing abroad.

Humans are: Gi Hun’s final words perfectly wrap up the entire show. Before jumping to his death, he says that: ‘We’re not horses, we’re humans. Humans are…’ and stops there. In a way, I don’t even think this sentence needs to be completed, because we have the entire show to do so. By if I were to analyze it, I would break it into 2 parts. The first one is the assertion that human beings are not animals. They are not beasts living only for entertainment, as tigers and gladiators would in Roman arenas. They are not horses on the field, on which you can bet like one of the VIPs did on Jun Hee. Finally, humans are not only driven by their basic instincts like animals are. They have feelings and emotions. Contrary to animals, this is that same humanity that differentiates us from the rest of the species. This means that human beings can sacrifice themselves for others. They can protect their babies and children unlike some animals we find in the animal realm. This has been Gi Hun’s motto all along in the games. We’re humans and need to behave as such. His sacrifice is proof that he’s not renounced his values. The second part is related to the unfinished sentence ‘Humans are…’. It’s as if the writer was giving us the opportunity to complete the words with what comes to our mind. After watching 3 seasons of Squid Game, how would we define humans? The drama has shown us a broad spectrum of emotions and behaviors. It’s displayed humans under their best light, capable of the best. But it’s also shed light on the darkness of human nature. The games also brought about the worst of human beings. If we were to take each character and assign them with one quality, we will rapidly see that we oscillate between good and evil. That’s the main message of the show for me. Human beings are two-sided. They’re truly complex and constantly in the grey area. We can be kind, sacrificial, protective, devoted, benevolent, wise, selfless, loyal, but also selfish, greedy, deceitful, crazy, coward, brutal, cruel. We’re capable of the best and the worst. So, after everything we’ve seen in the drama: Can we still believe in humanity? Can we still consider human beings as good? Squid Game shows raw humanity under all its forms. It’s a warning to us viewers and an eye-opener.

‘Hodie mihi cras tibi’: I’ve gotten used to carefully analyze the setting and decors in Squid Game, as they often reveal hidden messages. In the first seasons, we could see all the future games drawn on the walls of players’ dormitory. So this time, I refused to be played. And indeed, the walls hold a symbolic message as well in that season. If you pay attention, you can read ‘Hodie mihi cras tibi‘. It doesn’t ring a bell at first – unless you speak Latin fluently – but if you do some research, you’ll notice that it can be translated as: ‘My turn today, yours tomorrow’. This small sentence is quite efficient to sum up many events in the games. First, players may stay alive today, but it may be their turn to die in the next game. That’s a warning that you can never feel at rest in the games. But to me, this motto creates a particular connection between the Front Man and Gi Hun. Indeed, the inscription is only clearly visible at the end of the drama once all the bunk beds of other players have been removed. The Latin phrase becomes even more meaningful when the Front Man invites Gi Hun for a face-to-face. During that conversation, the Front Man makes the same proposal he received in his own games years ago. If you draw a parallel with the Latin sentence, it was the Front Man’s turn before to make that tough decision, and now it’s Gi Hun’s. And if I were to push the analysis, I would also mention the parallelism of the scenes between the Front Man and Gi Hun. Both have the same discussion with their respective Front Man, both sneak in at night to kill other players, both intend to slit another player’s throat. The parallel of the scenes topped by the Latin sentence emphasize the fact that both characters were at the same crossroads of their lives. However, they ended up taking very different paths.

The ending: The final scenes of the drama tie some loose ends and provide insights on secondary characters’ lives. First, we get to see No Eul go to the amusement park and get her portrait drawn by Gyeong Seok. He doesn’t know she saved him nor can he recognize her face. Still, she seems oddly familiar. Thanks to No Eul, he’s reunited with his daughter whose health seems to have greatly improved. Shortly after, No Eul is at the airport waiting for her flight to China. There, she hopes she’ll finally find her missing daughter. I liked the fact that there’s still light for this character. Her daughter may not be dead in the end. In that same airport, we get to see Sae Byeok’s brother, as he meets his mother again. She was in North Korea and brought to the South thanks to the same organization that helped No Eul. Sae Byeok’s brother is accompanied by Gi Hun’s mother who took care of him after Gi Hun had decided to shelter the young boy. That’s proof that Gi Hun held his promise to Sae Byeok. He never wavered and allowed her family to be together at last. Later on, we are shown Hwang Jun Ho, as he gets back home. In his apartment, he finds Jun Hee’s baby with a credit card that has 45.6 billion won on it. Jun Hee’s baby is the winner of the game, so she got the price money. Interestingly, the Front Man trusted his brother to take care of the child. This is understandable considering that Jun Ho and his mother adopted In Ho and thought of him as a real family member. To me, this demonstrates love, empathy and humanity. They were not able to reject some random kid, so Jun Ho would never abandon Jun Hee’s baby. Last but not least, Gi Hun is dead. But the Front Man gets the money he won in the first game and brings it to Gi Hun’s daughter in the US. The adolescent is taken aback and believes that her father is trying to mend their relationship again. Yet, she refuses to do so. Only after does she understand that her father has passed and that the Front Man is playing the role of the messenger. He gives her a box with the sweater of Player 456 (with blood on it) and a credit card with what remains of Gi Hun’s money. From that perspective, we can wonder whether Gi Hun’s daughter will do something with all this information (like search for the truth, know why and how her father died) or just keep on with her life. Who knows, maybe she’ll be part of the US version?

Questions we asked in season 2: In my previous review, I had written down a list of questions that were to be answered in season 3. So, let’s take a look and see if that’s the case or not.

Will Jun Ho finally suspect the fisherman? Unfortunately here, the answer is no. Even after the murder on the boat, the years-long desperate search for the island, the fisherman’s suspicious behavior and Choi Woo Seok’s numerous warnings, Hwang Jun Ho remains blind. Only by the end of the drama does he realize that something may be off. And this was only possible because Woo Seok broke into the fisherman’s house, saw a picture of him with the recruiter, called him immediately from the police station while being chased by cops. Like many have said online, Jun Ho was Dora the Explorer and even with that title, he never would’ve found the island on his own.

Will Gi Hun realize that Number 001 is the Front Man? Not really, the Front Man revealed his identity to Gi Hun himself. But the lead player had no time to think whether Player 001 was a scam or not.

Will the games be destroyed? Ok, so this one is a bit tricky. Technically speaking, yes. We could say that the games have been destroyed because the island has exploded at the end of season 3. Considering that nothing remains from the arena in South Korea, you can suppose that the games have been destroyed. You can also affirm that Gi Hun’s fulfilled his mission, as he witnesses the island explode in his final moments. However, it’s not the case if you view the games on a larger scale. The concept has spread to different countries like the USA, as we can see it at the end with Cate Blanchett playing the recruiter. In that matter, the answer to the question is no. The games have not been destroyed. On the contrary, they’ve grown stronger. Plus, there’s also a possibility that they rebuild a new arena in South Korea. VIPs have enough money and spare time to do so.

Questions left unanswered: Although season 3 and the series are officially over, I still have some questions left to answer. Most of them are about the Front Man. I feel as if we didn’t get enough information regarding this character. We were only given some glimpses of his games, but absolutely no real insights on the who, how and why. Who is he really? What’s his story? How did he end up in the games? How were his games? What were his games? Why did he accept to be the next Front Man?

On top of that, I would also have questions regarding the ending. How is going to be the season in the US? Is it confirmed? Will we see the Front Man, Gi Hun’s daughter, Jun Ho and Jun Hee’s baby again? Will Jun Ho finally see his brother and have a real conversation with him? Will there be a new arena in South Korea?