The cliffhanger ending of Squid Game Season 2 frustrated many viewers, as they found it unsatisfactory. However, showrunner Hwang Dong-hyuk has revealed the importance of the Season 2 finale and how it sets the stage for the newly announced third and final season of the globally popular show. Debuting in 2021, the show’s sophomore chapter premiered in December. The second season focuses on Gi-hun’s (Lee Jung-jae) attempt to dismantle the games and expose their orchestrators.
(SPOILERS!) Season 2 depicts Gi-hun failing in his attempt to start a revolution against the games’ handlers, with The Front Man (Lee Byung-hun) killing Jung-bae (Lee Seo-hwan) right before his eyes.
In a recent interview with Variety, Hwang talked in depth about his decision to end the latest season on a cliffhanger. He also sheds light on how Gi-hun’s failed rebellion will haunt him in Season 3.
“All of his (Gi-hun) failures lead to this heavy, heavy crisis of having to lose his very best friend, Jung-bae, at the hands of The Front Man. And when you think about Gi-hun’s journey, I thought that that was an adequate moment to put a stop and give him a little bit of closure along that long story arc. And then from that moment on, in the third season, having that sense of huge guilt and sense of failure weighing heavily on him — how is Gi-hun going to carry on his mission? That’s the story that’ll further unfold.
Hwang’s comments indicate that Gi-hun will be all alone in Season 3, burdened by the guilt of losing all the people who died because of his failed rebellion. This suggests that his conscience won’t allow him to attempt another uprising. As for the games’ handlers, they are expected to be more cautious than ever, keeping a very close eye on the protagonist’s actions.
Squid Game was originally conceived as a one-season show, but its record-breaking success inspired Hwang and Netflix to collaborate on a second and third season.
Season 2 evidently had higher stakes than the first season. However, it didn’t provide a sense of closure or satisfaction, as its unresolved story will continue in Season 3. It will be interesting to see how Gi-hun confronts the increased challenges from the games’ orchestrators, especially since he has nothing left to lose. Stay tuned for more updates—Season 3 is expected to premiere in the summer or fall of 2025.