How Does Squid Sport Season 3 Finish? Creator Explains Collection Finale, Winner, and Deaths
This text accommodates main character or plot particulars.
Within the Squid Sport Season 3 premiere, shaman Seon-nyeo (Chae Kuk-hee) predicts that none of her fellow gamers will escape the competitors alive. In Season 3, Episode 6 — the sequence finale — it looks like Seon-nyeo actually might have seen the long run. Not one of the authentic Squid Sport rivals handle to outlive the soul-crushing, life-taking contest — together with the sequence’ noble hero, Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), who sacrifices himself for the higher good. As a substitute, the winner of Squid Sport is Jun-hee’s (Jo Yuri) child, who’s born in Episode 2.
Squid Sport creator Hwang Dong-hyuk supposed the twist to encourage hope. “Finally, the newborn represents the long run technology,” he tells Tudum.
“I consider we even have the duty and obligation to attempt the whole lot that we are able to in our energy to go away a greater world for the long run technology,” he continues. “The newborn popping out [as] the winner was in keeping with the which means of Squid Sport.”
Whereas the result of the last word problem, Sky Squid Sport, is loaded with which means, the victory is just not a straightforward one. Within the last spherical of gameplay alone, alliances shift like swirling water as gamers try to attain the grand prize of 4.56 billion gained. So how did Squid Sport Season 3 wind up with its new child champion? Why did Gi-hun make the last word sacrifice? And what occurred to the remainder of the sequence’ heroes and villains? Nicely, keep within the sport, as Hwang and the solid give solutions to all of your Squid Sport burning questions — together with what occurred throughout the Entrance Man’s (Lee Byung-hun) journey to Los Angeles … and that stunning last scene.
Who wins Squid Sport?
Participant 222, aka Jun-hee’s child, wins Squid Sport after a harrowing last spherical. The final sport of the sequence is Sky Squid Sport, which requires gamers to maneuver throughout three separate towers, one formed like a sq., one like a triangle, and one like a circle. On every tower, gamers should push at the least one participant off the construction; for the deaths to depend on the second and third tower, a participant should press a button on the bottom to formally begin the spherical. Any deaths that happen exterior an official spherical don’t depend.
The difficult guidelines of Sky Squid Sport are what finally result in the newborn’s win. All through the sport, Gi-hun protects the toddler as a number of different gamers — together with her father Myung-gi (Yim Si-wan) — try and kill her. “If I had been to characterize Myung-gi’s final aim, it will be ‘take as a lot cash as he can,’ ” Yim tells Tudum. “He’s asking for an excessive amount of, and that’s due to his greed.”
Gi-hun manages to defend the newborn from the violence for the primary two components of the spherical. However the already harmful scenario escalates on the third tower, when Gi-hun, Myung-gi, and the newborn are the one ones left. Gi-hun and Myung-gi instantly get right into a brawl, which turns right into a visceral knife battle. Myung-gi needs to get rid of the newborn, and take the prize for himself, however Gi-hun will cease at nothing to foil Myung-gi and shield the newborn. Finally each males tumble off the third tower. Gi-hun retains them alive by holding onto the tower’s edge with one hand and a jacket linked to Myung-gi with the opposite. The jacket rips, and Myung-gi falls to his demise.
However amid all the stress, nobody remembered to press the button to start out the spherical, so Myung-gi’s demise doesn’t depend. It’s all all the way down to Gi-hun and the newborn.
Gi-hun has three choices. He can press the button and kill the newborn, making him a two-time Squid Sport winner with much more excessive survivor’s regret. He may do nothing, and condemn each himself and the newborn via his inaction. Or he may press the button, thus ending his personal life, and permitting the newborn to reside — and win. He chooses the third choice. In his last moments, Gi-hun provides an impassioned speech to Entrance Man — and the onlooking VIPs. He reminds them that the gamers should not “horses,” they’re people.
For Lee Jung-jae, Gi-hun’s sacrifice made good sense. Squid Sport’s protagonist is a father who entered the sport estranged from his baby, and, the actor says, “It’s nearly like Gi-hun’s taking a look at his personal daughter.”
Director Hwang explains the newborn additionally represents Participant 456’s rediscovery of his “humanity and conscience.” Throughout manufacturing, the creator began to suppose in another way about his personal life and think about what sort of individual he wished to be — a pessimist or an optimist. “I ultimately got here to consider that, irrespective of how hopeless and darkish the world could seem, maybe we nonetheless have an opportunity if we are able to discover even a glimpse of hope inside ourselves,” he says.
“Reasonably than in search of one thing from or in others, I hope we are able to replicate on our personal values and whether or not we think about ourselves, so we are able to construct on the nice inside us,” he continues. “That’s the takeaway I hope viewers may have after watching Season 3.”
What occurs to Myung-gi (Participant 333)?
Whereas Gi-hun embodies the values Hwang hopes viewers carry from Squid Sport, Myung-gi displays society’s ills.
“He tries to look the opposite means, prioritizing his personal pursuits, speedy monetary acquire, and greed. He seeks his personal pursuits even on the expense of the newborn,” Hwang says. “Myung-gi represents all of us. We continuously discuss passing on to our future generations, how the planet is at its restrict, or how the nationwide pension system will quickly [run] dry. However when it comes all the way down to it, nobody needs to pay extra into the pension fund, we aren’t actually dwelling carbon-neutral lives, and we nonetheless produce simply as a lot waste — all for our personal comfort and self-interest.”
For the creator, Myung-gi’s desperation to kill a child — his child — merely for his monetary acquire is the embodiment of all of the methods folks prioritize their consolation over the well-being of generations to return.
Are the VIPs in Squid Sport Season 3?
It’s a great factor the VIPs are again, as a result of with out their interference, Jun-hee’s child wouldn’t be the winner of Squid Sport. The high-roller spectators return in Season 3, Episode 3, and one in every of them explains that after having imbibed just a little bit an excessive amount of, he unintentionally guess on Jun-hee, aka Participant 222, to win. At this level in Season 3, Jun-hee is alive, however she’s in a fragile state, because of being post-partum and contending with a severely injured ankle. After Jun-hee dies, one other VIP, hungry for extra drama and even increased stakes, suggests her child ought to be compelled to play. The Entrance Man obliges, and Participant 222 lives on within the type of a newly motherless toddler.
How does Jun-hee (Participant 222) die?
Jun-hee provides up the whole lot for the nice of her child. By the point she provides beginning throughout Disguise and Search, she has fallen down a set of stairs and critically damage her ankle. The brand new mother is in no form to compete within the following sport, Leap Rope.
As a substitute, Jun-hee asks Gi-hun to guard her child by taking the toddler throughout the treacherous walkway. “Jun-hee trusts that Gi-hun would proceed with human dignity,” Jo Yu-ri says. Gi-hun succeeds, however doesn’t need to cease there. As soon as everybody else is throughout the walkway, Gi-hun intends to return to the beginning line to retrieve Jun-hee. She is aware of such heroics aren’t potential within the time remaining, and that her child will die if Gi-hun will get caught on the unsuitable aspect of Leap Rope. Ought to each Jun-hee and Gi-hun be eradicated, the remaining gamers will use the chance to kill the new child. To stop Gi-hun from coming to her and this terrible destiny from ever coming to cross, Jun-hee steps off the platform and falls to her demise.
“I hope that when viewers see Jun-hee that they notice {that a} mom’s love is so robust and highly effective and indestructible,” the actor tells Tudum.
Hwang discovered inspiration for the story of Jun-hee and her child from Alfonso Cuarón’s 2006 dystopian drama Kids of Males. “Within the movie, the kid symbolizes the way forward for humanity,” he says. “I wished to discover humanity’s final hope via Jun-hee’s child and Gi-hun, who tries to guard the newborn in any respect prices.”
Though Jun-hee dies carrying the Participant 222 monitor go well with, her child continues her legacy — and wins the sport carrying her mother’s quantity.
Why does Gi-hun (Participant 456) select to die?
Squid Sport’s creator didn’t initially plan for Gi-hun to perish. However as Hwang strategized Seasons 2 and three, he realized he wanted a decision that may deliver “each the sport and Gi-hun’s journey” to a becoming and resounding shut.
“The message I wished to speak was that if we solely pursue our speedy self-interest, and refuse to self-restrain, sacrifice, or bear any prices — and if we don’t put our heads collectively — we’ve no future,” Hwang says. “ Gi-hun’s self-sacrifice to avoid wasting the newborn is the message we have to hear at present. This character, who’s thrust into the sport, endures the whole lot, after which jumps again in to finish it, is the one who ought to ship this message.”
Gi-hun’s resolution to sacrifice his personal life additionally displays his need to guard Jun-hee’s baby, irrespective of the implications. He won’t know what the long run will maintain for her, however he is aware of that he did all he may, proper as much as the tip.
What does Entrance Man do with Jun-hee’s child?
Instantly after Gi-hun’s demise, a Pink Guard tells Entrance Man the coast guard is approaching the island. Entrance Man instructs the guard to start evacuation. Earlier than fleeing, nevertheless, Entrance Man goes to see Gi-hun’s physique and decides to avoid wasting Jun-hee’s child. As he escapes, his brother, Jun-ho (Wi Ha-jun), seems within the VIP viewing space and calls for solutions about why Entrance Man was concerned with all of this. Entrance Man refuses to reply. As he escapes with the newborn although, it turns into clear that maybe Entrance Man has had a change of coronary heart — or, at the least, remembered he has one.
Lee Byung-hun has some insights into the thoughts of his masked character. Whereas Entrance Man saving the newborn is his most humane resolution of the sequence, there have been indicators lengthy earlier than that he was warming up. Take, for instance, his resolution to let Jun-hee’s child into the sport. “That really highlighted the truth that he has that final remaining piece of humanity deep down someplace. That’s the settlement that director Hwang and I got here to. That’s how I performed my character,” he tells Tudum. “Entrance Man has that final piece of benevolence remaining within him.”
He maintains that benevolence for at the least half a yr. In a six-month time leap on the very finish of Season 3, Episode 6, we study Entrance Man has damaged into his brother Jun-ho’s residence. However the Squid Sport host isn’t any thief. As a substitute, he leaves Jun-ho with a gift: Jun-hee’s child, and her 4.56 billion gained prize as the most recent champion of Squid Sport.
What occurred to Gi-hun’s cash?
When kindly legal Woo-seok (Jun Suk-ho) will get out of jail, he has just one query: The place is Gi-hun’s fortune from Season 1? As final seen in Season 2, it was sitting on a mattress on the Pink Motel. Nevertheless it’s since disappeared. The final part of Squid Sport provides us the reply. Entrance Man takes the money and deposits it in a checking account. He then flies to Los Angeles to satisfy Gi-hun’s daughter Ga-yeong (Jo Ah-in) and provides her the cash. Entrance Man additionally informs her of Gi-hun’s demise. Finally, Ga-yeong is aware of her father isn’t ignoring her.
However was this a sort transfer on Entrance Man’s half? Lee Jung-Jae doesn’t suppose so. “After I noticed the scene the place the Entrance Man goes to see Ga-yeong, I believed ‘Gi-hun’s going to be so mad he’s going to rise from his grave and simply leap out of the coffin. That’s how upset he was going to be!” the actor says.
What does the ultimate scene of Squid Sport imply?
As Entrance Man leaves Ga-yeong’s dwelling and drives via Downtown Los Angeles, he hears a well-known sound: the slap of ddakji tiles hitting the bottom. When he seems over, a mysterious and well-dressed stranger is taking part in the acquainted sport with a clearly distressed man. Entrance Man and the stranger see one another from a distance. May they’ve a sure sport in widespread?
“I believed it was an unbelievable ending that nobody may predict,” Lee Byung-hun says. “Regardless of all of the noble efforts of so many individuals, the world nonetheless continues because it was earlier than.”
For much more insights into Squid Sport’s last scene — and its stunning cameo — proceed studying right here.
Is Squid Sport coming again for Season 4?
Within the final seconds of Season 3, Entrance Man closes his window on Squid Sport. And, the sequence is doing the identical. Director Hwang has confirmed Season 3, Episode 6 is the definitive and deliberate sequence finale of Squid Sport. The thriller is not going to return for Season 4.
To listen to extra from Hwang about Squid Sport’s farewell season, click on right here.
So the boat captain is a villain, proper?
Sure, he definitely was. Season 3 confirms Captain Park (Oh Dal-su) is an affiliate of Entrance Man and an operative of the sport. Woo-seok even finds a Pink Guard uniform on the sea captain’s dwelling, together with a photograph of him with the vengeful Recruiter (Gong Yoo). There are additionally photographs of Captain Park with Entrance Man, however Woo-seok doesn’t discover them.
Park unveils his true nature in Episode 4, when he realizes Woo-seok and Jun-ho are onto him. He opens fireplace on everybody aboard his boat, killing a lot of Jun-ho’s allies and employed weapons. As soon as Jun-ho lastly will get the higher hand, he shoots the captain with a harpoon. Earlier than Park dies, he tells Jun-ho he was “simply following orders,” confirming Entrance Man was controlling the mission from the very starting.
What occurs to Gyeong-seok (Participant 246) and No-eul?
Rebellious Pink Guard No-eul (Park Gyu-young) creates an elaborate scheme to avoid wasting participant Gyeong-seok (Lee Jin-uk) and get him off the island. She fakes identities, kills her superior, and units fireplace to the data room, all to attain her aim. And he or she succeeds — she manages to get Gyeong-seok off the island the place he’s rescued earlier than he will be caught. As for No-eul? She escapes in plain sight amongst her fellow Pink Guards as they’re being evacuated.
Six months later, when the season does a time leap, No-eul visits Gyeong-seok, and he’s alive and properly — as is his younger daughter, Na-yeon. Gyeong-seok is again to drawing portraits on the amusement park, the place he and No-eul first met, and lovely, strawberry hat–carrying Na-yeon appears to be completely wholesome.
Nonetheless, whereas No-eul is joyful to see how Gyeong-seok is doing, he doesn’t acknowledge her in any respect, and has no concept she as soon as saved his life.
Is No-eul’s daughter actually alive?
Earlier than Squid Sport, No-eul defected from North Korea for her personal security. However in defending herself, she left behind her husband and daughter. Though she’s initially advised her household is lifeless, No-eul will get a promising name whereas leaving the amusement park. Apparently, No-eul’s daughter Han Track-i is likely to be alive. There’s been a potential sighting of her in China, and No-eul decides to chase the lead. The information might not be true, however discovering out is well worth the flight.
“She’s somebody whose interior mild has all however pale, drifting deeper into the evening,” director Hwang says. However when No-eul witnessed Gi-hun’s “final act of self-sacrifice” throughout Sky Squid Sport, one thing modified inside her. “A flicker of hope and pull in the direction of life reignites inside No-eul. I wished to indicate her rising once more, reclaiming her will to reside, and giving life one other shot.”
No matter occurred to Sae-byeok’s brother?
As No-eul heads to China, Squid Sport checks on one other set of vacationers on the airport — and nods again to the sequence’ very starting. As luck would have it, Sae-byeok (Hoyeon) — Gi-hun’s buddy and ally from Season 1 — is getting the fortunately ever-after she at all times wished, from past the grave. Her little brother Cheol (Park Si-wan) lastly reunites with their North Korean mom, one thing Sae-byeok at all times dreamed about. Cheol is so shaken by this growth he can’t converse. However he’s prompted to take action by his guardian (Park Hye-jin), the mom of Gi-hun’s childhood buddy and Season 1 rival Sang-woo (Park Hae-soo). In Season 1, Gi-hun connects Cheol and Sang-woo’s mom out of respect for Sae-byeok’s reminiscence.
“Sae-byeok tried to ship cash to the North, dreaming of bringing her mom over in order that the three of them might be reunited and reside fortunately collectively,” Hwang says. “She held onto that hope — a sliver of sunshine just like the break of daybreak.”
With the shut of Squid Sport, that daybreak is lastly right here.
(Re)watch each breathtaking twist and switch of Squid Sport now — the whole sequence is at present streaming on Netflix. And for all of your information from the world, hold checking in with Tudum.
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