Netflix’s global phenomenon Squid Game returns with its third and final season—and from the very first six minutes, it’s clear the streaming giant had confidence in its most-watched show ever. That early preview confirmed a major relief: Player 456, Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), is alive—setting the stage for a nerve-wracking final chapter.
Opening Glimpse and Returning Players
After the shocking betrayal by the Frontman (Lee Byung-hun), who murdered Gi-hun’s best friend, only 60 players remain. Among them are compelling returnees and unforgettable new characters:
- Player 120 (Park Sung-hoon): A transgender, military-trained sniper with a golden heart.
- Player 222 (Jo Yu-ri): A pregnant woman whose delivery becomes a pivotal moment in the story.
- Player 333 (Yim Si-wan): A disgraced bitcoin millionaire and drug addict—and the father of 222’s child.
- A cowardly rebel-turned-traitor.
- A devoted mother-son duo.
The final games are bigger, bolder, and far more dangerous. With a swollen prize pool and desperate survivors, the line between humanity and depravity disappears entirely.
The Baby and the Bizarre
A dramatic subplot involves the birth of player 222’s baby—a moment teased in the official trailer with the sound of an infant crying. Though meant to heighten the emotional stakes, the baby is oddly portrayed as a low-maintenance prop, lacking realism. While its presence symbolizes innocence in a corrupted world, it occasionally feels forced and implausible.
Meanwhile, two terrifying figures from earlier seasons—Young-hee, the robotic girl from Red Light, Green Light, and her male counterpart Chul-Su—return for a game that’s as deadly as it is symbolic, invoking both nostalgia and new terror.
Performances and Payoff
The acting ensemble is once again exceptional. Lee Jung-jae continues to anchor the show with gravitas, while Park Sung-hoon and Yim Si-wan shine in their respective complex roles. The final season leans heavily into psychological torment and moral ambiguity, and every actor rises to the occasion.
Director Hwang Dong-hyuk infuses the season with personal themes—economic despair, class inequality, survival instinct—all wrapped in high-stakes drama. The tension escalates with every game, culminating in a finale that is shocking, satisfying, and heartbreakingly relevant.
Final Verdict
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Squid Game Season 3 delivers a gripping, emotionally intense conclusion that pushes its characters—and audience—to the edge. While not every narrative choice lands (particularly the baby subplot), the storytelling, performances, and production design elevate this finale into must-watch television. It’s a brutal, genre-blending masterclass in survival drama that secures Squid Game’s place in TV history.
Watch it if you’re ready for one last deadly game.
