Summary
The long-awaited finale ofSquid Gameis finally here, and viewers from across the globe are tuning in to witness the climax of one of the most iconic shows of the last few years. Withmonths of speculation and countless theories, all the doubts are removed with a short but sweet final season that wraps up plenty of the storylines, while leaving the door open for more in the future.
The show has a pretty incredible track record for its episodes, delivering some wild twists and surprise moments that keep fans guessing right until the credits roll. Season three is no different, having some of the best episodes in the entire series, closing out a great show with the care and respect it deserves.
Spoiler Warning: Major spoilers discussed for the entirety of Squid Game Season 3.
6Keys and Knives (Episode 1)
Right Where We Left Off
Episode 1 kicks things off with a quick introduction to the current state of the games, as well as the state of those on the outside.Many of the core playersfrom the previous season managed to make it through the shootout alive. After a new vote is announced, it is clear that the games show no sign of stopping soon.
There is nothing overly wrong with the episode, and no particular complaints can really be made. However, as it is essentially the setup episode for the rest of the season, it serves more as a break from the intensity and drama. Still, it is nice to see familiar faces showing concern for others and maintaining their differences, especially after the failure of their attack.
5○△□ (Episode 5)
The Titular Game Returns With A Twist
Episode 5 is where the series begins its climax, with just a few players remaining on the inside and the team outside closing in on the island. The final game is revealed as a twist on the original finale, where players must push one another outside of the shape. But this time, the edges are 100m drops to certain death.
There are also some comedic beats interwoven with the action. Thanos makes his on-screen return as a hallucination, deliveringeven more funny linesfrom beyond the grave. Overall, as the penultimate episode, it serves its purpose well and keeps viewers guessing as they head into the long-awaited finale.
4It’s Not Your Fault (Episode 4)
The Ultimate Sacrifice
Episode 4 opens with an intense standoff between a bridge of terrified players and a single selfish contestant. The jump-rope game introduces a simplistic yet still challenging task for the players to overcome. Outside, Captain Park’s true identity comes to light, and he murdersthe majority of the crew, until he is stopped and confronted by Jun-ho.
The episode blends some time-sensitive action with high-tension situations, as more alliances and divisions grow all in the name of survival. Most crucially, however, Jun-Hee accepts her fate. She pleads for Gi-Hun to keep her baby safe until the end, leading to one of the most heartbreaking scenes in the show and a true testament to the levels of torture the players endure.
3222 (Episode 3)
An Unbreakable Promise
Episode 3 is full of revelations and pain, with some of the biggest surprises in the series yet. The VIPs return, Geum-ja ends her life from guilt over her actions, and significant pieces of information are revealed regarding Captain Park and his involvement with the games and the island.
The players are yet again given the choice to end the games, but things move on to the next game once more, leading to a few early deaths and a newfound bond between Gi-hun and Jun-hee. There’s a lot going on and things move forward at a decent pace, giving viewers plenty of chances to guess what’s coming next, whilst still being surprised along the way.
2Humans Are… (Episode 6)
A Fitting End With A Few Doors Left Open
Episode 6 is the final episode inthe originalSquid Gamesagaand closes the show in a pretty well-rounded way. Gi-hun makes the ultimate sacrifice, and the only remaining player is the baby of player 222. The baby is then given to Jun-ho along with the entire prize pool, with no further explanation. There are a few happy endings, with No-eul successfully saving Gyeong-seok and his daughter, and the reveal that her daughter may be alive in China.
But not everything is sunshine and rainbows. The final moments of the show demonstrate that the games are still continuing, only this time in America with a whole new recruiter, leaving things both happy and terrifying at the same time. To end a show like this is never going to be easy, but the creators did a great job tidying things up and delivering the finale that the show deserves.
1The Starry Night (Episode 2)
Pure Chaos From Start To Finish
Episode 2 is easily the best in Season 3, and is among the best in the whole show. It introduces a brand-new game of hide and seek where two teams of players run and hide from one another, with plenty of bloodshed along the way. The tension is high, as at any moment, a fan-favorite character could fall into the hands of another player or fail to make it to the exit.
It’s an all-out brawl with many unexpected deaths and moments, leading to the cast being shrunk to a fraction of its size over the course of a single episode. The fear and intensity never let up. Everything from the camera work to the area design makes it an absolute treat to watch and a great way to get right back into the action after an introductory first episode.
