"Squid Game" is over: What did the third season end with?

On June 27, Netflix released the third and final season of one of its most popular projects — the South Korean series "Squid Game."

The series first aired in the fall of 2021 and had a strong impact on a global audience during the post-pandemic period. Author Hwang Dong-hyuk raised sharp questions about human moral choices, the cruelty of capitalism, and class inequality. The first season was very successful and entered history as the most-watched original project on Netflix. Although the author initially planned only one season, under pressure from Netflix, the series was extended by two more seasons.

The third season was filmed simultaneously with the second. The main character, Seong Gi-hun, returns to the game and this time presents himself as a defender of humanity, even ready to sacrifice himself. Throughout the series, he almost becomes a religious figure — dying, resurrecting, and continuing the fight against evil. In the finale, a newborn baby — still untouched by the evils of this world — becomes a symbol of hope for the future.

The main dramatic question of the series — whether good or evil dominates human nature — was already answered in the first season. Therefore, in the second and especially the third season, the story feels somewhat stretched and sometimes repetitive. The number of episodes decreased each season (9 → 7 → 6).

The characters are no longer that original — the villains are superficial, not deep, simplified, and the “good” ones remain idealists as before. The struggles are still brutal, but with fewer unexpected twists. The author himself openly admitted in interviews that he was tired of the project.

The finale also received mixed reviews: 70% on Metacritic, and only 42% audience approval on Rotten Tomatoes. These ratings indicate that the show had lost its momentum by the end. However, Netflix hints at a possible American spin-off in the final scene — the appearance of a Hollywood star in the frame suggests this.

This means that the series may not be over yet. However, critics argue that Netflix continues to go against the core idea — that a person can stop a violent system. Ultimately, the main message of the series — fighting against cruelty — must not lose its significance. Read 'Zamin' on Telegram!