Netflix shocked everyone with the abrupt ending of Squid Game Season 2 at the end of last year (2024). Finally, yesterday (2025/6/27), they released Season 3. The last season ended so inexplicably that, coinciding with the weekend release, I had to binge-watch the entire series.
This is a review article, containing a complete plot summary and thoughts with major spoilers. If you haven’t watched the series and want to avoid spoilers, please turn away now.
Spoilers ahead
Spoilers ahead
Spoilers ahead
Spoilers ahead
Spoilers ahead
Main Plotlines of “Squid Game Season 3”
- The Squid Game itself
- Detective Hwang and Director Choi’s island search
- The rescue mission of Number 11
Summary and Thoughts on “Squid Game Season 3”
“Squid Game Season 3 S3 EP1” Keys and Knives
The first game is hide and seek. Each participant starts by drawing either a blue or red ball from a capsule machine.
- Blue team’s condition to pass: Find the exit within 30 minutes or avoid being caught within 30 minutes. Each person has a key in the shape of ○△□, which can open the room’s door, but once opened, it cannot be locked again.
- Red team’s condition to pass: Kill at least one person from the blue team within 30 minutes. Each person has a knife, and red team members cannot attack each other.
About the Game
The initial draw results showed teammates drawing different colors, which clearly indicated that something unexpected was about to happen. The mother started showcasing the hairpin from the previous season, indicating she was ready to use it. After Thanos was gone, the aura of the artifact became very strong, giving a sense of always playing a secret game, especially when agreeing to collaborate with the most hated Nam Kyu, which made me look forward to their future betrayal.
In this episode, Gi-hun, after leading a team suicide previously, felt a sudden drop in pressure, realizing that Big Tiger was furious after returning as a deserter. He stared at Big Tiger, who was also on the red team, throughout the episode, hinting at future developments. At this point, I think 001 might also want to see a darkened Gi-hun. If Gi-hun turns dark, 001 would win.
Island Search
In the last season, I felt this subplot was unnecessary and wanted to fast forward, but this season, Director Choi suddenly seemed more intelligent, making the island search subplot much more interesting. The previously suspicious captain was finally questioned by Director Choi, asking if he didn’t find the captain problematic. However, due to Director Choi’s past blunders, Detective Hwang didn’t trust him and even forbade him from drinking. I initially thought Director Choi would continue to cause misunderstandings, but he surprised me by disembarking to investigate the captain, showing intelligence and action that made the subplot much more engaging.
Number 11 Storyline
Number 11, Kang Ha, successfully infiltrated the operating room, killing everyone except the doctor, to revive the artist father, Park Kyung-seok, who helped fake his death last time. This subplot felt so politically correct that I was always confident they would survive, as the story had too much focus not to provide a satisfactory conclusion.
“Squid Game Season 3 S3 EP2” Starry Night
About the Game
The hide and seek game begins, and the story splits into:
- The artifact and Nam Kyu as the red team
- Mother Jang, Hyun-joo, and Soon-hee as the blue team
- Gi-hun, who only wants to kill Big Tiger
- The witch and her followers as the blue team
Special forces member Hyun-joo was the MVP, managing to disarm opponents and discover the keyhole usage, leading the team to the end and even assisting in delivering Soon-hee’s baby during the game. However, failing to close the door and constantly turning her back to unknown spaces was a significant oversight. I kept wanting to shout, “Close the door! There are people with knives running around outside. Why not close the door?” Ultimately, they got caught because they didn’t close the door. It was frustrating, especially considering her special forces background. Do special forces usually turn their backs on corridors where people with knives could attack at any moment?
Gi-hun’s subplot of wanting to kill Big Tiger felt overly forced. Gi-hun’s character is set as kind and non-murderous, so when he captured Big Tiger and hesitated due to Big Tiger’s emotional plea, the plot conveniently had Big Tiger act recklessly, giving Gi-hun a reason to kill him.
I didn’t expect the mother to use the hairpin on her son. I initially thought she would hold her son’s hand tighter and stab herself, but perhaps she wanted to avoid future trauma for her son. No future means no future trauma.
“Squid Game Season 3 S3 EP3” It’s Not Your Fault
About the Game
Mother Jang, burdened by the pain of killing her son in the previous episode, had to care for Soon-hee, who just gave birth, and also provide psychological counseling to Gi-hun. She truly was the strongest mother in the series, trying to emit positive energy amidst a vortex of negativity. After spreading her final dose of positivity, she was overwhelmed by her own negativity and chose to hang herself by the bed, permanently exiting the game.
Then came the much-anticipated jump rope game, which the official sources had been hinting at. The previously timid Min-soo suddenly toughened up, using strategy to eliminate Nam Kyu, which was incredibly satisfying. Gi-hun jumping rope with a child was impressive, promising to bring the child back even stronger. I believe he genuinely meant it, as he had repeatedly performed such rescue actions in the past.
Island Search
Detective Hwang finally found the captain suspicious, at least judging by his expression. While passing by the island where he was shot last season, the captain tried to persuade everyone to leave, but Detective Hwang, possibly influenced by Director Choi, insisted on exploring the island, officially discovering it. From there, they began searching the surrounding islands.
Director Choi even found the captain’s house, proving he was doing his job. Despite his subordinate’s comment about trespassing, he boldly entered the house to investigate, making him the most improved character this season.
“Squid Game Season 3 S3 EP4” 222
About the Game
Given the long buildup to the jump rope game, it was bound to be a dramatic send-off for popular characters. Soon-hee refused the artifact’s help, knowing she couldn’t cross the bridge after everyone else did. Gi-hun returning would only result in two deaths, so she ultimately jumped off the cliff, entrusting her baby to Gi-hun. The artifact must have been truly despicable in the past, as even at death’s door, Soon-hee didn’t want his help. The VIPs decided the baby could inherit her mother’s number 222 and continue as a player, so the baby stayed with Gi-hun.
Next came the banquet, with an adorable baby bottle and delicious-looking food. Watching it on an empty stomach made my stomach growl, and even while writing this, I hadn’t eaten yet, so I went back to check the scene. It really looked delicious.
After bedtime, 001 called Gi-hun to the office, revealing his true identity and giving him a knife.
Island Search
Director Choi successfully found evidence of the captain being a Squid Game employee, but got arrested for trespassing. Ultimately, the captain discovered his secret when the police called him, killing everyone on the ship. Fortunately, Director Choi managed to retrieve his phone at the police station, immediately calling Detective Hwang, allowing him to dodge the captain’s attack and survive using a harpoon, saving the squad leader.
“Squid Game Season 3 S3 EP5” ○△□
About the Game
The night before the final game, 001 gave Gi-hun a knife, suggesting he could kill everyone while they slept to win the game. The scene cut to 001 as a player, also given a knife, and he used it, eventually becoming the winner. Returning to the present, Gi-hun, about to strike, recalled the defector Kang Hyo from the first season, who cried, “Don’t do it, you’re not that kind of person.” Ultimately, Gi-hun didn’t strike, and 001 shed tears of gratitude, realizing they were different.
The next and final game mirrored the first season’s Squid Game but was played in the air. There were three zones, each requiring at least one person to be pushed down. The last person standing would be the winner. At this point, the artifact was negotiating with the greedy uncle’s group but didn’t reveal he was the baby’s father, stirring trouble among the uncles. He eventually managed to push all the uncles down, leaving only himself, Gi-hun, and the baby.
Why not keep a few uncles for the end?
Number 11 Storyline
Number 11 successfully forced the squad leader to take him to the captain’s office, attempting to destroy artist father Kyung-seok’s records to ensure a peaceful future for him and his daughter. After a lengthy struggle, he finally killed the squad leader and found the records in the archive room. However, the records were updated too quickly, with current player information in print. Do they print new records daily?
Kyung-seok also managed to escape on a small boat, narrowly avoiding being shot by pursuers, and encountered Detective Hwang’s squad, saving his life and escaping successfully. I was worried the squad leader might be an undercover agent, as he looked villainous, but apparently not; he just looked bad and had limited screen time.
“Squid Game Season 3 S3 EP6” Humanity…
About the Game
Even until the end, the artifact couldn’t decide what kind of person he was. He always tried to protect the child but sometimes acted recklessly, not caring. In this episode, during a confrontation with Gi-hun, he used his child as a hostage but eventually put the child aside. Ultimately, he lost to the previous champion, falling off the cliff. After Gi-hun climbed up, he realized he hadn’t pressed the game start button, so the third zone hadn’t had anyone fall yet. Either Gi-hun had to go down, or the baby had to.
At this moment, the plot presented a choice between two outcomes. I desperately hoped Detective Hwang would intervene in time to save everyone, but reality is harsh. Gi-hun chose to let the baby live, sacrificing himself by jumping, bringing tears to 001’s eyes. In the end, he wanted to prove that humanity was still beautiful with his life.
Island Search
The coast guard finally arrived but only saw the ship, not the people (perhaps the budget for actors ran out). Detective Hwang finally infiltrated the island, saw his brother, but they only shouted to each other from a distance before parting ways again. The island’s self-destruct mechanism was triggered, leaving the fate of the evidence unknown. The VIPs’ whereabouts were also left unexplained, but judging by their calm evacuation SOP, I believe they all escaped safely.
Number 11 Storyline
After burning all the records, Number 11 initially sat on the sofa, contemplating suicide, but after witnessing Gi-hun sacrificing his life to save a baby, he put the gun down, deciding to live well himself.
Aftermath
Kyung-seok returned to the amusement park as an artist. After all the effort to destroy your records, is it right to work in the same place? At least his daughter seemed to grow up healthy, making him one of the characters with the happiest ending this season, thanks to Number 11’s efforts. Number 11 also received news that his daughter might be alive, proving that good deeds are rewarded.
Director Choi was jailed for six months for trespassing, eventually released by Detective Hwang, and later decided to run a hotel business, seemingly becoming friends with Detective Hwang. This outcome wasn’t in vain, considering the leader’s sacrifice to save Director Choi’s life.
001 finally packed Gi-hun’s remaining money and sent it to Gi-hun’s daughter. While passing through an alley, he saw Cate Blanchett slapping someone. If Netflix wants to continue with this IP, there’s a good chance of an American version of Squid Game appearing.