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Los Angeles Times
30 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
‘Squid Game' finale lays bare a reality: The wealthy win and nice guys finish last
Rich people suck. The message was loud and clear when Netflix's Korean thriller 'Squid Game' arrived in 2021. Imagining wealth and class disparity at the heart of a high-stakes competition, it featured cash-strapped contestants playing a series of children's games to the death while uber-wealthy spectators bet on their odds of survival. The show's masked elites watched the carnage from a luxe, concealed spectator box, chomping on cigars and chortling as player after player met a gruesome death. The Korean-language show became the streamer's most watched series ever. Comeuppance for the hideously affluent seemed imminent and likely at the hands of protagonist Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae). The winner of Season 1's 'Squid Game' deserved vengeance after surviving a series of horrific scenarios — a hopscotch-type match played on a fragile glass bridge above a deadly chasm, a red light-green light contest where players who moved at the wrong time were 'eliminated' by machine gun fire. He watched as good people were killed by pink guards, other contestants and their own stupid actions. But no. The last six 'Squid Game' episodes, now streaming on Netflix, did something entirely unsatisfying. They veered from the prospect of timely, eat-the-rich vengeance porn to unflattering commentary about the rest of us, the other 99% who aren't Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg or Jeff Bezos. What did we ever do to deserve a lethal game of double dutch with two giant mechanical children swinging a 10-ton metal rod in place of a jump rope? A lot, apparently. 'Squid Game' shows that under the right circumstances, regular folks are just as greedy and morally corrupt as the obscenely prosperous, no matter if their money problems stem from unforeseen medical bills, wanton gambling or generational poverty. Press the little guy or gal hard enough and they're just as ruthless as the mogul that's suppressing them. Season 3 picks up exactly where 2 left off. Gi-hun, who'd found his way back in the clandestine gaming complex (situated inside a mountain on a remote island), is Player 456 again among a new round of contestants. He'd planned to infiltrate the operation from inside, staging a coup against the VIPs and Front Man (Lee Byung-hun) who run the games. But now it's clear he's failed. He's cornered by guards, the players who fought alongside him are dead, and he's thrown back in with the remaining players, many of whom survived because they're the most craven of the group. Free and fair elections are at the heart of every democracy, or so 'Squid Game' reminds us each time the bedraggled players are asked for their vote regarding the next round: Continue to compete and thin the herd for a larger reward or stop and split their winnings with their fellow contestants? Majority rules, and each time the group opt to sacrifice their lives — and everyone else's — in pursuit of money. Series creator Hwang Dong-hyuk has spoken about his dwindling faith in humanity as it relates to his concerns about South Korea's democracy, and you'll hear him loud and clear in Season 3: Voting is power, but look what happens when the population increasingly puts its own self-interest above that of the greater good. It's a scenario that should be recognizable to Americans by now. 'Squid Game' Season 3 takes that idea to the extreme, and quite fearlessly, Hwang puts the series to bed without punishing the rich. Instead he dares to lay bare a truth that's become all too apparent of late: Wealth wins over morality and money trumps accountability. Nice guys not only finish last, they wind up pulverized like everyone else below a certain tax bracket, no matter their dedication toward humanity. The Korean show's run has ended, but not before a finale that alludes to a Hollywood sequel. The episode, set in Los Angeles, shows a familiar scene. A down-and-out man is approached by a mysterious, well-dressed figure who uses a simple kid's game to test his want of money against his tolerance for pain and humiliation. Those who've watched 'Squid Game' will recognize it as the beginning of Gi-hun's journey, which ended with a sliver of redemption in an abyss of darkness. The mysterious figure appears to be a recruiter for a new, English-language 'Squid Game.' She's played by an A-list celebrity — Cate Blanchett — operating in a city renowned for its self-involvement and privilege. 'Squid Game' has a whole new playing field.
News18
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Squid Game To Business Proposal: Best K-Dramas On Netflix That You Should Not Miss
Last Updated: Squid Game is a dystopian survival thriller created by Hwang Dong-hyuk, which revolves around a mysterious game containing 456 players. South Korean culture has firmly secured its place on the global stage. From Parasite's historic Oscar win in 2019 and BTS dominating international charts to Squid Game becoming a worldwide phenomenon – Korean content is not just making waves, but it is leading the tide. Here's a list of the best Korean shows on Netflix that you cannot afford to miss: Squid Game This dystopian survival thriller created by Hwang Dong-hyuk revolves around a mysterious game where 456 players, dealing with financial hardships, risk their lives to play a series of deadly games to win around $40 million. The series features an ensemble cast including Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon, Park Hae-soo, Jung Ho-yeon and Jo Yu-ri, among others. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Netflix Korea | 넷플릭스 코리아 (@netflixkr) Alchemy of Souls This fantasy period K-drama follows the story of two mages who have the ability to move their souls across bodies using a forbidden magic spell. The series cast a versatile lineup of actors, including Lee Jae-wook, Jung So-min, Hwang Min-hyun and Go Youn-jung. Business Proposal This feel-good office romance stars Ahn Hyo-seop as a rich CEO and Kim Se-jeong as a researcher working at the company. Although a fake date brings them closer, they slowly grow to have genuine feelings for each other. All Of Us Are Dead This webtoon adaptation is set in the fictional city of Hyosan and follows a group of teenagers stranded in school as they fight for survival after a zombie outbreak. With a hint of high school romance and unlimited suspense, this series will keep you on the edge of your seat throughout the 12 episodes. Lost in Starlight Netflix Korea's original animated series Lost in Starlight transcends space and time. Set in a futuristic Seoul in 2050, the story follows the love story of astronaut Nan-young and musician Jay as they navigate their relationship through the painful reality of long-distance across the universe – one that bridges Earth and Mars. When Life Gives You Tangerines This series stars K-drama fans' favourites IU and Park Bo-gum as Ae-sun and Gwan-sik, long-time friends and inhabitants of Jeju Island, where their love story blossoms. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Netflix India (@netflix_in) This slice-of-life drama begins in the 60s as Korea's urbanisation sees an increased popularity where Jeju serves as the main backdrop for both the show's character arcs as well as the larger social commentary.
Morocco World
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Morocco World
‘Squid Game' Season 3 Wraps Up Netflix Hit With Shocking Finale
Rabat – Netflix has just released the highly anticipated third and final season of Squid Game, bringing a dramatic and emotional end to the global sensation that began in 2021. The six-episode season picks up with Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) re-entering the deadly competition. But this time, he was determined to fight the system from the inside. However, the games are more brutal than ever, and the stakes are even higher. Led once again by the cold and calculating Front Man (Lee Byung-hun), a new group of desperate contestants face twisted challenges. Among them are new characters played by Im Si-wan, Kang Ha-neul, and Jo Yu-ri. One of the most talked-about twists is the ending, where the final winner is not an adult player, but the newborn child of contestant Jun-hee. The unexpected result has stunned Squid Game fans and sparked massive discussion online. Many interpreted it as a symbol of innocence and hope in a brutal world. Many critics are calling it the most intense and philosophical season yet. The series holds a 90% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and the hashtag #SquidGame3 has been trending worldwide since its release.
News18
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Squid Game Season 3 Review: A Bleak, Brutal Farewell That Loses More Than It Wins
Last Updated: Squid Game 3 Review: Netflix's Squid Game 3 closes the chapter with more tragedy and gore, but less soul and surprise. Squid Game Season 3 Review: After the breakout global success of its first season, Squid Game returns for a third and final outing on Netflix, closing the door on one of the most talked-about dystopian thrillers of the decade. With a bigger canvas, more twisted games and a heavier emotional load, Season 3 attempts to wrap up multiple threads including the long arc of protagonist Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), the mystery of the masked Front Man and the inner workings of the organisation behind the games. The result is a grim, at times exhausting, but undeniably impactful finale that asks viewers whether some games should never have been played at all. Picking up immediately after the failed rebellion in Season 2, Season 3 thrusts Gi-hun back into the nightmarish arena, this time emotionally broken and physically spent. He's no longer the scrappy survivor but a haunted man on a near-suicidal mission to destroy the system from within. His earlier efforts to inspire the players to rise up have failed, and now the games resume as ruthlessly as ever, beginning with a shudder-inducing version of hide-and-seek and escalating to a vertigo-triggering 'Sky Squid Game." Meanwhile, a subplot follows a rogue staffer, a former player-turned-guard, who infiltrates the organisation with a personal vendetta. Outside the island, the long-missing police officer Jun-ho is still hunting for proof of the game's existence, confronting not only the physical barriers of the island but the emotional ones with his estranged brother, the Front Man (Lee Byung-hun). What's compelling is how the show weaves these three storylines into one chaotic storm. All converge toward the final game, culminating in a disturbing, unforgettable ending that both honours and dismantles the mythology of Squid Game. Lee Jung-jae's Gi-hun has become a shadow of the man we met in Season 1 and that's the point. His arc, steeped in grief and disillusionment, is portrayed with haunting restraint. The performance is stripped of charisma, leaving behind a broken man barely holding onto purpose. Among the standout new additions, Kang Ae-shim shines as Jang Geum-ja, whose quiet dignity and heartbreak culminate in one of the series' most affecting moments. Jo Yu-ri (Jun-hee), playing a pregnant contestant, and Park Sung-hoon (Hyun-ju), a transgender former soldier, both bring emotional heft to a season otherwise consumed by bleakness. Roh Jae-won's sadistic Nam-gyu and Im Si-wan's morally slippery Myung-gi are compelling antagonists, even if their motivations feel overly telegraphed. Hwang Dong-hyuk once again proves adept at orchestrating psychological warfare masked as childhood play. The production design continues to dazzle, surreal pastels clashing with life-or-death tension. Yet, as stunning as it looks, Season 3 suffers from pacing issues. The episodes are bloated with filler dialogue, excessive foreshadowing and predictable twists that sap the urgency built so carefully in earlier seasons. The tone, too, shifts into unrelenting nihilism. There's little reprieve, little hope just wave after wave of gut-wrenching choices and grisly outcomes. Even the signature games including 'Sky Squid Game," a vertigo-inducing contest played on towering columns, begin to feel like macabre spectacle for spectacle's sake. Where Season 1 balanced moral ambiguity with razor-sharp tension and occasional empathy, and Season 2 faltered with a sluggish plot and undercooked expansion, Season 3 attempts to tie everything together. Unfortunately, it loses sight of what once made the series tick which is emotionally rich characters faced with impossible decisions. Season 3's character development feels more strategic than sincere. We're told who to root for and who to fear, robbing the narrative of surprise. The show's early capacity to shock with both violence and vulnerability now leans heavily into the former. Ah yes, the VIPs are back in their gold-plated masks with atrocious dialogue, as cartoonish as ever. Whether this is intentional parody or a missed tonal cue is still up for debate. Either way, their presence remains Squid Game's most jarring flaw. In a series grounded in human desperation, these exaggerated caricatures feel like a parody within a tragedy. Visually, Squid Game is still exceptional. From its sterile dormitories to the nightmarish playgrounds, every frame is deliberate. The colour palette remains psychologically dissonant. The writing, however, stumbles. While the themes capitalism, democracy's failures, exploitation remain potent, they're now delivered with the subtlety of a sledgehammer. Lines like 'We're going to need you to die" are played straight, lacking the nuance and grim irony of earlier seasons. The pacing is a particular weak point. With a runtime bloated across fewer episodes, there's an odd rhythm of long stretches of exposition followed by condensed violence. It's emotionally exhausting, but not always narratively satisfying. There are moments of brilliance in Squid Game 3, twists that shock, deaths that sting, monologues that momentarily revive its social critique. A particularly horrifying sequence involving a baby reveals Hwang's enduring skill in provoking moral discomfort. And the final twist? It's cruel, calculated and classic Squid Game. Yet the magic is dimmed. The series, once groundbreaking, now teeters dangerously close to becoming the very thing it once critiqued, a spectacle of suffering. When even Gi-hun's once unshakable humanity is lost in the chaos, it becomes harder to find an emotional entry point. This isn't to say Squid Game 3 is a bad season, it's not. It's competently made, strikingly acted and thematically coherent. But it is a tired one. A finale that reinforces the message of the show but doesn't evolve it. Squid Game ends not with a bang, but with a deep, unsettling sigh. For all its visual bravado and moral complexity, Season 3 is less a triumphant finale and more a slow, painful surrender. Still, it deserves credit for staying true to its bleak worldview and in a world of endless reboots, there's something powerful in closing the book, even if the ending doesn't quite land. First Published: June 27, 2025, 22:08 IST
Mint
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
'Squid Game 3' REVIEW: Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-hun shine in a season that fails to level up
'Squid Game' once felt like a lightning bolt — sharp, shocking, and unforgettable. But by Season 3, the spark is all but gone. While fans may still show up for Lee Jung-jae's brooding return as Seong Gi-hun, what they'll find is a tired retread of ideas that no longer shock, surprise, or even fully engage. This season feels like déjà vu, but without the tension or originality that made the first season so compelling. Gi-hun's story picks up from where season two stopped and he once again tries to help the people that have entered the deadly game, haunted yet determined. Hwang Jun-ho (Wi Ha-joon), the determined detective from Season 1, is also back, still on the trail of the mysterious people behind the games and for his brother (who he doesn't know is the Front Man). But what once felt urgent and dangerous now feels strangely empty. The stakes are high — as always — but the show no longer builds them with the same suspense or emotional depth. There's a lot of noise, but very little to say that hasn't already been said. One of the biggest issues is repetition. The series is locked in a loop, both in structure and theme. We're reminded once again of capitalism's cruelty — the poor struggling for scraps while the rich look on in sadistic amusement — but the metaphor, while still relevant, lacks new insight. It feels like we're watching a dull echo of Season 1's biting message. The games themselves, once the standout of the show thanks to their elaborate sets and clever twists, now feel rushed and uninspired. The final game especially suffers, relying on digital effects instead of the striking physical design that once defined the series. It's as if the soul has been sucked out of the spectacle, leaving behind only a digital shell. What is even worse is that the show slowly kills off every character in the saddest way possible. But, of course, this does not come as a surprise to anyone. Each and every fan favourite character, from trans soldier Hyun-ju (Park Sung-hoon) to pregnant Jun-hee (Jo Yu-ri), no one is spared. Jun-ho's investigation is another disappointment. What should have been a thrilling parallel plotline is instead left directionless. His search yields little, dragging down the pace and offering barely any progress from where he started back in Season 1. This could have been a chance to open up the world of Squid Game, to deepen our understanding of how and why it all exists — but it doesn't. That said, it's not a complete failure. Lee Jung-jae is still magnetic, and his performance brings some much-needed weight to an otherwise flimsy season. His grief and inner conflict are deeply felt, even when the writing around him doesn't give much to work with. Brief emotional moments flicker here and there, hinting at the greatness this show once achieved. Needless to say, the entire cast put their best foot forward at every chance they got. And yes, the final episode has a surprise appearance that's likely to spark online chatter. But is it enough to redeem the once acclaimed show? Not quite. If it leads to another spin-off or sequel, one can only hope it brings with it a fresh vision and tighter storytelling. In the end, Season 3 of 'Squid Game' isn't the worst TV has to offer — but it's far from its best. For longtime fans, there may still be value in watching it through. But for most, it might be time to step away from the game. Final Verdict: A visually dim, narratively drained return that leans too heavily on past success.
