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Spoilers observe for Squid Sport seasons 2 and three.
Squid Game season 3 marks the tip of the most-watched Netflix TV Unique. Hwang Dong-hyuk’s extremely profitable survival drama has had us on tenterhooks since its first season debuted in September 2021. And, with its ultimate season out now, viewers need to know the way Gi-hun’s story ends, and if Hwang and firm have fittingly caught the touchdown with its final hurrah.
On the time of publication, it is unimaginable to say if that is the case as a result of critics could not watch Squid Game‘s last-ever episode forward of time. Nonetheless, I’ve seen the primary 5 chapters of season 3, and so they’re as thrilling, extremely shifting, and at instances predictable as its forebears’ entries had been.
Loss of life and despair
Choosing up instantly after season 2’s heart-breaking finale, Squid Sport 3 reunites us with an emotionally crushed Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) after his unsuccessful rebellion. His finest pal Park Jung-bae (Lee Seo-hwan) was additionally executed by Entrance Man, aka Hwang In-ho (Lee Byung-hun), who infiltrated the competitors’s newest installment and posed as an ally of Gi-hun’s earlier than finally quashing the rebellion. Quite a few contestants who joined the revolt misplaced their lives amid the failed revolt, too.
With three rounds left till a winner is topped, although, the video games should proceed. That’s, until Detective Hwang Jun-ho (Wi Ha-joon) and his staff of employed mercenaries can find the key island the place the video games are held and assist Gi-hun put a cease to them as soon as and for all.
Squid Sport 3 discovered new methods to emotionally smash me
Given final season’s cliff-hanger ending and the narrative tissue that connects the pair, Squid Sport 3 feels extra like season 2 quantity 2 fairly than a standalone entry.
That is not an inherently dangerous factor, however six months have handed since final season initially aired. The passage of time has largely nullified the complete results of that season’s gut-punch ending, so you may need to rewatch season 2 episode 7 to redigest its true affect, reimmerse your self on this world, and remind your self of occasions regarding characters like Jun-ho and reluctant Squid Sport soldier Kang No-eul (Park Gyu-young). I did not, and it took me a complete episode – i.e. the season 3 premiere – to reconnect with Squid Sport‘s drama-fuelled story and eclectic solid of characters.
As soon as I used to be locked again in, Squid Sport 3 discovered new methods to emotionally smash me, via – yep, you guessed it, extra character deaths. I would argue the demise of sure people is way extra impactful, too, due to the emotional funding I’ve put in them. In spite of everything, I’ve spent extra time with this solid than contestants who featured in seasons 1 and a couple of.
Regardless, with its battle royale-like construction, the titular video games demand dying, so on this ultimate season of one of many best Netflix shows‘ even darlings and love-to-hate characters must die. The previous’s deaths are tear-jerking, whereas loads of the latter get their deserved comeuppance in extremely satisfying vogue. If it was ever doubtful, Squid Sport season 3 is an emotional rollercoaster in each sense of the phrase.
Because the sequence’ protagonist, it is Gi-hun’s story that understandably takes heart stage, though it takes an episode to get going once more. Hey, he is misplaced the need to stay after his finest pal’s demise, and feels extraordinarily responsible over the deaths of different contestants he satisfied to hitch his rebellion, so minimize him some slack.
As soon as it kicks into gear, Gi-hun’s season 3 arc turns into an introspection of the sequence’ main theme of humanity and the struggle to retain your morality when occasions and other people need to beat it out of you. I loved – if that is the precise phrase to explain it – Gi-hun’s one-man quest to battle again from the brink; the previously jovial but decided protagonist succumbing to, after which railing in opposition to, the blind rage, disgrace, and darkness inside. It is not till this season’s halfway level that the fireplace in his stomach is reignited, too, so there’s scope for Squid Sport 3 to make Gi-hun’s descent into insanity an unsettling watch. And it does so with aplomb earlier than he will get up off the proverbial canvas.
Sport on
Gi-hun’s interior turmoil is not helped by the introduction of latest video games that originally prey on his guilt-fueled fury, one in every of which was teased in Squid Game season 3’s first clip. Ever the humanitarian, although, that emotional turbulence is changed by his one-man quest for redemption, which facilities on a key element in Squid Game 3‘s first trailer and turns into an unexpectedly essential part of the video games’ ultimate three rounds.
Squid Sport 3 does an excellent job of slowly ratcheting up the strain via spine-chilling and hair-raising moments
Whether or not it is Soar Rope – which options big robotic Younger-hee, introduces her companion Chul-su, and actually heightens the sense of worry amongst contestants and viewers alike – or different new video games I can not spoil, Squid Sport 3 is aware of the way to elevate the stakes. Like its forebears, it does an excellent job of slowly ratcheting up the nail-biting pressure earlier than delivering spine-chilling and heart-pounding moments aplenty. Add in some narrative curveballs throughout and between the video games that additional tighten the screw, and Squid Sport 3 surprises and captivates in equal measure.
Squid Sport season 3 is not above reproach, thoughts you.
Certainly, it offers Entrance Man far much less to do than season 2 did – a grave disappointment when he was such a compelling and complex antagonist final time round. Season 3 belatedly and pleasingly addresses this oversight in its second half, however I used to be nonetheless pissed off by his absence for giant swathes of the present’s ultimate chapter.
Jun-ho’s perennial quest to rediscover the island the place the video games happen drifts aimlessly in an ocean of subplot mediocrity, too. Slowed down by extraneous story exposition and a story that goes round in circles, it will’ve been simpler as a aspect story with much less display screen time and a few real ahead momentum. It does not truly get thrilling till episode 4.
Jun-ho’s perennial quest to rediscover the island the place the video games happen drifts aimlessly
Season 3 does proper by one underutilized character, although, in No-eul. Outdoors of what we discovered about her in season 2’s first episode, the renegade soldier is given a correct arc in Squid Sport‘s ultimate season and, whisper it quietly, is likely to be the true MVP (most respected participant) of season 3.
It is unclear what affect, if any, No-eul may have on the sequence’ ultimate episode.
Nonetheless, season 3 episode 5 units up an engrossing finale that’ll see Squid Sport‘s numerous storytelling threads intersect and, hopefully, give it the send-off it deserves. I simply hope its runtime is appreciable sufficient to sufficiently and successfully wrap up every plotline. Primarily based on how this season’s fifth chapter ends, it is nonetheless bought plenty of legwork to finish earlier than the credit roll for the final time.
My verdict
Primarily based on 5 of its six episodes, Squid Sport season 3 is as gripping and delightfully depressing as I anticipated.
The present’s ultimate spherical may’ve been braver and fewer formulaic with its storytelling selections, and its incessant plot exposition repeatedly grated on me. However, as a personality examine and exploration of man’s inhumanity to his fellow man and different sociopolitical themes, it is laborious to argue that finale however, Squid Sport 3 is a grandstand end to an unmissable sequence that totally deserves its place within the pantheon of Netflix TV Originals.
Squid Sport season 3 is out now in full on Netflix.