WithSquid Game’s return in 2024 allowing the tense South Korean drama to climb the rankings for the 2024-2025 TV season, Netflix’s decision to bring the series to a close in its upcoming third season feels like a misuse of the show’s true potential. After taking the world by storm in 2021, Hwang Dong-Hyuk’s drama about desperate players thrown into deadly childhood games for a life-changing cash prize returned in full force. In season 2, Lee Jung-jae’s Gi-hun returns to the Games, hoping to break the cycle and end the bloodshed.
Despite his noble intentions, however,Gi-hun’s plan attracts the attention of the masked Front Man (Lee Byung-hun), who steps into the Gamesamong a cast of new players to sabotage his efforts. After Gi-hun and the Front Man, whose name is In-ho, attempted to instigate a revolt, the pink-clad masked guards brutally quelled the riot, pushing the Games onward.Squid Gameseason 3will arrive on June 27, and the final season will bring Gi-hun’s tale to a close.
Squid Game Is The Most-Viewed Show Of The 2024-25 Season
Even Netflix’s Later Global Sensations Came Second Place
As reported byScreen Rantearlier in the week,Netflix dominated the 2024-2025 streaming landscape, according to Nielsen’s multiplatform ratings, with the returningSquid Gamenetting the top position on the charts. According to the ratings,Squid Gamemanaged to accumulate an impressive 27.1 million viewers within its first five days of streaming. Even when compared to Netflix’s fellow hit 2025 discussion-provoking dramaAdolescence, which took second place, the K-drama series surpassed it by an estimated 8.1 million viewers.
Despite Being The Most-Viewed Show, Squid Game Is Ending With Season 3
Season 2’s Development Paved The Way For A Quick Turnaround
Furthermore, thanks to this swift development and production process,Squid Gameseason 2’s mid-creditsscene lays the groundwork for Gi-hun’s final ordeal. With the Games set to resume,a new version of the iconic “Red Light, Green Light” game is teased, with the lethal Young-hee doll being joined by a male doll named Chul-Su. As such, Hwang seems to be bringing the series full circle with the final act of the story in a poetic manner by returning to the series' first game.
Does Netflix Have The Programming To Keep Viewers Subscribed?
Furthermore, the scope of what could occur in theSquid Gameuniverse still feels untapped. Whilethe three seasons focusing on Gi-hun and the Front Man create a captivating battle of ideals on human nature, elements such as the mysterious nature of the Games and its powerful benefactors and spectators are still areas worth exploring, diving into what draws these people to the horror. As such,shouldSquid Gameleave some questions unanswered, many may remain eager for more.
However, Hwang has also been open about the strain writing season 1 brought him, as well as stating that aninspiration forSquid Game’s structure was theMatrixfilm trilogy, specifically pertaining to Gi-hun’s choice to return to the horrifying reality of the Games. With these factors in mind, it is evident that this is a decision by the creator to end the series on his terms as opposed to Netflix’s interests. However, shouldDavid Fincher’s English-languageSquid Gameadaptationtie into the original South Korean drama if it enters production,Squid Gamemay continue to be a Netflix hit for some time after all.
