WARNING: This article contains spoilers from Squid Game.
The creator behind Squid Game has spoken out on the show’s finale that’s had fans in floods of tears.
Netflix‘s South Korean thriller quickly rose charts back in 2021 and became a hit with fans. Yet, it was a long three-year wait before its gripping return to our screens.
The hype reached fever pitch last week as the concluding six episodes were released on June 27, seeing Seong Gi-hun (played by Lee Jung-jae) dive back into the fray for another round of lethal games.
With the series leaving fans “crying” and “screaming”, the ending has some people confused. One fan took to social media to say: “I’m so confused? ? ?”, reports the Mirror US.
In a brutal twist, none of the original Squid Game contestants made it out alive, with Player 222’s (Jun-hee) newborn emerging as the unexpected victor. Earlier episodes saw Player 222 go into labour while trying to stifle her screams during childbirth.
Her journey came to a heart-wrenching halt when she couldn’t cross the bridge in a later game of jump rope due to an injured ankle, leading to her demise. Meanwhile, Gi-hun had already crossed over with the infant.
The final game was a harrowing, yet complicated one. As other contenders sought to eliminate the infant, it was Gi-hun who defended her throughout.
As the game intensifies, leaving viewers on the edge of their seats, it ultimately boils down to Gi-hun and the baby. Faced with a harrowing choice, Gi-hun opts for self-sacrifice, allowing the baby to emerge victorious.
Creator Hwang Dong-hyuk shed light on the conclusion during an interview with Netflix‘s Tudum. He said: “Ultimately, the baby represents the future generation.
“I believe we also have the responsibility and duty to try everything that we can in our power to leave a better world for the future generation. The baby coming out as the winner was in line with the meaning of Squid Game.”
Delving into player 456’s journey back to his own sense of humanity, Hwang stated: “I eventually came to believe that, no matter how hopeless and dark the world may seem, perhaps we still have a chance if we can find even a glimpse of hope within ourselves.”
The creator revealed to Netflix‘s Tudum that the initial ending did not involve Gi-hun’s death, but he felt completion required a decisive end. He expressed: “The message I wanted to communicate was that if we solely pursue our immediate self-interest, and refuse to self-restrain, sacrifice, or bear any costs – and if we don’t put our heads together – we have no future.
“Gi-hun’s self-sacrifice to save the baby is the message we need to hear today. This character, who is thrust into the game, endures everything, and then jumps back in to end it, is the one who should deliver this message.”
The finale has left fans craving more, but it has been confirmed that the hit thriller will not return for a fourth series. Over the weekend, fans binged the remaining six episodes, admitting the show left them in tears.
One fan expressed their admiration on social media, writing: “Squid Game season 3 was a masterpiece. Thank you!”.
Another shared: “I just finished Squid Game and .. I FEEL DESPAIR.”
A third added: “Started thinking abt the squid game ending and started crying again.”
A fourth echoed “Its a crying fest episode after episode of squid game bro.”
Squid Game is available to stream on Netflix
