The highly anticipated final season of the global phenomenon squid Game has wrapped on Netflix, delivering a conclusion that has sparked intense debate among viewers. While the initial reaction from one longtime fan expressed profound sadness over the perceived fate of protagonist Gi-hun, the real story of the series finale is far more complex, featuring brutal final games, unexpected character twists, and a surprising appearance by a major Hollywood star that teases the organization’s expanding reach.
The journey through Season 3 saw the surviving players pushed to their absolute limits in a series of increasingly sadistic challenges. From a terrifying game of Hide and Seek set in a maze to a supersized Jump Rope challenge across a perilous bridge, the games whittled down the competitors in gruesome fashion. Key players like Myung-gi and Jun-hee faced horrific choices and fates, often involving the welfare of Jun-hee’s newborn baby, who became player 222 and a central figure in the final acts.
The Brutality of the Final Games
The path to the ultimate showdown was paved with difficult tests of survival and morality. An early game of Hide and Seek turned deadly quickly. Later, the supersized Jump Rope forced players onto a narrow, high bridge. Gi-hun, ever the protector, notably carried Jun-hee’s baby across this dangerous obstacle after the mother was injured. Despite Gi-hun’s efforts, Jun-hee made the heartbreaking decision to sacrifice herself, entrusting her infant to Gi-hun’s care.
Following these grim events, and with VIPs (dubbed “Very Bad Actors”) observing, the remaining players were alerted to a shocking possibility: the baby, Player 222, could potentially inherit the prize money. This revelation twisted the game’s dynamics, leading some players to target the infant. The Front Man even offered Gi-hun a knife, reminiscent of a similar dark choice he himself had faced in the past, giving Gi-hun the chance to eliminate threats to the baby preemptively. However, Gi-hun could not bring himself to act violently that night.
The Sky Squid Game and a Shocking Winner
The final game, the Sky Squid Game, proved to be the most abstract and deadly yet. Players had to ascend a tall pillar, eliminating opponents to create bridges and progress. The stakes were incredibly high, with limited time and the constant threat of falling to their death. The games on the pillar led to brutal conflicts and surprising alliances. Myung-gi, revealed to be the baby’s father, unexpectedly allied with Gi-hun against other players attempting to harm the infant.
The final moments of the Sky Squid Game saw Gi-hun, the baby Player 222, and Myung-gi as the last three contestants. A bridge appeared, indicating that one of them must die for a true winner to emerge. In a disturbing twist, Myung-gi proposed sacrificing his own daughter, leaving her on the bridge for the prize. Gi-hun desperately tried to intervene, even offering his own life. As the bridge retracted, a desperate struggle ensued between Gi-hun and Myung-gi, resulting in Myung-gi’s fatal fall from the platform.
However, the game wasn’t over in the way the VIPs expected. Gi-hun realized the final round hadn’t officially begun because the crucial button hadn’t been pressed. In a moment of selflessness, Gi-hun pressed the button and then deliberately leaned backward, sacrificing himself over the edge of the pillar. The Front Man arrived shortly after, not to claim Gi-hun as the winner, but the baby, Player 222, who was the last remaining “player” on the pillar. The baby was officially declared the winner, inheriting the 45.6 billion Won prize money. Detective Jun-ho, the Front Man’s brother, witnessed this shocking conclusion from an observation deck before the compound was self-destructed.
Lingering Questions and a Six-Month Coda
Following the explosive finale of the game itself, the series offered viewers a 26-minute coda, jumping forward six months to reveal the fates of various characters outside the compound. Choi was released from his six-month prison sentence and reunited with his friend, only to discover Gi-hun’s cash from the Pink Motel room had vanished. Detective Jun-ho, surprisingly, discovered baby Player 222 in his apartment. He found a debit card loaded with the immense winnings and correctly guessed the PIN using the baby’s player number, 0222.
Other characters also saw their storylines continue. No-eul, who aided Player 246’s escape earlier, visited him at an amusement park where he worked. She saw that his sick daughter was recovering. Later, No-eul received a tip suggesting her own missing daughter might be in China, prompting her to head to the airport. Meanwhile, the mother of Season 1 character Sae-byeok (Player 067) arrived in South Korea via the same defection broker used by Sae-byeok herself, reuniting with her son.
The Front Man’s Journey and a Stark Message
A significant portion of this coda focused on the Front Man, In-ho, played by Lee Byung-hun. He was shown arriving in Los Angeles, USA. In L.A., In-ho visited Gi-hun’s daughter, Ga-yeong. He presented her with a gift box from her father. Initially resistant, Ga-yeong accepted the box after In-ho subtly implied Gi-hun was deceased. Inside, she found Gi-hun’s tracksuit and a debit card, presumably containing the rest of his winnings from Season 1, which In-ho is implied to have taken from the motel. This scene adds a layer of ambiguity to Gi-hun’s fate following his self-sacrifice attempt, suggesting he either did not survive or is believed by the organization (and potentially his daughter) to be dead.
The absolute final scene delivered the most talked-about surprise. As In-ho was driven through downtown L.A., he witnessed a striking scene: a woman in a sharp suit playing the traditional Korean game ddakji with a visibly down-on-his-luck man in an alley. This woman was immediately recognizable to film fans as two-time Academy Award winner Cate Blanchett. The scene quickly revealed her character to be an L.A.-based recruiter for the mysterious Squid Game organization. As she continued her game, the recruiter spotted In-ho’s car and exchanged a brief, knowing nod with him. In-ho’s reaction suggested he took no pleasure in seeing this recruitment activity continuing in another country.
An Oscar Winner’s Impact and Global Reach
The casting of Cate Blanchett in the final moments was a deliberate choice by creator Hwang Dong-hyuk to underscore the organization’s terrifyingly global reach and create a memorable, impactful ending. Hwang explained his decision, stating that using a woman as a recruiter was intended to be “more dramatic and intriguing.” He specifically sought out Blanchett because she is “just the best, with unmatched charisma.” He emphasized the need for an actor who could make a strong impression with minimal dialogue, believing Blanchett achieved a “short but gripping and impactful ending to the story.”
This powerful cameo in an American setting, coupled with In-ho’s presence in L.A., strongly implies that the Squid Game is not confined to South Korea. While there has been speculation about a potential USA-based spinoff possibly developed by David Fincher, the article notes that Blanchett’s appearance is likely a standalone moment designed to expand the series’ universe rather than a direct setup for a new show, although it certainly leaves the door open for future stories or explorations of the game’s international presence.
Reception of the Final Season
The third and final season of Squid Game premiered to highly polarized reactions from both critics and audiences. Creator Hwang Dong-hyuk enthusiastically endorsed the season, calling it his favorite and describing it as “more brutal, more violent… darker, and even funnier” than previous installments.
However, reviews were sharply divided. Some critics praised the finale for its intense “exhilaratingly brutal” action and noted that it delivered “enough closure” for protagonist Gi-hun’s story, even if the overall tone remained dour. Publications like The Guardian felt the ending was “WTF and genuinely surprising,” though the season veered towards a more traditional action thriller feel. Time highlighted the final sprint and specific episodes for their ethical depth and intensity.
On the other hand, many viewers and critics expressed dissatisfaction. The Hollywood Reporter found the finish “unsatisfying,” questioning if the series should have continued past Season 1. Vulture noted “increasing repetition” in the season’s structure, feeling it rehashed ideas rather than deepening them. This sentiment is strongly reflected in the stark contrast between the critical Rotten Tomatoes score (a “strong” 88 percent) and the audience score (a “woeful” 39 percent), indicating a significant disconnect between professional reviewers and the general public’s enjoyment of the conclusion.
The reception highlights the challenge of ending a globally successful series. While the creator felt it was the best season, a large portion of the audience disagreed, finding the resolution and the overall journey repetitive or unfulfilling compared to the groundbreaking first season.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens at the very end of the Squid Game series finale?
The absolute final scene of the Squid Game series finale shows the Front Man (In-ho) in Los Angeles. He observes a suited blonde woman playing the recruitment game ddakji with a man in an alley. This woman is revealed to be an L.A.-based recruiter for the organization, played by two-time Oscar winner Cate Blanchett, signaling the global reach of the games.
Who actually won the Sky Squid Game challenge in Season 3?
Despite a brutal final conflict between Gi-hun and Myung-gi, neither of them officially won the Sky Squid Game. After Gi-hun’s apparent self-sacrifice, the Front Man arrived and declared the baby, Player 222, as the winner. The baby was the last remaining “player” on the pillar after the others were eliminated or self-sacrificed, inheriting the massive 45.6 billion Won prize money.
Why did an Oscar winner appear in the final Squid Game scene?
Creator Hwang Dong-hyuk specifically cast two-time Academy Award winner Cate Blanchett to appear as an L.A. recruiter to make the ending more dramatic and intriguing. He chose her for her “unmatched charisma” and ability to make a strong impact with minimal dialogue, creating a “short but gripping and impactful” final moment that visually demonstrated the global expansion of the Squid Game organization.
The Final Verdict on the Finale
Squid Game‘s series finale delivered a mix of closure and new possibilities. The brutal final games concluded with the unexpected triumph of the baby, Player 222, while revealing the survival and post-game lives of other characters like Jun-ho and No-eul. The decision to bring the story to a close after three seasons left some viewers wanting more, while others felt the narrative had run its course. The inclusion of a major star like Cate Blanchett in the final moments served as a powerful statement about the Squid Game organization’s international presence, leaving fans to ponder whether this signals future stories in different corners of the world or simply highlights the show’s enduring global impact. Regardless of opinion on the ending itself, the finale ensured Squid Game went out with a moment that would undoubtedly be discussed and debated by fans worldwide.
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