(Image credit: Netflix)
The long-awaited conclusion of Squid Game arrived this week with the release of its third season. The show’s creator, Hwang Dong-hyuk, has unveiled, through an interview on Tudum, some of the most gut-wrenching departures from the original script. Spoilers are ahead, so consider this your final warning if you’re still watching.
If you’re sticking with us, here we go. Sadly, we bid farewell to the enigmatic Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), who, in a noble gesture, offered himself for the sake of Player 222, Jun-hee’s (Jo Yuri) baby. Killing off the main character wasn’t initially planned, but over the course of seasons two and three, Hwang came to realize it was a necessary conclusion. By sacrificing himself, Gi-hun did more than save the youngest player; he embodied a powerful message.
“The message I needed to impart was that in the absence of self-restraint, sacrifice, or shared responsibility, the future is bleak,” Hwang stated. “Gi-hun’s self-sacrifice underscores the notion that we need this message now. This hero, thrown into the game, endures all and returns to put an end to it, is meant to deliver this critical lesson.”
Yet, even with his sacrifice and ensuring the baby’s safe exit from the island accompanied by the winnings, the games aren’t truly finished. In the final scenes, to the astonishment of many fans, the Front Man (Lee Byung-hun) is spotted on a city street, watching as a recruiter, surprisingly played by Cate Blanchett, entices yet another unsuspecting participant. “I thought it was a brilliantly unpredictable ending,” revealed Lee. “Despite so many people’s noble intentions, society still marches on unchanged.”
This intriguing appearance by Blanchett raises questions, especially considering her work with director David Fincher, who is planning a US adaptation of the series for Netflix. Is this a standalone appearance for the Oscar winner, or might we see more of her in Fincher’s version when it debuts? While we ponder these questions, don’t forget to check our selection of the 25 best Netflix shows currently streaming.
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