Photo Source: directv.com
Netflix’s most-watched survival series is back, and it’s more brutal, emotional, and thought-provoking than ever. “Squid Game” Season 3, which premiered globally on June 27, 2025, has taken fans on yet another gripping ride through twisted games, personal sacrifices, and moral dilemmas. With six high-octane episodes, Season 3 wrapped up the story arc of lead character Seong Gi-hun—and left the world reeling with its finale.
Lee Jung-jae reprised his role as Gi-hun, delivering perhaps the most emotionally charged performance of his career. His portrayal of a man haunted by guilt and rage gave the season a deeply human core.
Wi Ha-joon returned as Detective Jun-ho, surviving his Season 1 fate and taking on a more central role this time, including a dramatic showdown that changed the power dynamic within the Game.
New characters like Player 246, a war orphan with a sharp mind, and Geum-ja, a mother forced into the game, added layers of complexity and emotional depth.
The biggest surprise came in the final episode with a cameo by Cate Blanchett, who appeared as a mysterious recruiter in Los Angeles, hinting at a global expansion of the Squid Game.
Season 3 continued right where Season 2 ended—Gi-hun cancels his U.S. flight and re-enters the Game, determined to destroy it from within. But as he uncovers deeper secrets, he is pulled into a web of manipulation that forces him to choose between revenge and sacrifice.
The games this season included:
- A terrifying version of Hide & Seek in pitch blackness,
- A psychological “Reverse Jump-Rope” bridge test, and
- The final round—“Sky Squid Game”, where only emotional vulnerability could unlock the path to survival.
In a shocking finale, Gi-hun sacrifices himself to ensure a newborn baby (who was born inside the Game facility to Player 323) wins the final round. His death is both tragic and symbolic—ending the cycle of violence and giving hope to innocence.
The baby is declared the winner, a poetic twist that contrasts the brutality of the system with a moment of unexpected purity. The scene of a crying infant placed on a golden throne became an instant internet sensation, interpreted as a critique of how innocence is exploited—and glorified—by society.
Global Ratings & Milestones
- Within 48 hours of release, Squid Game Season 3 became Netflix’s #1 show in 79 countries.
- Critics’ average score: 8.9/10, with Rotten Tomatoes rating it 92% Fresh.
- The show’s hashtag crossed 1.2 billion views on TikTok by Day 3.
Final Word
Squid Game Season 3 may have wrapped up its main character’s story, but it opened the door to new philosophical debates, geopolitical themes, and emotional extremes. Whether you love the ending or question it, one thing is clear—Squid Game has once again won the world’s attention.
