The game we used to enjoy in the alleys as children has returned in the most unfamiliar and threatening way. The space for the game that divides life and death has expanded endlessly, and its density has deepened immeasurably. While predictions can be made, the subtle tremors of emotion become all the more vivid amidst the unfathomable expansion.
The Netflix hit series "Squid Game" arrived on the 27th with its final game. The original Korean content that shocked and thrilled the world with "Squid Game" has crafted a compelling story for its final season that will conclude Season 2, which expands the universe. It is not merely an extension of the previous season but combines unique and bold settings that enhance the tension for viewers.
"Squid Game" has set the record for the most successful work in Netflix history. After Season 1 premiered, it garnered 265.2 million views and 2.2 billion hours of watch time in 28 days, ranking first across both English and non-English institutional sectors. Season 2 achieved 192.6 million views and 1.38 billion hours of watch time, ranking second in non-English institutional sectors and third in combined English and non-English. The total cumulative views for Seasons 1 and 2 reached approximately 600 million views (the number of views divided by the total running time of the work).
The stage for Season 3 is deeper and wider than in previous works. The protagonists compete for survival in games that we played when we were young, but the increased space adds to the intimidation. The emotional narratives of Dae-ho (Kang Ha-neul), who contributed to the failure of the rebellion by not carrying a magazine in Season 2; Hyun-joo (Park Seong-hoon), who was one of the rebels but rejoined the game; and Jun-hee (Jo Yuri), who entered the island while pregnant with her boyfriend Myung-gi (Yim Siwan), intricately portray conflict while exploring human inner wounds, solidarity, and sacrifice.
Compared to the distracting and immersive experience of Season 2, the final series reveals a firm direction in its direction. The conflict between those wanting to play the game and those wanting to stop it, between those wanting to kill and those wanting to protect, and between those who embrace the desires writhing for survival and those who resist them maintains the tension throughout the story. In the fast-paced development, the actors' expressions and dialogues are intricately layered with emotion, strengthening the emotional narrative. As a result, viewers do not feel like mere ‘third parties’ observing the story, but rather experience the dilemmas of the characters.
The thematic consciousness has become even clearer. The continuation of the game is decided under the guise of "a shell of democracy," where violence and death are justified in the name of majority rule. The island, where those who lingered on the fringes of society arrived to escape reality, starkly reveals how a democracy that appears to be based on majority rule institutionalizes isolation and drags down the weak in brutal ways.
The "Squid Game" series poses questions to the audience throughout all seasons. Has the person who survived until the end in an island devoid of humanity truly won, or are they merely the one who lost the least? The silence conveyed beyond the screen quietly responds: even in extreme situations, the power that sustains society lies in those who set aside their selfishness and think of others first.