Since Squid Game first debuted back in 2021, the series has taken the world by storm, rapidly accumulating numerous accolades for Netflix including half a dozen Primetime Emmy Awards. Now, the long-awaited second season has finally landed, bringing with it a contingency of new destitute players willing to risk life and limb to take home the multi-million dollar prize. Whether you were a hardcore Squid Game fan back when the series first came out or just recently caught up on the viral show with a hearty binge-viewing session, you’ve likely seen some promotional materials for the new batch of episodes, which were filmed in tandem with the yet-to-be-released third season. So, let’s break down the chaos of the seven new episodes, unpack the narrative and see what we can learn from the ending of Squid Game season two.
As always, please be advised that the following write-up will contain major spoilers for all of Squid Game seasons one and two. Even if you’re the kind of viewer who doesn’t normally mind having things spoiled, this season brings a few truly shocking twists, so don’t be afraid to bookmark this page and return later. For those who are all caught up on the series, and looking for a bit of help processing the carnage, let’s dive in and explain the harrowing conclusion of the new Squid Game season.
First Episode Begins Where Season 1 Left Off
Squid Game season two begins in the terminal of an airport, just as the airline staff call for final boarding of a flight to Los Angeles. Our protagonist, and winner of the previous years’ games, Seong Gi-hun, was initially boarding the flight, though he ultimately heel-turned at the last minute. Despite his initial plans to grow closer with his estranged wife and daughter, Gi-hun is driven by an obsessive desire to uncover the truth about the Squid Games and who runs them. As his hunt begins, he quickly surmises that he is still being tracked by the executives behind the games via a chip implanted in his neck. Gi-hun removes the tracker and links up with his former loan shark, who agrees to help him track down the gangsters responsible for recruiting new players from the streets of Seoul.
Meanwhile, detective Hwang Jun-ho is shown to have survived the events of the season one finale, which saw him shot in the shoulder by his brother, and left for dead after he fell from a cliffside into the sea. After two years of searching for leads, Jun-ho has essentially lost track of anyone involved in the games, save for Gi-hun. Luckily, the detective manages to meet with Gi-hun just as his bookie is killed by the Squid Game recruiter, who engages him in a round of Russian roulette. The bookie’s right-hand man, Choi Woo-seok, survives the encounter and gives away the recruiter’s location for Gi-hun and Jun-ho to follow up. Once the duo arrives at the scene, they too engage the man in Russian roulette, though this time the recruiter fails the game, shooting himself in the head.
Gi-hun Returns to the Game, and It’s as Deadly as Ever
After doing a bit of digging, Gi-hun and Jun-ho can track down the Front Man, AKA Hwang In-ho, who was revealed to be Jun-ho’s missing brother during the final episode of season one. After fruitlessly demanding an end to the games, Gi-hun volunteers himself as a player, having hatched a plot to foil the event from the inside. Meanwhile, Woo-seok hits the streets, gathering up a gang of miscreants who can serve as a mercenary protection squad for Gi-hun. At the same time, Jun-ho attempts to sneak back into the island headquarters of the game, just as he did in the previous season. Once the players are assembled, Gi-hun attempts to rally their support by plainly explaining that losing the game results in death and dismemberment. Much like the innocent players from years past, the debtors laugh him off and engage in a rousing session of deadly Red Light Green Light.
The surviving players are given an option to vote if they’d like to continue after each game. Players who vote to continue are labeled with an “O” while those who wish to quit are branded with an “X.” In a surprising turn of events, the Front Man joins the game as well and takes on number 001. Fans might know this previously belonged to Oh Il-nam, the now-deceased creator of the event. Other players participating this year include a retired marine named Kang Dae-ho, a transgender woman named Cho Hyun-ju who needs the money for a series of gender-affirming surgeries, and even Gi-hun’s childhood friend Park Jung-bae. A drug-addicted rapper named Thanos also participates and quickly takes to committing acts of heinous violence in between games, in a similar vein to season one’s Jang Deok-su.
The Squid Game Challenges Are Even More Intense
Though Gi-hun was prepared to face a myriad of children’s games once again, he never could have predicted the sharp twists and turns the Squid Games would take on his second go-round. This time, players are ordered to form groups of five and compete in a series of five consecutive games, all while tied together to form a six-legged man. Those that survive are made to cram into tight spaces for a game called “Mingle.” This game ultimately causes several players to attack and kill each other to ensure that those on their team can fit in the cramped rooms. Needless to say, many players are eliminated right off the bat, demoralizing Gi-hun and complicating his plan to save as many participants as possible. To make matters worse, a seemingly bloodthirsty guard has been causing a ruckus behind the scenes, killing players who become injured.
The guard in question turns out to be a North Korean defector named Kang No-eul. Her mercy killings seem to signal a twisted sense of morality within her, though her insistence on taking out suffering players angers the guards who are involved in the behind-the-scenes organ harvesting trade. Eventually, this escalates to a physical confrontation, showcasing cracks in the facade of the Squid Game’s leadership. This squabble doesn’t fully pay off in season two, though it exposes the truth about the desperation of those recruited to staff the events: they’re just as desperate and terrified as the players. In all likelihood, this divide in staff ideology will probably serve a major role in the third season, though for now, it’s left largely unexplored.
The Cavalry Arrives
As Gi-hun continues surviving the Squid Game trials, and No-eul engages in combat with her peers, Jun-Ho, Woo-seok and their team of mercenaries continue searching for the island via boat, to little avail. Eventually, the team arrives on the shore, only to realize that they’ve discovered a decoy island loaded with explosives. After suffering a few casualties, the gang makes it to the actual island just in time to be backstabbed by their own ship captain who turns out to be a double agent. Though Gi-Hun is left without a proper army, he does manage to whip many of his peers into shape after concluding the Mingle game, convincing the few remaining players to take up arms against the guards.
After baiting a few guards into the open, Gi-hun and company snatch their weapons and begin firing off against their captors. Though the rebellion seems to be working for a short time, the players are horrifically outnumbered, outgunned and outclassed in the field of battle. Eventually, the guards overwhelm Gi-hun and company and Player 001 fakes his own death in order to return to his post as the Front Man. Season two of Squid Game closes out on a shocking cliffhanger as the Front Man murders Jung-bae in front of Gi-hun, completely taking the wind out of his sails.
What Can We Expect From Season 3 of ‘Squid Game’?
Though Squid Game season two brings a lot of fresh ideas to the table regarding the failings of modern capitalism and the appeal of a revolution, the season feels largely unfinished. This is because it was written to serve as the second act in a three-act story. The third is expected to be the conclusive finale of the show and has already been shot in full according to series creator Hwang Dong-hyuk. In an interview with Variety, the South Korean filmmaker explained, “When I first wrote the story of seasons two and three it was one long story arc. And I was originally planning to write this story across a span of about eight to nine episodes, but once I finished the story, it came to over ten episodes, which I thought was too long to contain in a single season.”
In the same interview, Dong-hyuk broke down the act structure of Squid Game by describing the season two finale as Gi-hun at his lowest point. His multiple attempts to kickstart a revolution have each ended in disaster and unintentionally caused the deaths of dozens, including his friends and collaborators. Going into season three, Dong-hyuk claims that the protagonist will be consumed by grief and failure, which will have a major role in his decision-making. As the filmmaker teases in his interview, “How is Gi-hun going to carry on his mission? That’s the story that’ll further unfold.”
