[ReviewM] The pride of K-content, Hwang Dong-hyuk has completed it... a historic finale for "Squid Game Season 3" ★★★★
The proud of our K-content that swept the world, 'Squid Game', is finally getting its next season. From the release of the first series in 2021 to today, the history of 'Squid Game' has been nothing short of astonishing.
The most popular series on Netflix to date, "Squid Game" has continued to win awards at prestigious ceremonies including the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards, setting historic records with its first season. The second season, which broke records by ranking third in Netflix series popularity within just 18 days of release, sparked another wave of pink fever. As for the third season, who knows what astonishing records it will set? "Squid Game" was a source of pride for us all.
Through a screener prematurely released to the press, I had the chance to see up to the ending of season 3. Director HWANG Dong-hyuk is truly an amazing person. Initially, he had planned to write and release seasons 2 and 3 at once, but due to Netflix's decision, they were split into two seasons. This resulted in season 2 being left with a lack of completeness, which was unexpectedly disappointing. However, after finishing it, I realized that seasons 2 and 3 contain much more shocking and radical messages and stories compared to season 1. This makes me naturally applaud Director HWANG Dong-hyuk’s ability to create such an astonishing story.
In season 3, the story revolves around the protagonist 'Ki Hoon', who experiences yet another disappointment due to the failure of the rebellion, and his journey of change and overcoming adversity. The psychology of 'Frontman,' who drives participants to the brink within the game he designed, as well as the fates of the participants pushed to extreme situations, also become key points of interest.
The survivors' narratives become even more diverse in this season. Nam-ki (Im Si-wan) falls into confusion upon meeting his ex-girlfriend, Jun-hee (Jo Yu-ri). Dae-ho (Kang Hae-nul) suffers from trauma after the failure of the rebellion. Kyung-seok (Lee Jin-wook) sustains a gunshot wound. Hyun-ju (Park Sung-hoon) experiences frustration. Yong-sik (Yang Dong-geun) and Geum-ja (Kang Ae-shim) endure the game alongside each other, while Jun-hee gradually opens up her heart. Seon-nyeo (Chae Guk-hee), the shaman, spews ominous words. Min-soo (Ida Wuit) gets engulfed by fear after death. Nam-gyu (No Jae-won) clings to drugs to survive. Each character's psychology and narrative are depicted in three dimensions, evoking extreme tension.
In addition, some characters from Seasons 1 and 2 are briefly shown, offering a fleeting glimpse that allows viewers to pan over the entire 'Squid Game' series like a panorama.
The games shown in Season 3 total three. Compared to the previous season, these games are much more brutal and on a larger scale. The games from Season 2 feel almost charming by comparison, as the narrowing path toward the winner becomes intense and chilling. It makes you wonder whether it’s worth winning, or whether it’s worth surviving at such costs.
Season 3 builds upon the intensified conflicts to pose fundamental questions about human nature, existence, and the will to hope, expanding on themes beyond those explored in Season 1, which reinterpreted nostalgic childhood games as survival contests in a hyper-competitive society, and Season 2, which critiqued extreme polarization. This season delves deeper into issues such as inherited wealth and poverty, as well as the essence of motherhood, leaving a profound impact on viewers. The stark opposition between 'Frontman' and 'Gihun' regarding human nature persists until the end, driving the audience to seek answers. As the series becomes more profound and direct with its inquiries, viewers find themselves unable to look away as they approach the final episodes, transcending mere entertainment value to become an engrossing exploration.
너무나 좋은 연출, 훌륭한 미술, 안정적인 배우들의 연기 등 칭찬할 것도 많은 '오징어 게임' 3이지만 그렇기에 아쉬운 점도 두드러진다. 특히 시즌3의 첫 화를 여는 이정재의 무기력한 모습이 정주행을 포기하게 만드는 가장 큰 허들이다. 반란의 실패로 참가자 대기실은 처참한 분위기가 되는데 시즌2의 엔딩에서 격렬했던 총격전과 대비되는 축 처지는 무드로 인해 '시작부터 재미없네'라는 생각이 들수 있다.
But once it gets past the middle of the first episode, the game speeds up, leading to high-stakes dopamine bursts that surpass seasons 1 and 2. Moreover, the pace at which the story develops is surprisingly fast, surprising with its quicker progression than expected.
Some of the screen time for certain cast members seems to be questionable in terms of dramatic necessity. It's possible that these scenes were included as a way to provide a break from excessive tension. I kept watching, hoping that they would have some role until the end, but ultimately finding nothing there leaves a sense of incompleteness in the narrative.
When 'Squid Game' was announced to have a season 2, there were many concerns. Director Hwang Dong-hyuk mentioned the saying that a sequel is never better than the original, which made his burden incredibly heavy. But he managed to overcome this difficult task. While sending respect to Director Hwang Dong-hyuk, who has left a great achievement in the history of Korean culture, I hope viewers also enjoy season 3 to their heart's content!
UD News Entertainment Kim Kyeong-hee | Photo source Netflix
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