Squid Game Season 3 Finale: Lee Jung-jae Faces Audience Backlash

Lee Jung-jae (Gi-hun), the star of Squid Game, ponders the response from viewers as the series reaches its conclusion. In the first season of the show, Lee’s character emerged victorious in the deadly games, but in the second season, released on December 26, 2024, he attempted to sabotage the games. Sadly, his latest rebellion was unsuccessful. The third and final season is set to premiere on June 27, 2025. However, Netflix has hinted at possible spin-offs, such as an American adaptation of the popular series.

In a chat with The Hollywood Reporter during Netflix’s Tudum premiere, Lee openly confessed that he’s feeling rather anxious about the impending launch of his long-awaited project. Having invested countless years into its development, he emphasized multiple times that he is “extremely apprehensive” regarding the upcoming release. Despite his eagerness to see audience reactions, he remains anxious nonetheless. You can read his quote and watch his interview with The Hollywood Reporter on their platform, where he spoke through an interpreter.

We’re almost ready to unveil it shortly, and I must admit, I’m feeling quite anxious. Many of you have been eagerly awaiting the developments in season three, but frankly, we’re all equally excited to see how much you will relish the experience. So, my anticipation is high, and I can’t help but feel a bit nervous.

What Lee’s Nerves Mean For Squid Game’s Finale

He May Have Good Reason To Be Nervous

Season 3 marks the conclusion of a tale that has spellbound audiences globally, referring to Squid Game. The second season shattered records upon release, amassing an astounding 68 million viewers within three days and over 265.2 million views in its first 91. It holds the distinction of being Netflix’s most-watched non-English series, surpassing even Wednesday. Moreover, it has become the most-viewed Netflix show across all languages. With a massive audience eagerly awaiting the final chapter, there is immense anticipation and pressure on every actor to deliver flawlessly. As the main protagonist, Lee faces an extraordinary amount of pressure.

Under a tremendous amount of pressure, the cast and crew of Squid Game season 3 have been tirelessly working to keep viewers engaged. To prevent the growing wait times between seasons on Netflix and other platforms, they filmed seasons 2 and 3 consecutively. This is why there’s a relatively short interval between the two seasons, which should help the show sustain its popularity. Although it might be stressful for Lee, this shorter gap at least gives viewers a chance to fully appreciate the effort put into these fresh episodes.

Our Take On Lee’s Nervous Reaction

The Finale Could Be Divisive

Any widely-watched series is bound to leave some viewers unsatisfied with the final episode, since people have diverse expectations for how a show should end. Some might yearn for a joyful resolution, others may anticipate a sad and grim fate for Gi-hun, while yet others could be eager to see more of the Squid Game itself. The fact that Lee feels tense shows that the team behind the scenes understands they can’t please everyone with their conclusion. Yet, if they feel confident in the ending of Squid Game, it will likely make for a powerful finish.

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2025-06-02 00:23