The Ending Of Squid Game Season 2 Explained

As someone who has spent years observing and analyzing human behavior, I must say that the ending of Squid Game Season 2 left me with a mix of emotions that are quite familiar to me: frustration, anticipation, and a dash of black humor. Much like a game of Jenga, where you carefully remove a block hoping it doesn’t topple the entire structure, only to realize that the game isn’t over yet and the tower is still standing, albeit precariously.

Contains spoilers for “Squid Game” Season 2

Initially planned as a single season, “Squid Game” almost ended differently. However, it skyrocketed to become Netflix’s most-watched show, and despite the financial success of the first season, creator Hwang Dong-hyuk found himself in need of additional funds. Consequently, “Squid Game” Season 2 has been released three years after its initial release, with Season 3 also in production to wrap up the story around 2025.

Instead of wrapping up like “Squid Game” Season 1, the ending of Season 2 feels less like a conclusion and more like an ominous cliffhanger right smack in the middle of the narrative. Considering that Season 3 might change our perspective on everything we’ve witnessed thus far, let’s delve into the events at the end of Season 2, decipher the social messages the series is conveying about current world conditions, and discuss what crucial elements need resolution before the grand finale.

What you need to remember about the plot of Squid Game Season 2

3 years following his victory, Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) aims to dismantle the games permanently. He partners with detective Hwang Jun-ho (Wi Ha-joon), who survived being wounded by his brother, the Front Man (Lee Byung-hun), in the previous season and is now on a mission to uncover the hidden island where the games take place. Gi-hun locates the pink soldiers at a Halloween gathering and decides to reenter the games for a second time. A tracking device implanted in Gi-hun’s tooth was intended to guide Jun-ho to his location, but unfortunately, it gets stolen, leaving them without a clue about the island’s whereabouts.

In the games, Gi-hun strives to help everyone make it through Red Light, Green Light, but a bee, ensuing chaos, and the selfish rapper Thanos (Choi Seung-hyun) lead to 91 deaths. Unlike in Season 1 where ending the games meant forfeiting any prize, survivors now vote on whether to continue the games or split a smaller prize pool based on the number of casualties so far. The proposal to call off the games after the initial round is narrowly defeated by one vote, with Player 001, Young-il casting the deciding vote – a person Gi-hun is unaware is actually the Front Man.

Initially, Gi-hun had an idea of what would transpire during the first contest, but the second game presented something fresh – a relay race involving teams competing in mini-games. Only 255 participants remained alive, and 139 opted to carry on with the games. The third event, titled “Mingle,” turned out to be one of the most gruesome scenes in the Squid Game series so far, reducing the survivors to a mere 100. With an even split between those wanting to continue and those wishing to end the games, another vote was scheduled for the next day. Thanos, eager to persist, initiated a violent altercation in the bathroom against those advocating for the games’ conclusion. In response, Min-su (Lee David) defended himself by stabbing Thanos with a fork in the neck.

What happened at the end of Squid Game Season 2?

The violent altercation in the bathroom – extending into the opening scene of Season 2’s finale – results in the demise of two ‘X’ (end-the-game) voters and three ‘O’ (continue-the-game) voters. As the upcoming vote becomes less about persuading people on the opposite side and more about eliminating them, it seems. Our protagonist, Gi-hun, prevents his fellow ‘X’ voters from assaulting the ‘Os’. Anticipating that the ‘Os’ will launch an attack at curfew, he strategically assumes that the pink soldiers will intervene to stop the conflict – thus enabling his group to engage the soldiers in battle, seize their weapons, and take a hostage to lead them upstairs, effectively ending the games for good.

As a gamer, I’m all geared up for this “unique match,” and though my team mates put up a brave fight during the intense gun battle that followed, we soon found ourselves running out of ammunition. Dae-ho (Kang Ha-neul) was then tasked with returning to our base for more supplies, but his PTSD took over, causing him to falter. Hyun-ju (Park Sung-hoon) stepped in to help, but it was already too late – the rebellion had been overwhelmed before she could reach Dae-ho. In the midst of this chaos, Gi-hun, my old friend Jung-bae (Lee Seo-hwan), and Young-il managed to push forward towards the control room.

At this juncture, Young-il feigns his demise, dons his Front Man persona again, and fires at Jung-bae’s heart, challenging Gi-hun to scrutinize the repercussions of his small heroic actions. The pink soldiers verify Jung-bae’s death and subdue Gi-hun as he cries out in pain, and this is where the season concludes – with a post-credit scene hinting at the next game, featuring boy and girl robots and a train model passing by (perhaps a fresh take on Red Light, Green Light?).

A story about democracy

In contrast to Season 1 of “Squid Game,” Season 2 places more focus on voting, with the political campaigns leading up to these games becoming just as significant as the games themselves. The final episode even shows a shift from persuasion to violence when it comes to seizing power. This portrayal of intense polarization and violence resonates strongly with current real-world events, such as the impeachment of South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol for attempted military coup, and the controversial plans by the re-elected U.S. President Donald Trump to pardon those involved in the Capitol storming in 2021.

As a gamer, I find myself deeply moved by the insights shared by Hwang Dong-hyuk about the upcoming “Squid Game” Season 2. In his press notes, he points out that the escalating violence in our series mirrors a troubling global trend: extreme political polarization. This division isn’t confined to Korea; it’s a worldwide issue, manifesting itself in conflicts and hatred based on religion, ideology, background, gender, or race.

Picking the right target

In the finale of “Squid Game” Season 2, Gi-hun’s uprising didn’t pan out. Was it a smart choice? Perhaps, but only if the Front Man wasn’t secretly working against them. Nevertheless, the Front Man’s deception highlights two truths: the powerful are adept at controlling their opposition to maintain control – and Season 2 echoed the Player 001 surprise from Season 1 (which is indeed a remarkable plot twist in TV history).

Gi-hun understands that the entire X versus O combat is precisely what the game organizers desire – this “they” being the ones controlling the games. The fact that Young-il, who advocates most fiercely for fighting the Os, is one of the game administrators only strengthens this argument. However, it doesn’t imply that the X and O factions should be considered morally on par – remember, the O stance actively promotes more deaths and serves the sinister intentions of the powerful entities. What the conclusion underscores is that those in power are skilled at making the less privileged turn against each other.

The question of human nature

The central theme of “Squid Game” remains a controversial topic about human nature: Are humans naturally self-centered and cruel, or do they possess the capacity for change? Those running the games seem to believe the former, but Gi-hun stands against such extreme skepticism. By the conclusion of Season 2, both sides can find fresh evidence to support their perspectives.

In the series, Kang Ae-shim’s character, Jang Geum-ja, serves as a striking demonstration of growth and change. Initially, she displays casual transphobia towards Hyun-ju, another player. However, by the end of the season, her behavior transforms into active protection for Hyun-ju. Conversely, the brutal slaughter of X voters by O voters is an undeniable illustration of people succumbing to violent self-interest. The show also presents more intricate scenarios that don’t adhere to simple black-and-white morality.

Instead of switching, was Min-su’s resistance against Thanos’ influence a mark of maturity, or was eliminating Thanos, even in self-defense, an incorrect action? Dae-ho could very well view his own inability to retrieve the ammo as “selfish,” but it is also questionable to criticize him for reacting due to PTSD. Gi-hun must decide how much he’s willing to sacrifice in leading his rebellion – the rebellion’s failure causing even more sacrifices. How does one evaluate this when the credits roll? These moral dilemmas will undoubtedly continue throughout the third and final season of “Squid Game.

What has the creator of Squid Game said about Season 2’s ending?

If the ending of “Squid Game” Season 2 left you feeling shocked or upset, know that creator Hwang Dong-hyuk expected this reaction. In an interview with Digital Spy, the showrunner stated, “Viewers will be angry with me when they see the end of Season 2 because they’ll say, ‘Why did you do this to us? We need Season 3 right away!'” Since both seasons were filmed simultaneously, fans can find some solace in the fact that the wait for a resolution won’t be excessive. Hwang referred to it as a “short pause,” which will give viewers time to process things before Season 3, a direct continuation, begins. In essence, Seasons 2 and 3 form a single narrative, with Season 2 ending on a significant turning point that sets the story on a new course.

It appears that Hwang Dong-hyuk’s initial idea for how to conclude the series shifted as he wrote both seasons two and three concurrently. According to Hwang, the ending for season 2 came to him quite early, but the ending for season 3 took a different route than what was initially envisioned. As he developed the story and script for the series, a new path emerged that he wanted to follow, leading to changes in the original ending of season 3 during the process of creating season 2. Characters like Gi-hun have already undergone significant changes between seasons 1 and 2, and it seems that the climax of season 2’s finale will further transform him.

What the end of Squid Game Season 2 means for Season 3

As a devoted fan, I must admit that my biggest gripe about the conclusion of “Squid Game” Season 2 feels more like a midpoint cliffhanger rather than an actual ending, especially concerning the primary storyline. The second season doesn’t wrap up neatly; instead, it leaves us hanging with two intriguing subplots that aren’t tied to Gi-hun’s game experiences.

It’s likely that Season 3 will provide some resolution to the two lingering storylines and explore the aftermath of Gi-hun’s intense ordeal following the failed uprising. We’ll want to know what it means to play the games post-rebellion, and if there’s any chance left to dismantle the entire system. Let’s hope that the anticipation for Season 3 won’t be too unbearable! Furthermore, Netflix is actively considering more “Squid Game” stories beyond Season 3.

David Fincher, renowned for his movie directing, is pondering over a series adaptation of “Squid Game” in English. At the same time, Hwang Dong-hyuk is working on a behind-the-scenes documentary about the rapid rise of “Squid Game,” titled “The Greatest Show on Earth.” Additionally, there’s talk of another season for the reality show “Squid Game: The Challenge” – but since it was alleged to be fixed, we’re not overly enthusiastic about it.

2024-12-26 14:30