Squid Game 3: Game Over
A conversation with director Hwang Dong-hyuk, Lee Jung-jae, and Lee Byung-hun
The game is over. What began in 2021 as a global phenomenon of bloody mayhem and dark social satire has reached its definitive conclusion. Across three seasons, Squid Game introduced us to a desperate cast of characters—some deeply relatable, others intensely hateable—only to watch them fall, one by one. Their brutal, childish games served as a grim mirror, reflecting the stark inequalities and moral compromises of our own world.
Each season examined a different stage of societal decay through the lens of the intensely deadly games players had to endure. Where Season One explored the brutal desperation of capitalism, Season Two delved into the problems of politics and factionalism.
The final season poses the ultimate question: a belief in humanity itself. Will we survive? Can we? Do we even deserve to? At the heart of this brutal exploration was a simple, sadistic premise.
The carrot: a massive cash prize that grew with each player’s elimination. The stick: Every game was lethal, and to be eliminated was synonymous with a violent death, often at the hands of the other players.
At the center of the story is the journey of Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), who transforms from a man on the edge of financial ruin into a vengeful hero determined to dismantle the games. Opposing him is the brutal and enigmatic Front Man (Lee Byung-hun), Gi-hun’s foil and the master of the games.
In this conversation, we talk with both actors, along with the show's creator and director, Hwang Dong-hyuk, to dissect the show's final themes, the challenges of bringing it to a close, and its lasting legacy.
A Question of Humanity
With its final season, Squid Game moved beyond its previous critiques to ask a more fundamental question. Director Hwang Dong-hyuk explains that while the first two seasons tackled specific societal ills, the concluding chapter aimed for something far more profound. "I think season one of Squid Game focused on the reality of capitalism, while season two focused on political realities, including elections or voting," Hwang says.
For the grand finale, he shifted his focus inward, toward the very core of human nature. "I would say that the focus of season three is: in this world that seems to become worse economically, politically, and in many social issues, I wanted to ask the question, 'Do we have what it takes for us to be able to protect humanity, trust in that humanity, and come together for a better future and create a better world?'"
This philosophical quest became the central pillar of Gi-hun's final journey. According to Hwang, his arc was designed to make the audience reflect on their own world. "As all of the audiences follow along on Gi-hun's journey," he hopes, "you can all ask yourselves the question, 'In this world that continues to fuel incessant human greed and where we continue to express immense rage and conflict against one another, do we still have hope in this world, and can we make the world a better place for the future generation?'"
The Ultimate Showdown
The philosophical question of the final season crystallizes in the inevitable confrontation between its two central figures: Gi-hun and The Front Man. According to director Hwang Dong-hyuk, this was never going to be a simple physical fight, but rather a battle of ideals. "The showdown between the Front Man and Gi-hun began in season two, and it is about whose beliefs and whose values are right," he explains. "It is really about a clash of their philosophies. And so, in season three, it is going to be the ultimate showdown and also a story that explores how these two characters affected and influenced one another."
Bringing this complex dynamic to the screen was aided by the real-life history between the two lead actors. Lee Byung-hun (The Front Man) notes that their long-standing friendship created an instant, natural chemistry. "Both of us actually started our acting careers at around the same time," he says. "Throughout all of our years... being actors in this industry, we have been friends, sometimes sharing a meal or a couple of drinks together. And so, when we got together to create this chemistry, there was no need to force any kind of chemistry... we felt very much at ease with one another immediately." This comfort level paid dividends on set. "Personally, I would say the most memorable moment between the two of us... is that scene where the two face off each other in a very candid manner in season three."
This respect is mutual. Lee Jung-jae (Gi-hun) expresses a deep admiration for his co-star's craft. "Byung-hun is an actor who, in Korea, I would say, all actors look up to and deeply admire," he states. "It's really more about just how passionate he is about his craft, how professional he is in studying and researching his character, and also how deeply he understands whichever project he gets to work on."
He particularly points to the challenge of portraying the Front Man's layered identity. "He did an incredible job portraying all three different characters in a single character... As my character Gi-hun, he got to meet all different sides of him as In-ho... and as the Front Man. While doing so, I was just in awe of his ability to portray these different characters in such a detailed and nuanced way, and I would say that that was where our chemistry came from."
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to The Bull’s Eye to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.