Netflix’s Squid Game Season 3, touted as the final act in one of the platform’s most successful franchises, has landed with a disappointing thud for many viewers. Despite high expectations and an all-star cast, the latest season offers little more than a fragmented narrative and diluted tension, leading some fans to declare their withdrawal from the series altogether.
The six-episode season follows Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), who returns to the game with a personal mission, and the enigmatic Front Man (Lee Byung-hun), along with other survivors navigating a final, merciless round. While marketed as the epic conclusion to a cultural juggernaut, critics argue that the series lacks cohesion, emotional depth, and innovation.
From its very first episode, Season 3 struggles to establish momentum. The aftermath of a failed rebellion sets a muted tone, and before another deadly game—“Bloody Hide and Seek”—can fully unfold, the pacing has already begun to falter. The overabundance of characters hinders audience connection, and none are given the narrative space to develop meaningfully. The result is a scattered ensemble with diminished stakes.
Much of the disappointment stems from overambition. Gi-hun, once a captivating lead, now comes across as indecisive and alienating. His inner turmoil, intended to reflect post-traumatic change, often reads as a frustrating narrative obstacle. Furthermore, no new characters emerge to convincingly fill the emotional vacuum left by the protagonist’s diminished appeal.
The game concepts themselves, a core strength in earlier seasons, feel surprisingly uninspired. Lacking the creative tension that once defined the series, these sequences struggle to elicit suspense or thematic weight. Despite a visually polished presentation, the story lacks edge—much like a dulled knife.
The season’s biggest shortcoming, however, is its emotional flatness. Though built on a sensational premise “kill or be killed” the show fails to explore the moral or psychological consequences with any gravitas. Instead, it unfolds like a procedural, suitable for passive background viewing rather than the gripping experience fans once anticipated.
Subjective Ratings (from original Korean review):
- Frustration Index: ★★☆☆☆ (2.5/5)
- Sleepiness Index: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)
Even with a condensed six-episode format, Squid Game Season 3 leaves many viewers cold. The high-profile cast only serves to inflate expectations, making the show’s narrative hollowness all the more glaring. It’s a finale that offers expensive disappointment, with little to justify the hype.
