'Squid Game' season 3 LIVE — ending explained, who dies and overall winner
The final round of games starts now
All six episodes of “Squid Game” season 3 have just dropped on Netflix, and that means the deadly competition is back for one final round.
Whether you're diving in right away or planning to binge it later, we’re kicking off our live coverage of the show’s epic conclusion right here.
As fans around the world press play, I’ll be breaking down every major twist, shocking moment, and character arc as the season unfolds. Expect real-time episode reactions, a closer look at returning players, and plenty of internet chatter as social media lights up with theories and spoilers.
I’ll also be rounding up early reviews from critics, tracking audience response, and flagging anything you might have missed.
So whether you're watching alongside us or just want to keep up with the carnage without jumping in yet, this live blog has you covered. Let’s see what the final chapter of “Squid Game” has in store for us.
Spoiler warning: This live blog will feature spoilers for each episode of "Squid Game" season 3. All spoiler-heavy posts will be clearly marked so you can scroll safely.
Alix is a Senior Streaming Writer at Tom’s Guide, which basically means watching the best movies and TV shows and then writing about them. It’s a dream job for someone who’s been obsessed with storytelling since she first figured out how to work a remote.
Season 3, episode 6 reaction — SPOILERS
Spoilers for "Squid Game" season 3, episode 6 below.
The final episode has arrived, making this a very sad moment.
I’ll do a proper recap/explanation in the next post, but I wanted to say that while the finale is one of the weaker episodes, it’s still incredibly impactful.
The final episode doesn’t offer any comfort or easy answers — it just leans all the way into the bleakness and forces you to sit with it. That’s what made it so powerful for me. It wasn’t about shock for the sake of it; it was about showing just how far people can fall when survival is all that’s left. I didn’t want or expect a happy ending, but even so, the final moments still hit like a punch to the gut.
Plus, I kind of expected Gi-hun to die (sacrifice himself). And so it was harrowing to see that actually play out. Lee Jung-jae did an incredible job at playing one of the most beloved characters of all time.
Season 3, episode 5 reaction — SPOILERS
Spoilers for "Squid Game" season 3, episode 5 below.
Oh, it’s getting even more intense now.
During Gi-hun and In-ho’s final conversation, In-ho says that if Gi-hun kills the remaining players in their sleep right now, he and the baby can walk out as winners. Then we flash back to In-ho’s past — turns out, he was given the same choice, and he went through with it, killing everyone in his sleep. That moment likely marked the start of his transformation into the Front Man.
Gi-hun seriously considers it (he even holds a knife to Im Jeong-dae’s neck) but ultimately decides not to go through with it. Because deep down, he’s still a good person. That’s even reinforced by a hallucination of Sae-byeok from season 1, who reminds him that he's better than this.
Now, we’ve reached the final game, ever. There are three towering podiums, and in each round, someone must be pushed off. There are three rounds in total, and each has to be completed within 15 minutes. Nim-su is the first to go, pushed off by a hardened Myung-gi using a pole. But not before hallucinating Thanos, Nam-gyu, and Se-mi. A final moment of guilt and reckoning.
Also, is it just me, or is Myung-gi giving off major Sang-woo vibes?
Soon, the group decides that either Gi-hun or the baby needs to go next. They form a wall to separate them, but Gi-hun pulls a knife and threatens everyone. Surprisingly, Myung-gi suddenly sides with Gi-hun, either out of guilt or because he’s been playing the others all along. But just when things seem somewhat steady, chaos erupts. A full-on fight breaks out, and everyone, including Jeong-dae, ends up dead. That leaves just three: Gi-hun, Myung-gi, and the baby. And one of them has to go next round.
Meanwhile, in the side plots: Jun-ho rescues Gyeong-seok from pink guards chasing him down at sea. And No-eul, back on the island, burns all traces of her and Gyeong-seok from the archives before taking on the Black Guard in a brutal fight and killing him.
Now, all that’s left is the finale.
'Squid Game' creator says season 3 ‘brings out the bottom parts of human nature’
Hwang wasn’t exaggerating when he said season 3 would be incredibly dark. It’s been borderline traumatizing so far.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, the “Squid Game” creator, writer, and director leaned into that grim tone even more, sharing fresh insight into what fans can expect as the brutal story races toward its conclusion: “In the case of season 3, I wanted to introduce games that could really show the lowest bottom of human beings, because the series itself is reaching its climax. I wanted very intense games to bring out the bottom parts of human nature.”
He continued: “In season 1, we had lots of games like Tug of War that really utilized height and the fear that this height gives, but in the case of season 2, we didn't have that element. That is why in season 3, I decided to introduce games that could really infuse fear in people with sheer height.”
Well, I can confidently say that the worst parts of humanity are shown in this season. To the point that certain scenes will leave you shook.
Season 3, episode 4 reaction — SPOILERS
Spoilers for "Squid Game" season 3, episode 4 below.
Goodbye, Jun-hee. This episode, fittingly titled “222,” marks the end of one of the most beloved characters. I did not see it coming.
I was firmly in the camp that believed she and her baby would survive the games. I really did. But clearly, the show had other plans. My jaw was on the floor when Jun-hee, realizing she physically couldn’t make it across the bridge because of her ankle, chose her own fate and jumped. Before doing so, she gives Gi-hun a heartbreaking speech, asking him to take care of her little girl.
My heart: still broken.
The rest of the episode takes a darker turn. Woo-seok, after being arrested for breaking into the Captain’s house, manages to call Jun-ho just in time to confirm their suspicions. Moments later, the Captain goes full-on rogue, killing the entire team (injuring one) aboard the ship, until Jun-ho finally puts him down. Again, progress!
We’re then thrown into a familiar setting from season 1 — the dinner scene. The remaining players are dressed in black suits and served a formal meal. Then comes the twist: the pink guards reveal the next game’s stakes. The group can choose to eliminate three players in the next round. It’s clearly a tactic to force them to keep playing, spurred on by VIP concerns that the players would quit.
But what really hits hard is that Jun-hee’s baby has officially been entered into the game, now replacing her as Player 222. The image of a literal baby being treated like a contestant is disturbing enough, but it’s even worse seeing other players actually consider killing her. Could humanity sink any lower?
Meanwhile, No-eul and Gyeong-seok escape to the boat and begin fleeing the island. But over the walkie-talkie, the Black Guard delivers a message: if they keep going, Gyeong-seok’s daughter will pay the price. No-eul makes the gut-wrenching choice to head back, telling Gyeong-seok to keep driving and not look back, because someone has to end this nightmare for good.
And finally, the biggest moment of episode 4 is when Gi-hun comes face-to-face with the Front Man. He removes his mask, revealing that he’s In-ho. I expected more shock from Gi-hun, considering In-ho pretended to be a player and killed Jung-bae, but at this point, he’s probably tired of acting surprised.
Need a break from the chaos? Watch this wholesome cast interview
If you’re making your way through “Squid Game” season 3 and finding it a bit emotionally heavy (understandable, honestly), here’s a fun little cast interview to lift your spirits. Sometimes, it's all you need after a devastating episode.
What is up with Min-su?
I haven’t really mentioned Min‑su in this live blog yet because his character feels pretty overshadowed — his moments that are meant to be “big” just don’t land as hard as others. But here’s what you should know:
Timid and fearful, Min‑su is the prototype of the nervous underdog. He aligns early with Thanos and Nam‑gyu, mostly trying to stay invisible. Yet even then, we see glimpses of something more, like when he tries to help Gyeong‑su despite pressure from the bullies.
His storyline peaks during the “Mingle” game: under stress, he betrays Se‑mi by choosing scissors in rock-paper-scissors, leaving her to survive alone. Then comes the worst moment — he freezes when Nam‑gyu murders Se‑mi, so frozen that he can’t even intervene as she dies in front of him. That hesitation built around his guilt and fear is the core of his arc.
Behind the scenes and among fans, there’s even a theory that Min‑su might secretly be one of the VIPs, thanks to a coincidental actor name overlap, though I can confirm this is not true.
[MINOR SPOILERS] So far, in season 3, Min-su has stolen the pills from Nam‑gyu during the hide and seek game, and is now hooked on them. In fact, he appears to be somewhat confident within himself, but none of that confidence is real.
Season 3, episode 3 reaction — SPOILERS
Spoilers for "Squid Game" season 3, episode 3 below.
This episode, called “It’s Not Your Fault,” opens with a chilling montage: guards stuffing bodies into black boxes and executing any red players who didn’t get their one kill. But the most disturbing twist is that the pink guards carrying out this job are actually the VIPs, who wanted the chance to participate in the games themselves. Truly sickening, and a stark reminder of how far human depravity can go when wrapped in power and entertainment.
The awful Nam-gyu, who seemed to enjoy killing a little too much in episode 2, starts to unravel after losing his pills (or more accurately, Thanos’ pendant full of pills) in the previous arena. Cue the sweating, the shaking, and full-blown hallucinations.
I’m glad Geum-ja got more screen time this episode too. She’s completely broken over what she did to her son and begs the remaining players to just give up. Of course, they don't, but we get a heartbreaking scene between her and Gi-hun, where she asks him to protect Jun-hee and her baby. That’s when the tears really started for me.
Even worse, the next morning, the players wake to find Geum-ja has hung herself, consumed by guilt and grief. The shocking deaths just keep coming. There’s no time to process, and that’s the point.
We also finally get movement in the Jun-ho storyline, as his team closes in on the island. Woo-seok breaks into the Captain’s house and finds his pink guard uniform and a stash of cash. Progress! Meanwhile, No-eul confronts the mysterious Black Guard (the second-in-command under the Front Man) and it’s clear she’s stepping into even more dangerous territory.
And of course, the episode ends with a bang. The remaining players face their next game, and it's a big one: Jump Rope. It’s brutal. Nam-gyu meets his inevitable fate, and Gi-hun makes it across safely with the baby, though not without me shouting at the screen multiple times. Jun-hee’s broken ankle from the previous game means things aren’t looking good.
The only frustrating part? One of the players, 096, waits at the far end of the bridge just to mess with people. He either shoves them off or makes them stay put until they collapse. It’s horrifying, but it also shows just how far some players are willing to go to survive. Some of them are truly messed up.
The mysterious No-eul (Guard 011)
No-eul might not be a player in “Squid Game,” but she’s easily one of the show’s most emotionally complex characters. A former North Korean soldier, No-eul defected to the South after killing her commanding officer. But the escape came at a devastating cost — she lost both her husband and daughter in the process.
That grief and desperation shape everything she does, especially when she enters the games, not as a contestant, but as one of the pink guards.
Unlike most of the guards who operate with cold obedience, No-eul has a purpose: she’s trying to survive long enough to find her missing child. We learn in season 2 that she took the guard job intentionally, believing the payout could help fund her search.
In one of the most touching reveals, it turns out she had once worked as a children’s mascot, where she briefly bonded with Gyeong-seok’s daughter — which explains why she’s helping him.
Inside the games, No-eul doesn’t play by the usual rules. While most guards follow orders, she actively defies them. When others engage in a horrific organ-harvesting scheme, No-eul breaks rank — choosing to give dying players a quick, painless death rather than letting them suffer. That moral resistance earns her enemies, especially among the guards and the interim Front Man, but she never compromises.
In season 3, No-eul feels more important than ever. Her bond with Gyeong-seok, her resistance to the system, and her emotional core position her as an ally.
Online reactions are positive, and I’m glad
Over on X (formerly Twitter), people are posting their reactions to the new episodes. While most viewers are expressing shock (and plenty of sadness), some are calling it proof that “Squid Game” is one of the best shows ever. Period.
Dexerto said simply: “After season 3, it’s clear Squid Game is the best TV show Netflix has ever made.”
Meanwhile, Aayush Sharma was impressed with the resolution, stating season 3 “proves to be a haunting, emotionally resonant finale to one of the most compelling survival dramas of this generation. The psychological depth, thrills, and high-stakes tension cement the finale as the darkest chapter of this twisted saga.”
The Hollywood Handle believes season 3 is the “worst season of the show.” But that’s not a bad thing. They said it’s still a “devastating, thrilling, and shocking experience with great photography and remarkable moments.”
Of course, it's important to watch the season and form your own opinion, but speaking from my experience watching it (and the reviews so far), it's well worth the ride.
Season 3, episode 2 reaction — SPOILERS
Spoilers for "Squid Game" season 3, episode 2 below.
This one had me basically holding my breath and reaching for tissues the entire time because dang, it’s essentially 60 minutes of sadness.
Titled “The Starry Night,” episode 2 confirms that Gyeong-seok survived his wounds, thanks to the doctor No-eul later shot. No-eul’s plan? Disguise him in a pink guard uniform to help him escape. It’s a short scene, but it finally pulled me into this side plot, especially since things are finally moving at a faster pace.
From there, we dive straight into the game that was introduced in episode 1. So much happens that I can’t even cover it all, but this episode really hones in on the remaining characters we care about. While Gi-hun is on a mission to hunt down Dae-ho (who’s on the blue team), the spotlight is mostly on Jun-hee, Hyun-ju, and Geum-ja as they work together to stay alive and find the escape door.
But of course, the most intense moment of the episode (and maybe the whole series) is Jun-hee giving birth in the middle of the game. The tension is unreal. Thankfully, both she and the baby make it out okay, and Hyun-ju manages to find the escape door. But just when you think they’re safe, Hyun-ju is fatally stabbed by Myung-gi, in the back.
Ah, Myung-gi. The same guy who claimed he only wanted to help Jun-hee is still completely blinded by greed. This episode flipped my opinion of him — I went from feeling bad for him to straight-up hating his character. And while we’re on the subject, I’m honestly glad Seon-nyeo was finally eliminated.
This episode ends with two shocking moments: Gi-hun strangling Dae-ho to death out of pure rage, and Geum-ja having to murder her son, Yong-sik, after he failed to eliminate a blue player and turned his sights on Jun-hee.
Episode 2 shook me the most this season. It’s harrowing, emotional, and unapologetically dark. But it also delivered some of the best character drama and storytelling the series has ever done.
Rotten Tomatoes score for season 3 revealed!
Drum roll please…. “Squid Game” season 3 currently has 90% on Rotten Tomatoes! Of course, this is likely to change the more reviews that go live, so expect some fluctuations over the coming days. But this is a really strong start, and I’d say it’s an accurate rating.
Most of these reviews mention that while the ending is a little weak, fans will (probably) still be satisfied with the show’s resolution. It's emotional, harrowing, and darker than before, with director Hwang's vision carrying it over the finish line.
Everything to know about Jun-hee (Player 222)
Kim Jun‑hee, played by Jo Yu‑ri, enters the games as a 24-year-old pregnant contestant burdened by crushing debt (she lost her savings in a crypto scam led by ex-boyfriend Myung‑gi) and driven by desperation to secure her and her baby’s future.
Her vulnerability peaks early in the season when she reunites with Myung‑gi after the “Red Light, Green Light” challenge: the encounter forces her to confront heartbreak while trying hard to maintain her composure.
Despite her fragile circumstances, Jun‑hee proves resourceful and clever. When forming a team for the six-legged pentathlon, she wins her group’s trust — not by fitting stereotypes, but by excelling in ddakji under pressure.
Later, when the vote on whether to continue the games turns chaotic, she chooses to quietly warn Myung‑gi of a brewing attack — a decision rooted in her maternal instinct and protective nature.
On Reddit, fans have mixed views, saying: “Low-key wish they gave Jun-hee a better storyline… but I hope she gets more character development in S3.” I can confirm that she does indeed get more screen time for the sake of building her character, and she’s easily one of the best characters this season.
Season 3, episode 1 reaction — SPOILERS
Spoilers for "Squid Game" season 3, episode 1 below.
Okay, “Squid Game” season 3 really wastes no time throwing us into the deep end. First, we find out that Gyeong-seok is actually alive, and it was No-eul who shot him at the end of season 2. She tells him to stay quiet and pretend to be dead — part of her plan to keep him alive and help him escape the games.
Even though I saw this coming, I was still relieved to see that Gyeong-seok didn't meet his demise, and that there's a bigger chance he'll be reunited with his sick daughter back home.
On the outside, Jun-ho is still searching for the island with his team, but he’s finally starting to grow suspicious of the Captain (thankfully, because this storyline feels incredibly repetitive). Meanwhile, after being carried back into the players' living quarters in a black box, Gi-hun wakes up and has a full-blown breakdown. And honestly, who can blame him? This was one of the best scenes.
This episode is titled “Keys and Knives,” and that’s the theme of the next game. Players use a gumball machine that releases either a blue or red ball — splitting them into two teams. The blue team gets keys that open doors around the arena: they have to either hide until the end or find the escape door. The red team gets knives, and their job is to kill at least one blue player to survive. Players can choose to swap teams if they want before heading in.
Gi-hun, still blinded by grief and rage, keeps shooting daggers at Dae-ho across the room. He’s furious that Dae-ho failed to bring back guns and instead backed out of the fight. Gi-hun blames him for the collapse of their plan — and for his best friend’s death.
Episode 1 is off to a great start. We see each player wrestle with their team dynamic and the horror of the new rules. But the best part? We finally see a different side of Gi-hun, one that’s full of rage. He’s kind of terrifying, but I love it.
Gi-hun’s journey so far
From struggling everyman to haunted hero, Seong Gi‑hun (Player 456) has undergone a powerful transformation. In season 1, he entered the games as a desperate, debt-ridden father searching for a lifeline. His compassion surfaced in his efforts to help others, even as lives were lost around him.
Emerging victorious, Gi‑hun returned home with the prize, but found it hollow when he discovered his mother had died and his daughter had moved away.
Haunted by survivor’s guilt, season 2 finds him consumed by trauma and rage. He invests his winnings into a small army, determined to expose the Squid Game recruiters. Though he leads a rebellion within the game, the uprising collapses, and a crushing betrayal by the Front Man leaves him kneeling beside Jung‑bae’s lifeless body.
Now, as season 3 begins, he's battered, emotionally fragile, but more resolved than ever to confront the game’s architects.
Reviews are going live, so here’s mine
In my review, I wrote that “Squid Game” season 3 took my soul. And I mean it.
After feeling that “Squid Game” season 2 lacked the impact of the original, I was cautiously optimistic about this final season, but thankfully season 3 truly exceeded my expectations. Picking up directly where season 2 left off, the familiarity with the setup makes every moment hit harder. The games are darker and more emotionally devastating than ever before, stripping away the earlier chaotic or absurd tones in favor of raw, intense tension that had me hiding behind my hands in anxiety rather than fear.
One of the strongest aspects of season 3 is its deep dive into character-driven storytelling. Gi-hun’s emotional and mental toll is obvious: this isn’t the scrappy hero we knew but a man grappling with grief and exhaustion.
Meanwhile, new characters introduced in season 2 — like Hyun-ju, Geum-ja, and Jun-hee — take center stage with compelling arcs that feel fresh and add new layers to the story. We also get meaningful developments with No-eul and Jun-ho, although some of their storylines felt stretched or repetitive at times.
While the games remain the season’s highlight, some side plots and the VIPs’ appearances detract from the overall tone, occasionally feeling campy or unnecessary. Still, the shocking twists, brutal new games (especially the jump rope challenge), and shifting alliances keep the season gripping. Season 3 serves as a bold, emotional, and fitting conclusion to a series that’s always been about the fragile line between humanity and survival. Just be ready, it’s a rollercoaster that might leave you reaching for the tissues.
Previously on ‘Squid Game’
Three years after surviving the original games, Gi‑hun (Lee Jung-jae) returns not for money, but with a mission: to dismantle the Squid Game organization from within.
He infiltrates the deadly competition and meets new players, including Hyun‑ju (Park Sung-soo), Myung‑gi (Yim Si-wan), Dae‑ho (Kang Ha-neul), Geum-ja (Kang Ae-shim), and pregnant Jun-hee (Jo Yu-ri). He also discovers that his best friend, Jung-bae (Lee Seo-hwan), has joined the games this time too.
Soon, Gi-hun rallies his allies and orchestrates a rebellion aimed at stopping the games once and for all.
Their daring plan involves smuggling weapons and taking over the control room, but rebellion turns to chaos. The Front Man (disguised as Player 001 Hwang In-ho) reveals himself as the saboteur who has been facilitating the rebellion’s failure. At the critical moment, he betrays Gi‑hun’s group, killing Jung‑bae and scattering the revolt.
Meanwhile, Detective Jun‑ho (Wi Ha-joon), presumed dead, is rescued at sea — but betrayed by Captain Park, who is revealed as another mole working for the games. Jun-ho just doesn’t know it yet.
No‑eul (Park Gyu-young) is introduced in episode 2 as a surprising twist — a North Korean defector who, in desperate search of her lost daughter, becomes a masked sniper in the Squid Game’s guard ranks rather than a contestant.
“Squid Game” season 3 picks up immediately after these devastating events of season 2. Gi-hun finds himself at a critical crossroads, grappling with guilt and despair following the collapse of his rebellion and the loss of his close friend, Jung-bae. Determined yet emotionally shattered, Gi-hun must navigate a new set of deadly games that test not only his physical endurance but also his moral compass.
