The Real-Life Inspirations Behind Squid Game’s VIPs in Season 3

In the initial season, the high-profile participants were referred to by the actors portraying them as “complete fools” and “filthy rich individuals,” and their characters indeed embody these traits. The self-absorbed characters, who wear masks, are doted on at every opportunity by the Front Man (Lee Byung-hun) and the Game’s staff, with their lives being gambled upon as if they were horses in a race. Oh Il-nam, the leader of these VIPs, amassed his own fortune through lending money. In the first season, Oh Il-nam enrolled himself in the Game as Player 001 to pass the time while he was dying from a terminal illness. From his comfortable deathbed, Oh Il-nam confided in Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) that he came up with the idea for the Game because he was lacking entertainment.

Squid Game Season 3 Ending Explained: Who Lives, Who Dies, and How Does It All End?

Season 3 continues from where the previous season ended, focusing on Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) as he resumes his participation in the deadly Games with a goal to finally escape. In the closing moments of Season 2, Gi-hun attempted an unsuccessful uprising against the Game’s administrators, which include workers, soldiers, and managers, all acting under the command of the Front Man (Lee Byung-hun) for the VIP players. With their dreams shattered, Gi-hun and his remaining comrades reenter the Games. Who survives, who perishes, and how does Hwang conclude this gripping Korean drama? Let’s dissect the intense yet optimistic ending of Squid Game.

Squid Game’s Final Season Will Leave You Gutted

As a movie critic, I found myself utterly captivated by an exceptionally harrowing episode in the third and final season of “Squid Game”. Titled “The Starry Night”, this hour-long segment takes viewers on a nerve-wracking journey through a multi-story indoor labyrinth filled with corridors and locked rooms. The ceiling, adorned with deep blue skies dotted with yellow stars reminiscent of an elementary school mural, sets the stage for a deadly game of hide-and-seek.

In this episode, contestants are provided knives under the chilling threat that failure to kill at least one opponent will result in their elimination. Those not armed with knives are given keys to unlock some doors, providing them an initial advantage. This straightforward premise proves to be a masterstroke, resulting in compelling television.

Never before have we seen characters making such personal decisions about life and death so vividly. By the end of this episode, almost every character has been transformed into a murderer, a hero, or a corpse—or some intricate blend of these roles. This is the kind of episode that will undoubtedly excite fans and spark intense debates among critics as they ponder the ethical and emotional implications of each agonizing choice made.