The ultimate season of “Squid Recreation” is each precisely what followers ought to anticipate and never fairly what they’re being informed. Talking to the latter level first, Season 3 of Netflix‘s world hit drama sequence isn’t truly a 3rd full season of “Squid Recreation“; it’s the second half of the second season, which is, in and of itself, so closely paying homage to the primary season that I’m hesitant to contemplate it a continuation as a lot as a reimagining.
Similar to the unique episodes, Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) finds his means into the Squid Video games. Similar to earlier than, Hwang Jun-ho (Wi Ha-joon) is main an investigation into the place the video games are being held, who’s operating them, and why. The majority of the motion, as soon as once more, is devoted to the video games themselves, in addition to the gamers’ varied motivations and interpersonal dynamics, making a becoming allegory for capitalism: You commit your life to the pursuit of cash — cash that you simply desperately want, positive, however cash that’s dangled out of attain by highly effective assholes who would fairly giggle at your desperation than provide help to survive.
Granted, Season 2 launched just a few intelligent alterations to maintain the chaos recent: Gi-hun had performed these video games earlier than, so he knew the way to assist his fellow gamers (or so he thought, anyway). Hwang In-ho (Lee Byung-hun), aka the Entrance Man, joined the video games himself, posing as one other determined stranger with a purpose to higher assess Gi-hun’s righteous campaign. Then there have been new characters and new video games, a brand new voting process and a brand new rebellion, all whereas the plot dutifully crept ahead.
However these minor tweaks and pure developments weren’t sufficient to recapture the novelty that made “Squid Recreation” so initially fascinating. As an alternative, creator Hwang Dong-hyuk relied on a two-pronged formulation for satisfying his large viewers: giving them what they need (primarily, extra savage gameplay indicative of a savage world) and trusting they’ve absorbed sufficient of the primary season’s message about wealth inequality to understand how bluntly he went about balancing his personal scales. (A “one for them, one for me” strategy I’ve no alternative however to respect.)
So right here we’re. Season 3. The ultimate season. It doesn’t matter what you name it, “Squid Recreation’s” ending nonetheless must pan out, and though the last word conclusion turns into evident fairly rapidly (if it isn’t already), seeing Hwang stick with his message retains the more and more brutal new episodes from skewing into cruelty. Whereas the final vibes are dour (there’s little or no room left for humor), “Squid Recreation” delivers sufficient closure to satiate anybody nonetheless perched on the sting of their seat, and its temporary, fleeting bursts of sunshine body the darkness with the starkest truths.
With out moving into spoilers, I’ll do my finest to briefly unpack that analogy. Choosing up proper after the Season 2 finale’s failed coup, Season 3 finds Gi-hun in dire straits. He barely speaks, refuses to eat, and even abstains from the subsequent vote — not as a result of he is aware of it’s doomed, after so many crimson circles have been killed making an attempt to overthrow the Entrance Man, however as a result of he’s just too despondent to get off his ass.
Gi-hun’s ensuing arc is easy and relatable. After struggling an immense, sudden setback — watching his dream of a greater world die together with dozens of his fellow believers — Gi-hun has to search out the desire to proceed, if he hopes to outlive. However extra perilous is his lack of religion in his fellow man. Amid the bodily fights throughout every recreation, the broader battle between Gi-hun and the Entrance Man has at all times been existential: Are individuals value saving? Are they inherently good, and solely behave badly due to capitalism’s crushing maw? Or are they inherently unhealthy, and all they want is an excuse to toss their buddy beneath the proverbial bus or push an enemy off a literal cliff?
“Squid Recreation” has contorted the query by varied relationships and conditions, however the looming presence of one other deadly recreation not solely exams the belief established (or considered established) between gamers, it additionally distills their selections all the way down to a fundamental immediacy: At first of 1 new recreation, Gi-hun units his sights on a despicable goal. However as he prowls round, trying to inflict his frustrations on a deserving stooge, his pure abhorrence for the primal conduct evoked by the video games comes head-to-head with the do-or-die circumstances of the sport he has to play. “Kill or be killed” isn’t a mentality he can resolve towards; it’s a actuality he has to face, repeatedly.
Seeing that growth and contraction again and again for six episodes (not to mention three seasons) can develop tiring, and Season 3 actually suffers from a way of exhaustion. The gameplay can solely achieve this a lot, and the futile story arcs of the island do even much less. (Jun-ho and his search occasion are intentionally by no means given something substantial to perform.) New video games don’t present the identical spectacular manufacturing design as we noticed in Season 2, particularly an excessively simplified (and digitized) closing recreation. Most characters find yourself precisely the place you anticipate, however at the least the performances stay sturdy and transferring, and some thrives within the epilogue have a long-lasting influence.
It’s Hwang’s unflinching imaginative and prescient that carries “Squid Recreation” over the end line. Whereas it could be straightforward to argue you can see all the pieces he sees after the primary season, with little room for added depth thereafter, his steadfast conviction makes the heartache he expresses for every eradicated participant final that for much longer. Even when there’s no definitive reply as to if individuals, as a species, are good or unhealthy, there’s additionally no disputing they deserve higher than the Squid Video games this world runs on.
Grade: B-
“Squid Recreation” Season 3 premieres Friday, June 27 on Netflix. All six episodes can be launched without delay.
