Squid Game 3 Premieres on Netflix to Likely High Viewership But a Comparative Lack of Buzz to First Two Seasons
It’s the end of Squid Game, or is it? You’ll have to watch to find out as Squid Game 3 premiered this Friday on Netflix to wrap up the internationally popular K-drama. SG3 is really part 2 to Squid Game 2 rather than a standalone season, and the 6-month gap between the two may have played a part in how SG3 seemed to arrive without same level of online excitement and buzz. I think Netflix did promote this drama heavily but I didn’t see the same level of organic viewer interest that existed for SG2 when it arrived at the end of last year. Of course the OG Squid Game premiered without any interest since it was just a K-drama back then but became a juggernaut winning awards and dominating both offline watercooler conversation and online interest. The production confirmed this is the final installment and don’t plan to make more seasons, and from the spoilers online SG3 was every bit as intense, heartbreaking, frustrating, and perhaps cathartic as the preview two seasons. Season 2 and 3 also had a massive big name cast to join lead Lee Jung Jae, including his fellow same level top K-actor Lee Byung Hun in an expanded role and a bevy of stars playing nice folks and antagonists alike. But for the high expectations and baggage that comes with this being the world renowned Squid Game series, from all accounts it’s a still a well made and satisfying to watch K-drama.
It was a mistake to not combine season 3 with season 2. The season finale of season 2 wasn’t a good place to end the season and I just have lost all interest to see the season finale in the meantime.
Talks are, that David Fincher will make a US version of Squid Game. So let’s wait and see.
A drama that was written as a critique of capitalism suffered in quality because of capitalism. The PD wanted his payday from
Netflix and got his wish with more seasons but neither S2 and S3 lived up to the hype and novelty of S1.
I am one of the rare few that have absolutely no interest in this show… Did not even watch any season. No criticism to the drama, just not my genre.
But I am happy the show did well… This drama remind me of Psy-Gangnam Style… breaking out in international market.
We are 2 @HL .
🤗…
Unfortunately, season 3 did nothing good for the series ending except possibly tease an American spinoff. No real payoff at the end. People died, as expected, but they built up the story for two brothers on opposite sides and trying to expose the games, only for nothing to ever actually happen. I guess the lesson is capitalism continues, regardless of what efforts are made to try to stop it.
I agree with you, the two brothers storyline wrap up was a bit wtf, slightly redeemed by what big bro sent little bro at the end. it’s almost comical to see the little bro arrive right after everything has happened and did absolutely nothing of consequence.
I really enjoyed season 3!
I like how they showed more kindness and humanity in seasons 2 and 3 than season 1 despite the intense environment and psychological traumas the players are pushed into all of a sudden. I especially loved players 120 and the mother, protecting a weaker player even if it meant placing themselves in a disadvantaged position just because it was the right thing to do.
The ending may not given viewers an emotional payoff, but that was the point all along. Life is unfair, some of us literally live in corrupted systems that treat us as dispensable tools.
*Spoiler*
And the fact that the baby, who haven’t sinned or done anything yet in her life, ends up as the latest winner of the games, is the ultimate throwback into the games’ face. Player 456’s final words, “We are not horses, we are human,” gave me a chill down my spine.
Squid Game didn’t give us a happy, satisfying ending and that was the point all along.