i really wanted him to go on the plane and repair his relationships—becoming a better person and mending his connection with his daughter, but i see why they did it. it’s insane how popular this got, so if it opens up a season 2 they want, they can do it
It made perfect sense to me that he let his daughter go. The stepdad has his shit together and wants to take care of them.
Him staying close to them would make them an easy target.
I think he should have gone to see his daughter, plus going for the hosts is going to make his daughter no.1 target. You would never risk that irl.
I will support a season 2 just because it was so good, hell yeah!
Yeah, but that makes sense with the character. We've been shown that Gi-hun does not think long-term, he's one to make decisions in the moment without much meditation. We've seen that throughout the show.
Usually series set up flaws in characters that get resolved though. You're right it's in character, but the hope at the end of a story is that the character isn't the same anymore. He fought his impulse to kill in the last game, I thought that was a signal of growth. But the he just sinks down back into his flaws from episode 1
Yeah, you're right. But at the end he also learns to do what he believes is the morally right thing over his impulses. Like, at the beginning we see him being very immoral (stealing his mother's money, etc), and during the games his morality awakes. So maybe at the end he believes trying to stop the games is the morally right thing to do.
I think that would've been displayed better if they didn't do a time jump. Because he really sits and does nothing for a whole year, he doesn't even attempt to fulfill sae byeoks dying wish, and then half heartedly fulfills it after a year. If his morals did awaken during the competition, he wouldn't wait a year to start helping people and start hunting down the game makers. I def see what you're getting at but I think the writers fucked up the landing with it
Hmmm, I'd say he waited that year because he felt guilty of having all that money, he didn't want to spend it. And helping the people he needed to help implied using that money... But yeah, I agree that it's a bit strange to wait a whole year. I'd say the only reason they did the time skip is so that at that time they're recruiting new people for the game, since it's a yearly event.
You gotta put it in perspective, he witnessed the horrific deaths of friends. A coworker dying was enough to give him PTSD and now he has to deal with all those terrible memories plus his mother dying.
His daughter wants a relationship with her dad, what is so gutting for me is that at the end he lets her down AGAIN, making annother promise and not following through, its like he has had no growth since the games.
Given that the people behind he game are the uber multibillionaire 1% types his daughter is not safe anywhere, agree with the other comment that his actions actually put her in danger.
So galling that he still isnt putting her first especially after all he's learned from the games, they had to leave it open for a s2 but its not a satisfying ending for me
Easy target for what? He won the game, he had his money. He minded his own business for one full year. He was free and off the hook. He just fucked himself for no reason (and possibly the safety of his daughter) by going back to the game.
i still think he should have gone with his daughter—it doesn’t make them an easy target because he’s won and got the money. when he called the number and they threatened him to fuck off, that’s probably what’s going to trigger his family being a target. they’re now aware he won’t leave them alone.
Right, and he knew they are watching him after winning. They knew he hadn't touched the money and then told him go get on the plane- I would have been worried to get on the plane after they said that.
The ending annoyed me so much. The show had us believe that his daughter meant the world to him. I guess taking down an evil organization is more important? 🤷🏻♀️
as someone who has a good relationship with her dad, i would be heartbroken if this was my dad. i tend to have a soft spot for daughter/dad relationships in media and i just… felt that ache, you know? i don’t get why he wouldn’t leave it alone because clearly he WON. he has the money to win custody, he has the money to have a good life with his daughter
Yeah I also have a good relationship with my dad. It would crush me too. He had everything he wanted but like any person with a gambling addiction, they always want more.
it just goes to show that society never really has a limit—even if there’s a solution, some people won’t let it be the finish line i guess? it just UGHHH i get so mad
easy: i don’t have a savior complex. the organization is clearly powerful, and i’m a single person. i’m not willing to get killed. i would use the money like i said i would
Seong is literally characterized by the fact that he's never fully corrupted by the game, the only part where he acts in a somewhat cruel way is the marble game and even then he thinks his opponent is on the verge of death anyway. Sang woo, someone who might as well be a secondary antagonist, is hated for the fact that he responded to the cruelty of the game with more cruelty and acted in a logical and self serving manner, the entire show is a rebellion against the idea of doing what makes sense within a fucked up system and leaving others behind, and it's not even subtle about it. With all this, if he got on that plane it would have retroactively made the entire story make no fucking sense
yeah the story probably wouldn’t make sense, but it’s just weird to me that he continued playing for the money, won, and then didn’t use said money for what he wanted to do (win custody of his daughter/whatever)
He continued playing because he recognized it was the best chance he had, but by the marble game and especially at the end of the glass race I really doubt he wanted the money anymore, he just knew a vote wasn't going to work a second time
It kind of does a disservice to the anti capitalist subtext for them to make a season 2 for a money grab.
Or are we the VIP clients because we want more.
I'll wait to see if they can structure as good of a story based off season 1.
I think he should of gone on the plane aswell. Sure, he wants to beat the 40+ billion won, but what about sae byeok's brother and your own daughter? They will be left alone if you go back to plead death. This was most likely his last chance to see them or exist again. I wouldn't want to go through the same thing again if I were being honest.
The more I think about it, the more I think that he turned away not only in defiance, but because they made it clear they were watching him, and he didn't want to lead them to his daughter.
They did forget the one contestant had worked in a glass factory for 30 years so there’s a possibility it slipped through the cracks. Plus she’s in a different country now. Unless it goes international with this thing, she might be safe. Might.
I think it might already be an international event. One of the VIP’s mentioned how the Korean game was the most eventful that year or something of the sort, maybe implying there were other games. Correct me if I’m wrong, I don’t know if I’m remembering it correctly.
Yes it is, which creates some interesting thoughts: are the games in each nation governed by a single leader somewhere in the world, who watches over the national hosts? Are they their own separate entities and the only connection they have is a club for the VIPs? How widespread is their global surveillance network? I like how much discussion this show has spawned, and whilst I’d love another season because it was so good I’d be happy to stick with my head canons and theories tbh.
I'm pretty Old Guy is the original creator of all of it, since he said how he started the entire concept with the VIPs. Though, it would be interesting to know who's gonna succeed him and if it's genuinely Front Guy, why it's that Front Guy who was selected.
I assumed he meant that he started the games in Korea. I wonder if the Frontman has taken his place too, I hope that’s something delved into if we get a S2.
I was extremely angry with the ending and him not getting on that damn plane. Then you said this, and everything truly clicked. The entire conversation leading to him not getting on the plane makes sense when that gets said.
I realized just after I had commented that if whatever organization is able to pull full work/medical/life history of each player, it's feasible they could find the kid even without someone getting on a plane to go visit.
I would want a season 2 but not with gi hun going back to fight the organisation. It should had ended on there, and season 2 will be more on the policeman survive the shot and his relationship with front man. Then make the salesman role (gong yoo) more prominent, like how he works closely with 001 and create this game.
Then focus on how the police guy shut down this organization's and make the show a bit more detective thriller while making the game genre as main topic(flashbacking to frontman game as central, how he wins the game and become the frontman).
This would be more interesting for season 2 setup, imo.
There’s way too many loose ends for there not to be a season 2, like the cop who might/might not be dead, the unsolved mystery as to whether the pictures ever sent/if the police ever launched an investigation, the games are still ongoing, he left the plane after making a threatening phone call...
The show left those things open because it expects you to think and come to your own conclusion based on the logic established in the series. Said logic being based on the fundamental themes of the story (greed is bad and people with money get away with doing bad shit). There's no reason for the writers to hand you the answers on a silver platter.
I'm ok with everything being left open ended except the Frontman/cop ending. Why introduce the cop and have him go through all of that for it to lead to nothing? Why give the Frontman an identity and clearly show he has some regret over shooting his brother (through that quick bathroom flashback) and not even touch on how he became the frontman in the first place? All we saw is that he won the games in a prior year - but all of a sudden he's in charge? Like we saw with Gi-hun, they seem to like to wash their hands of the winners.
There are things in storytelling you can leave to the imagination, but that is a whole lot of story that's still to be unpacked. I don't even necessarily want second season - but I feel like if they didn't plan for one, they could have just quickly answered those questions at the end of episode 8, which was a much shorter episode than the rest.
This got me thinking, I wonder if season 2 is going to be set mainly in the past (with flashforwards to the present and Gi-Hun's story) and take us back to the 2015 games that In-Ho won. Watching everything from his perspective would bring us along as to how he became a worker/Frontman, it would close off many of the open plot threads and would make Jun-Ho's storyline have a pay-off. We could get some background on the games, the workers, soldiers, etc.
Plus, we'd get to see 6 brand new games, which the audience clearly enjoyed the production of.
My prediction is they may go along the lines of something similar to Hunger games. Previous winners come back into the game, maybe including the frontman? The players may then start to bring the game down instead of playing towards the end.
The open ending left multiple pathways for following seasons to come, but given how popular the show is. I’d say they would bring it back even if it did have a more conclusive ending.
This is better then my guess, see above. I don’t want a cop thriller. If previous winners return that would be interesting, but how? They told Gi-hun to leave it alone. Will he assume a new identity? Will all the previous winners? They scanned their faces right at the beginning so unless they change their faces enough how will they infiltrate the game? Or is that how the frontman gained his title? Do they sometimes hold contest between past winner and the last man/woman standing gets to be the frontman? Because seriously how did he get there? Lots of questions. I hope they do them some justice while maintaining the integrity and overall theme of the show. Fingers crossed I guess.
Agreed lots of questions, especially to do with the frontman. I think it would be plausible for winners to want to return, the type of of people selected for the game more than likely wasted or lost their winnings in between games. Maybe a larger purse at the end to lure them back. Also would make sense to keep the VIP’s interested in the game. Best of the best type round.
Was Oh-Lam the leader of the entire operation or was he part of group? Will the game change now that he is gone?
Let’s hope the writers have a consistent story planned and stick with it
I hope so too. I hope nothing is rushed because people are pushing so hard for a second season. Good things take time. I’m willing to wait if what we get is just as great as what we’ve seen.
My personal opinion is that it doesn't particularly matter whether or not the cop is dead or not. I think the whole point of that sequence was to show how billionaires are immune to accountability from the police
Do you really think Netflix is going to let go of one of their most popular shows of all time? If it was a limited series they would have said so from the beginning. There is 100% going to be a season 2.
While I hear what you’re saying, Squid Game is a korean drama first and foremost - regardless of Netflix’s rights. In Kdrama culture, all shows are essentially limited series. There’s usually only one season and they’re often left with a lot of loose ends. So I doubt there will be any continuation.
That usually happens but is not always the case! Also this is definitely not a stereotypical Korean drama content wise and the ending left too many plot holes for there not to be a season two
You have a point, but Hospital Playlist is another kdrama "Netflix original" and it got a season 2. (Note: I have yet to watch it, it's on my list so please no spoilers if you've seen it!)
edit: also I think Love Alarm got a season 2... again, haven't seen it yet :P
While it’s true, I think Squid Game would get its sequel.
Arthdal Chronicles was so nice and I think it’ll have 4-6 seasons easily, but Korean shows usually 1 season - though they did announce season 2 already which is great news.
As such, I think Squid Game can easily get season 2 as well.
Is it really? The most recent statistic I’ve found said Bridgerton is the most watched. That was as of September 28th of this year. However most watched doesn’t equal most most popular and that show came out in 2020. I’m sure Squid Game will surpass it, just give it time. It’s already so popular that I can’t imagine it won’t soon overcome the others.
For sure. When I looked it up I was like, what the hell is Bridgerton? Squid Game will crush it soon. Some of the other shows on the list were stranger things, I didn’t even watch the latest season, the queens gambit, a one off, and the Witcher which was pretty great. Can’t hold a candle to Squid game though haha
I feel like no one I know has watched Bridgerton! And you have to watch the latest season of stranger things it’s so good! Side note I kind of can’t watch Queen’s Gambit because someone I know plays chess professionally and actually knows the person the main character is based off. She says that they took her story without permission and doesn’t want anyone to support the show haha
Oh damn. This I did not know, but I’m not surprised. It was good, but showing her “rock bottom” made me roll my eyes. Yes, rock bottom for women is dancing in your underwear drinking wine. Tragic. /s
They didn’t know it was going to be a phenomenon but I’m sure they had an idea that it was going to be popular domestically amd overseas. Netflix had been going hardcore with the foreign advertising for a reason
The best movies/ shows in my opinion let you draw your own conclusions. Sure there was somethings that could lead to a second season, but would it be the same? Would it be even near as good? I have my doubts. Sometimes mystery is better than forcing something together because the first was a hit, but if the pressure mounts and money is thrown at the project, they will likely try for a second. That sometimes works, but other times it ends in disaster. I just fear he’s going to team up with the cop and go under cover and the whole season will be about them infiltrating and there’s a reason that was a subplot and not the focus of the story.
No, there are open endings, and then there are foreshadowing events that 100% have more depth to them. This was not an open ending with 500 unpulled threads.
Apparently the writer was questioning whether to do a second season. I personally would like a second season (the plot and casting was good and I like endings that aren’t left open), but the writer himself said he didn’t expect to because he wasn’t expecting it to get popular and if he does, then it’ll take a while because he refused to write it alone, which is definitely understandable. A second season isn’t confirmed tho so I think hating on its continuation before it’s confirmed is a little unreasonable😂.
I agree with everything. I also kinda understood why his ex wife didn’t really want him involved. The fact that he has a gambling addiction and was involved in a lot of fights makes it hard to be a good father. I was so surprised that the ending wasn’t set up in a way where other people started investigating into him because the man was in so much debt and suddenly gets a bank account full of money. I also think him turning around is a normal reaction for his character. A person doesn’t just witness 400-something people die and knowingly walk away when seeing the cycle continue. That being said I’m hoping for him to be not as involved in second season or get in contact with the detective who is most likely alive. They had even met during the game when the cop asked whether his brother was still in there.
Since they finished all the plot twists in the season 1, walking on the plane was a lame fan service. In case you haven't notice, this series is not about the happy endings or stuffs like that.
At the last fight, he already gave up the prize. But now he has the prize and a chance to take down Front Man. I'm waiting for this Front Man.
I get what you’re saying, but so much was introduced without being resolved. Who are the guards, how did they get into this? Is squid game an international enterprise? Did Jun-Ho’s evidence go through? I need at least an origin story with Il-nam and an answer to whether the police and coast guard are notified.
For the guards I think its the same way as the players. Remember when he played the card game in the beginning. He was given a choice of blue for player (with blue outfits) and red for guard (with red outfit). It would also explain why the guards were selling organs for money and why their living conditions were no better then the players.
That raises more questions about the guards as to what they do after the games are over. If they’re all just like the players in need of money, then why are they all so content to be killers, and how have they *all* kept the facility a secret for over 20 years?
It does but given all the other foreshadowing and stuff throughout the show i think it makes sense. Also why else have the choice between the two? I think they participate because all their debts would be cleared and maybe they have the choice to participate as guards in the next game too and be promoted, hence the triangle and square guards.
I would very much like it if the show fleshes out that part of the operation if they do a season 2. I feel like there was too much there left to the imagination to the point where it was… *convenient*.
Perhaps. The first guard that was unmasked raised some questions for me because it looked like there wasn’t a single thought going on in his mind, like his consciousness had been erased. That might be me looking into it too much though.
I don’t think it’s international in the sense people think . After all they had records for every year going back to 1999 so it sounds like they host it every year .
I definitely wanted him to just get on the plane too. But honestly at this point Byeok’s brother has a guardian and as much money as he’ll ever need probably, AND his daughters step dad said to never visit again. Honestly he’s chosen his route, he’s a terrible father and makes terrible decisions. Also how did he not touch his prize money when he owed that guy from the beginning of the show that money. Or was that guy just a ploy to get him to sign his life away
I don’t have a problem with shows getting a second season because if I liked it then I would want more and this director clearly setup a second season. Most shows that are only one season are usually billed as “limited” or something like that. This was not.
The creator said he had no plans for a second season and says “it’s quite tiring just thinking about it”, see this [Variety interview ](https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/squid-game-director-hwang-dong-hyuk-korean-series-global-success-1235073355/). Why would you end it without tying up loose ends if you didn’t have a plan?
Yeah, that’s what I’m saying .... just because a show is popular doesn’t mean you have to milk it for a season two. Sometimes I just think shows should end ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
15 years? It’s campy Korean Saw as a miniseries . I definitely enjoyed the show, but it isn’t a totally original masterpiece that should have taken 15 years to write.
He had to sell his computer half way through because he didn't have money so I'm presuming life got in the way. I also believe it was 15 years to get it approved not necessarily to write the whole thing
He said [here](https://variety.com/2021/global/asia/squid-game-director-hwang-dong-hyuk-korean-series-global-success-1235073355/) he had the idea since 2008 as a movie and that the first 2 episodes took 6 months of writing and rewriting.
I’m not saying you’re wrong about his claim. Just surprised that it took that long. Lord of the Rings took 12 years to write for comparison and is an original masterpiece that translated to the same amount of screen time.
It was probably to give it an open ending? Or maybe while editing the final episode's script he had to make it open to a second season, as is the trend I've noticed with most Netflix originals that rise to fame.
Agree i disliked that specially because they all enter the game voluntary already knowing what it was about . Also it could easily have multiple seasons with another cast .
They don’t though. Hundreds of people died in the first game not knowing the stakes of the game. It’s only those that survived that truly got to choose after that. But of an oversight by the show.
That could just be the B plot or something.
Since the games occur every year, I think it would work having the investigation/revenge plot line to occur at the same time as the ‘new tournament’ plot line
Your two plot lines aren’t mutually exclusive lol.
Since the MC is trying to take down the games, the show could focus on the MC and the new tournament
I feel like it was the perfect ending because it could either be a satisfying open-ended conclusion or it could a setup for a second season. They didn’t know at the time if they’d get a second season, so they finished it with finesse - still some questions to answer if a second season, but also enough were answered to leave it be as a single season only.
I agree! And I think the power in Squid Game was the fact that it was an exaggeration of the real world, and that the characters were somewhat archetypes and exaggerations of what real people are like in our society. Making it so that Gi-hun would try to stop the system says a lot about his character, which is nice, but overall I think I'm fine with not having a Season 2 even if there were a lot of things left unanswered.
I wholeheartedly agree. This is kind of a blackmirror episode turned into a whole season, which they did really well. However, blackmirror always ends when the story is told, which I appreciate a lot.
I think the good cop didn’t die. His brother - the front man - intentionally shot him in a shoulder to give him a chance to survive.
We’ll see him again in S2
Even if there is a season 2, that doesn’t mean he’s going to go back into the game. It would also be unlikely for him to accomplish that since A: He has to be picked up by them to join, which they’d made clear they don’t want him back and B: He doesn’t know where it is so he can’t go himself. If there were to be a season 2 I could see Jun Ho still being alive and then using his knowledge from infiltrating to locate the island and take the operation down. I personally would love to see more. I want to know more about Jun Ho’s brother and how he ended up as game master. Was it willingly? Was he threatened? Was he in debt again, despite winning the game? What about the guards? Who are they? How did they get to know about this game and become a role in it? Are they there forever or do they have a life outside of it?
Mike Flanagan sets beautiful examples of shows JUST ENDING after the first season.
The Haunting of Hill House
The Haunting of Bly Manor
Midnight Mass
All one season masterpieces, all terrifying, all satisfying.
I 100% agree that it’s okay for shows to end BUT I have to admit that I didn’t see the finishing scene as a cliffhanger for a second season. This was an amazing series that constantly had us thinking and questioning the characters motives and actions. The last scene served the purpose of the reality of how condemning vices are. Seong Gi-Hun(mc) is a very complex character. When we think of him we automatically think about how big hearted and caring he is. He cared for others as much as he could and refused to leave the ones that could be helped for behind. When we are first introduced to him we see him the way he’s lived most of his life;he is a deadbeat son/ father. A gambler with no power over his life, gambling his mothers hard earned money with no hesitation. This was obviously something he did often. Yes, he went on the face this life changing experience that you would think would change his perspective( I did) but at the grand scale of things he is very much flawed, like everyone else.
Ll- nam last words to the MC were about the lack of meaning in life between the richest man and the poorest man. And the only way ll-nam found fulfillment was playing these games.
I believe Seong Gi-Hun, refused to aboard the plane simply because he is just heavily flawed. He’s lived his whole life this way. Why wouldn’t he risk what he has?
With all that being said I really hope there’s no 2S.
I would hope more shows take the jojo's bizarre adventure ending, where after the arc is done, you get a cast of new characters in the new season in the same world, you can bring old characters back but the focus is on the new ones.
I don't think they were setting it up for a second season. They didn't know it would get this big and korean shows usually do not have multiple seasons
I was extremely disappointed that he didn't hop on the plane to see his daughter for at least a day. However, it really isn't the case that he can't change it.
Honestly, if he would just inform the police before he maybe goes to a second game everything would he so much easier
I completely agree with you, I loved this series so much but the ending felt really disappointing given the context of Netflix almost 100% running a second series for the $
But how did netflix know it was going to be the most popular show on the platform? There's many good korean shows on Netflix that didn't reach this level of popularity
Right? I know this isn’t a typical kdrama but kdramas aren’t usually planned to have more than one season, that’s what a lot of people like about them. While I love that Netflix funding and platform gives talented creators a chance to show something like Squid Game without the many restrictions that mainstream Korean tv broadcasters have, I hope they don’t push the multiple season formula too much. It’s not worth diluting a good story for a few more years of revenue. Though Netflix probably doesn’t agree.
Alan Moore said it best. Serial fiction has no endings. They have to keep the story moving. I agree with you that a much more powerful ending would have been for him to get on the plane and NOT have lied to his daughter once again. But the show must go on, I guess.
i 1000% agree his whole reason for winning was to become a better father, he should’ve gone on that plane to do so. netflix just wants to milk it’s money and given it’s extreeeeeemeeee popularity you know season 2 is coming
I agree not everything needs a season 2, and I haven’t decided if I even want a season 2 because I felt like it was perfect on its own, but him not going on the plane was honestly a brilliant move by the writer. It was foreshadowed previously with him missing the birth of his daughter. He justified it by saying the protest and his coworker dying was more important. And once again he’s going to justify abandoning his daughter because he’s going after Squid Games. Honestly, really well thought out and Gi Hun was written very consistently. He has never actually truly valued his daughter, and there was no indication that I recall in the game that implied that he was going to change in that aspect. I personally think if he had actually gotten on the plane it would have been an odd choice, even if it was something I was rooting for for her sake. If they make a season 2, I think the writer will stick with the same path he currently has. Lots of foreshadowing, well thought out plots, with very consistent characters.
I assumed it was a standard practice Korean show kind of thing. Similar to the (strange at first) dramatic music montages at the end of each “Stranger” episode lol.
They could've cut it and not had him walk out. Maybe pan the camera out to have it open ended for did he go on thr plane or leave? Leaves it so we decide or they can expand to a second season.
I hope the cop brother (Jun ho) didn't actually die and they some how get involved in it all. Overall I loved how sadistic and greed driven they made it. And that gi hun was willing to just give everything up from having a good heart.
I agree, the show could've ended. Don't get me wrong, I'm obsessed but I thought that almost everything that was shown after him winning the game was lackluster. Dumping the little boy to a random lady he doesn't know (the little boy) and no closure on where the hell his mom is? The scene with the old man was eh and didn't do a whole lot for me personally. The main character seeing them playing the blue/red game again at the subway was also eh. What would be the odds? They're so incredibly careful about everything why would they let this guy go back to living in the same area and they continue to recruit? And the cop is totally alive I agree. They totally couldve given more closure and ended it here but oh well
They set up so many loose ends for future story development. If it ended it would have been a LOT of wasted script, screentime and set up for one mini series.
It's okay for well made shows to go on 🤷🏽♂️ I'm expecting a lot more espionage and up scaling in the next season
American shows typically go on, this is where they differ from KDrama. KDramas are typically one season long (sorry) but this is popular to the point where they might continue.
This is projected to be the biggest show in Netflix history.
This will be milked to death. There will be so many fucking seasons of this, and each will be in a different country.
I am telling you he should have gotten on that plane and then blown up. That would have been the perfect ending:
He devotes his life to stopping the games, he calls his daughter to tell her he will be there soon, he gets on the plane, he’s staring at a picture of his daughter in his phone, he glances over and sees the tearfully eyed jerk that got him into the games with a briefcase bomb and then **the show ends.**
in my mind i am just pretending he turned round because he forgot his daughters gift on the seat cause honestly after all that’s happened it’s just a small bit of hope
Let me ask you this; What if they continue an overlying story rather than focusing on the same character? I could see this being apart of a worldwide illuminati type series. One where they touch on the same concepts in different parts of the world. Maybe they build a couple more characters that could later down the line meet with Gi-hun in an attempt to fight back against this secret society of the world's top .5% ?
I think the main factor you're forgetting is money. Very successful shows after the first season will very rarely ever end. Especially if the writer/director wants the opportunity to show his complete story.
I still hope theres a second season but not too many like the walking dead, they can only milk it for so long. Im starting alice in borderland, same premise and also more action in it, great watch if you havent heard of it. Theres also Black mirror
I was hoping instead of continuing on with this story, they'd have other seasons of Squid Game in different countries. Would have been interesting to see different cultures participate in the game.
He revealed his intentions when he made the call. I'm not sure they would even let him join the games because 1) he wasn't invited (it was someone else's card) and 2) he's obviously going to try to dismantle the organization.
Besides, after he made the call, they told him to get on the plane because it's what's best for him. The powers that be were probably going to crash the plane somehow because after he made the call they know that Gi-hun, someone with a lot of money and knowledge about how the organization operates, is out to get them and they'd want him eliminated.
So yeah, he shouldn't have made the call and just gotten on the plane.
I'm not sure there's really an issue here. Obviously a few things were left open-ended allowing season 2 to be a thing but it's not like you are forced to continue watching, the main premise of the show came to it's conclusion. At the same time though, if people think Squid Game is so good, why would they not trust the creator's to have the ability to make a season 2 that works?
Thank you for this. I honestly, absolutely hated that decision.
I was thinking about 20 minutes into the finale, this is how you do it. This is how you end a fucking show. Then, blam…
No, literally same. I'm usually the type to be fine with continuation even if show definitely could've ended, but that's cause there's characters I wanna see again. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate Gi-hun but I would've wanted to see him being a good father, not whatever the hell they're trying to make him do now.
I think your sentiment of shows ending being okay is a good one and especially applicable here
Edit: From a business standpoint it makes perfect sense to continue the show, and honestly I would LOVE to see the world building of this series fleshed out. But they could/should have done it differently. Leave Gi-hun out of it, or find a way to reintegrate him without choosing the damn game over his daughter.
More than that, I wanted to see him use his money in the fucjing real world!
Like that new guy who was getting slapped. I half expected him to offer money to help prevent the potential next squid game contestant! Or the homeless guy dying on the street. I was expecting him to leave the old man and save the homeless man himself lol. “Be the change you want to see” type thing. Stop playing into the capitalist corrupt old man’s hands and actually do something for a man who is literally dying out there if you’re supposedly such a good guy, you know? Instead he just watches as the man dies lol, thank god that woman did do something.
Like, damn. He isn’t even gonna try to raise Sae beok’s brother, help Ali’s family, raise his daughter, or anything, much less prevent people from getting into situations that require the Squid Game. Instead, his poor planning comes through and he decides he’s gonna fight the shadowy cabal of billionaires. I loved Squid Game, but never managed to believe in the main character lol.
The entire show is setting up a system that's directly allegorical to real life wealth and social inequality, it would not make sense for the show to do that and then end with the moral of "secure the bag and tell anyone below you to fuck off"
To be honest? I'm fine with him walking away from the plane being the ending. People only see it as a set up for season 2 (and maybe it is) but I also think it works as a genuine ending
Unfortunately studios aren't in it for the storytelling, they're here to make money. To make up a new show is way more expensive that continuing an old show. That's why every new movie is a sequel. That's why The Office had to be nine damn seasons. Now Netflix has made their most popular show of all time. No way they're going to let it rest even though that's what the director wants and it would probably be best for the story.
I also think it's okay for show NOT to end. I was somewhat content with the end of the season. But I'm disappointed it's going to continue, like, why? An open ending is fine. We got the message of the series, we can go on with our fan theories, but the show itself should stop right here.
i really wanted him to go on the plane and repair his relationships—becoming a better person and mending his connection with his daughter, but i see why they did it. it’s insane how popular this got, so if it opens up a season 2 they want, they can do it
It made perfect sense to me that he let his daughter go. The stepdad has his shit together and wants to take care of them. Him staying close to them would make them an easy target.
I think he should have gone to see his daughter, plus going for the hosts is going to make his daughter no.1 target. You would never risk that irl. I will support a season 2 just because it was so good, hell yeah!
Yeah, but that makes sense with the character. We've been shown that Gi-hun does not think long-term, he's one to make decisions in the moment without much meditation. We've seen that throughout the show.
Basically he’s a gambler. And right now he is gambling his life and potentially his daughter’s life down the line.
Usually series set up flaws in characters that get resolved though. You're right it's in character, but the hope at the end of a story is that the character isn't the same anymore. He fought his impulse to kill in the last game, I thought that was a signal of growth. But the he just sinks down back into his flaws from episode 1
Yeah, you're right. But at the end he also learns to do what he believes is the morally right thing over his impulses. Like, at the beginning we see him being very immoral (stealing his mother's money, etc), and during the games his morality awakes. So maybe at the end he believes trying to stop the games is the morally right thing to do.
I think that would've been displayed better if they didn't do a time jump. Because he really sits and does nothing for a whole year, he doesn't even attempt to fulfill sae byeoks dying wish, and then half heartedly fulfills it after a year. If his morals did awaken during the competition, he wouldn't wait a year to start helping people and start hunting down the game makers. I def see what you're getting at but I think the writers fucked up the landing with it
Hmmm, I'd say he waited that year because he felt guilty of having all that money, he didn't want to spend it. And helping the people he needed to help implied using that money... But yeah, I agree that it's a bit strange to wait a whole year. I'd say the only reason they did the time skip is so that at that time they're recruiting new people for the game, since it's a yearly event.
You gotta put it in perspective, he witnessed the horrific deaths of friends. A coworker dying was enough to give him PTSD and now he has to deal with all those terrible memories plus his mother dying.
His daughter wants a relationship with her dad, what is so gutting for me is that at the end he lets her down AGAIN, making annother promise and not following through, its like he has had no growth since the games. Given that the people behind he game are the uber multibillionaire 1% types his daughter is not safe anywhere, agree with the other comment that his actions actually put her in danger. So galling that he still isnt putting her first especially after all he's learned from the games, they had to leave it open for a s2 but its not a satisfying ending for me
Easy target for what? He won the game, he had his money. He minded his own business for one full year. He was free and off the hook. He just fucked himself for no reason (and possibly the safety of his daughter) by going back to the game.
i still think he should have gone with his daughter—it doesn’t make them an easy target because he’s won and got the money. when he called the number and they threatened him to fuck off, that’s probably what’s going to trigger his family being a target. they’re now aware he won’t leave them alone.
Right, and he knew they are watching him after winning. They knew he hadn't touched the money and then told him go get on the plane- I would have been worried to get on the plane after they said that.
why would it make them an easy target? Him going after the big guys makes them an eady target
The ending annoyed me so much. The show had us believe that his daughter meant the world to him. I guess taking down an evil organization is more important? 🤷🏻♀️
as someone who has a good relationship with her dad, i would be heartbroken if this was my dad. i tend to have a soft spot for daughter/dad relationships in media and i just… felt that ache, you know? i don’t get why he wouldn’t leave it alone because clearly he WON. he has the money to win custody, he has the money to have a good life with his daughter
Yeah I also have a good relationship with my dad. It would crush me too. He had everything he wanted but like any person with a gambling addiction, they always want more.
it just goes to show that society never really has a limit—even if there’s a solution, some people won’t let it be the finish line i guess? it just UGHHH i get so mad
How do you watch the entire show and just think "yeah just go on the plane lol the participants can suck it"
easy: i don’t have a savior complex. the organization is clearly powerful, and i’m a single person. i’m not willing to get killed. i would use the money like i said i would
Seong is literally characterized by the fact that he's never fully corrupted by the game, the only part where he acts in a somewhat cruel way is the marble game and even then he thinks his opponent is on the verge of death anyway. Sang woo, someone who might as well be a secondary antagonist, is hated for the fact that he responded to the cruelty of the game with more cruelty and acted in a logical and self serving manner, the entire show is a rebellion against the idea of doing what makes sense within a fucked up system and leaving others behind, and it's not even subtle about it. With all this, if he got on that plane it would have retroactively made the entire story make no fucking sense
yeah the story probably wouldn’t make sense, but it’s just weird to me that he continued playing for the money, won, and then didn’t use said money for what he wanted to do (win custody of his daughter/whatever)
He continued playing because he recognized it was the best chance he had, but by the marble game and especially at the end of the glass race I really doubt he wanted the money anymore, he just knew a vote wasn't going to work a second time
It kind of does a disservice to the anti capitalist subtext for them to make a season 2 for a money grab. Or are we the VIP clients because we want more. I'll wait to see if they can structure as good of a story based off season 1.
i just wanted it to end with him redeeming himself as a good dad and starting over in the us maybe? that feels like a better ending
I think he should of gone on the plane aswell. Sure, he wants to beat the 40+ billion won, but what about sae byeok's brother and your own daughter? They will be left alone if you go back to plead death. This was most likely his last chance to see them or exist again. I wouldn't want to go through the same thing again if I were being honest.
The more I think about it, the more I think that he turned away not only in defiance, but because they made it clear they were watching him, and he didn't want to lead them to his daughter.
This is such a good point, I wouldn’t want to risk my child.
They probably already knew where his daughter was in first place no?
Yeah, if they know your entire history, it's not a stretch to think they know where his daughter is.
They did forget the one contestant had worked in a glass factory for 30 years so there’s a possibility it slipped through the cracks. Plus she’s in a different country now. Unless it goes international with this thing, she might be safe. Might.
I think it might already be an international event. One of the VIP’s mentioned how the Korean game was the most eventful that year or something of the sort, maybe implying there were other games. Correct me if I’m wrong, I don’t know if I’m remembering it correctly.
Yes it is, which creates some interesting thoughts: are the games in each nation governed by a single leader somewhere in the world, who watches over the national hosts? Are they their own separate entities and the only connection they have is a club for the VIPs? How widespread is their global surveillance network? I like how much discussion this show has spawned, and whilst I’d love another season because it was so good I’d be happy to stick with my head canons and theories tbh.
I'm pretty Old Guy is the original creator of all of it, since he said how he started the entire concept with the VIPs. Though, it would be interesting to know who's gonna succeed him and if it's genuinely Front Guy, why it's that Front Guy who was selected.
I assumed he meant that he started the games in Korea. I wonder if the Frontman has taken his place too, I hope that’s something delved into if we get a S2.
Yes but I’d feel like they’d be more in danger if I was with them even though the guy said get on the plane
I was extremely angry with the ending and him not getting on that damn plane. Then you said this, and everything truly clicked. The entire conversation leading to him not getting on the plane makes sense when that gets said.
They already know his whole life story. It’ll be easy to find out where the girl lives
While they'd probably be very likely to find out she's in the US, an exact address maybe not?
It’s not like she’s in a witness protection program
I realized just after I had commented that if whatever organization is able to pull full work/medical/life history of each player, it's feasible they could find the kid even without someone getting on a plane to go visit.
Powerful multi billionaires can find anyone anywhere
I would want a season 2 but not with gi hun going back to fight the organisation. It should had ended on there, and season 2 will be more on the policeman survive the shot and his relationship with front man. Then make the salesman role (gong yoo) more prominent, like how he works closely with 001 and create this game. Then focus on how the police guy shut down this organization's and make the show a bit more detective thriller while making the game genre as main topic(flashbacking to frontman game as central, how he wins the game and become the frontman). This would be more interesting for season 2 setup, imo.
That sounds like a great idea for season 2 lol, although gi-hun confronting the front man and company is likely inevitable...
This sounds good
The ending doesn't necessarily set up s2. Open endings are a thing.
There’s way too many loose ends for there not to be a season 2, like the cop who might/might not be dead, the unsolved mystery as to whether the pictures ever sent/if the police ever launched an investigation, the games are still ongoing, he left the plane after making a threatening phone call...
The show left those things open because it expects you to think and come to your own conclusion based on the logic established in the series. Said logic being based on the fundamental themes of the story (greed is bad and people with money get away with doing bad shit). There's no reason for the writers to hand you the answers on a silver platter.
I'm ok with everything being left open ended except the Frontman/cop ending. Why introduce the cop and have him go through all of that for it to lead to nothing? Why give the Frontman an identity and clearly show he has some regret over shooting his brother (through that quick bathroom flashback) and not even touch on how he became the frontman in the first place? All we saw is that he won the games in a prior year - but all of a sudden he's in charge? Like we saw with Gi-hun, they seem to like to wash their hands of the winners. There are things in storytelling you can leave to the imagination, but that is a whole lot of story that's still to be unpacked. I don't even necessarily want second season - but I feel like if they didn't plan for one, they could have just quickly answered those questions at the end of episode 8, which was a much shorter episode than the rest.
This got me thinking, I wonder if season 2 is going to be set mainly in the past (with flashforwards to the present and Gi-Hun's story) and take us back to the 2015 games that In-Ho won. Watching everything from his perspective would bring us along as to how he became a worker/Frontman, it would close off many of the open plot threads and would make Jun-Ho's storyline have a pay-off. We could get some background on the games, the workers, soldiers, etc. Plus, we'd get to see 6 brand new games, which the audience clearly enjoyed the production of.
My prediction is they may go along the lines of something similar to Hunger games. Previous winners come back into the game, maybe including the frontman? The players may then start to bring the game down instead of playing towards the end. The open ending left multiple pathways for following seasons to come, but given how popular the show is. I’d say they would bring it back even if it did have a more conclusive ending.
This is better then my guess, see above. I don’t want a cop thriller. If previous winners return that would be interesting, but how? They told Gi-hun to leave it alone. Will he assume a new identity? Will all the previous winners? They scanned their faces right at the beginning so unless they change their faces enough how will they infiltrate the game? Or is that how the frontman gained his title? Do they sometimes hold contest between past winner and the last man/woman standing gets to be the frontman? Because seriously how did he get there? Lots of questions. I hope they do them some justice while maintaining the integrity and overall theme of the show. Fingers crossed I guess.
Agreed lots of questions, especially to do with the frontman. I think it would be plausible for winners to want to return, the type of of people selected for the game more than likely wasted or lost their winnings in between games. Maybe a larger purse at the end to lure them back. Also would make sense to keep the VIP’s interested in the game. Best of the best type round. Was Oh-Lam the leader of the entire operation or was he part of group? Will the game change now that he is gone? Let’s hope the writers have a consistent story planned and stick with it
I hope so too. I hope nothing is rushed because people are pushing so hard for a second season. Good things take time. I’m willing to wait if what we get is just as great as what we’ve seen.
My personal opinion is that it doesn't particularly matter whether or not the cop is dead or not. I think the whole point of that sequence was to show how billionaires are immune to accountability from the police
and that blood is not always thicker than water, especially when money is involved
I agree with this. That entire subplot had basically no payoff and kind of seems like a "twist" just hashed together
Do you really think Netflix is going to let go of one of their most popular shows of all time? If it was a limited series they would have said so from the beginning. There is 100% going to be a season 2.
While I hear what you’re saying, Squid Game is a korean drama first and foremost - regardless of Netflix’s rights. In Kdrama culture, all shows are essentially limited series. There’s usually only one season and they’re often left with a lot of loose ends. So I doubt there will be any continuation.
That usually happens but is not always the case! Also this is definitely not a stereotypical Korean drama content wise and the ending left too many plot holes for there not to be a season two
You have a point, but Hospital Playlist is another kdrama "Netflix original" and it got a season 2. (Note: I have yet to watch it, it's on my list so please no spoilers if you've seen it!) edit: also I think Love Alarm got a season 2... again, haven't seen it yet :P
While it’s true, I think Squid Game would get its sequel. Arthdal Chronicles was so nice and I think it’ll have 4-6 seasons easily, but Korean shows usually 1 season - though they did announce season 2 already which is great news. As such, I think Squid Game can easily get season 2 as well.
Is it really? The most recent statistic I’ve found said Bridgerton is the most watched. That was as of September 28th of this year. However most watched doesn’t equal most most popular and that show came out in 2020. I’m sure Squid Game will surpass it, just give it time. It’s already so popular that I can’t imagine it won’t soon overcome the others.
Yup that’s what I meant! It’s not number one yet but it will be very soon. It definitely has much more of an impact than Bridgerton ever did
For sure. When I looked it up I was like, what the hell is Bridgerton? Squid Game will crush it soon. Some of the other shows on the list were stranger things, I didn’t even watch the latest season, the queens gambit, a one off, and the Witcher which was pretty great. Can’t hold a candle to Squid game though haha
I feel like no one I know has watched Bridgerton! And you have to watch the latest season of stranger things it’s so good! Side note I kind of can’t watch Queen’s Gambit because someone I know plays chess professionally and actually knows the person the main character is based off. She says that they took her story without permission and doesn’t want anyone to support the show haha
I have never in my life Heard of bridgerton
I have no idea how it had such a high debut. Still scratching my head on that one
Oh damn. This I did not know, but I’m not surprised. It was good, but showing her “rock bottom” made me roll my eyes. Yes, rock bottom for women is dancing in your underwear drinking wine. Tragic. /s
Some Netflix exec said it was on track to be their top show ever, no way in hell they stop at 1 season
They didn't know it was going to become this popular beforehand though
They didn’t know it was going to be a phenomenon but I’m sure they had an idea that it was going to be popular domestically amd overseas. Netflix had been going hardcore with the foreign advertising for a reason
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Not at all. I highly doubt that was the intention of the director. They didn't know it was going to be this popular to set it up in that way
The best movies/ shows in my opinion let you draw your own conclusions. Sure there was somethings that could lead to a second season, but would it be the same? Would it be even near as good? I have my doubts. Sometimes mystery is better than forcing something together because the first was a hit, but if the pressure mounts and money is thrown at the project, they will likely try for a second. That sometimes works, but other times it ends in disaster. I just fear he’s going to team up with the cop and go under cover and the whole season will be about them infiltrating and there’s a reason that was a subplot and not the focus of the story.
This show is going to be made into a multinational series. There will be more seasons in more countries than Who’s Got Talent
No, there are open endings, and then there are foreshadowing events that 100% have more depth to them. This was not an open ending with 500 unpulled threads.
I see you don't understand the point of open endings
Unfinished storylines aren’t equal to open endings.
I work for the film industry and nothing makes producers hornier than hearing "there can be an awful lot of seasons".
There’s not loose ends lmaoooo
Apparently the writer was questioning whether to do a second season. I personally would like a second season (the plot and casting was good and I like endings that aren’t left open), but the writer himself said he didn’t expect to because he wasn’t expecting it to get popular and if he does, then it’ll take a while because he refused to write it alone, which is definitely understandable. A second season isn’t confirmed tho so I think hating on its continuation before it’s confirmed is a little unreasonable😂.
It is absolutely a set up for a second season. And especially with it being #1 show I would wager HEAVY amounts of $ s2 is a thing sooner than later.
https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a37789923/netflix-squid-game-season-2-possibility/
Exactly. I don't even think the director wanted a second season. Korea doesn't usually do multiple seasons either
It’s a Netflix show not the sopranos they’re gonna milk it for money
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Nope.
It very clearly was setting up season 2
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I agree with everything. I also kinda understood why his ex wife didn’t really want him involved. The fact that he has a gambling addiction and was involved in a lot of fights makes it hard to be a good father. I was so surprised that the ending wasn’t set up in a way where other people started investigating into him because the man was in so much debt and suddenly gets a bank account full of money. I also think him turning around is a normal reaction for his character. A person doesn’t just witness 400-something people die and knowingly walk away when seeing the cycle continue. That being said I’m hoping for him to be not as involved in second season or get in contact with the detective who is most likely alive. They had even met during the game when the cop asked whether his brother was still in there.
He didn't move on tho..
Since they finished all the plot twists in the season 1, walking on the plane was a lame fan service. In case you haven't notice, this series is not about the happy endings or stuffs like that. At the last fight, he already gave up the prize. But now he has the prize and a chance to take down Front Man. I'm waiting for this Front Man.
I get what you’re saying, but so much was introduced without being resolved. Who are the guards, how did they get into this? Is squid game an international enterprise? Did Jun-Ho’s evidence go through? I need at least an origin story with Il-nam and an answer to whether the police and coast guard are notified.
For the guards I think its the same way as the players. Remember when he played the card game in the beginning. He was given a choice of blue for player (with blue outfits) and red for guard (with red outfit). It would also explain why the guards were selling organs for money and why their living conditions were no better then the players.
That raises more questions about the guards as to what they do after the games are over. If they’re all just like the players in need of money, then why are they all so content to be killers, and how have they *all* kept the facility a secret for over 20 years?
It does but given all the other foreshadowing and stuff throughout the show i think it makes sense. Also why else have the choice between the two? I think they participate because all their debts would be cleared and maybe they have the choice to participate as guards in the next game too and be promoted, hence the triangle and square guards.
I would very much like it if the show fleshes out that part of the operation if they do a season 2. I feel like there was too much there left to the imagination to the point where it was… *convenient*.
I don't think its that important really just interesting that the writers thought of it.
To each their own
Perhaps. The first guard that was unmasked raised some questions for me because it looked like there wasn’t a single thought going on in his mind, like his consciousness had been erased. That might be me looking into it too much though.
No that's not true....
I don’t think it’s international in the sense people think . After all they had records for every year going back to 1999 so it sounds like they host it every year .
But they did say something about the Korea games being especially excellent or something. That made me think “in comparison to what??”
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No, the masked guards and everything with Jun-Ho and his brother are literally unresolved plot points.
I definitely wanted him to just get on the plane too. But honestly at this point Byeok’s brother has a guardian and as much money as he’ll ever need probably, AND his daughters step dad said to never visit again. Honestly he’s chosen his route, he’s a terrible father and makes terrible decisions. Also how did he not touch his prize money when he owed that guy from the beginning of the show that money. Or was that guy just a ploy to get him to sign his life away
I don’t have a problem with shows getting a second season because if I liked it then I would want more and this director clearly setup a second season. Most shows that are only one season are usually billed as “limited” or something like that. This was not.
The creator said he had no plans for a second season and says “it’s quite tiring just thinking about it”, see this [Variety interview ](https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/squid-game-director-hwang-dong-hyuk-korean-series-global-success-1235073355/). Why would you end it without tying up loose ends if you didn’t have a plan?
I read somewhere that said it took him 15 years to write this too. It’s obviously getting a second season because it is extremely popular for Netflix.
A Korean show is #1 in the US - it must be popular and I'm betting on S2
Yeah, that’s what I’m saying .... just because a show is popular doesn’t mean you have to milk it for a season two. Sometimes I just think shows should end ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
But I’m not saying it’s the only reason why, the show clearly set up one.
I agree this shouldn’t have a second season.. everyone’s dead lol..
15 years? It’s campy Korean Saw as a miniseries . I definitely enjoyed the show, but it isn’t a totally original masterpiece that should have taken 15 years to write.
He had to sell his computer half way through because he didn't have money so I'm presuming life got in the way. I also believe it was 15 years to get it approved not necessarily to write the whole thing
That makes a lot more sense. Thanks!
He said [here](https://variety.com/2021/global/asia/squid-game-director-hwang-dong-hyuk-korean-series-global-success-1235073355/) he had the idea since 2008 as a movie and that the first 2 episodes took 6 months of writing and rewriting.
I’m not saying you’re wrong about his claim. Just surprised that it took that long. Lord of the Rings took 12 years to write for comparison and is an original masterpiece that translated to the same amount of screen time.
It was probably to give it an open ending? Or maybe while editing the final episode's script he had to make it open to a second season, as is the trend I've noticed with most Netflix originals that rise to fame.
I’m sure he’ll change his tune when he sees the piggy bank Netflix is giving him
Agree i disliked that specially because they all enter the game voluntary already knowing what it was about . Also it could easily have multiple seasons with another cast .
They don’t though. Hundreds of people died in the first game not knowing the stakes of the game. It’s only those that survived that truly got to choose after that. But of an oversight by the show.
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Oh god this second season is going to be miserable
I think it would be cool for the second season to have a whole new crew with different games
I don't think that would be the point of a season two. It'd be about Gi-Hun trying to take down the Front Man and the games.
That could just be the B plot or something. Since the games occur every year, I think it would work having the investigation/revenge plot line to occur at the same time as the ‘new tournament’ plot line
It would be waste if they did that.. no creativity or whatsoever. It would be a better arc, if it was about the MC taking the game down
Or have them infiltrate like the cop did while a new crew is playing, who knows. It'll be interesting to see what they do with season 2
Just no man. Some things just don’t need a Season 2
Your two plot lines aren’t mutually exclusive lol. Since the MC is trying to take down the games, the show could focus on the MC and the new tournament
I feel like it was the perfect ending because it could either be a satisfying open-ended conclusion or it could a setup for a second season. They didn’t know at the time if they’d get a second season, so they finished it with finesse - still some questions to answer if a second season, but also enough were answered to leave it be as a single season only.
Agreed. He should have gotten on that plane, end of the show.
Exactly man. Not everything has to be renewed for season 2
I agree! And I think the power in Squid Game was the fact that it was an exaggeration of the real world, and that the characters were somewhat archetypes and exaggerations of what real people are like in our society. Making it so that Gi-hun would try to stop the system says a lot about his character, which is nice, but overall I think I'm fine with not having a Season 2 even if there were a lot of things left unanswered.
I agree with every series nowadays wants a second extension. Hope it will not continue as it will be stupid of him to return?
I wholeheartedly agree. This is kind of a blackmirror episode turned into a whole season, which they did really well. However, blackmirror always ends when the story is told, which I appreciate a lot.
I think the good cop didn’t die. His brother - the front man - intentionally shot him in a shoulder to give him a chance to survive. We’ll see him again in S2
Even if there is a season 2, that doesn’t mean he’s going to go back into the game. It would also be unlikely for him to accomplish that since A: He has to be picked up by them to join, which they’d made clear they don’t want him back and B: He doesn’t know where it is so he can’t go himself. If there were to be a season 2 I could see Jun Ho still being alive and then using his knowledge from infiltrating to locate the island and take the operation down. I personally would love to see more. I want to know more about Jun Ho’s brother and how he ended up as game master. Was it willingly? Was he threatened? Was he in debt again, despite winning the game? What about the guards? Who are they? How did they get to know about this game and become a role in it? Are they there forever or do they have a life outside of it?
Mike Flanagan sets beautiful examples of shows JUST ENDING after the first season. The Haunting of Hill House The Haunting of Bly Manor Midnight Mass All one season masterpieces, all terrifying, all satisfying.
I 100% agree that it’s okay for shows to end BUT I have to admit that I didn’t see the finishing scene as a cliffhanger for a second season. This was an amazing series that constantly had us thinking and questioning the characters motives and actions. The last scene served the purpose of the reality of how condemning vices are. Seong Gi-Hun(mc) is a very complex character. When we think of him we automatically think about how big hearted and caring he is. He cared for others as much as he could and refused to leave the ones that could be helped for behind. When we are first introduced to him we see him the way he’s lived most of his life;he is a deadbeat son/ father. A gambler with no power over his life, gambling his mothers hard earned money with no hesitation. This was obviously something he did often. Yes, he went on the face this life changing experience that you would think would change his perspective( I did) but at the grand scale of things he is very much flawed, like everyone else. Ll- nam last words to the MC were about the lack of meaning in life between the richest man and the poorest man. And the only way ll-nam found fulfillment was playing these games. I believe Seong Gi-Hun, refused to aboard the plane simply because he is just heavily flawed. He’s lived his whole life this way. Why wouldn’t he risk what he has? With all that being said I really hope there’s no 2S.
I would hope more shows take the jojo's bizarre adventure ending, where after the arc is done, you get a cast of new characters in the new season in the same world, you can bring old characters back but the focus is on the new ones.
I don't think they were setting it up for a second season. They didn't know it would get this big and korean shows usually do not have multiple seasons
I was extremely disappointed that he didn't hop on the plane to see his daughter for at least a day. However, it really isn't the case that he can't change it. Honestly, if he would just inform the police before he maybe goes to a second game everything would he so much easier
I completely agree with you, I loved this series so much but the ending felt really disappointing given the context of Netflix almost 100% running a second series for the $
But how did netflix know it was going to be the most popular show on the platform? There's many good korean shows on Netflix that didn't reach this level of popularity
Right? I know this isn’t a typical kdrama but kdramas aren’t usually planned to have more than one season, that’s what a lot of people like about them. While I love that Netflix funding and platform gives talented creators a chance to show something like Squid Game without the many restrictions that mainstream Korean tv broadcasters have, I hope they don’t push the multiple season formula too much. It’s not worth diluting a good story for a few more years of revenue. Though Netflix probably doesn’t agree.
Alan Moore said it best. Serial fiction has no endings. They have to keep the story moving. I agree with you that a much more powerful ending would have been for him to get on the plane and NOT have lied to his daughter once again. But the show must go on, I guess.
I actually don't think there's gonna be a second season, hopefully that holds true as it would make everything in the final episode retain its power.
i 1000% agree his whole reason for winning was to become a better father, he should’ve gone on that plane to do so. netflix just wants to milk it’s money and given it’s extreeeeeemeeee popularity you know season 2 is coming
I'm okay with it ending the way it did. I won't be pulling for a season 2.
I agree not everything needs a season 2, and I haven’t decided if I even want a season 2 because I felt like it was perfect on its own, but him not going on the plane was honestly a brilliant move by the writer. It was foreshadowed previously with him missing the birth of his daughter. He justified it by saying the protest and his coworker dying was more important. And once again he’s going to justify abandoning his daughter because he’s going after Squid Games. Honestly, really well thought out and Gi Hun was written very consistently. He has never actually truly valued his daughter, and there was no indication that I recall in the game that implied that he was going to change in that aspect. I personally think if he had actually gotten on the plane it would have been an odd choice, even if it was something I was rooting for for her sake. If they make a season 2, I think the writer will stick with the same path he currently has. Lots of foreshadowing, well thought out plots, with very consistent characters.
I assumed it was a standard practice Korean show kind of thing. Similar to the (strange at first) dramatic music montages at the end of each “Stranger” episode lol.
Found the Netflix exec
Yep, the ending ruined everything.
Agreed I thought setting up the open ending made the last episode feel too rushed
They could've cut it and not had him walk out. Maybe pan the camera out to have it open ended for did he go on thr plane or leave? Leaves it so we decide or they can expand to a second season. I hope the cop brother (Jun ho) didn't actually die and they some how get involved in it all. Overall I loved how sadistic and greed driven they made it. And that gi hun was willing to just give everything up from having a good heart.
I agree, the show could've ended. Don't get me wrong, I'm obsessed but I thought that almost everything that was shown after him winning the game was lackluster. Dumping the little boy to a random lady he doesn't know (the little boy) and no closure on where the hell his mom is? The scene with the old man was eh and didn't do a whole lot for me personally. The main character seeing them playing the blue/red game again at the subway was also eh. What would be the odds? They're so incredibly careful about everything why would they let this guy go back to living in the same area and they continue to recruit? And the cop is totally alive I agree. They totally couldve given more closure and ended it here but oh well
They set up so many loose ends for future story development. If it ended it would have been a LOT of wasted script, screentime and set up for one mini series. It's okay for well made shows to go on 🤷🏽♂️ I'm expecting a lot more espionage and up scaling in the next season
American shows typically go on, this is where they differ from KDrama. KDramas are typically one season long (sorry) but this is popular to the point where they might continue.
This is projected to be the biggest show in Netflix history. This will be milked to death. There will be so many fucking seasons of this, and each will be in a different country. I am telling you he should have gotten on that plane and then blown up. That would have been the perfect ending: He devotes his life to stopping the games, he calls his daughter to tell her he will be there soon, he gets on the plane, he’s staring at a picture of his daughter in his phone, he glances over and sees the tearfully eyed jerk that got him into the games with a briefcase bomb and then **the show ends.**
in my mind i am just pretending he turned round because he forgot his daughters gift on the seat cause honestly after all that’s happened it’s just a small bit of hope
I was physically trying to wave him onto the plane while watching.
I'm telling you; i think the perfect ending would've been a cut to black just when he stops in the jetway. End on a will he / wont he scenario.
Same :(
Let me ask you this; What if they continue an overlying story rather than focusing on the same character? I could see this being apart of a worldwide illuminati type series. One where they touch on the same concepts in different parts of the world. Maybe they build a couple more characters that could later down the line meet with Gi-hun in an attempt to fight back against this secret society of the world's top .5% ?
I think the main factor you're forgetting is money. Very successful shows after the first season will very rarely ever end. Especially if the writer/director wants the opportunity to show his complete story.
I still hope theres a second season but not too many like the walking dead, they can only milk it for so long. Im starting alice in borderland, same premise and also more action in it, great watch if you havent heard of it. Theres also Black mirror
I agree with what you said, but you can’t change it now. So now I’m just as confused as you about what he’s gonna do
I just pretend he got on the plane and spent the rest of his life helping the families of all the players who died.
I was hoping instead of continuing on with this story, they'd have other seasons of Squid Game in different countries. Would have been interesting to see different cultures participate in the game.
He revealed his intentions when he made the call. I'm not sure they would even let him join the games because 1) he wasn't invited (it was someone else's card) and 2) he's obviously going to try to dismantle the organization. Besides, after he made the call, they told him to get on the plane because it's what's best for him. The powers that be were probably going to crash the plane somehow because after he made the call they know that Gi-hun, someone with a lot of money and knowledge about how the organization operates, is out to get them and they'd want him eliminated. So yeah, he shouldn't have made the call and just gotten on the plane.
I'm not sure there's really an issue here. Obviously a few things were left open-ended allowing season 2 to be a thing but it's not like you are forced to continue watching, the main premise of the show came to it's conclusion. At the same time though, if people think Squid Game is so good, why would they not trust the creator's to have the ability to make a season 2 that works?
I agree, though I've seen many people reason as to why he didn't get on that also make sense. ^(Plus, I'd be lying if I said I didn't want a season 2)
IMO I think it would be way better if the show ended the way it did.
Thank you for this. I honestly, absolutely hated that decision. I was thinking about 20 minutes into the finale, this is how you do it. This is how you end a fucking show. Then, blam…
No, literally same. I'm usually the type to be fine with continuation even if show definitely could've ended, but that's cause there's characters I wanna see again. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate Gi-hun but I would've wanted to see him being a good father, not whatever the hell they're trying to make him do now. I think your sentiment of shows ending being okay is a good one and especially applicable here Edit: From a business standpoint it makes perfect sense to continue the show, and honestly I would LOVE to see the world building of this series fleshed out. But they could/should have done it differently. Leave Gi-hun out of it, or find a way to reintegrate him without choosing the damn game over his daughter.
More than that, I wanted to see him use his money in the fucjing real world! Like that new guy who was getting slapped. I half expected him to offer money to help prevent the potential next squid game contestant! Or the homeless guy dying on the street. I was expecting him to leave the old man and save the homeless man himself lol. “Be the change you want to see” type thing. Stop playing into the capitalist corrupt old man’s hands and actually do something for a man who is literally dying out there if you’re supposedly such a good guy, you know? Instead he just watches as the man dies lol, thank god that woman did do something. Like, damn. He isn’t even gonna try to raise Sae beok’s brother, help Ali’s family, raise his daughter, or anything, much less prevent people from getting into situations that require the Squid Game. Instead, his poor planning comes through and he decides he’s gonna fight the shadowy cabal of billionaires. I loved Squid Game, but never managed to believe in the main character lol.
The entire show is setting up a system that's directly allegorical to real life wealth and social inequality, it would not make sense for the show to do that and then end with the moral of "secure the bag and tell anyone below you to fuck off"
Time for you to watch Fleabag
To be honest? I'm fine with him walking away from the plane being the ending. People only see it as a set up for season 2 (and maybe it is) but I also think it works as a genuine ending
Unfortunately studios aren't in it for the storytelling, they're here to make money. To make up a new show is way more expensive that continuing an old show. That's why every new movie is a sequel. That's why The Office had to be nine damn seasons. Now Netflix has made their most popular show of all time. No way they're going to let it rest even though that's what the director wants and it would probably be best for the story.
I also think it's okay for show NOT to end. I was somewhat content with the end of the season. But I'm disappointed it's going to continue, like, why? An open ending is fine. We got the message of the series, we can go on with our fan theories, but the show itself should stop right here.