Squid Game Season 2 is finally here, just in time for a binge fest during purgatory (the days between Christmas and New Years Eve). If you’ve watched the show already, then you know that the season ends with a bit of a shocker. But, luckily the creator of the show, Hwang Dong-hyuk, just spilled the tea on why he decided to rip our hearts out and stomp on them for good measure.
PSA: This article has major spoilers. You’ve been warned, so please don’t @ us xx
If you’re still going through Season 2 and would like to practice some self-restraint before reading on, you can still get into the nitty-gritty of the show by reading up on all the current season fan conspiracy theories HERE.
Season 2 wrapped up with a bang – literally. Our boy Gi-hun’s (Lee Jung-jae) bestie, Jung-bae ( Lee Seo-hwan), copped a bullet to the chest courtesy of The Front Man, aka the world’s worst cosplayer.
The Front Man isn’t just some random bloke with a thing for masks and murder. Oh no, he’s actually In-ho (Hwang Jun ho), a former Squid Game winner turned guard, who’s been playing dress-up as Player 001 (going by Young-il) all season. Sneaky bugger.
Hwang Dong-hyuk, in all his infinite wisdom, decided to explain this gut-punch of an ending to Variety. Apparently, he originally planned seasons two and three as one long story arc, but realised we all have terrible attention spans (thank you TikTok). So, he decided to split it up and leave us hanging instead.
“I wanted to have an adequate point where I could give closure as a second season and then move on with the third,” Hwang said.
“When you look at Gi-hun’s story, all of his attempts that he puts in to stop the game: the first one being getting these mercenaries and trying to plant a tracking device, that goes to fail; the second attempt of trying to persuade people to vote so that they can leave the game, that goes to fail as well; and then the third and last attempt of bringing people together and causing the rebellion, it also all goes to fail,” Hwang explained.
“All of his failures lead to this heavy, heavy crisis of having to lose his very best friend, Jung-bae, at the hands of The Front Man. And when you think about Gi-hun’s journey, I thought that that was an adequate moment to put a stop and give him a little bit of closure along that long story arc.”
Hwang also teased that Season 3 might drop around summer or fall next year. He’s keeping things pretty tight-lipped, but did drop this little nugget: “Gi-hun will not be the man he was in Season 2.” Losing your best mate tends to do that to a person.
Oh, and for those of you who stuck around for the post-credits scene (you are better than me – my brother had to tell me to go back), Hwang reckons it’s a “slight hint” about where Season 3 might go. New dolls, new games, same old trauma – can’t wait!
So there you have it, folks. Hwang Dong-hyuk, the puppet master of our emotions, promises that “with each episode it’s going to get better” and the story will be “more intense” and “definitely more entertaining”. Because apparently, watching our favourite characters get offed one by one wasn’t entertaining enough already.
Strap in, grab your green tracksuits, and maybe invest in some tissues. It’s gonna be a wild ride.
Lead image: Netflix/Getty Images
