Why Gi-hun Made That Shocking Decision in ‘Squid Game’ Season 3 Finale, Explained by Creator

Despite many fans keeping hope that things would turn out in a better way for Gi-hun in Squid Game’s last season 3, a major tragedy is what the series’ director has wanted for the finale all along.

In Squid Game’s last and probably most tension-inducing episode, Lee Jung-jae’s character is seen making a tough decision when there are only him and Baby 222, who sort of inherited the number after her mother Jun-hee dies, left during the game’s final round.

Now that the show might continue its story with a potential American spinoff series, Squid Game’s third season has marked Gi-hun’s definite and frequently misunderstood ending which, according to its creators, was the entire essence of the show.

Hwang Dong-hyuk Says Winner Plot Twist Was “In Line” With ‘Squid Game’ Meaning (Heavy Spoilers Ahead!)

In the end, when Gi-hun realizes that the final round wasn’t even started when Myung-gi (Player 333) dies, which means either he or Jun-hee’s baby should now die, he sees no other choice but to sacrifice himself so that the child could live on.

It’s fair to say the moment is pretty depressing, considering how much the character had to endure to first win the games and then enter them for a second time, aiming at bringing its organisers to justice.

However, that was actually the whole point for Squid Game’s creator and director Hwang Dong-hyuk who conceived the entire show as a means to criticise modern society’s obsession with wealth.

“The message I wanted to communicate was that if we solely pursue our immediate self-interest, and refuse to self-restrain, sacrifice, or bear any costs — and if we don’t put our heads together — we have no future”, the director said in an interview with Netflix’s Tudum upon the third season’s release.

He also added that Gi-hun’s decision to save the baby is an actual metaphor of an older generation passing the torch on to a younger one, hoping that those young people will build a better future.

“I believe we also have the responsibility and duty to try everything that we can in our power to leave a better world for the future generation. The baby coming out [as] the winner was in line with the meaning of Squid Game”, Dong-hyuk said.

Hwang Dong-hyuk Also Considered a Different Fate for Gi-hun in Squid Game’s Finale

Even though things ended just like they did, the director wasn’t really thinking about letting Gi-hun go initially.

However, while writing seasons 2 and 3, Dong-hyuk realised there had to be the same finale for both the games and the leading character.

Will There Be ‘Squid Game’ Season 4?

The director has recently confirmed that the show’s third season was a definite ending.

Still, Squid Game might continue with a US-based spinoff which the third season’s final scene hinted at.