AfterSquid Game’s divisive season 3 reception, both the creator, Hwang Dong-hyuk, and Gi-hun star, Lee Jung-jae, revealed what they think about the strong audience backlash. Despite being a commercial hit like its predecessors,Squid Gameseason 3 failed to satisfy most viewers with its closing arc.
It managed to earn an above-average Rotten Tomatoes critics' score of 78%, but its audience score of 50% highlights how polarizing the season was.Squid Game’s creator, Hwang Dong-hyuk, addressed the divisive response towards season 3 by saying thathe expected “a variety of reactions, with some feeling satisfied and others feeling let down.”
Here’s his statement (viaThe Korean Times):
“There were no expectations for Season 1. There was shock and freshness. But for Seasons 2 and 3, there were already expectations and everyone has different things they want from it. Some expect excitement from the games, while others expect social messages. Because these expectations are different, I think there will be a variety of reactions, with some feeling satisfied and others feeling let down, no matter what comes out.”
The show’s creator further explained that he knew seasons 2 and 3 would receive a polarized response becauseeveryone had different things they wanted from the follow-up seasons.Gi-hun star, Lee Jung-jae, shed light on the same by quoting that"mixed reactions are inevitable for any project,“especially for something likeSquid Gamethat dabbles with socio-economic themes.
Check out his statement below (viaThe Korean Times):
“Mixed reactions are inevitable for any project. Especially with ‘Squid Game,’ it wasn’t just a project that pursued simple entertainment. Each episode had a clear message it aimed to convey. I believe it’s natural for strong messages to be followed by diverse interpretations and debates.”
What Hwang Dong-hyuk & Lee Jung-jae’s Takes On Squid Game Season 3’s Divisive Reception Mean For The Netflix Series
They Highlight How Squid Game Was Always Doomed To Disappoint Some Viewers
Sophomore seasons and the installments that follow are often met with impossible expectations, especially when the opening season of a show becomes a cultural juggernaut likeSquid Game. Owing to this, it is not surprising that theNetflix Korean show’s seasons 2 and 3 could not replicate the first season’s acclaim.
As Hwang Dong-hyuk pointed out, Squid Game season 1 was not expected to bring anything specific to the table when it first landed on Netflix. The sense of novelty in its storyline was enough to fascinate and intrigue most viewers.Audiences only started expecting things from the series after season 1 became a global hit.
Since a diverse set of audiences followed the show, a wide range of opinions and expectations started brewing around it before its second season’s release. After Netflix confirmed season 3 would be the show’s last, viewers had even more contrasting visions of what its final arc should look like.
Owing to this,the show’s creator was left with a no-win situation. He still tried to send out an impactful message with season 3’s ending arc. However, as Lee Jung-jae pointed out, it is always “natural for strong messages to be followed by diverse interpretations and debates.”
Our Take On Squid Game Season 3’s Polarizing Ending & Hwang Dong-hyuk & Lee Jung-jae’s Response
Hwang Dong-hyuk & Lee Jung-jae’s Views Make Sense, But There Is A Caveat
BothSquid Game’s creator and leading star have raised some valid points about whySquid Gameseason 3 struggled to recreate season 1’s unanimous acclaim. However, it is hard not to deny that seasons 2 and 3 did have some evident narrative issues.
No TV series is perfect, butSquid Gamecarried the massive burden of living up to a debut that redefined the limits of a show’s reach in the streaming era. Netflix’s gamble of ending season 2 abruptly instead of having seasons 2 and 3 as a singular cohesive arc also did not favor the series.
ConsideringSquid Game’s virality, though, even after the divisive final arc, the show still deserves credit for achieving feats that even mainstream English-language series have struggled to match.
Squid Game
Squid Game is a South Korean series released in 2021 that follows numerous financially struggling participants who are invited to partake in children’s games with deadly outcomes. As they compete, they vie for a substantial cash prize, all while navigating lethal challenges orchestrated by mysterious figures.
