[Arts&Culture] Squid Game Season 3: What to watch for in final chapter of 4-year journey

It's Friday, which means it's time for Arts and Culture.

We have our culture correspondent Choi Soo-hyung in the studio.

Welcome Soo-hyung!

Happy to be back here!

Soo-hyung, I do know what you have for us today the return of Squid Game!

Yes, Dami. About a few hours ago finally "Squid Game" has returned to the world with its final season.

This Netflix original series is considered one of the most successful K-content series of all time.

So, I bring the key highlights of Season 3's storyline.

Let's do take a look.

In Season 2, Seong Gi-hun joined the game again, but failed to foment a rebellion and even lost his best friend.

His fate is now decided in Season 3.

"Gi-hun changes and makes up his mind ---"This is what I can do" ---and decides to take action based on that belief."

The conflicts and stories of the main characters, pushed to the edge between life and death, are key points to watch.

In particular, many viewers have been looking forward to the showdown between Gi-hun and the Front Man, Hwang In-ho, the surprise central figure of Season 2.

"All the characters' interactions and stories will finally explode in Season 3, so I believe it makes up for any disappointments from Season 2."

"Season 3 centers on the clash of values between Gi-hun and the Front Man, Hwang In-ho, individual survival or collective cooperation. This ideological conflict began to take shape in Season 2, and how this conflict ends is a key point to watch."

In Season 3, new Korean games ---not featured in previous seasons ---are introduced in the survival game.

Moreover, beyond survival, a key point to watch is how unique Korean emotions and culture in Squid Game make it stand out.

"Season 2 also introduced many new games. But in Season 3, what's more important is how the characters' personal stories unfold and what message they ultimately deliver. The key point is how much emotional impact these stories and each character's can create."

The six-episode season was released in full ---all at once ---on June 27 at 4 PM, Korean standard time.

With Season 3, Squid Game has begun its final dance, bringing a four-year-long journey to an end.

Seems so interesting, Soo-hyung.

But you know, some said the previous season's storyline felt slow and drawn-out.

Is Season 3 any different?

Seasons 2 and 3 of Squid Game depart from Season 1's storyline, with Season 2 serving mainly to expand the universe.

Season 3 is expected to move at a faster pace, bringing the story to a conclusion.

Many viewers criticized the previous season's too slow pacing, but such criticism may overlook the features of drama formats.

Films are much more compact and symbolic, requiring tight storytelling within around two hours.

But dramas allow space for people to feel emotional depth and cultural context within many episodes and seasons.

So the professor said if Season 3 delivers the emotional payoff Season 2 was building toward, its extended narrative is justified.

Indeed, then Soo-hyung, foreign media also had high expectations, does Season 3 also retain strong Korean cultural elements?

Yes, absolutely.

As you know, the traditional Korean games in the survival scenes sparked a global reaction in earlier seasons.

But in the final season, director Hwang has hinted at new, unrevealed games not shown in the trailers, further raising anticipation.

Experts have also pointed out a unique aspect of Squid Game, its emotional depth, rarely seen in typical survival formats.

Unlike most survival movies that focus solely on individual skills and competition, Squid Game includes the themes of family, friendship, community and humanism.

These melodramatic, emotionally charged elements played a key role in its explosive global appeal.

Viewers can expect Season 3 to continue emphasizing this distinct blend of Korean sentiment and emotional catharsis.

Right So, Soo-hyung, will this be the last season of Squid Game?

Unfortunately, yes. Director Hwang has confirmed that Squid Game will end with Season 3.

For now, he has no plans for another season but, as always, nothing is certain yet.

There are still some stories to explore, focusing on the Front Man or the game system itself.

So, it wouldn't be surprising if Squid Game expands into new extra series through future spinoffs.

Indeed, Soo-hyung. I will be spending my whole weekend watching the final season.

Thank you for sharing the highlights.

Thank you, my pleasure.