Squid Game fans have shared their reaction to the news that the hit Netflix K-drama will conclude with its third season.
In a teaser clip released on Wednesday (August 31), the streamer announced that the second season will premiere on December 26, while also confirming that a third and final run of episodes will arrive in 2025.
Netflix also released a letter from Squid Game writer and director Hwang Dong-hyuk, where he touched on the show’s eventual conclusion: “I am thrilled to see the seed that was planted in creating a new Squid Game grow and bear fruit through the end of this story.
“We’ll do our best to make sure we bring you yet another thrill ride. I hope you’re excited for what’s to come.”
Attention all players: we’re here to deliver an important message. pic.twitter.com/xspvk8HheP
— Squid Game (@squidgame) July 31, 2024
Following the announcement, fans have been sharing their excitement on social media, although some appear to have reservations that the show, which was originally meant to be a limited series, can be stretched out for a further two seasons.
“People will pretend to be shocked when this season does poorly because the lesson of Westworld is too hard to learn, apparently,” wrote one X user. “This was a one season premise that has exhausted any plot capacity as soon as the main character escaped the situation he was in.”
Recommended
Another wrote: “We went from it being a limited series to 3 seasons… doesn’t gimme strong hopes for the later seasons.”
People will pretend to be shocked when this season does poorly because the lesson of Westworld is too hard to learn, apparently
This was a one season premise that has exhausted any plot capacity as soon as the main character escaped the situation he was in
— Max Rovensky (@MaxRovensky) August 1, 2024
we went from it being a limited series to 3 seasons.. doesn't gimme strong hopes for the later seasons
— 𝑨 (@detailsmove) August 1, 2024
Others, however, have applauded the show for knowing when to end the story, with one person writing: “I look forward to this and I am happy they have already set a final season. No dragging along we know it will finish at season 3!”
I look forward to this and I am happy they have already set a final season.
No dragging along we know it will finish at season 3!
— Lord Ryan (@TheRyanHorton) July 31, 2024
The announcement trailer released on Wednesday opens with runners racing in a stadium, before people dressed in the show’s iconic green tracksuits overtake them. Watching over them are the Front Man and his masked guards, as he says: “It’s been three years, are you ready to play again?”
According to a newly released synopsis for Squid Game season two, the upcoming instalment will follow season one winner Gi-hun – aka Player 456 – who has become “determined to find the people behind the game and put an end to their vicious sport”.
To this end, Gi-hun uses his winnings from the game to “fund his search”, before realising that “the path toward taking down the organization proves to be deadlier than he imagined: to end the game, he needs to re-enter it”.
The newly announced premiere date for Squid Game season two aligns with the update series lead Lee Jung-jae gave back in May. At the time, during an interview with Business Insider, he let it slip that the show would be returning in December.
Meanwhile, the show’s breakout star Wi Ha-joon previously teased that his character of police officer Hwang Jun-ho will have “his own story” in the upcoming season. “I think season two will be even more interesting,” he added.