Squid Gametook a massive gamble last year, which did not pay off at all. The gamble’s failure not only harmed theNetflix Korean show’s final season but also highlighted how the streaming giant needs to tread a little carefully in the future. AlthoughSquid Gameseason 3 was, by no means, a failure, it could have been far better without the gamble.
After rising in the ranks to become one of Netflix’s most valuable television IPs,Squid Gamecarried the pressure of delivering an impactful and acclaimed sophomore season. While the show’s second installment arguably got a lot of things right, its cliffhanger ending left many viewers divided.
WithSquid Gameseason 3, many hoped the show would redeem itself and end its run on a high note. However, that, too, ended up splitting viewers. While some appreciated its bittersweet closure, others hated how it handled several character fates. Regardless of what one thinks aboutSquid Gameseason 3’s ending, it undoubtedly could have been far better without one storytelling risk.
Squid Game Seasons 2 & 3 Were Split Due To Creative Reasons
Squid Game’s creator/writer/director Hwang Dong-hyuk originally envisioned season 2 as a single story that would end the series' run. However, when he got down to writing the series' final chapter,he realized that it would take way too many episodes to cover the entire planned narrative(viaEW).
This encouraged him to divide its runtime into two seasons. The showrunner also previously revealed that Jung-bae’s death after Gi-hun’s failed revolution marks the inception of a whole new arc for the main character. Owing to this, it felt like a natural point in the overarching story to end one season before starting Gi-hun’s closing chapter.
Squid Game Season 2 Got Backlash For Its Cliffhanger
Its Ending Felt A Little Too Abrupt & Inconc lusive
After learning about Hwang Dong-hyuk’s creative decisions, it makes sense that seasons 2 and 3 were split instead of being released as a singular installment. However, whenSquid Gameseason 2 landed on Netflix, many could not help but question why it ended so abruptly.
While only a few viewers seemingly appreciated how it raised more hype for another season, others could not help but criticize it for closing with a massive cliffhanger. As a result,the show received a lot of backlash for not tying up loose ends and repeating the annoying trend of leaving viewers with many unresolved plot pointsat the end of one season.
Squid Gameseason 2 also had fewer episodesthan its predecessor, which further infuriated viewers because its relatively smaller runtime suggested that it was forcefully cut short to be able to set up another season. The show still could have made up for these gambles by delivering a satisfying season 3, but things did not go as planned.
Squid Game Season 3 Felt Rushed & Lacked Depth After Waiting 6 Months
Despite Starting On A Strong Note, Season 3 Seemingly Lost Steam
Squid Gameseason 3 seemingly started on a strong note and delivered one of its most compelling games in the beginning. The hide-and-seek game seemed far less complex than most others butdelivered some of the most harrowing moments of the entire series. Things, however, seemingly went downhill after the strong opening.
Instead of having a steady pace like its predecessors,Squid Gameseason 3 rushed towards its ending after the first game. While Gi-hun’s story progressed a little too quickly, Jun-ho’s narrative barely made any progress as he struggled to find the games' venue. Even from a thematic standpoint,Squid Gameseason 3 was criticized for trying too hard.
The previous seasons of the show had both socio-political and philosophical depth, but they delved into their themes with some subtlety.Squid Gameseason 3, in contrast, introduced the baby plot, which seemed too forced, preachy, and even unrealistic. Manycharacter deaths inSquid Gameseason 3also came a little too soon and seemingly failed to honor previously established developments.
The 6-Month Wait For Squid Game Season 3 Feels Unsatisfying
The Show Failed To Justify The Split Storytelling Approach
Squid Gamecould have justified the six-month wait between seasons 2 and 3 by delivering a more universally acceptable ending. Unfortunately, the polarizing response towards season 3 establishes that separating the two installments did not work too well. Season 2 suddenly broke the overarching story’s momentum, and season 3 struggled to catch it again with its breakneck pace.
Due to the gap between seasons 2 and 3, audiences also got a lot of time to theorize and speculate on how the show would end.
Even the expectations for season 3 were sky-high because season 2 failed to give viewers the closure they expected from Gi-hun’s story. Due to the gap between seasons 2 and 3, audiences also got a lot of time to theorize and speculate on how the show would end. Owing to the show’s massive following, its final arc met with many diverse narrative expectations.
Since Squid Game could only meet the expectations of a few viewers,many others were left disappointed because it did not turn out to be what they considered a satisfying conclusion.
Squid Game’s Split Season Problems Are More Worrying For Netflix’s Upcoming ReleaseStrategies
Netflix Is Taking A Similar Approach With Stranger Things' Final Season
Even thoughSquid Game’s gamble did not work in the show’s favor, Netflix is seemingly adopting the same approach with several other shows. The streamer recently did the same with Cobra Kai, which, arguably, caused more harm than good.
Stranger Thingsseason 5 is also being splitinto three parts because the streamer seemingly hopes to maximize viewer engagement before letting go of its flagship series. From a business standpoint, this strategy might make a lot of sense.
22
3
Budget
US $21.4 million in season 1 and ₩100 billion in seasons 2 & 3
Streaming On
Netflix
However, as seen withSquid Game,the approach risks alienating viewers who want final installments of their beloved shows to have emotional depth and compelling payoffs. Hopefully, in the near future, Netflix will learn from the mixed reception surroundingSquid Game’s staggered release schedule and avoid unnecessarily dividing shows into different parts.
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.
