They Silenced Gi-hun: Why Squid Game 3 Missed the Point (And How Netflix Can Save the Franchise)

Squid Game Season 3 has officially concluded, and while it’s dominating the global charts, long-time fans are left asking: What happened to the heart of the show?

In the latest episode of Seoulite TV, we break down how the final season dropped the ball—starting with the ghosting of the series' emotional anchor, Seong Gi-hun (Player 456). For the first three episodes, Gi-hun is voiceless—literally. He’s chained to a bed, brooding, and stripped of the very spark that made him the reluctant hero of Season 1.

We dig deep into why this matters: unlike the first season, where we saw the characters’ desperation through real-world scenes—debts, family breakdowns, hopeless jobs—Seasons 2 and 3 ask us to trust the characters' stories without ever showing us why they’re willing to risk death. The stakes feel symbolic, not visceral.

The critique doesn’t stop there. From the Front Man’s late reveal to the disappearance of female characters, the season is riddled with missed opportunities. Even the voting scenes—which once added moral complexity—are now dragged out, empty rituals. And don’t get us started on the maze game where someone delivers a baby while being hunted.

We do give credit where it's due: the jump rope game is a masterclass in tension and symbolism. But one great scene can’t carry a season full of idealized, flat characters who don’t evolve.

To wrap it all up, we look at the viral Cate Blanchett cameo, the rumored upcoming David Fincher–produced Squid Game: America spinoff, and offer a better opening: a cruise ship gone full “poop cruise” survival horror.

Whether you're a casual viewer or a diehard fan, this deep dive exposes the core flaw: Squid Game works when we feel like we could be the players. Season 3 forgot that—and left us watching a show with no real stakes. However, despite all its flaws, we still love it and want more!