Squid Game Season 3 achieved something rare: near-universal critical praise and widespread audience backlash.
On Rotten Tomatoes, critics gave the final season a 91% approval rating. The audience score? A devastating 42%. Headlines ranged from "Masterful Conclusion" to "Trash Ending" and "Worst TV Show of 2025."
How did the most-watched Netflix series of all time deliver a finale that satisfied critics but alienated fans? The answer reveals fundamental differences in how different viewers experienced the show—and what they wanted from its ending.
What Critics Praised
Professional critics highlighted Season 3's thematic ambition and artistic choices.
The Ending's Message: Critics praised Hwang Dong-hyuk's refusal to provide a satisfying, conventional ending. The finale's bleakness was seen as thematically consistent—a story about capitalism's inescapable brutality couldn't end with a feel-good resolution.
Technical Achievement: The season's production values, game design, and performances received universal praise. Lee Jung-jae's work as Gi-hun was called "the best of the series."
Subverted Expectations: Many critics appreciated how the finale challenged audience expectations. Rather than the heroic victory fans anticipated, the ending forced viewers to confront uncomfortable truths about systemic change.
Artistic Integrity: Reviews consistently noted that Hwang stayed true to his vision rather than delivering fan service. The show made a statement rather than an entertainment product.
- "A bold, uncompromising finale that refuses to let viewers off the hook." — The Guardian
- "Season 3 elevates Squid Game from phenomenon to art." — Variety
- "Hwang Dong-hyuk delivers exactly the ending his themes demanded." — IndieWire
Why Fans Are Upset
Audience complaints centered on narrative choices, pacing, and emotional payoff.
The Ending's Tone: Many fans felt the finale was needlessly bleak. After investing in characters for three seasons, viewers wanted some hope—not a message about futility.
Character Deaths: Several beloved character deaths were criticized as meaningless or poorly executed. Fans argued that shock value replaced emotional storytelling.
Pacing Problems: The final episodes were called "rushed" despite their length. Season 3 introduced new characters while neglecting established ones, frustrating viewers who wanted resolution for their favorites.
Unresolved Threads: Despite being the final season, several plot points remained unexplained. Fans who expected answers felt cheated by deliberate ambiguity.
Gi-hun's Arc: The protagonist's journey was criticized as circular. After three seasons of development, some felt Gi-hun ended where he started—or worse.
- "I didn't invest three years for this nihilistic mess."
- "The ending felt like Hwang punishing us for enjoying the show."
- "Great message, terrible storytelling."
- "Critics love it because it's 'important.' I just wanted a good ending."
The Ending Controversy Explained
SPOILER WARNING for Season 3's finale.
The specific ending choices that divided audiences:
Gi-hun's Fate: After spending Season 3 trying to destroy the games from within, Gi-hun's ultimate outcome proved controversial. Some saw it as a powerful statement about individual action's limits; others called it a betrayal of his character arc.
The Games Continue: Many fans expected Gi-hun to shut down the Squid Game operation. Instead, the finale suggests the games will continue indefinitely—perhaps even globally. This message about systemic evil's persistence frustrated viewers seeking closure.
Sacrifice Without Victory: Multiple characters sacrifice themselves throughout Season 3. But unlike typical narratives where sacrifice leads to triumph, these deaths feel... pointless. Intentionally pointless, according to the creators, but painful for invested viewers.
The Final Image: The closing shot deliberately echoes the series' beginning, suggesting nothing has really changed. Critics called this circular structure profound; fans called it disappointing.
Hwang's Defense: "If the games could be stopped by one person, my entire point about systemic oppression would be meaningless. The ending is the ending. It's not happy because reality isn't happy."
Play the Original Game
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Where Season 3 Went Right
Despite the controversy, Season 3 succeeded in several areas:
The New Games: The creative team designed games that matched the originals in tension and cultural significance. The production design was extraordinary.
Performance Quality: Lee Jung-jae delivered his best work. Park Hae-soo's Front Man arc provided the season's most compelling character development. New cast members integrated well.
Visual Achievement: The season looked stunning. Action sequences, particularly in the later games, showcased Netflix's biggest budget yet for a Korean production.
Thematic Consistency: Whether you liked the ending or not, Season 3 stayed true to the show's critique of capitalism and systemic inequality. It never softened its message.
Global Expansion: The reveal of worldwide Squid Games effectively expanded the show's mythology while reinforcing its themes.
The VIP Development: After Season 1's cartoonish VIPs, Season 3 added depth to the wealthy spectators, making them more menacing and more human simultaneously.
Where Season 3 Missed the Mark
Valid criticisms that apply regardless of ending preferences:
New Character Overload: Season 3 introduced too many new players without enough development. Viewers struggled to connect with characters who died before becoming memorable.
Sae-byeok's Brother: A significant subplot from Season 1 received minimal closure, disappointing fans who remembered that emotional thread.
Rushed Finale Pacing: The final episode tried to accomplish too much. Emotional moments didn't breathe. Plot resolutions felt hurried.
The Front Man Resolution: In-ho's story, despite being central, concluded ambiguously. Some viewers wanted more definitive closure for the show's primary antagonist.
Tone Inconsistency: Season 3 oscillated between dark drama and occasional humor without the balance of earlier seasons. Some tonal shifts felt jarring.
Technical Issues: Several viewers noted CGI quality drops in later episodes—unusual for Netflix's flagship production.
Understanding the Divide: Critics vs. Audiences
Why did critics and audiences respond so differently?
Different Expectations: Critics evaluate what a show is trying to do. Audiences often evaluate what they wanted it to do. Season 3 succeeded at Hwang's goals while failing viewer expectations.
Artistic vs. Entertainment Value: Critics praised the finale's artistic statement. Audiences wanted emotional satisfaction. These aren't the same thing—and Squid Game chose art over satisfaction.
Investment Levels: Critics watch many shows professionally. Fans invested years in these characters emotionally. The ending's bleakness hits differently when you're truly attached.
The "Important" Factor: Critics may overvalue shows that make statements. Audiences may undervalue artistic ambition. The truth about Season 3 probably lies somewhere between "masterpiece" and "trash."
Cultural Context: Korean viewers responded more positively than international audiences. The show's critique of Korean society may resonate differently for those living it.
The Real Question: Is a show "good" if it achieves its goals but leaves audiences unsatisfied? Season 3 forces viewers to ask what they value in storytelling—emotional payoff or thematic integrity.
Final Assessment: Squid Game Season 3 is exactly what Hwang Dong-hyuk wanted to make. Whether that's what you wanted to watch is another question entirely.
Relive the Tension
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