Squid Game 2 ending explained: The brutal murder and what to expect from Season 3

Squid Game creator, director, and writer Hwang Dong-hyuk really knows how to play with people’s minds. The highly-anticipated show takes a three-year leap. Gi-hun has assigned a gang to find the recruiter, but things take a turn, and he finds himself back in Squid Game. He soon realises that his plan failed and the Front Man has always been ahead of him. He gets trapped into playing the deadly game once again, where he meets more companions, one of whom is the main man himself. Towards the end, we witness a tragic death, and it unfolds into a major cliffhanger. Meanwhile, Jun-ho (Wi Ha-joon), the police officer, is busy finding the Island where his brother is running the show. When they join forces, there is finally a breakthrough, and now Gi-hun must go back into the game to stop it once and for all.

ALSO READ | Squid Game season 2 review: Netflix’s biggest series returns, filled with twists but not as fast-paced as season one

Squid Game 2 Ending Explained

In the last episode of Squid Game season 2, we see a group of contestants, including Myung-gi (Player 333), Dae-ho (Player 388), Gyeong-seok (Player 246), Hyun-ju (Player 120), Yong-sik (Player 007), Geum-ja (Player 149), Jung-bae (Player 390), and Jun-hee (Player 222), team up with Seong Gi-hun to fight against the main boss of the murky game. They are even successful in snatching the weapons from a few soldiers. We also learn that Hwang Jun-ho’s crew had a traitor, the friendly fisherman. The ending of season 2 reveals Captain Park was the reason they could not locate Gi-hun.

Meanwhile, the young navy seal Dae Ho (Kang Ha Neul) freaks out while bringing more ammo for the team to fight the guards and ends up hiding. This results in all of them running out of bullets and being captured by The Front Man. Moreover, little did they know that Player 001 is the Front Man himself. After fooling them and killing some team members, the Front Man takes control, eventually zeroing in on Seong and his best friend.

Player 001 comes back in his mask and uniform as Seong reaches the control room with his friend. He kills the best friend in front of his eyes and not Seong, creating many burning questions about the future of the franchise. He says, “Player 456, did you have fun playing the hero? Look at the consequences of your little hero game.” Netflix’s Squid Game Season 2 ends with an injured Gi-hun crying on the floor next to his dead friend. It’s pretty clear that this will directly bring us to Season 3, which was shot at the same time as the sophomore season.

Talking about Season 3 of Squid Game, Hwang Dong-hyuk told Variety, “At this point, anything I might say is going to be a spoiler, so I want to be cautious. But what I can say is, after Season 2 launches, I believe we will be announcing the launch date for Season 3 soon. I probably expect that to launch around summer or fall next year. But as for the storyline of the third season, Gi-hun having lost everything, including his best friend, and all of his attempts going to failure, it’s now, what is he going to be like? What state is Gi-hun going to be in? And what will he choose to do? Will he continue on with the mission? Is he going to give up or persist? And so you’re going to meet our character Gi-hun at a very critical crossroads as we begin the third season. Gi-hun will not be the man he was in Season 2.”

Here are some Twitter fan reactions on season 2’s ending:

me after watching 7 hours of my life go away just to see that fucking ending
#SquidGame2 pic.twitter.com/awlCUdJPLW

— denvuh | SUPERSCAR 🌟 (@dietcokeluvr555) December 27, 2024

season 2 started so well but then became so stale… fewer games, no pay offs, one dimensional characters with a rushed cliffhanger ending that makes the whole season feel like a half season and a waste of time… It’s a chop #SquidGame2 #SquidGame pic.twitter.com/5p6hSCEDlc

— 𝖓𝖆𝖛𝖎 (@NaviKRStan) December 27, 2024

Lesser dramatic dialogues, emotions, focus on games and suspense.

Players of S2 seemed dumb, unlike S1 where there were a few smart players.

Wasted so much time on the ‘voting’ process.

Hated the ending. #SquidGame2 was a 6/10 for me pic.twitter.com/rrRKrGpHwC

— shiebsss (@shiebnaa_) December 27, 2024

#SquidGame2 ending was good! People hating bc it’s a cliffhanger. I’m impatient af too. ima just trust the process 😭🙏🏽

— Nano 🦅 (@ElNanito619) December 27, 2024

YOU CANT GIVE ME THAT ENDING FR IM STILL LIKE WHERE IS EPISODE 8???? #SquidGame2

— ally⁷ (@miniewthluv) December 27, 2024

Is that the actually ending of squid game 😭😭#SquidGame2

— 🧚🧚 (@renegracee) December 27, 2024

Wtf was that ending? Surely has to be more episodes coming out, right? #SquidGame2

— aaron (@aarxn300) December 27, 2024

Also Read | Hwang Dong-hyuk on killing off his Squid Game characters: ‘I was always smiling inside’

All seasons of Squid Game are currently streaming on Netflix.