Top 10 Worst Moments From Squid Game 3
#10: Cate Blanchett Playing Ddakji
With how underwhelming most of the final season of Squid Game was, it needed to go out with a bang. Cate Blanchetts cameo as the American Recruiter delivered on this, and frankly, made us forget about many of the shows shortcomings by building hype. Still, why on Gods green Earth was she playing Ddakji with her targets? If the Game is international, a Stateside version would naturally be expected to incorporate American games. Unless South Korea is the mastermind behind all such Games in the world, it simply doesnt make sense for American participants to have to play Korean games. Was the American Recruiter just going around teaching people how to play Ddakji? It serves no purpose besides honoring the original and placating dissatisfied viewers.
#9: The Jarring CGI
One of the many reasons why Squid Game became a viral phenomenon when it first came out was the grand visual design, complete with set pieces that appeared larger-than-life yet realistic. The second season maintained this spectacle with the flashy setup of the Mingle game. However, the third season saw a sharp deterioration in quality as the CGI became more prominent than ever before. From Jun-hees baby looking AI-generated, to the dog that bit Woo-seok, the majority of the CGI work looked subpar. Of course, we werent expecting them to actually have a newborn on set, but weve seen better CGI from Squid Game before. They just dropped the ball this time, and it was distracting, to say the least.
#8: Dae-hos Arc
Kang Ha-neul won hearts all over the world as player 388 in Squid Game season 2. Even though Dae-ho appeared to be the reason Gi-huns uprising failed, viewers empathized with his fear in the face of death. We expected the final season to dive deeper into the reason behind his actions as a commentary on toxic masculinity. Instead, he was turned into a one-dimensional scaredy cat who lied about being a Marine to fit in. It was also completely out of character for Gi-hun, who understands the tortured psyches of the players more than anyone else, to corner and kill him out of vengeance. It goes against everything he is, but he realizes that only after ending Dae-hos life.
#7: The Hwang Brothers Meet Again
Trust Jun-ho to never be anywhere on time. He spent the entirety of the second season of Squid Game looking for the island and being misled by the man he thought saved his life. In season three, he completely disregards Woo-seoks hunch about the Captain until its too late and continues to search for the island in vain. It is only after the Game ends that Jun-ho makes his way to the island, finds his brother, and asks him one question: Why? It is almost rhetorical, given the time and place, and In-ho doesnt even dignify it with a response. He simply leaves, turning an emotionally charged moment into a meme.
#6: Major Character Deaths Fell Flat
When the actors for the second season of Squid Game were announced, the collective star power created huge buzz. However, it soon became clear that the show had fumbled the ensemble cast. Major talents brought interesting characters to life, but hardly had enough screen time to make an impact. With season three, fans expected those characters to finally get the attention they deserved. Instead, they were killed off in a rush, as if to ensure Gi-hun didnt have to share the spotlight. Yong-sik is stabbed by his mother, who then takes her own life, and Myung-gi kills Hyun-ju just because he can. Meanwhile, Jun-hee chooses to drop to her death during Jump Rope because she doesnt think she can survive anyway. Talk about wasted potential.
#5: The Front Man Reveals Himself to Gi-hun
Ahead of the final game, the Front Man makes an offer to Gi-hun. Handing him a knife, the masked man suggests he take out his opponents who pose a threat to him and the baby. Gi-hun is naturally curious about this sudden cheat key hes being handed. Thats when the Front Man reveals himself to be Young-il, his former comrade, believed to be dead. Gi-huns first instinct is to unsheath the knife, but he cant get himself to stab him, because all of a sudden, now he has restraint. The Front Man gets a monologue, while Gi-hun just breathes loudly. This was the grand showdown fans anticipated the most, and it fizzled out like it never even happened, robbed of the fire it deserved.
#4: The Birth Scene
How common do you think it is for a woman to give birth in minutes? Well save you the trouble of guessing. Its extremely rare. Jun-hees water breaks in the middle of the Hide and Seek game, and within minutes, she has not only delivered the baby but is also up and walking again. Sure, its not impossible, especially in such extreme circumstances. However, the scene does not take into account the complexities of childbirth and turns the act into a plot device. Viewers were shocked by the lack of realism and wondered how such a scene was approved when there must have been several women on set. Director Hwang simply responded that his goal was to highlight the birth as a symbol of hope.
#3: Sky Squid Game
The last-ever match on Squid Game is reliant on psychological warfare, but all we get is a bunch of grown men debating the ethics of sacrificing a baby. We understand that the whole point is to unveil the darkest sides of human nature, but the approach is way too heavy-handed and predictable, even for this show. Besides, Gi-hun is the only righteous one in the group. So, the whole situation gets tiring quickly because theres no one else to root for. Ultimately, Gi-hun becomes the only hero the Game has ever seen, who sacrifices himself to restore our faith in humanity. Thus, the edgy blood sport the world fell in love with is reduced to a moral parable. Could this ending be any more cliché?
#2: Game Over
Part of Squid Games appeal was anticipating the downfall of the oppressive system that dares gamble with human lives. Thats what Jun-ho infiltrating the Game in the first season, and Gi-hun reentering it a second time, set the show up for. However, that clearly wasnt part of director Hwangs plan. The island is exposed only after all the players, except Gyeong-seok, are dead, leaving the baby as the sole survivor. Before anyone can be held accountable, though, the guards and the VIPs escape. The Front Man blows everything up, leaving no trace of the Game behind. Were convinced the director was forced to end the show this way for the franchise to continue seamlessly, because how else do you explain this anti-climax?
#1: The VIPs
Squid Game 3 received mixed reviews from fans and critics alike. However, if theres one thing virtually everyone agreed on, it was that the VIPs had no business being that cringeworthy. With their insufferably corny English dialogues and questionable acting, these caricaturish characters turned the show into a parody of itself. At least, in the first season, they had an air of mystery to them. In season three, they do nothing but ruin the immersion. The show simply needed a reason to introduce key plot points, like Jun-hees baby joining the Game. So, they turned to the VIPs and their thirst for entertainment to justify it. It was low-hanging fruit, but left a bitter aftertaste.
Which Squid Game character irritated you the most this season? Tell us in the comments!
