Why Squid Game Ending After Season 3 Is The Biggest Shock Of 2024-25

The comeback of “Squid Game” in 2024, boosting its position in the TV rankings for the 2024-2025 season, makes Netflix’s choice to conclude the series in its third season seem like an underutilization of the show’s true capabilities. After sweeping the globe in 2021, Hwang Dong-Hyuk’s drama featuring players thrust into deadly childhood games for a life-altering cash prize gained even more momentum. In season 2, Lee Jung-jae reprises his role as Gi-hun, aiming to escape the cycle and stop the violence.

In spite of his honorable intentions, nonetheless, Gi-hun’s scheme catches the notice of the masked character known as the Front Man (Lee Byung-hun), who enters the Games alongside fresh contestants with the intention of thwarting him. Following their attempt to incite a rebellion, Gi-hun and the Front Man, whose real name is In-ho, the Games were suppressed violently by the pink-suited guards, leading to a continuation of the deadly competition. The highly anticipated third season of “Squid Game” is set for release on June 27, with the final installment promising to conclude Gi-hun’s story.

Squid Game Is The Most-Viewed Show Of The 2024-25 Season

Even Netflix’s Later Global Sensations Came Second Place

Based on a recent report from Ebaster and Nielsen’s multiplatform ratings, Netflix ruled the 2024-2025 streaming scene in the first week. The much-anticipated return of “Squid Game” topped the charts, amassing an astonishing 27.1 million viewers within its initial five days on air. In comparison, even Netflix’s other hit drama from 2025, “Adolescence,” which came in second place, trailed behind by approximately 8.1 million viewers. The K-drama series clearly outshone it.

Despite Being The Most-Viewed Show, Squid Game Is Ending With Season 3

Season 2’s Development Paved The Way For A Quick Turnaround

It is evident that the Netflix series, “Squid Game,” continues to be extremely popular among its subscribers. Nevertheless, the show’s future was already decided when season 2 premiered, as it was announced in December 2024 that a third and final season of “Squid Game” would be produced simultaneously with the second. This decision was partly influenced by Hwang’s original storyline for season 2 exceeding the scope of a single season, leading to an expedited writing process that enabled work on the next installment to commence immediately.

Additionally, due to this rapid advancement and manufacturing speed, the mid-credits scene for Squid Game season 2 sets up Gi-hun’s ultimate challenge. As the Games prepare to recommence, hints are dropped about a revamped rendition of the famous “Red Light, Green Light” game. The deadly Young-hee doll is accompanied by a new character, Chul-Su, a male doll. In this way, it appears that Hwang is wrapping up the series in a symbolic manner by revisiting the first game of the series as the final act of the story unfolds.

I’m Surprised Netflix Is Willing To Lose Squid Game After It’s Massive Success

Does Netflix Have The Programming To Keep Viewers Subscribed?

Although it’s anticipated that 2025 could mark the end of Netflix’s popular series “Squid Game” and “Stranger Things,” Nielsen’s ratings indicate that wrapping up these shows too quickly might not be the wisest decision. With these two highly-acclaimed productions set to conclude in late 2025, there are concerns about whether Netflix will have enough compelling content to maintain its subscribers’ interest and commitment to their membership.

Beyond what we’ve already seen in the Squid Game universe, there’s a sense that much remains unexplored. The three seasons focusing on Gi-hun and the Front Man have certainly provided an engaging clash of ideals about human nature, but aspects like the enigmatic origins of the Games and its influential participants are ripe for further investigation. This could shed light on what draws these individuals to such horror. Consequently, if Squid Game leaves certain questions unresolved, it’s likely that many viewers will be eagerly awaiting additional insights.

Although Hwang has acknowledged that writing Season 1 was challenging and drawing inspiration from the Matrix trilogy for Squid Game’s structure, particularly regarding Gi-hun’s decision to reenter the gruesome Games, suggests that he is choosing to conclude the series according to his creative vision rather than Netflix’s preferences. Yet, if David Fincher’s English adaptation of Squid Game aligns with the original South Korean drama, the show could maintain its popularity on Netflix for an extended period.

2025-06-02 16:07