The final game for a prize of 5.6 billion won ($4.1 million) is about to begin. "Squid Game," the record-breaking Korean drama that became Netflix’s most-watched original series, returns with its final episodes.

Season 3, which will be released worldwide simultaneously on June 27, depicts the protagonist Seong Gi-hun’s struggle to put an end to the brutal game where competitors die and only one can survive to claim the prize. The return of this gripping series, which helped bolster Korean dramas and the streaming service, is generating buzz.

Director Hwang Dong-hyuk unveiled new behind-the-scenes stills and a sneak peek at the VIP room set, Wednesday, teasing a season that will be "darker and more brutal than Season 2, but at the same time, it will be quite inventive and humorous."

He added, “I wanted to ask a fundamental question: ‘Do we possess humanity and does that humanity have the ability and power to make the world a better place?,'" raising curiosity about how the core message of all three seasons will be conveyed in the final segments.

“Squid Game” Season 3 centers around Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) and Front Man (Lee Byung-hun) and concludes a two-part arc. Season 2, released in December 2024, is considered the first part, while this upcoming season will conclude with the second part. By splitting Seasons 2 and 3, which were filmed together and released six months apart, Netflix has maintained global interest.

From record-breaker to cultural milestone

The first season took the world by storm soon after its release in September 2021, setting a record as the most-watched show ever on Netflix. Within just 28 days of its release, it surpassed 1.65 billion hours of viewing time, easily overtaking the previous record held by Season 1 of "Bridgerton."

According to a Bloomberg News report based on internal Netflix documents, the series is estimated to be worth nearly $900 million to the streaming giant, which represents a return of over 40 times its production cost of $21.4 million.

Season 1 resonated with global audiences through its premise of extreme survival games, plot twists and sharp critique of Korean society. Korean elements such as the dalgona candy challenge were especially intriguing for international viewers, while the show's iconic track suit costumes sparked a global trend.

In 2022, "Squid Game" made history at the Primetime Emmy Awards, becoming the first non-English language work to sweep major categories, including Outstanding Lead Actor and Outstanding Directing, ultimately taking home six awards.

The second season also set a record by reaching number one in all 93 countries where Netflix officially operates within just three days. It racked up 126.2 million views within just 11 days of its release.

Despite its explosive popularity, the series' second season faced mixed reactions. If Season 1 was a true breakout phenomenon, Season 2 as a returning show faced the challenge of meeting incredibly high expectations. Critics also argued that its plot development primarily served as a build-up for the final season.

With the dazzling success of previous seasons, it remains to be seen if Season 3 can meet or exceed expectations and records set by previous seasons. The industry predicts that even if it doesn't surpass Season 1's numbers, it could still perform on par with Season 2.

As the final chapter, long-time fans of the series are expected to flock to the last installment.

High expectations, uncertain payoff

Culture critic Jung Duk-hyun says the series' serialized nature already encourages continued viewership and he believes Season 3 will attract even more viewers. However, he says the true test for Season 3 lies not just in viewership numbers but in its reception by critics and audiences.

"While strong viewership numbers are expected, the key is whether the season is critically acclaimed as a satisfying conclusion. A successful ending would mean a clear, impactful message about society's competitive systems, solidifying the show's artistic merit," he said.

He said Season 1 depicted humans subjugated by the system and Season 2 focused on their rebellion. Now, the final season must deliver a conclusion, either by dismantling the system or by showing how humanity must continue to exist within it.

Ultimately, he hopes for a conclusion where the competitive system is completely broken.

"What people ultimately want is for the competitive system to be utterly destroyed. While they're forced to fight against it within its framework, they're already subservient to a capitalist system they can't escape. So, they hope for an ending that completely shatters that," the critic said.

He believes an Emmy win for Season 3 is unlikely, as Season 1 already delivered groundbreaking shock and novelty.

Yun Suk-jin, culture critic and professor at Chungnam National University, noted that "Squid Game" Season 2 largely disappointed viewers because he believes its direction went awry.

"The show powerfully evoked the feeling of a constant struggle for existence in the modern world, which was a key factor in its universal appeal. Furthermore, despite its cruel themes of death, Season 1 managed to convey its message with a satirical, less heavy-handed approach by framing it as a 'game,'" he said.

The ending of Season 1, with Seong Gi-hun turning back from his flight, was powerful because it left room for interpretation. However, when he returns in Season 2 to confront a similar game, the story's focus on him trying to stop it feels misaligned with the show's core appeal.

"My point is that 'Squid Game' was never meant to be a hero's journey. Yet, Season 2 abruptly shifted into a Hollywood-style hero narrative with Seong Gi-hun trying to stop the games. This misplaced focus is, I believe, why Season 2 fell short of expectations," he said.

Yun continued that he is curious to see how the Season 3 finale will play out, whether it will stick with Seong Gi-hun's hero arc, or if there is something else entirely hidden.

"It's hard to predict, but if Season 3 continues in the same vein as Season 2, I doubt it will achieve the global resonance and widespread appeal that Season 1 successfully fostered," he said. (The Korea Times/Park Jin-hai)