Squid Game 3 Review: Violent, Exhausting, and Just Plain Awful

‘Appalling’ is the word I’d use to describe Squid Game 3. The series is already known for extreme violence and uninhibited goriness. But the final instalment took it all a notch higher and left me with a sense of utter revulsion and disappointment. It’s hard to believe that content this disturbing enjoys global popularity. I’m not sure why the blood bath seems appealing to so many people. There are very few shows I truly regret watching, and this season is definitely one of them. After sitting through the final chapter of this reprehensible series, I couldn’t help but wish I hadn’t fallen for the hype or wasted my time on it. That said, there’s no point in crying over spilled milk, so instead, I’d rather warn others about what this season delivers and why you’d be better off skipping it altogether.

Squid Game Season 3 (2025)

After losing his allies and friend in the previous season, Seong Gi Hun (Lee Jung Jae) is devastated to find himself as the sole survivor of the failed rebellion. With no will left to participate in the senseless massacre disguised as a game, he is ready to give up. But when he discovers Kang Dae Ho’s betrayal, Gi Hun rises with a renewed purpose to avenge the deaths of his fellow players by taking Dae Ho down. Yet, one game leads to another, and the cycle of bloodshed continues, each round deadlier than the last, with the prize money growing alongside the body count.

 

I Enjoyed Watching “Squid Game Season 3” Because…

I Did Not Like “Squid Game Season 3” Because…

…it is just plain horrific. The show starts with a brutal challenge called ‘Keys and Knives’, a macabre twist on the classic game of Hide-and-Seek. Players are split into two teams: the blue team, who hide, and the red team, who seek. The game unfolds in a complex labyrinth filled with doors, some of which lead to escape. Each hider receives a key that could potentially unlock those doors and help them evade the seekers. Meanwhile, the seekers are armed with knives and are supposed to kill the hiders. What’s more horrifying is that each seeker is required to kill at least one hider, or will be shot by the masked staff themselves.

From the very first game, the tension and fear are palpable. But this season, the violence escalates to disturbing new levels. In Season 1, most of the killing was carried out by the masked employees, often with guns, so there was still some level of detachment. This time, however, players are forced to murder each other to survive. Some even kill strategically, just to reduce competition and increase their share of the prize money. They use forks, knives, and whatever sharp objects they can find to get rid of their competitors. Living under relentless trauma and pressure, many players become mentally unstable. Some kill in cold blood, while others even seem to enjoy the act, stabbing mercilessly without a trace of remorse.

If you are a sensitive viewer like me, you are not going to enjoy the brutal, graphic violence this season offers. Even the shooting feels far more terrifying than in previous seasons. It’s as if the creators believe audiences are drawn to endless bloodshed and carnage, so this time, they’ve gone all out to deliver just that.

But what’s worse is that the makers didn’t stop at the merciless onslaught; this season, they crossed a disturbing line by having three central characters commit suicide. I was horrified by how the show portrayed suicide as a noble sacrifice. It was deeply unsettling to watch characters end their lives as though it were an act of courage or redemption. I can accept death in the context of a thriller, but these suicides were too much. I wanted to scream at the writers for thinking this was a meaningful way to remove characters from the story.

I truly hope no viewer ever walks away believing suicide is a way out of unbearable pain. Suicide is NEVER an option and should NEVER be glorified. Taking one’s life for someone else’s benefit is not noble, and suicide for any reason should never be portrayed as ‘the only option left.’ Unless a show is specifically built around the theme of suicide and is aimed at discouraging such thoughts, it should steer clear of depicting it altogether.

If the show hadn’t been so relentlessly negative, I would have actually enjoyed it, because the performances were outstanding across the board. I cried through many heart-warming scenes, which indicates how well the characters were written. (This does not include the disturbing childbirth scene, which was one of the most unsettling and unpleasant moments I’ve seen in the series. Not only was it deeply uncomfortable to watch, but the very idea of it was hard to stomach.)  

Of all the characters, I loved the selfless and caring old mother, Jang Geum Ja, the most, as she was unconditionally sweet. Her elimination remains my biggest gripe with the creators. What a heartbreaking way to write off such a beautiful character.

I also liked Yim Si Wan’s portrayal of the selfish and heartless Myung Gi, a man who could harm anyone for his own benefit. He was a grey character I appreciated purely for the convincing performance. Till the very last moment, I didn’t know whether I was supposed to like him or hate him.

And lastly, the best actor in the show: Lee Jung Jae. His transformation from the carefree, cheerful bum in Season 1 to the stern and emotionally burdened Seong Gi Hun in Season 3 makes him the true heart of the series. His vacant eyes, burdened shoulders, and heavy walk perfectly reflect the immense pain he carries and the depth of his suffering. If I were to ignore all the violence, I would recommend the show purely for the cast. All the actors, even the supporting ones, have been consistently impressive throughout the seasons.

Squid Game is definitely not a series I’d recommend to anyone, and Season 3 is best avoided, whether you’re a sensitive person or not. The violence is just too ruthless and over the top.

I’m not giving Squid Game 3 any rating, because just like Seasons 1 and 2, I don’t think it’s worth anyone’s time. Honestly, I wish someone had warned me before I started watching it. So here I am, saving you the pain. Skip it. Seriously.

Image Courtesy: Siren Pictures Inc

Screengrabs: Netflix

 

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