'Squid Game' Stars Recount Season 3 Finale and Its Human Cost

“Squid Game” lead actor Lee Jung-jae said he initially questioned whether killing protagonist Seong Gi-hun was the best way to close the hit Netflix drama’s third season. Speaking to TheWrap and Variety, the actor described lengthy discussions with creator Hwang Dong-hyuk over alternative endings and explained that the unfinished last line—“Humans are …”—was left open so viewers could supply their own meaning. To portray Gi-hun’s physical decline, Lee followed a 14-month regimen that trimmed about 10 kilograms from his usual weight. Co-star Lee Byung-hun, who plays the dystopian contest’s Front Man, offered his own reading of the finale, saying the character’s final actions reflect a sliver of renewed faith in humanity that is quickly dashed when he discovers the games continue elsewhere. Addressing reporters at the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival on 4 July, Lee called the series “a microcosm of today’s world” in which audiences relate to a perceived loss of humanity. He recalled thinking the script would either be a spectacular success or a total failure because of its experimental structure. The festival is honouring Lee Byung-hun’s 30-year career with a 10-film retrospective titled “The Master: Lee Byung-hun,” featuring works such as “Joint Security Area” and “Inside Man.” “Squid Game” Season 3, already topping Netflix’s global viewership charts, continues to draw debate over its bleak conclusion even as both stars signal that the ending was crafted to provoke reflection rather than despair.