‘Squid Game’ Season 3 tops Netflix chart in 93 countries despite mixed reviews
Seven-meter-tall statues of iconic doll characters from Netflix’s “Squid Game” Season 3 are displayed during a promotional event at Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Square in Taipei on Sunday. AFP-Yonhap
The third and final season of Netflix’s global hit “Squid Game” has climbed to the top of the streaming platform’s TV show rankings in 93 countries just one day after its release, according to data from FlixPatrol on Saturday.
Released Friday, “Squid Game” Season 3 continues the story of deadly survival games and follows protagonist Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) as he reenters the game, determined to bring it down after failing to do so in Season 2.
The series had previously set viewership records with its first and second installments in 2021 and 2023.
While its popularity remains strong, critical response to the final season has been sharply divided. The New York Times criticized the season as “one-dimensional and predictable,” calling out character development and side plots as weak and unnecessary.
The Guardian echoed the sentiment, arguing that the heightened violence felt gratuitous and that the show had lost the sharp satire of Season 1. The Hollywood Reporter described it as a “mostly unpleasant journey” that offers only occasional moments of insight.
In contrast, TIME magazine offered praise, calling the finale a return to the series’ brutal roots and commending its critique of dehumanizing capitalism. The magazine wrote that the season delivers a “powerful punch” and implicates viewers as complicit in the spectacle.
Director Hwang Dong-hyuk, center, and actors Lee Jung-jae, left, and Lee Byung-hun attend the premiere of Netflix’s “Squid Game” Season 3 at The Plaza Hotel in New York City on June 18. AFP-Yonhap
Audience reception has been less enthusiastic. On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the critic score for Season 3 sits at 81 percent, while the audience score, known as the “popcorn rating,” lags at 52 percent.
This marks a notable drop from Season 1, which earned 95 percent from critics and 84 percent from viewers.
To mark the series’ conclusion, Netflix held a finale parade and fan event in central Seoul on Saturday.
Director Hwang Dong-hyuk, who helmed all three seasons, said he felt both “a bit sad” and “relieved to put down the heavy burden” after years of working on the franchise.
Lee Jung-jae recalled the journey with fondness, while co-star Lee Byung-hun said it was an “honor to be part of a work that marked a milestone in Korean visual culture.”
Although Season 3 concludes the main storyline, a spin-off series appears to be in the works. Reports have circulated since late last year that Netflix is developing “Squid Game: America,” potentially directed by David Fincher.
While the company has yet to confirm the project, the surprise cameo of actress Cate Blanchett as a game recruiter in the season finale has fueled speculation.
Hollywood actor Cate Blanchett makes a surprise cameo as the “ttakjji man” recruiting new participants at the end of “Squid Game” Season 3. Courtesy of Netflix
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.