Hwang Dong-hyuk’s “Squid Sport” will quickly come to an finish with its third and last season, which guarantees to up the gruesomeness like by no means earlier than. As you would possibly already know, season 2 places Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) by the ringer once more, pitting him towards much more messed-up recreation rounds and a very conniving wolf in sheep’s clothes. This season notoriously ended on a nail-biting cliffhanger, paving the trail for season 3’s climactic finish to the mega-popular saga on Netflix. Nevertheless, it looks as if Hwang already has plans to show “Squid Sport” right into a doubtlessly sprawling franchise.
Earlier than we discuss these concepts for a spin-off, let’s dive into the far-reaching international affect that this Netflix smash hit holds. It isn’t troublesome to gauge why such a well-written present critiquing capitalism (that expertly balances thrills with emotional depth) made such a tangible influence internationally. In spite of everything, a character-driven battle royale that progressively peels again the layers surrounding the advanced evil funding these video games makes for good tv.
Regrettably, Netflix (unsurprisingly) ended up glamorizing the very concepts that the present vehemently critiques, resulting in the existence of the baffling actuality competitors collection, “Squid Sport: The Problem.” Now, that is actually bleak stuff, made doubly worse by the truth that the contestations needed to cope with inhumane situations on set, with some requiring severe medical consideration. To suppose {that a} collection that firmly challenges our eroding sense of empathy (created by a merciless capitalist financial system) was unironically recreated for unchecked revenue is ghoulish past measure. That is cause sufficient to offer us pause and ponder whether or not the true intent of “Squid Sport” has been drowned out by the loud cacophony of the numbers recreation and a continuing have to shock audiences.
Nonetheless, Hwang’s concepts for a spin-off are value exploring, so let’s check out these potential future storylines.
A possible Squid Sport spin-off would possibly flesh out lingering questions
When Hwang and co. had been filming season 1, they’d no thought whether or not there could be one other season (or past). Nobody may have anticipated the staggering influence of the Netflix collection on the time — however publish season 2, Hwang advised The Hollywood Reporter about his curiosity in filling within the gaps with a spin-off:
“…I am considering extra alongside the traces of a by-product. One of many concepts I am tossing round is what occurred between season 1 and a pair of. There is a three-year hole. So, for instance, what was the Entrance Man doing throughout these three years? What was the Recruiter doing? When I’ve some downtime, I like to simply toss some concepts round and go wild with my creativeness. So I suppose we might be open to something.”
Whereas elements of those concepts would possibly find yourself being addressed within the upcoming last season, Hwang appears interested by diving deeper into the motivations of characters who’ve remained considerably at midnight thus far. That stated, we’ve got already witnessed the intriguing motives that drive the mysterious Entrance Man (Lee Byung-hun) and/or Recruiter (Gong Yoo) within the season installment, during which the essence of those characters is distinct sufficient to make a robust impression. Positive, an intensive dramatic exploration would possibly work in a narrative divorced from the immediacy of the video games, nevertheless it needs to be recent and dynamic sufficient to justify its existence.
Circling again to the prevailing story, Hwang’s intention has at all times been to discover “Gi-hun’s desperation to cease the video games,” which spirals into an obsession that comes at the price of self-preservation/private happiness. The second Gi-hun turned away from his flight to Los Angeles, the emotional tone and heft for the remainder of the story had already been set in movement. The tip of season 2 brutally underlines the results of this decisive second, with the ultimate season etching his destiny in stone (it doesn’t matter what it seems to be).
All the pieces thought of, Hwang reiterates {that a} “Squid Sport” spin-off would revolve round characters and arcs that have not been explored in depth, such because the masked guards who implement the need of the video games with out query. Whereas it stays to be seen whether or not we get extra “Squid Sport” sooner or later, I hope it’s going to function a narrative value telling.
