(Credit: Netflix)

Squid Game is not just a physical playfield of twisted games; it’s a psychological pressure cooker where minds break faster than bodies. And in this ruthless rat race of class warfare and economic despair, Seong Gi-hun is the wildcard. Season two carved Gi-hun’s rebellion into the flesh of the narrative only to leave it bleeding out. His failed insurrection, followed by the death of his close friend, Jung-bae, left fans dangling from the edge of a cliff. But the real blade above us is: will Gi-hun survive, or is he already a pawn in Netflix‘s Squid Game? Here’s what Best of Netflix thinks.

When Squid Game’s second season ended with Gi-hun’s cut-short rebellion, all fans could think of was him. Now that the first six minutes of the season three premiere show he survived, the question on everyone’s mind is whether he’ll make it out alive by the finale. Creator Hwang Dong-hyuk and actor Lee Byung-hun have revealed to Tudum that Gi-hun’s survival or death was never really the Front Man’s headache.

Instead, as a former Squid Game champion and Gi-hun’s ex-teammate, the Front Man wants player 456 to share his ideology. Additionally, he wants Gi-hun to give up his hope in humanity. And in the process, the Front Man wants to shatter his sincere convictions and principles. Survival was always a challenge in Squid Game. But in the upcoming season, the Front Man will inevitably double down on his brutal tactics to make life a living hell for the protagonist.

Fans might have questions about why he let Gi-hun live after all this time. According to the creator, the audience shouldn’t mistake this for the Front Man’s kindness. Each and every plot the Front Man thinks of contributes to his endgame. And yes, Gi-hun’s survival moves him closer to his goal. However, fans should also remember that Squid Game was never just a show.

It is a scathing social commentary on the class-based divisions and financial inequality of capitalist society. When the idea of Squid Game dawned on Dong-hyuk, he was suffering financially. But it was not just his experience that materialised Squid Game. The class disparity of Korea also motivated him. So, if he is mirroring the class politics of the capitalist society, Gi-hun’s survival could indeed be a task. This is because the biggest obstacles lie within.

Then again, since Gi-hun is the ultimate wildcard to end this deadly competition, he is also the only hope. His survival so far has helped progress the Squid Game. And to keep him alive was all part of the Front Man’s bigger plan. However, Lee Jung-jae has hinted at a characteristic rebirth for Gi-hun awaiting in the final season. This time, Gi-hun might have to face twice the difficulties with the Front Man on his tail. But the fact that he is returning to the game allows him to choose once more.

The Front Man has his selfish reasons for letting Gi-hun live. But the question is: how will he? His death would shatter every beacon of hope, culminating in the tragic patterns we’ve seen before. However, if he lives and gives up on his unwavering devotion to stop the game, he unknowingly feeds the Front Man’s ego. So, dead or alive, Gi-hun has quite a few forks stuck in the road. And since time’s ticking on, he must decide whether he’ll allow some catharsis. Before it’s too late.