Squid Game season 3 brings a tragic end to Gi-hun’s story, but his original fate was far different and arguably better in the initial idea for his story. Now that Squid Game has finally ended its original run, the show’s creator, Hwang Dong-hyuk, has revealed he had something else planned for Gi-hun.
Although Squid Game season 3, like its predecessors, performed incredibly on Netflix, its ending left viewers divided. While some agreed that it gave the series and Gi-hun’s story a satisfying closure, others were let down by the main character’s death in the final moments.
Interestingly, Squid Game’s creator, Hwang Dong-hyuk, fully detailed how Gi-hun’s story was originally supposed to have a different ending. It is hard not to see how this ending would have been less divisive among viewers. At the same time, though, the alternate ending would have had one major storytelling problem.
Gi-hun Originally Survived The Games In Squid Game Season 3
The Front Man’s Final Moments Were Nearly Gi-hun’s
As Squid Game‘s creator discussed (via The Hollywood Reporter), he initially considered not killing off Gi-hun in the show’s final arc. Instead of sacrificing himself, the character would have originally found a way to fulfill his mission of ending the games for good.
Before Squid Game season 3’s ending credits, Gi-hun would also have survived and traveled to the US to see his daughter.
However, things would have taken a grim turn for the character in America as, instead of the Front Man, he would have spotted the American recruiter woman. Despite originally having this idea in the back of his head, Hwang could not help but question: “What should Gi-hun’s journey, and what should his destination be?”
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While witnessing the real world around him, the showrunner realized “it was more fitting for Gi-hun to send this powerful and impactful message to the world [with his death].“ Therefore, the creator settled on the new ending idea instead of going for Gi-hun’s original fate.
Viewers who were let down by Gi-hun’s death would likely agree that Hwang should have gone for the original idea. However, upon closer inspection, it is hard not to see how the character’s original fate would have been even more tragic.
Gi-hun’s Original Ending Would Have Been More Tragic
That Means He Failed To End The Games
Gi-hun’s Squid Game story would not have progressed beyond season 1 if he had not decided to shut the games. It is his pursuit of vengeance against the games and their creators that leads him back to the very thing that ruined his life. The original ending would have initially given him the satisfaction of dismantling the games for good.
…Gi-hun at least died with the satisfaction of knowing that he served the greater good…
However, as Hwang Dong-hyuk confirmed, the character would have eventually gone to the US and learned that the games are driven by a far bigger network than he initially imagined. This would have been a major blow to his sense of victory, revealing that he had barely scratched the surface of the corrupt overarching system.
With his death in the series, Gi-hun at least died with the satisfaction of knowing that he served the greater good by putting his life on the line. If he had instead survived and gone to America only to notice the games never ended, it would have left him feeling even more broken and disillusioned than before.
The Original Squid Game Ending Meant That Gi-hun Would Have Continued Fighting
A Squid Game Season 4 Would Have Been More Likely
Image via Netflix
With the original ending, Gi-hun would have found himself at square one again, struggling to figure out how he could destroy every version of the games. This would have paved the way for his return in another Squid Game season or the potential US remake of the series.
Given how viewers were expecting Squid Game to conclude with season 3 and had previously voiced their concerns surrounding season 2’s cliffhanger ending, they would likely have hated seeing Gi-hun thrown back into another endless cycle of cat-and-mouse with the elites who run the games.
Gi-hun’s return in another installment of the series would have been interesting in some ways. However, it would have also undermined his struggles from seasons 1 and 2. With this, his continued fight against the overarching forces behind the games would have become a little too redundant and frustrating.
Despite The Original Ending, It Makes Sense Why Gi-hun’s Ending Had To Change
It Would Have Been Too Repetitive
Considering everything he went through, it is still hard to digest Gi-hun tragic ending in Squid Game season 3. However, it makes sense that the creator wanted to give him a more well-rounded closure instead of dragging his narrative too far.
The fact that Gi-hun’s death ultimately leaves little to no loose threads in his narrative proves the showrunner made the right call by changing his original idea. As several reports have revealed, Squid Game also gave Hwang Dong-hyuk a lot of stress, so he had to end it for good instead of churning out more seasons.
| Squid Game Key Facts Breakdown | |
| Written & Directed By | Hwang Dong-hyuk |
| No. Of Episodes | 22 |
| No. Of Seasons | 3 |
| Budget | US $21.4 million in season 1 and ₩100 billion in seasons 2 & 3 |
| Streaming On | Netflix |
Gi-hun’s fate was also previously foreshadowed in Squid Game season 2’s Mingle game when the Shaman player prophesied his purpose had something to do with Jun-hee and her baby. The original ending would not have paid off this story setup and given Gi-hun a forced and unnecessary plot armor.
