Watch: Squid Game GLAMBOT: Behind the Scenes at 2022 Emmys
Warning: This story contains spoilers for Squid Game season two.
The game is still afoot as Squid Game heads into its third and final season.
Unlike the dystopian South Korean drama’s first season, which saw Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) coming out as the winner of 45.6 billion won (approximately $31.5 million) after successfully navigating a series of deadly challenges, the Netflix show’s second season—released on Dec. 26—ended on a cliffhanger with his fate completely unknown.
Though Gi-hun successfully infiltrated the game as a returning player, his attempt to overthrow its makers was ultimately thwarted—with his friend Park Jung-bae (Lee Seo-hwan) gunned down by main guard Front Man (Lee Byung-hun) just as the two reached the control room.
“Player 456, did you have fun playing the hero?” Front Man asked Gi-hun as he bled on the floor after being wounded by a bullet. “Look at the consequences of your little hero game.”
And according to Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-hyuk, the consequences of his actions will be further laid out in season three.
“When I was thinking about the idea for the ending of season three, I think it sort of naturally came to me that this was the finale,” he told The Hollywood Reporter in November. “I believed that with that story, I was able to tell everything that I wanted to tell through the story of Squid Game and also in the perspective of Gi-hun as a character, and I thought that we don’t need any further stories from here.”
So, what can fans expect from season three? Here’s everything to know.
An exact premiere date for Squid Game‘s third season has not been announced, though Netflix said the final episodes will be released some time in 2025.
What is Squid Game season three about?
As the set-up at the end of season two suggests, the deadly game will continue on. In a scene following the season two credits, three players—clad in the iconic green jumpsuits—walk into a room flanked by the giant murderous doll from the “Red Light, Green Light” challenge and her male counterpart.
“That’s actually a [sneak peek] of Cheol-su, who, like Young-hee, is a new giant doll that we’re going to be showcasing in season 3,” Squid Game creator Dong-hyuk told Entertainment Weekly in an interview published Dec. 24. “And that’s also a hint at the most exciting game in season 3 as well.”
He added, “I hope everyone will be excited to meet Cheol-su and the new game.”
According to Dong-hyuk, the hero player “has experienced too many things, witnessed too many deaths” for him to walk away from the game after winning 45.6 billion won in season one. That’s why Gi-hun vowed revenge on the makers of the game.
“The way you see Gi-hun in season one and the state that you see him in in season two are very different,” Dong-hyuk told THR, adding that “throughout seasons two and three, it’s going to be about that very journey by Gi-hun that you’re going to be following, both physically and emotionally.”
As you wait to see how things will end for Gi-hun, keep reading to find out when your other favorite TV shows will return.
Selling the City (Netflix) – Jan. 3
From the creators of Selling Sunset and Selling The OC comes Selling The City, a new series following a dynamic group of no-nonsense, kickass agents at Douglas Elliman as they navigate the cutthroat world of luxury real estate in New York City. From intense competition to the fast-paced careers and personal dramas of these agents, Selling The City promises to deliver all the excitement against the stunning backdrop of the city’s real estate landscape.
Southern Hospitality (Bravo) – Jan. 2
After holding court on King Street for over a decade, Republic has become the crown jewel of Charleston nightlife. Leva Bonaparte has revitalized her club with captivating additions to her staff, but as workplace romances sizzle and relationships fizzle, balancing it all becomes a tall order during season three. With a squeeze of shade, a dash of drama and rumors added to the mix, the party must go on in this VIP team’s exhilarating world.
Animal Control (Fox) – Jan. 2
The Joel McHale-led comedy returns for season three.
Lockerbie: A Search for Truth (Peacock) – Jan. 2
Inspired by the true-life story, on December 21, 1988, 259 passengers and crew were killed when Pan Am Flight 103 exploded over Lockerbie, with a further 11 residents losing their life as the plane came down over the quiet, Scottish town. In the wake of the disaster and his daughter’s death, Dr. Jim Swire (Colin Firth), is nominated spokesperson for the U.K. victims’ families, who have united to demand truth and justice.
Jerry Springer: Fights, Camera, Action (Netflix) – Jan. 7
- This jaw-dropping two-part series will tell the story of The Jerry Springer Show as it’s never been told before. Packed with extraordinary first-hand testimony and revelations from show insiders, the series explores how this daytime talk show became one of the biggest and most outrageous TV hits of the nineties. But behind the entertaining facade lay some darker truths. As we hear from the producers and ex-guests of The Jerry Springer Show, a murkier picture begins to emerge of the destruction it caused, raising renewed questions about who was responsible, and how far things should go in the name of entertainment
Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta (MTV) – Jan. 7
The powerhouse cast features Amy Luciani, Ashley Conley, Bambi, Erica Banks, Erica Dixon, Jasmine Bleu, Jessica White, Karlie Redd, Kendra Robinson, Khaotic, Kirk Frost, Lil Zane, Mendeecees, Momma Dee, Rasheeda, Renni Rucci, Saucy Santana, Scrappy, Shekinah Jo, Sierra Gates, Spice, Yandy, Yung Joc, ZellSwag and newcomers Latin recording artist International Nova and his wife, Cristina Nova.
The Rookie (ABC) – Jan. 7
The Rookie makes its midseason return Jan. 7.
Deal or No Deal Island (NBC) – Jan. 7
In season two of Deal or No Deal Island, briefcases are hidden around the island with more than $200 million in prize money split between them. In each episode, players compete in daring challenges to secure the briefcases that will be used in that night’s game of “Deal or No Deal.” The player who snags the highest-value case gains immunity and gets to choose a fellow player to enter “The Temple.”
Jerry Springer: Fights, Camera, Action (Netflix) – Jan. 7
This jaw-dropping, premium two-part series will tell the story of The Jerry Springer Show as it’s never been told before. Packed with extraordinary first-hand testimony and revelations from show insiders, the series explores how this daytime talk show became one of the biggest and most outrageous TV hits of the nineties. But behind the entertaining facade lay some darker truths. As we hear from the producers and ex-guests of The Jerry Springer Show, a murkier picture begins to emerge of the destruction it caused, raising renewed questions about who was responsible, and how far things should go in the name of entertainment.
High Potential (ABC) – Jan. 7
The comedy returns Jan. 7.
Will Trent (ABC) – Jan. 7
The ABC series makes its midseason return Jan. 7.
Doc stars Molly Parker (House of Cards) as the hard-charging, brilliant Chief of Internal Medicine Dr. Amy Larsen, who suffers a brain injury that erases the last eight years of her memory. The accident leaves her with no recollection of patients she’s treated, colleagues she’s crossed, the soulmate she divorced, the man she now loves and the tragedy that caused her to push almost everyone away. But with the immense loss, comes a second chance to do things differently.
#OneChicago (NBC) – Jan. 8
Chicago Med, Chicago Fire and Chicago P.D. all return Jan. 8.
The Deal or No Deal Island After Show with Boston Rob (Peacock) – Jan. 8
The Deal or No Deal Island After Show with Boston Rob will be hosted by season one islander and reality competition all-star Boston Rob Mariano. The aftershow will premiere on Jan. 8 on Peacock, YouTube and NBC.com.
Special Forces” World’s Toughest Test (Fox) – Jan. 8
The reality competition series returns for season three with a whole new crop of celebrity contestants.
Shifting Gears (ABC) – Jan. 8
Shifting Gears stars Tim Allen as Matt, the stubborn, widowed owner of a classic car restoration shop. When Matt’s estranged daughter (Kat Dennings) and her kids move into his house, the real restoration begins.
The Traitors (Peacock) – Jan. 9
Peacock’s Emmy Award-winning competition reality series returns for a third season with an all-new lineup of familiar faces, hosted again by the impossibly stylish and devastatingly witty Alan Cumming.
On Call (Prime Video) – Jan. 9
On Call is an adrenalized and visceral police drama that follows a rookie and veteran officer duo as they go on patrol in Long Beach, California. Incorporating a mixture of bodycam, dash-camera, and cellphone footage to create a cinema verité effect, the innovative series explores the morality of protecting and serving a community.
Goosebumps: The Vanishing (Hulu & Disney+) – Jan. 10
Goosebumps: The Vanishing begins when twins Cece and Devin Brewer are sent to spend a summer in Gravesend, Brooklyn, with their divorced dad. A threat is stirring, and they quickly realize that dark secrets are among them, triggering a chain of events that unravel a profound mystery. As they delve into the unknown, Cece, Devin and their friends—Alex, CJ and Frankie—find themselves entangled in the chilling tale of four teenagers who mysteriously vanished in 1994.
Law & Order: Speial Victims Unit (NBC) – Jan. 16
The crime drama returns for season 26.
Law & Order (NBC) – Jan. 16
Season 24 of the procedural debuts Jan. 16.
XO, Kitty (Netflix) – Jan. 16
Teen matchmaker Kitty Song Covey is back in Seoul for a new semester at KISS. She’s single for the first time in a long time, and ready for a fresh start: no more meddling, no more drama. Maybe just some casual dating. Emphasis on casual. But she has more to worry about than her love life, as a letter from her mother’s past sets her on a wild journey, and new faces at KISS bring change. As secrets unravel and bonds are tested, Kitty will learn that life, family and love are more complicated than she ever imagined.
Severance (AppleTV+) – Jan. 17
Season two reunites its ensemble cast of stars including Emmy Award nominee Adam Scott, Britt Lower, Tramell Tillman, Zach Cherry, Jen Tullock, Michael Chernus, Dichen Lachman, Emmy Award winner John Turturro, Academy Award winner Christopher Walken and Academy and Emmy Award winner Patricia Arquette, and welcomes new series regular Sarah Bock.
The Couple Next Door (Starz) – Jan. 17
The Couple Next Door explores the claustrophobia of suburbia and the fallout of chasing your deepest desires. When Evie and Pete move into the upscale neighborhood with the dream of starting a family, they soon find friendship in the shape of the couple next door, alpha traffic cop Danny and his wife, glamorous yoga instructor Becka. As time goes on, these two couples get increasingly close to each other and one fateful night, become sexually entangled in a way that will change their lives forever.
9-1-1: Lone Star (Fox) – Jan. 20
The drama’s final episodes begin Jan. 20.
Rescue: Hi-Surf (Fox) – Jan. 20
Prime Target (AppleTV+) – Jan. 22
Prime Target features a brilliant young math postgraduate, Edward Brooks (Leo Woodall), on the verge of a major breakthrough. If he succeeds in finding a pattern in prime numbers, he will hold the key to every computer in the world. Soon he begins to realize an unseen enemy is trying to destroy his idea before it’s even born, which throws him into the orbit of Taylah Sanders, a female NSA agent (Quintessa Swindell) who’s been tasked with watching and reporting on mathematicians’ behavior. Together they start to unravel the troubling conspiracy Edward is at the heart of.
W.A.G.s to Riches (Netflix) – Jan. 22
The new reality series takes you inside the high-stakes world of ambitious women in Miami, connected to the city’s most elite athletes, musicians, and power players. This docu-soap follows a bold group of women who are breaking the mold and building empires of their own, balancing thriving careers, motherhood, and high-profile relationships—all while dealing with the glamour and drama that come with their affluent lives. From battling blog-fueled gossip to competing in a city where connections are everything, these women are out to prove they’re more than just the trophies behind the men, with some even out-earning their famous male counterparts.
The Night Agent (Netflix) – Jan.23
Based on the novel by Matthew Quirk, The Night Agent is a sophisticated, character-based, action-thriller centering on a low level FBI Agent, Peter Sutherland, whose efforts to save The President in season one earn him an opportunity to become a Night Agent in season two. But working in the secretive organization of Night Action will propel Peter into a world where danger is everywhere and trust is in short supply.
The Bachelor (ABC) – Jan. 27
Grant Ellis‘ journey to find love will continue as he takes on the role of leading man for the 29th season of The Bachelor. The adventurous day trader, known for his genuine desire to build a future centered on family, will begin handing out roses when his season premieres next month.
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