Squid Game: What Does Gi-hun’s Final Line Mean? We Have the Answer!

The finale of Squid Game has sparked controversy. While some viewers remained captivated by the series’ vision until the end, others left feeling let down. With many questions still hanging after the third and final season, one particular query stands out, and we’re here to delve into it.

Hwang Dong-hyuk, the creator of Squid Game, addressed a key aspect of the season 3 finale during a recent discussion about the show.

What did Gi-hun mean?

In episode 6, Seong Gi-hun, played by Lee Jung-jae, delivers a brief monologue about the very essence of the game. He criticizes the idea that the VIPs are entitled to exploit the desperation of the downtrodden for their own sadistic entertainment. “We are not horses,” he states, likely referencing his years as a gambler. He then adds: “We are humans. And humans are…” before he jumps from the edge of the last tower and sacrifices himself before finishing his thought.

During the special release, Squid Game Conversation available on Netflix, Hwang Dong-hyuk revealed that he chose to abruptly end Gi-hun’s speech in the series finale to underscore the complexity of human nature and to avoid confining the message he wanted to convey through this scene.

“…As I was writing this, it became clear that I couldn’t encapsulate it in just one line,” the writer-director explained.

“People are far too complex to be neatly defined in such a way. If I were to deliver such a direct, normative, and didactic message, it would only serve to restrict the message itself. So I decided that the remainder of what I wanted to say would instead be expressed physically by Gi-hun, through his actions, deeds, and the sacrifice he makes to save that child,” he added.

According to Lee Jung-jae, if the message of this scene had been complete and left no room for viewers’ interpretation, it would have been definitive. He noted that by leaving the last part of the message open-ended, it feels like an ongoing dialogue with the audience. He further commented: “The end is thus a conversation. We are posing a question to you.”

Squid Game Conversation and all episodes of Squid Game are available on Netflix.