Once a global juggernaut, Squid Game faced an unexpected stumble at the 61st Baeksang Arts Awards—and fans and critics alike are wondering if the Netflix hit can regain its momentum in Season 3, set to release on June 27.
Baeksang Disappointment
Back in 2021, Squid Game Season 1 captivated the world and swept awards ceremonies, solidifying its place in pop culture history. But at this year’s Baeksang, the show earned just one nomination—Best Supporting Actor for _Noh Jae-won_—and walked away empty-handed. Even more telling: the loss didn’t make headlines. Critics believe this reflects the polarizing reception of Season 2, which faced scrutiny over its plot direction and character development.
Despite the awards snub, Netflix made a powerful counter-move. The Season 3 teaser shows Seong Gi-hun (played by Lee Jung-jae) waking up inside a pink-ribboned coffin, symbolizing the show’s rebirth. Rather than a death knell, the image announces a resurrection—and a whole new game.
Can the Coffin Deliver a Comeback?
The upcoming season promises to be darker, more intricate, and even more unpredictable. According to the production team, Season 3 will revolve around three key pillars:
- Gi-hun’s Revenge Arc: With fire in his eyes, Gi-hun returns for a direct confrontation with the enigmatic Front Man (Lee Byung-hun), after losing everything dear to him.
- Radically New Games: Visual teasers hint at dual-colored balls, maze-shaped battlefields, and an overhaul in game design—setting the stage for high-stakes strategy and chaos.
- Layered Subplots: Multiple narrative threads will run in parallel, featuring returning characters like Jun-ho (Wi Ha-jun), VIPs, No-eul (Park Gyu-young), and a pregnant Jun-hee (Jo Yu-ri). The goal is a story that’s “easy to enter but hard to predict.”
Season 3 faces two major challenges:
- Season Fatigue – The novelty of childhood games turned deadly may wear thin. Fresh mechanics and world-building are crucial to avoid redundancy.
- Character Credibility – Season 2 drew criticism for thin character motivation. Season 3 must restore emotional depth and purpose to win back skeptics.
The Baeksang snub may have humbled Squid Game, but it hasn’t written its ending. Instead, all eyes are on June 27. Will the show rise from the coffin, or will the series’ once-golden glow continue to fade?
Regardless, audiences seem eager to step back into the tracksuits—hopeful that this time, the game has changed for the better.
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