On September 17, 2021, Squid Game premiered on Netflix, drawing millions of subscribers into its compelling mystery. Hwang Dong-hyuk's hit Korean drama follows a deadly Game, where players compete through several rounds of children's games at the chance of winning a prize of 45.6 billion won (roughly $38 million). Eliminated players are summarily executed, in a brutal show that takes place in complete secret in present-day Korea. As we watch the players, including gambler Ki-hun (Lee Jung-jae), disgraced banker Sang-woo (Park Hae-soo), and North Korean refugee Sae-byeok (Hoyeon), we also gradually see the machinations behind the Game, which turns bloody violence into entertainment.
By the end of the series, viewers get both a winner and an explanation for the Game, with a bunch of global societal context mixed into a huge twist. If you need a refresher on what to remember before season 2 arrives on Netflix on December 26, 2024, here's an explanation of what went down in the Season 1 finale of Squid Game.
