WARNING: The following contains major spoilers for Season 1 of Squid Game, now streaming on Netflix.
In Netflix's Squid Game, as Gi-hun meets a bunch of people like him -- all in debt, on a mysterious Korean island -- the contests they're playing to win billions of dollars turns out to be so much more. It breaks their wills and moral compasses as they're forced to backstab and kill each other for the prize.
With that in mind, as desperate people have no choice but to unleash the monster within, let's dissect Season 1's most heartbreaking deaths.
Sang-woo Tricks Ali
Ali's an honest, likeable Pakistani who's trying to earn money for his wife and baby. Sang-woo helped him out in the first iteration, but when they return, Sang-woo tricks him during the marble game. He sends Ali on a quest to monitor other games, secretly giving him pebbles instead of marbles. As such, with Sang-woo holding all the marbles when time elapses, he's determined the winner. Ali's shot dead, and what's so painstaking is he suspected Sang-woo of being shady, but still gave him the benefit of the doubt.
Mi-nyeo's Love Turns Bloody
Mi-nyeo partnered with the gangster, Deok-su, helping him out in the biscuit-cutting game. However, he was just using her for sex and kicked her to the curb, breaking that promise of unity. She grows to hate him, and on the glass-leaping game she hugs and pulls him off the platform. She's had enough of being objectified her whole life and shows him hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. As they fall to their deaths, it's sad as her bravado masks her true goal: she just didn't want to be alone.
Ji-yeong's Sad Sacrifice
In that same Gganbu round with the marbles, Ji-yeong befriends Sae-byeok and they share stories about how they lost family members. Sae-byeok still has a shot at uniting her little brother with her mom from China, but Ji-yeong killed her stepdad after he murdered her mom. Ji-yeong insists on one game but sabotages it so she loses, all because she thinks Sae-byeok has more to live for. She smiles, happy for their friendship as she's shot through the head, breaking Sae-byeok.
Sae-byeok's Goodwill Backfires
Sae-byeok ends up in the final three with Gi-hun and Sang-woo but she's badly damaged from glass debris. Gi-hun watches over her at night, making it clear they'll get to save their families, even offering to go stab up Sang-woo for his dark turn. Sae-byeok says not to, though, as she doesn't want him losing his humanity, but when Gi-hun tries to get her help, Sang-woo secrets over and slashes her throat. He says it's a mercy killing, but Gi-hun knows he just wanted to up his odds for the finals.
Sang-woo's Exit's Squid Game on His Terms
In the finals, Sang-woo and Gi-hun play the titular game with knives, with Gi-hun eventually cutting him up and about to cross the finish line. But he can't as he knows Sang-woo is a good man, corrupted by the game as he's got a family to care for too. Unfortunately, as Gi-hun tries to discern how they can both share success, Sang-woo slashes his own throat. He hates what he's become, which represents most folks in the game.
In-ho's Idea Of Family Is Decimated
Jun-ho's the cop who infiltrates the island seeking out his brother, In-ho, after finding the game's calling card in his apartment. He thinks In-ho died there, but as he masquerades as a staff gunman, Jun-ho's chased by the warden, the Front Man. The villain and his goons eventually corner Jun-ho, but when Front Man unmasks, he's actually In-ho. It's a soul-crushing moment, though, as In-ho shoots his brother, dropping him off a cliff as he can't escape his duty to the game.
Gi-hun's Mom Perishes Alone
When Gi-hun is taken back to the mainland, he's filled with regret, guilt and pain over seeing enemies and friends die in cold blood. With billions to his name, he goes to his apartment but as he calls out for his mom, he finds her dead. She's been dead for a few days now due to a foot infection, leaving Gi-hun shattered as he abandoned her for this selfish pursuit. He knows she died scared, alone and not knowing where he was, which is why he becomes a drunk, not touching his bank account again.
The first season of Squid Game is now streaming on Netflix. At this time, a second season has not yet been announced.