WARNING: The following contains major spoilers for Season 1 of Squid Game, now streaming on Netflix.
Netflix's Squid Game, one of the streaming giant's most-watched shows, pits hundreds of Korean citizens in debt against each other in a series of deadly games on a mysterious island. The herd's eventually whittled down with childhood friends, Gi-hun (Player 456) and Sang-woo (Player 217), left as the final contestants, playing the titular game for over $40 billion dollars. However, as their morals are compromised even further, it puts one of the stars down a road filled with a broken conscience, a desire to learn more about what they went through and a drive to end this torture.
Squid Game's Final Two Battle For the Prize
Gi-hun and Sang-woo play the Squid Game, with the former on offense and latter on defense, using knives. It's a bloody finale with Gi-hun eventually slicing up and beating his buddy bloody, angry over how they both betrayed key friends to get here.
However, Gi-hun can't bring himself to walk over the finish line, that is until a regretful Sang-woo kills himself after realizing he's lost his humanity and soul. Gi-hun wins the prize money and is dropped back into the city blindfolded to live out his days, morally bankrupt but rich in his bank account.
Squid Game's Sadistic Host Is Finally Revealed
Sadly, during the time Gi-hun spent playing on the island, his mom passed away, damaging him even more. A year passes and he hasn't even touched the prize money, still living like a poor man out of guilt. However, he gets invited to a high-rise on Christmas Eve where, much to his shock, Player 1 (Il-Nam) is there hooked up to machines.
Il-Nam was the buddy Gi-hun betrayed in the Gganbu game, revealing that he's the host of the tournament. He and his friends got bored with their riches after lending folks money, and decided to run this tournament to get their jollies.
Il-Nam decided to play, though, so he could feel again, wagering one last bet from his death bed on whether or not a homeless man out in the cold will get help. The cops pull up and offer aid, allowing Gi-hun to win but by that time the cancer-stricken boss has flatlined.
Gi-hun Makes Big Decisions After Squid Game
Gi-hun cleans up his act and decides to use the money for good. He brings Cheol, the brother of Sae-byeok (Player 067), to Sang-woo's mom so they could both get a sense of family again. Sang-woo killed Sae-byeok to make it into the finals, though, so it's bittersweet as Gi-hun leaves them millions to become whole again, with the duo not knowing what transpired.
Gi-hun then heads off to Los Angeles to meet his daughter as his ex-wife moved there with her new family, but en route he spots the game's operative luring a new guy in. Sadly, by the time Gi-hun races over to the train platform, the villain departs with a sinister wave. Gi-hun warns the guy not to play and calls in via the card, with Front Man answering.
Gi-hun wants to know why they enjoy others' suffering so much, and remonstrates that these victims are people, not horses to bet on. Front Man doesn't care, though, and warns Gi-hun to get on the plane, meet his kid and enjoy the wealth. This aggravates Gi-hun as he realizes he needs to stop these monsters or no one else will. He turns around with an enraged look, ready to wage war on the game and its VIPs after reconciling the sadistic truth about their power, influence and how money corrupts from Il-Nam's final speech.
The first season of Squid Game is now streaming on Netflix. At this time, a second season has not yet been announced.