The alternate ending for Squid Game’s first season has been disclosed by the show’s creator. Netflix’s most recent hit premiered in September 2021 and instantly became a fan favourite; fast ascending the charts to become the streaming giant’s number one original series.
Squid Game is based on a deadly survival competition in which the final survivor receives a large sum of money. It was inspired by South Korea’s love of game shows. The series, which was created and directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk; centres on numerous characters. However, Seong Gi-hun/No. 456 is the main character (Lee Jung-jae).
He was enticed to play the games by the salesman, a divorced chauffeur with a gambling habit (Gong Yoo). He is initially hesitant to sign up, but after seeing his destitute reality, he changes his mind. To make matters worse, his ex-wife is planning to bring their daughter to the United States; and he may never see her again if he doesn’t have any money.
Gi-hun is the winner of the Squid Game, taking home 45.6 billion won, more than enough to start a new life in a foreign country. The plan is for Gi-hun to go after the Squid Game VIPs, effectively setting up the show’s now-confirmed second season.
Hwang, on the other hand, tells EW that they went back and forth on how they wanted to end the programme. Aside from what happened on screen, there’s an alternate conclusion in which Gi-hun boarded an aircraft and flew out of South Korea. Finally, they decided it wasn’t appropriate for the message they were attempting to convey. Here’s a quote from Hwang:
Hwang Said The Question They Were Trying To Answer Was Why Has The World Gotten To This
“We actually wrestled between two different scenarios for the ending. There was one, the other alternate ending, where Gi-hun would get on the plane and leave. And then there was of course the one where he would turn back and walk towards the camera. We constantly asked ourselves, is it really right for Gi-hun to make the decision to leave and go see his family, to pursue his own happiness? Is that the right way for us to really propose the question or the message that we wanted to convey through the series?”
He added that they had come to the conclusion that the question they intended to express could not be answered if he left on the plane. Hwang further shared that the question they are trying to answer is why has the world gotten to this. This he said could only be answered or proposed if Gi-hun walks backwards and towards the camera.
Aside from the consequences for the story; the way Squid Game ended provides Netflix with the narrative boost it needs for the show’s second season. Without a defined jumping point; it would have been more difficult to continue the show’s plot if Gi-hun decided to depart.
That isn’t to say that there aren’t other options. Gi-hun could’ve boarded the plane instead; turning the focus of Squid Game season 2 to the storey of the Front Man (Lee Byung-hun). Instead of focusing on a current narrative; it may focus on Hwang In-ho’s journey to winning the Squid Game in 2015.
The reason for his decision to join the game as a facilitator; and not be angered by what he went through all for the enjoyment of the wealthy VIPs may then be revealed. Now that Squid Game season 2 is available on Netflix; it’s safe to assume that the focus will be on Gi-hun seeking vengeance for himself; and all of the lives killed during the survival game.
It’s worth emphasising that he now has the financial means to mobilise people in order to bring down the evil VIPs. The concern is whether he will be able to return to his normal life after completing his personal goal; (assuming he does) and simply enjoy his prize money in peace.
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