The third chapter of Squid Game's sophomore season kicks off at the bustling dock. Woo-seok, Jun-ho, and a contingent of other men, accompanied by the fisherman Jun-ho knows well, load up the recognizable boat. Armed with Gi-hun's tracker, they set sail in pursuit, determined not to miss their chance.
Gi-hun awakens once more within the confines of the game, ready to embark on another grueling challenge. He finds himself clad in his familiar 456 jumpsuit, surrounded by a fresh batch of players. This diverse group includes many individuals burdened by debts of varying magnitudes, some as staggering as 10 billion won. Among them is Myung-gi, a notorious YouTuber infamous for scamming others.
The familiar rules are recited, and conflict arises almost immediately. Yong-Sik and his mother find themselves at odds with several other players, particularly Nam-gyu and a purple-haired rapper named Thanos, who have lost substantial amounts of money following Myung-gi's fraudulent advice. Despite the initial turmoil, all the players eventually ink their contracts, but the underlying currents of hostility are unmistakable.
As the games commence, Gi-hun stands out as the only one who is acutely aware of the looming peril. His face remains unsmiling, and he follows the others with a grim resolve. However, a complication arises: one of Gi-hun's old friends, Jung-bae, is also a participant in this deadly game. Let us hope that this encounter does not repeat the tragic outcome of the Sung-hoon incident from the previous season. In an effort to ensure Jung-bae's survival, Gi-hun insists that he stay close and heed every detail meticulously.
Regrettably, a complication arises. It transpires that Gi-hun's tracking device has been discreetly removed, redirecting Jun-ho and his henchmen to a divergent path, far from the island where the fateful game unfolds. Consequently, Gi-hun steps into the role of a rallying commander, striving to inspire the participants to adhere to the game's rules. With his newfound vigor as a cheerleader, he manages to preserve everyone's life... momentarily. Any attempt to relocate spells instant doom, triggering a domino effect of deaths akin to previous occurrences.
Under Gi-hun's meticulous stewardship, the survivors traverse the treacherous terrain with a remarkable sense of unity. Transformed into a vigilant sniper, No-eul scrutinizes every flicker of movement with unwavering intensity. Yet, despite their collective endeavors, numerous contestants succumb to the relentless brutality of the game, while Thanos, the rapper, betrays his comrades by sabotage at every turn.
Gi-hun heroically rescues Player 444 from a grim fate, just as death's grasp tightens around his throat. But in a moment that shatters the sanctity of the game's rules, No-eul strikes, claiming Player 444's life mere inches past the safety line. Paradoxically, she also extends a compassionate hand to Na-yeon's father, who has been unwittingly ensnared in the games, presumably driven by the desperate need to secure funds for his daughter's medical treatment. The stakes have now escalated to heights never before imagined.
Though Gi-hun valiantly aids in maintaining survival, the duration of his resilience remains uncertain. Assistance remains a distant hope. Desperate, Gi-hun initiates a vote to halt the gruesome spectacle, but the Manager and his cronies cleverly dangle the carrot of a lucrative prize to seduce the masses with the lure of blood money.
Jeong-dae, the debt-ridden soul owing ten billion won, expresses discontent when Gi-hun attempts to mobilize the crowd towards cessation. Paradoxically, this backfires, as players mistake him for a font of wisdom on escaping the game. Unfortunately, Gi-hun finds himself at the mercy of a gunman's aim as the remnants cast their votes.
The outcome hangs by a thread, with Player 001 casting the deciding vote... to persist in the game. And who is this enigmatic 001? None other than the Front Man, In-ho himself, an active participant, as deeply entwined in this macabre spectacle as the seasoned veteran from Season 1.
