Squid Game's divisive ending offers a lesson for Netflix’s next survival thriller

When Squid Game exploded onto Netflix back in 2021, it didn’t just break streaming records — it hijacked the global conversation. Over three seasons, the South Korean juggernaut rewrote the rules of survival thrillers with its shocking twists, brutal social commentary, and a whole lot of metaphors hiding behind a bloody playground. But with its third and final season now wrapped, Squid Game finds itself in the awkward position of being both unforgettable and… deeply controversial.

Critics and fans alike have been wrestling with the show’s final arc — some praising its bleak unpredictability, others lamenting what they see as character betrayal and emotional shortcuts. When a series that built its empire on clever plotting and audience empathy suddenly pulls the rug out with rushed goodbyes and uneven moral messaging, it leaves more than a few bruised knees.

Fortunately, this isn’t the end of the road for survival thrillers on Netflix. With Alice in Borderland returning for its final season, the platform gets a rare second shot at sticking the landing. If anything, Squid Game may have just crash-tested the path ahead.

Emotional impact must be earned, not thrown like a grenade

One of the loudest critiques of Squid Game's final act was its perceived lack of payoff for beloved characters. After investing seasons into Gi-hun’s moral evolution — from broken man to reluctant revolutionary — fans found his fate less like a climax and more like a narrative shortcut. Add to that the abrupt, almost mechanical dispatching of fan-favorites, and the emotional catharsis fans craved turned into confusion.

If Alice in Borderland hopes to dodge the same backlash, it must treat its characters’ arcs with patience and earned weight. Killing off a protagonist like Arisu may be a possibility — this is the death game genre, after all — but his journey needs to reach a conclusion that feels inevitable, not disposable. The emotional stakes have to rise with meaning, not just body count.

Surprise is good — but coherence is sacred and Squid Game knows that

Yes, survival thrillers thrive on unpredictability. But the final season of Squid Game crossed into territory where shocking the audience seemed to trump making narrative sense. Twists should land like strategic punches, not haymakers thrown in the dark. In a show that once asked profound questions about class, free will, and guilt, fans expected more than chaos for chaos’ sake.

With Alice in Borderland moving beyond its manga source material, it’s in new and uncertain territory. That’s exciting — but also risky. Now, more than ever, it must double down on internal logic and character consistency. Fans can forgive a wild plot twist — but not if it undoes everything they were emotionally promised. The finale doesn’t need to be neat, but it does need to feel like it matters.

Don't just shock — satisfy

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Netflix’s next survival thriller isn’t just stepping into the ring — it’s stepping into the spotlight left behind by a phenomenon. And while Squid Game may have stumbled on its way out, it did something invaluable: it showed exactly what a genre finale shouldn't forget. Emotional payoff. Coherent stakes. Respect for the journey.

With Alice in Borderland gearing up to play its final card, the playbook is wide open — but the lesson is loud and clear. Don’t just end a survival game. Win it.

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