Squid Game’s Ending Stumbles So Hard, An Outlandish Baby Fan Theory Suddenly Makes More Sense
Squid Game’s polarizing finale ended with Lee Jung-jae’s Gi-hun dying to save the infant contestant—but a viral Reddit theory could flip the script, paving the way for a Season 4 that rewrites that heartbreak. Is the baby the key to bringing Gi-hun back and delivering the ending fans wanted?
So, yeah, that ending. Squid Game wrapped with Lee Jung-jae's Gi-hun sacrificing himself for a baby tossed into the nightmare as a contestant, and a lot of fans were not thrilled. But there is a fan theory making the rounds that actually patches the whole thing into a cleaner landing... if there were going to be a Season 4. There isn’t. Still, it’s interesting.
The fan theory that fixes the finale (in a world where Season 4 exists)
The Reddit version goes like this: the baby Gi-hun saved grows up, learns what really happened — how the Games murdered their parents, Gi-hun, and plenty of others — and decides to burn the entire operation down. Not just a symbolic win, but a permanent shutdown. As far as closure goes, that would be pretty satisfying.
The catch: creator Hwang Dong-hyuk has said Season 3 is the end of the line. No Season 4. So unless Netflix changes course, that theory stays a thought experiment.
Hwang explains why Gi-hun had to die
Hwang told Tudum he didn’t originally plan to kill Gi-hun. But as he built out Seasons 2 and 3, he decided the show needed a definitive finish for both the Games and Gi-hun’s arc. Basically: no more hedging, no more escape hatch for a future comeback.
The message I wanted to communicate was that if we solely pursue our immediate self-interest, and refuse to self-restrain, sacrifice, or bear any costs, and if we don’t put our heads together, we have no future.
Fans would’ve preferred to see Gi-hun walk away, sure. Hwang’s standing by the choice and says he’s proud of what they made, mixed reactions and all. Agree or not, it’s a very deliberate, very 'this is the point' kind of ending.
Meanwhile: a U.S. spinoff is lining up — on paper, at least
On the Film and Television Industry Alliance listings, there’s a project called 'Squid Game: America' with a February 26, 2026 start date and Los Angeles as the filming location. The posted summary reads: 'A US version of the Korean hit series, the spinoff is set in the same world, but we get to see how the games are handled in America.'
The names attached are… attention-grabbing. David Fincher is listed as a producer alongside Squid Game director Hwang Dong-hyuk and producer Kim Ji-yeon. Zeus Zamani and Rhett Giles are also on as producers, with Dennis Kelly writing. For now, Netflix hasn’t officially announced anything, so treat this as a credible industry breadcrumb, not gospel.
Where things stand
- Season 1: 9 episodes — 95% on Rotten Tomatoes
- Season 2: 7 episodes — 84% on Rotten Tomatoes
- Season 3: 6 episodes — 78% on Rotten Tomatoes
(All three seasons were created by Hwang Dong-hyuk.)
What did you think of the finale — bold, botched, or somewhere in between? Squid Game is streaming on Netflix if you’re up for a rewatch (or a re-argue).