Unsu joeun nal

Could have ended on a high note and left a great mark for the actors/director but from episode 7, it's gone downhill.

This is definitely been one of the best kdramas of this year and I commend the creators for working on such an amazing series.

Some of the scenes in this episode were gut wrenching to watch but all in all highlighted the desperation and terrifying headspace humans will go to when put in a situation the main characters of this show were placed in.

The final episode sets up a potential second season pretty well and I am really looking forward to it.

I think this finale,was in all honesty.. a mixed bag for me! There really were times where I was fully invested and emotionally sucked into this story, but at other times i just could not by what I was seeing!

First.. the finale game was great and really wrapped up the first scene from the pilot as well as the name of the show! I think they nailed this part with a great set piece, directing and emotional pay-off!

However.. the twist for me was poorly handled in my opinion! I dont think it felt earned and in the end it felt underwhelming! The conversation they had was good, but the whole set up.. I just did not by it!

Another part i liked was Gin-Hu honering his promise to Sae-Byeok! It qlso shows that the games have put you through so much that at the end.. is the reward even worth it?

Therefore i dont think the finale scene was bad either! I understand that for him to become a good father.. he first has to be able to live with himself.. and forgive himself!

A great series (or season) finale. While there are some things open ended, the most important stuff comes to a close pretty neatly. The final game is satisfying, the pay off after it is reality-crushing sad, the final twist (who the creator is) pays kind of 'Ten Little Indians' meets 'Saw' homage and while It could be not that shocking it's a good, effective capper to the character so the motivation of the game. After an emotional ending bonding two depressive fates into a well deserved hope, there's a (probably intentional) cliffhanger. Overall, a great ending to a great series.

I don't know whether you've heard about this one, but just to give it a bit of much needed publicity, "Squid Game" is a Korean show on Netflix. I'm kidding of course, whereas I'd personally prefer to be the one to discover something whilst it's relatively unknown, I came to "Squid Game" when it was already a worldwide phenomenon. Usually, hype like this is followed by inevitable disappointment, but I really liked the show and was impressed at how deep and character driven it was.

Desperate for money, Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) agrees to partake is a mysterious game. Along with 499 other volunteers he is drugged and taken to an island and participates in various versions of children's games where the ultimate reward is an obscene amount of money, but the risk of failure is death. Between the games, alliances are formed and broken and the true nature of the competitors comes out.

As I say, what could be a cheap exploitation style show is elevated by so much work spent on investing in the characters - their backstories and motivations - as well as by the performers who do such a good job of playing them. All of the seven or so principle characters are excellent but it's Lee Jung-jae who is the lead and has the most transformative role. Gi-hun initially starts as a shady and unlikeable character, but one who's heart and kindness grow across the run until you can't help but love him.

The changing nature of the games can make for some heartbreaking moments, but it's the episode Gganbu, which is perhaps the most affecting hours of television that I've seen in a while.

Do I want a second season? Tough one. Personally rather than follow on the story from here, I'd rather find out more about The Frontman, what happened to him to get him to the point we find him.

A thrilling, tense and surprisingly emotional series. Well done.