Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Squid Game
Squid Game creator, Hwang Dong-hyuk, gave a playful response to NBA star LeBron James’ criticisms toward his series’ finale. The show released last month to outstanding reception from both critics and audiences alike, shattering Bridgerton’s previous viewership record to become Netflix’s most-watched original series of all time. Much to the surprise of both the series creator and the streamer itself, Squid Game has become a worldwide sensation overnight, spawning countless pop culture references and catching the attention of countless high-profile celebrities like Taika Waititi, Simu Liu, and LeBron James himself.
Despite its success, Squid Game has not been immune to criticism. Some have criticized the latter episodes for failing to meet the quality of the first half of the series – specifically the portrayal of the mysterious VIP characters, as well as the finale. James took particular issue with the latter, saying that he was frustrated with Gi-hun’s (Lee Jung-jae) decision to confront the creators of the Squid Game tournament rather than board the plane to reunite with his estranged daughter in the States.
In a recent interview with The Guardian, Hwang addressed James’ criticisms with a tongue-in-cheek reply. The director prefaces his response by saying that he thinks “LeBron James is cool and” he is “very thankful [that James] watched the whole series.” However, he stands firm with his own narrative decisions, joking that James “could make his own sequel […] and maybe [Hwang will] send him a message saying, ‘I liked your whole show, except the ending.’” Check out Hwang’s full comments via Culture Crave below:
LeBron James is cool and can say what he wants. I respect that. I’m very thankful he watched the whole series. But I wouldn’t change my ending. That’s my ending. If he has his own ending that would satisfy him, maybe he could make his own sequel. I’ll check it out and maybe send him a message saying, “I liked your whole show, except the ending.”
Hwang has previously offered his own explanations as to why Gi-hun doesn’t board the plane. The director – who is not shy to point out that the games are a metaphor for capitalism – says that people like Gi-hun cannot return to the “competitive flow of society” after undergoing such trauma; he believes that people must instead question “who has created the whole system,” which, in the context of the show, comprises Il-nam (Oh Yeong-su), the Front Man (Lee Byung-hun), and the mysterious masked VIPs. In that sense, the director sees Gi-hun’s decision in a noble light rather than a selfish one.
Finales are always a contentious subject, especially with shows like Squid Game where every audience member has their own idea of where they want the series to go. There are undoubtedly many fans who share James’ opinion, and that’s okay –diverse opinions are necessary within any art form to keep them thriving and fresh. Hopefully, those disappointed by the season 1 finale will find something to love whenever season 2 comes around.
