Squid Game season 3: Triumph, failure or both?

·57 min·5 clips

Dan describes the low-ceilinged maze episode as the best of the season, making him dry heave in terror.

The episode begins with Dan Selke introducing the show and guest Aisha Hausa, noting regular co-host Daniel Roman's absence due to family reasons. They start with Game of Thrones updates, discussing HBO's decision to delay A Night of the Seven Kingdoms to next year due to reshoots, which disrupts the planned annual release schedule. Set leaks for House of the Dragon Season 3 are mentioned, including images of a beach battle on Driftmark. Aisha shares a personal story about RuPaul's Drag Race spoilers appearing in YouTube thumbnails, leading to a tangent on avoiding leaks. The main segment focuses on Squid Game Season 3, with Dan and Aisha sharing their overall impressions. Aisha found the games inventive but felt there was too much dialogue, especially in the final democratic voting scene. Dan disagreed, praising the claustrophobic maze episode and the Towers game for their tension. They discuss character development in high-stakes situations, with Dan noting how distinct personalities emerged quickly among the contestants. The ending is analyzed, with Ji-Hoon's sacrifice to save a baby seen as a mix of cynicism and hope, influencing characters like the front man and Noelle. Criticisms include unresolved plotlines, such as the detective and front man's relationship, and poorly acted VIP billionaires. A surprise cameo by Cate Blanchett in the final scene is debated for its surreal impact. The hosts also touch on other entertainment topics in a lightning round, including Denis Villeneuve directing the next James Bond, Ryan Gosling in Project Hail Mary, and changes to The Last of Us showrunner. The episode concludes with Aisha expressing interest in returning as a guest.

As heard by us

Dan Selke and Aisha Hausa weigh Squid Game season 3 against the old-man reveal and the Front Man turn.

Take the Black Live frames Squid Game season 3 as a debate over what happens when a story once treated as a one-season vision keeps moving. Dan Selke and guest co-host Aisha Hausa measure the new season against season one's old-man reveal, season two's Front Man twist, and…

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Why you'd press play

You want a sharp companion for deciding how Squid Game's third and final season sits in the shadow of season one.

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