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Squid Game: The Challenge has been topping the Netflix charts, hooking viewers for a second time with the reality show that followed its dramatized 2021 predecessor—Squid Game.
Taking the lead from the Korean drama's format with some noticeable changes, such as no sudden death after each challenge and adding additional tasks, the reality hit saw 456 individuals battle it out to take home a huge cash prize.
The Challenge finale episode landed on Netflix on December 6, after episodes were drip-fed to onlookers in a few installments.
Squid Game: The Challenge
Much like the original, the spin-off saw 456 people bunking together in a huge sterile room, with alliances and feuds forming within the first episode, Red Light, Green Light.
The clue was in the show's title for the first task, with the contestants taking part in the child game of trying to get to a safe point without being caught in the gaze of the team leader or, in this case, a giant doll.
Each contestant is valued at $10,000, amounting to a whopping cash prize of $4.56 million for the single victor left standing. According to Netflix, it is the largest cash prize in reality television history.
Other games played included, as seen in the 2021 show, Glass Bridge, Marbles, and the Dalgona cookie challenge, with the new addition of Battle Ships and mini-tasks, which also saw people eliminated throughout the season.
The show played over 10 episodes, with three contestants left standing for the final challenge in an episode titled One Lucky Day - the same as the 2021 show.
Surviving as their peers fell, the final three left standing and within reaching distance of the cash prize were Sam, number 16; Mai, number 287; and Phill, number 451.
What Was the Final Game?
One Lucky Day followed suit in replicating aspects of the original series, with the three finalists dressing up for a sit-down black tie-style event.
The banquet, fittingly, was set in the room the contestants slept in, with the mountains of bunk beds now gone. The tension was visible as although close friends and allies Sam and Phill didn't want the other to leave, all of the contestants knew the meal would lead to the next task or challenge. Much like how a provided picnic a few episodes ago, where players were encouraged to buddy up for a rewarding afternoon tea on a picnic blanket, soon revealed they would be pitted against their friend in a game of marbles.
As the meal ended, the contestants were required to participate in one final game of chance, with only two players progressing to the last stage.
Three buzzers were placed in the middle of the dining tables, one with the power to move that contestant through to the final and bring the player of their choice with them, one which did nothing, and one that eliminated whoever pressed it.
Mai, showing her headstrong nature and attitude again, decided to pick a buzzer first with the other two, then following suit with the remaining buzzers.
Who Won?
Mai's bravery was rewarded, and upon hitting her buzzer, nothing happened.
Sam decided to go second, which he would regret, leading to his buzzer turning red and eliminating himself. His pal Phill was moved to tears as he kept repeating "sorry" as Sam was escorted out.
The final two players, Mai and Phill, progressed to the winner-deciding challenge.
In another twist, despite the room's layout mimicking the original's final game, the last challenge was the game of luck - Rock, Paper, Scissors.
The duo faced off with a box of keys on one side and a vault containing a golden credit card with $4.56 million on it on the other.
Each player won a few rounds, trying one of the random keys, but remained unsuccessful.
However, with scissors to paper, Mai delivered the winning blow and picked the lucky key.
The episode ended with two clips. One of Mia sporting a new haircut and checking out her impressive bank balance and another with potential new players receiving the Squid Game calling card and a link appearing on the screen to the casting website for what will be Season 2 of the show.
The producer of the show, Studio Lambert, announced on its website that the next run is going ahead and shared a link to the casting site.
Newsweek has contacted Studio Lambert's publicist via email for comment.
