Warning: There are spoilers forward for Squid Recreation season 3.
Squid Recreation creator Hwang Dong-hyuk and actor Park Sung-hoon break down the “heroic” dying of Cho Hyun-ju in season 3. After being launched as one of many new characters in season 2, Hyun-ju rapidly stole the present and have become a fan favourite because of her brave and type persona.
Whereas Hyun-ju survives the occasions of season 2, she has some of the tragic deaths in Squid Recreation season 3. After discovering a manner out of the hide-and-seek enviornment, Hyun-ju chooses to not escape on her personal, and as a substitute goes again for Kim Hun-jee (Jo Yu-ri), her new child child, and Jang Geum-ja (Kang Ae-sim), solely to be stabbed within the again by Lee Myung-gi (Yim Si-wan).
Whereas talking with Netflix, Hwang refers to Hyun-ju’s dying as “heroic” and that her ultimate moments “embody the essence of humanity.” He explains that Hyun-ju’s heroism is one thing that he believes everyone seems to be able to, however that few observe by way of on as a result of harsh realities of the actual world. Try his feedback beneath:
She was selecting to not escape alone, however to show again to get the others. I consider all of us have that spark of conscience, compassion, and humanity. However as we navigate this harsh world, we regularly bury these values and persuade ourselves they don’t matter. Or we sideline these values, considering they’ll value us an excessive amount of. Nonetheless, once I replicate deeply, I consider these lovely ideas stay inside us. If anybody have been to embody them, it needed to be Hyun-ju.
In an interview with Selection, Park discusses how Hyun-ju’s motivations have modified in season 3 to defending the “weaker ladies,” which tragically results in the character’s dying. Park additionally breaks down the bittersweet expertise of claiming goodbye to enjoying Hyun-ju and the way essential the character is for LGBTQ+ illustration. Learn his feedback beneath:
Director Hwang [Dong-hyuk] gave me a route saying, “When Hyun-ju slips away from the digicam, may you could have one tear roll down your face?” And I believed it might be onerous, however I really did it in a single take. So once I completed it, the workers all clapped and cheered for me.
Not too long ago, I’ve performed lots of villain characters, so I used to be so fortunate to have the ability to play Hyun-ju, who’s such a cool character. It was very onerous for me to say goodbye to her, as a result of I believed she would last more. I feel she died sooner than she ought to have, so it’s a disgrace.
When she finds the exit, it was simply an computerized response for her to take a step. However I feel her motivation shifted from Seasons 2 to three. In Season 2, her predominant motivation was to get the cash in order that she may get her gender affirmation surgical procedure, go to Thailand and begin over. However in Season 3, her massive motivation turned defending the weaker ladies right here, Geum-ja, and Jun-hee’s new child child as nicely. So when she took a step outdoors, I feel there was a get up name inside her head telling her to return: “It’s important to shield these individuals.” So I feel the one thought that was left in her head in the intervening time was to go and save them. I keep in mind limping and being very bloody, strolling again to the room, and I really feel very emotional proper now, really, considering again to that scene, as a result of it was such a tragic and heartbreaking second.
The ultimate scene I filmed was once I’m being photographed by the Squid Recreation organizers. The scene when Jun-hee offers beginning was so particular to Hyun-ju as a result of the beginning of a life is such a holy and sacred factor. Particularly as a trans lady, I feel Hyun-ju would have a lot of feelings swirling within her watching that occur. When Myung-gi stabs me within the again and kills me, there’s a line within the script that claims, “Hyun-ju’s soul leaves her eyes.” So I attempted to remain true to the script.
It’s all the time onerous to say goodbye to your characters, but it surely’s particularly onerous if it’s Hyun-ju, who’s such a cool character and such a pleasant individual. It was very onerous for me to say goodbye to her, particularly as a result of I acquired a lot love and assist from followers all the world over. And I feel me being a cisgender actor enjoying a transgender character, it additionally has its that means, to some extent, as a result of we’re all individuals, we deserve the identical quantity of affection and respect. Regardless that I’m a cisgender actor enjoying a transgender character, the LGBTQ+ group noticed Hyun-ju beneath a really constructive gentle. They beloved, revered and supported her, and I’m simply so eternally grateful for what they’ve achieved for her.
The aim for the three ladies was the identical: Shield the new child child. It was like ladies solidarity collectively. And as you stated, Geum-ja took just a little extra time to heat as much as Hyun-ju and settle for and embrace her as her buddy and household. She goes by way of that transformation, and I feel that’s what’s actually essential. If there are individuals on the market that also have prejudices and biases in opposition to the LGBTQ+ group, I hope they’d heat as much as it similar to Geum-ja did.
What This Means For Squid Recreation
Hyun-ju Is A Hero Who Continues To Steal The Present
Whereas some characters, together with Myung-gi, change into the worst variations of themselves through the video games, Hyun-ju stays individual to the very finish. She is a testomony to what an individual could be able to when genuinely caring about others, and she or he refused to let the video games take away her humanity.
Associated
Participant 333’s Squid Recreation Season 3 Destiny Was The Present’s Final Twist
Squid Recreation season 3 is crammed with plot twists, however none are as surprising as what Participant 333, Lee Myung-gi, decides to do within the ultimate sport.
Given her fan-favorite standing and her prominence within the story, it’s genuinely surprising to see her die in season 3, episode 2, with 4 episodes remaining and two of the video games but to be performed. Hyun-ju’s dying comes before Park and the followers anticipated, however the actor nonetheless continues to steal the present in season 3.
The solidarity between Hyun-ju, Geum-ja, and Jun-hee teaches a strong lesson about group, connection, and tolerance. The evolution of Hyun-ju and Geum-ja’s bond lends great perception into tolerance and the way people can develop past their misguided prejudices and biases.
Hyun-ju Completely Embodies Squid Recreation’s Themes
I had hoped that Hyun-ju would make it to Squid Recreation season 3’s ending, and her dying hits me simply as onerous because the deaths of Jun-hee and Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae). Nevertheless, I’m glad that Hyun-ju finds individuals who love and settle for her, and that she stays loyal to them.
Regardless that Squid Recreation is an extremely darkish present at occasions, the story can be constructed on a basis of hope and the concept, whatever the circumstances, there’ll all the time be individuals like Hyun-ju and Gi-hun who select to be higher and think about others.
Sources: Netflix, Selection

Squid Recreation
- Launch Date
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2021 – 2025-00-00
- Community
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Netflix
- Showrunner
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Hwang Dong-hyuk
- Administrators
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Hwang Dong-hyuk
- Writers
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Hwang Dong-hyuk
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Lee Jung-jae
Seong Gi-hun / ‘No. 456’
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Jeon Younger-soo
Recreation Information