Squid Game’s ending may have been definitive, but it never resolved a plot hole that the upcoming American spinoff can finally address.Squid Gameseason 3 endedwith Gi-hun sacrificing himself to save Jun-hee’s baby. As for othercharacters inSquid Game,the Front Man left the baby with Jun-hobefore leaving the rest of Gi-hun’s winnings with his daughter.
While it seems most of the story is complete, the franchise is far from over. AnAmericanSquid Gamespinoffis currently in the works, set to offer a new glimpse at the games from a US perspective. With the series becoming international,the new show has a chance to resolve a plot holethe original series never addressed.
The Money Goes Unnoticed By The Wider World
Image via Netflix
The biggest plot holeSquid Gamehas yet to address is hownobody outside the game ever questions how the winners managed to get so much money. When somebody wins the games, their money is transferred to a bank account in their name. Entering the PIN for their player assignment grants them access to all their winnings.
But the earnings for the winners has been astronomical, withboth Gi-hun and Jun-hee’s baby getting 4.56 billion won. This translates to around 3.3 million dollars USD as of writing, a massive amount of money to just appear in someone’s bank account. But, despite earning the money participating inSquid Game’s games, there’s never questions from authorities for its winners.
This is evident during theend ofSquid Gameseason 1, whenGi-hun speaks directly to someone at his bank about his money.Where the money came from is never in question, as they regard him as an important client because of how much he has. This is despite his unwillingness to spend due to obvious survivor’s guilt.
Gi-hun even operated for years seeking out the games, using tens of millions of won during his hunt. Despite spending so much money so frivolously,nobody questions how a former gambler without a job suddenly came across billions of won.He’s never audited, nor seemingly has to pay taxes on his winnings, despite how suspicious it should seem.
Squid Game Somewhat Explains Its Money Plot Hole, But It’s Not Enough
The Games Are Clearly Being Run By Powerful People
Despite not directly explaining how the winners aren’t questioned about their money by the wider world,Squid Gamedoes lay the groundwork for how this can happen. This is mostly because ofthe games' VIPs, who are clearly from various countries outside South Korea. They’re rich, powerful people betting on who will win and who will die.
Since season 3 ended with confirmation that the games are global,it seems like the VIPs are much more powerful than originally thought.They’re running games all across the world, signaling their deep power across various locations. This implies they might have financial power, too, allowing them to ensure winners are never questioned about their earnings.
While this explanation makes sense and justifies why official financial and government channels haven’t questioned the winners about their money,this is only an inference based on circumstantial evidence.Squid Gamenever outright states how much power the VIPs have, nor whether the games have enough sway to make financial organizations look the other way. It’s only a potential prediction.
Because there’s nothing directly stated about how the games ensure players aren’t scrutinized for their earnings,it’s all left up to interpretation.While this makes sense to preserve the mysterious nature of their origins and power, it still makes no one questioning winners' money feel like a plot hole. But, with a new spinoff coming, this problem can be mended.
How Squid Game’s American Spinoff Can Resolve Its Money Problem
It Can Have A Storyline Centered Around A Winner’s Earnings Being Investigated
The American version of the showis likely going to come with its own set of changes for the show. This will likely include new competitions anddeaths inSquid Gamethat are reflective of the original, but may also incorporate their own ideas. Because of how different the spinoff could be,it’d be perfect for resolving its money problem.
Having an IRS agent investigate a player only to realize it’s something he shouldn’t be doing would be entertaining.
One possible path the series could take ishaving someone in the US' Internal Revenue Service (IRS) investigate a previous winnerof the games. It could be a low-level agent wondering how an unassuming previous contestant ended up with so much money. However, they’re unaware of just how deep the games' conspiracy runs.
Not only would this approach tothe American spinoffsolve the show’s money plot hole, butit would also create a unique storyline for the series.Having an IRS agent investigate a player only to realize it’s something he shouldn’t be doing would be entertaining. It would also further emphasize how much power the VIPs have involving global financial agencies.
By exploring the financial angle of the games in the American spinoff,the upcoming series can addressSquid Game’s biggest plot hole. It can also further the lore of the VIPs and the games by exploring new ideas related to their involvement. Doing so can expand the franchise while also providing answers about officials' responses to winners and their money.
Squid Game
Cast
Squid Game is a South Korean series released in 2021 that follows numerous financially struggling participants who are invited to partake in children’s games with deadly outcomes. As they compete, they vie for a substantial cash prize, all while navigating lethal challenges orchestrated by mysterious figures.
