'Squid Game' Hits #1 on Netflix with Release of New Season—But Wait'll You See Its Confusing Rotten Tomatoes Score

Season three of Squid Game has finally arrived, and once again, it has fans and critics on Rotten Tomatoes divided despite the season instantly hitting the number one spot on Netflix.

The popular show about a life-or-death competition, which has been a hit since the premiere of its first season, debuted its final season to mostly positive reviews, with an 82 percent Tomatometer rating, but the audience rating is a bleak one, sitting at a tough 50 percent—or 2.9 out of 5 stars—on the Popcornmeter.

The official synopsis for the third season is described as "Seong Gi-hun and the players fighting for survival in ever-deadlier games." And while critics and audience members seemed to agree that the first season was nearly flawless, it’s been much more complicated from there, as season two received a fresh 82 percent on the Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer, but a dull 63 percent—or 3.4 out of 5 stars—on the Popcornmeter, making the audience rating for this third season even worse.

This divide is further reflected in the reviews posted on the platform, which are largely positive. On the opposite end, the audience members are much more critical. "Squid Game Season three is a mess. It doesn’t explain anything that was left hanging in season two, and the main character’s decisions are confusing and inconsistent. This season lacks a proper conclusion, leaving more questions than answers," writes one member. Another adds, "Squid Game season three feels like a shadow of its former self. Unlike the gripping pace of seasons one and two, this one drags, with slow storytelling and little payoff."