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Squid Game: Netflix viewers notice Easter egg that gives away ending in episode 1

It was plain to see the entire time

Jacob Stolworthy
Saturday 23 October 2021 09:58 BST
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Trailer for Netflix thriller Squid Game
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Netflix users rewatching Squid Game have noticed a huge episode one clue teasing the show’s ending.

The Korean series has become one of the streaming service’s most successful shows, with 111m households tuning in since it was released on 17 September.

This makes it Netflix’s most-watched series launch ever, beating period drama Bridgerton, which was watched by 82m households in its first 28 days.

Those who have finished Squid Game are now going back for round two – and are noticing new details now they know how it ends.

In fact, the big twist becomes quite obvious knowing what’s coming.

*Major spoilers follow – you have been warned*

It’s revealed in the final episode that Oh Il-nam (Oh Yeong-su), the character referred to as “the Old Man”, is actually the mastermind behind the deadly challenges.

He supposedly dies in episode six after losing the marble challenge, but returns in the finale where he reveals to Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) that he created the games after being diagnosed with brain cancer. He did this in order to “feel alive”.

Oh Il-Nam in Netflix hit ‘Squid Game’

With this in mind, watching Oh Il-nam’s behaviour during the “Red Light, Green Light” challenge takes on a completely new light. He runs with little fear despite the fact a robot will shoot him if it detects movement when it turns around.

In fact, at one stage, he actually does move – but the robot fails to kill him, proving the game was protecting its creator the entire time.

One of Squid Game’s stars has shocked his Instagram followers with a post following the show’s huge success.

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