This wild Squid Game season 3 theory suggests Player 246 survived and was saved by Guard 011—and it might just be the show’s biggest twist.
With Squid Game season 3 set to hit Netflix on June 27, theories about what’s to come in the final installment of the global phenomenon are taking over Reddit—and one theory in particular is picking up major steam. Surprisingly, it doesn’t center around the show’s main character, Player 456, but rather the lesser-remembered yet pivotal Player 246.
As a die-hard fan of Squid Game—from the original hit season to the reality spin-off Squid Game: The Challenge—one writer couldn’t help but dig into season 2 despite the lukewarm reception and a disappointing 63% Popcornmeter score on Rotten Tomatoes. The result? A five-star rave review and a rediscovered appreciation for the show’s deeper character arcs—especially that of Player 246.
Park Gyeong-seok, played by Lee Jin-uk, joined the deadly game to raise money for his sick daughter’s medical care. He formed an alliance with Seong Gi-hun (aka Player 456, played by Lee Jung-jae) and joined the player rebellion in a desperate attempt to take control from the guards. But things took a tragic turn when Gyeong-seok was shot and presumed dead.
Or was he?
According to one of the most compelling theories yet, Gyeong-seok might have survived the gunshot—and thanks to none other than Guard 011, also known as Kang No-eul (played by Park Gyu-young). Fans are dissecting every detail of the shooting scene, pointing out that the shot didn’t clearly show where the bullet landed and that the gun appeared to be aimed low, possibly missing vital organs.
And here’s where the emotional backstory comes into play. Before joining the games as a guard, No-eul had worked at an amusement park where she met Gyeong-seok and his daughter, who reminded her of the daughter she tragically lost. This connection, fans argue, may have driven her to fake Gyeong-seok’s death—by intentionally shooting him in a non-lethal area.
One theory posted on Reddit goes even deeper, speculating that No-eul smuggled Gyeong-seok into the organ harvesting room and eliminated the guards who previously threatened her. Another adds that she may have enlisted the help of the same underground doctor to treat his wounds, then helped him escape by boat, setting the stage for a shocking season 3 comeback.
Though season 2’s finale left many viewers focused on Gi-hun’s heartbreak and the return of the mysterious Front Man, this theory brings Player 246 and Guard 011 back into the spotlight. It’s a storyline rich with emotion, risk, and redemption—and if true, it could deliver one of the most satisfying twists in Squid Game history.
With just weeks to go before the season 3 premiere, fans won’t have to wait long to find out if Park Gyeong-seok truly beat the odds—and if Kang No-eul risked everything to save him.
