Upamanyu Biswas
Like its previous iterations, Netflix’s ‘Squid Game‘ season 3 is awash with plenty of character deaths and plot twists as we head towards an exciting climax for the 37th Squid Game. The show spreads its attention over a variety of fronts as we learn more about the fates of our central characters and the other participants who have aspirations to emerge as the game’s victors. One character who leaves a prominent impression in this regard is Nam-Gyu (Player 124), the drug addict who was once part of Thanos’ crew. In the third season, he falls deeper into his addiction as he uses the pills to bolster his courage, heading into increasingly deadly games. However, this comes at a costly price, as we later see him forgoing any concerns over his life while seeking to scratch an itch. SPOILERS AHEAD.
A Rival Exacts His Vengeance on Nam-Gyu
While Nam-Gyu has a fierce reputation as one of the most ruthless players, the man meets an abrupt end during the rope jump. The death happens as a result of Player 124 losing his edge after he goes into a state of withdrawal because of a cutoff from his drugs. He becomes increasingly desperate to be reunited with them, without which he has no courage nor the X-factor to succeed. Recognizing this fact, Min-Su, the boy who Nam-Gyu regularly bullies, takes advantage of his rival’s weakness and leads him to his death by dangling a necklace in front of him, the same one containing Nam-Gyu’s pills. Min-Su throws the necklace onto the narrow bridge, urging Nam-Gyu to fetch it for himself. Despite the risks, the drug addict does precisely that, only to realize that the pills are no longer inside. Moments later, the rope sweeps him off the bridge and sends him plummeting to death.
Min-Su’s reasons for killing Nam-Gyu are profoundly personal and go back to an event from season 2 – Se-Mi’s death. After witnessing the girl being murdered in front of his eyes by Nam-Gyu, Min-Su is left with a feeling of hatred and anger towards the killer. This is mainly because Se-Mi is the only one who tries to be good to Min-Su, even defending him for his shy nature. As such, when he sees Nam-Gyu killing her, he festers a deep resentment against him for taking away the only good thing in life. Additionally, Min-Su is haunted by feelings of guilt because of his inability to save Se-Mi, even though he can see it unfold before his eyes. He chooses to hide rather than confront Nam-Gyu, which ultimately leads to even more negative emotions deep within him.
Following Se-Mi’s death, Nam-Gyu taunts and bullies Min-Su even further, goading him for not being “a man” and protecting the girl who was always trying to defend him. These jibes likely create an even greater sense of fury within Min-Su. However, he still remains unable to come up with a carefully executed plan that could help him kill Nam-Gyu. That opportunity arises later when he accidentally stumbles upon the cross necklace around Nam-Gyu’s neck in episode 2. The necklace ends up in Min-Su’s possession during the hide-and-seek game when Nam-Gyu loses it in a fight. Subsequently, Min-Su realizes that, for the first time, he has the upper hand over his bully and can use it to further his own cause. Thus, the necklace paves the way for him to finally kill Nam-Gyu and get his revenge.
Nam-Gyu’s Drug Addiction Proves to Be His Downfall
The main reason Nam-Gyu loses his life is because of his dependency on drugs, which provides him with temporary solace from the anxieties associated with the deadly game. He falls into the habit in season 2 after seeing Thanos taking a pill out of the cross necklace. Although he is unable to access the drugs freely at this point, he later gets full control over them when Myung-Gi kills Thanos in the bathroom. Subsequently, Nam-Gyu steals the necklace from his corpse and wears it around his neck from here on out. This continues into season 3, where we see Nam-Gyu spiraling even further into his addiction, becoming entirely reliant on drugs to give him the edge when competing in the games. They make him feel invincible as he heads into any challenge.
Upon losing the necklace, an erratic Nam-Gyu tries to reenter the maze to find the necklace once more. However, the guards physically restrain him from doing so. While this leaves him no choice but to forge ahead, Player 124 starts feeling the effects of competing in the games without his euphoric drugs, giving him an ecstatic feeling deep inside his brain. In the following voting round, Nam-Gyu uncharacteristically chooses to stop the games and head back home, which is a massive shift in his mindset, especially considering his staunch attitude thus far. It is likely that he cannot deal with the new levels of stress entering his body now that the drugs are no longer coursing through his veins. His carefree attitude gives way to a more sheepish and nervous outlook.
When the rope jump game gets underway, Nam-Gyu is in a terrible state of mind, unable to keep his withdrawal from dictating his every move. Thus, it affords Min-Su the chance to impose his will on Nam-Gyu for once. After the drug addict realizes that Min-Su has the necklace in his possession, he starts groveling and apologizing for his earlier attitude towards him, all in the hopes of getting the pills back. However, it is this desperation to be reunited with his beloved drugs that blinds him to everything around him and leads him straight to death. Ultimately, it can be hard to argue against Nam-Gyu’s death, especially after we see him selfishly value his own pleasure and entertainment over the lives of others on countless occasions. To that end, he meets a demise likely befitting his actions.
Read More: Does the Old Lady (Player 149) Die in Squid Game Season 3?
