Squid Game Season 1 Episode 8 Recap

Who's in the cast:
Lee Jung-jae as Seong Gi-hun (Player 456)
Park Hae-soo as Cho Sang-woo (Player 218)
Jung Ho-yeon as Kang Sae-byeok (Player 067)
Wi Ha-jun as Hwang Jun-ho
Lee Byung-hun as Hwang In-ho, the Front Man

Gi-hun and Sang-woo turn on each other the moment they're back in the dorm. Gi-hun is furious that Sang-woo pushed the glassmaker off the bridge, especially since he was about to move anyway. Sang-woo is unapologetic. He says the glassmaker could have saved dozens of lives and chose not to, and that the only reason Sang-woo is still here is that he's willing to do whatever it takes. The argument turns personal, with Sang-woo calling Gi-hun a nosy fool and Gi-hun pointing out that Ssangmun-dong's genius ended up in the same hellhole as him. Sae-byeok watches in silence, hiding something.

The guards congratulate the three finalists and bring them formal outfits. That evening they're treated to a fancy dinner, with steak, wine and steak knives laid out on the table. Nobody says a word, and each of them keeps a close eye on the others. Sae-byeok barely eats. Back in the dorm, Gi-hun notices she isn't doing well. She brushes it off, and Sang-woo watches them both.

Meanwhile, Jun-ho reaches a nearby island and calls his police chief. The signal is terrible. He begs for backup from the police and coast guard and tries to send his evidence, but the files keep failing. The masked Front Man and his guards close in and chase him to the edge of a cliff. Jun-ho pulls his gun, and the Front Man calmly works out that the revolver has only one bullet left. He offers Jun-ho a chance to come with him. When Jun-ho refuses, the Front Man takes off his mask. He is Hwang In-ho, Jun-ho's missing older brother. Before Jun-ho can recover from the shock, In-ho shoots him in the shoulder, and Jun-ho falls off the cliff into the sea.

Back in the dorm, Sae-byeok wakes with a start to find Gi-hun holding a knife. He tells her he only took it because of Sang-woo, and that he would have killed her already if he wanted to. Gi-hun proposes that the two of them team up against Sang-woo, win the final game together and split the money. They talk about what they would do with the prize. Gi-hun wants to pay off his debts, open a real shop for his mother and finally be a father to his daughter. Sae-byeok wants a home for herself and her brother, who is about the same age as Ga-yeong. She then asks Gi-hun to promise that whichever of them gets out will look after the other's family. He tries to wave it off, but she makes him swear.

Later that night, Gi-hun stands over the sleeping Sang-woo with the knife, ready to end it. Sae-byeok stops him, telling him he's a good person and this isn't who he is. That's when Gi-hun finally sees the blood. She has a deep wound in her side from the exploding glass and has been hiding it all along. She's weak and says she just wants to go home.

Gi-hun pounds on the door, screaming for a doctor and reminding the guards they need her alive for the last game. While he's distracted, Sang-woo quietly gets up and kills Sae-byeok with a knife. Gi-hun turns around to find her dead. He attacks Sang-woo in a rage, but the guards pull them apart. Sae-byeok's body is placed in a coffin tied with a pink bow, and Gi-hun is left sobbing as the episode ends.

Player tracker

Eliminated this episode

• ❌ Sae-byeok (Player 067): killed by Sang-woo while already wounded from the glass bridge

Still standing

• ✅ Gi-hun (Player 456)
• ✅ Sang-woo (Player 218)
• ❓ Jun-ho: shot by his brother and falls into the sea; his fate is left open

Up next: Squid Game Season 1 Episode 9 Recap. Missed the last one? Read the Squid Game Season 1 Episode 7 Recap. See every episode in the Squid Game Season 1 episode guide or browse all Squid Game recaps.