Warning - this article contains major spoilers for Squid Game season 2.

Netflix's most colossal hit to date has made a smashing comeback, and it's the ultimate series to devour for subscribers still wading through mountains of festive leftovers with ample time to kick back in front of the telly.

But don't expect any holiday joy from Squid Game season two, as Seong Gi-hun (portrayed by Lee Jung-jae) and a fresh cohort of contenders are thrust into yet another round of savage games, all vying for a mammoth cash reward.

Brace yourselves for a deluge of gore, treachery, and jaw-dropping turns in the upcoming seven episodes of this massively acclaimed Korean saga, with another instalment promised before 2025 wraps up.

Devotees have wasted no time diving in, and a bombshell revelation at the climax of episode three, titled 001, left viewers so thunderstruck they questioned their own eyes.

After a tumultuous bout of Red Light, Green Light, the contestants face a pivotal decision to either proceed with or abandon the games. What Gi-hun doesn't know is that the final voter, 001, is none other than Hwang In-ho, also known as the Front Man (Lee Byung-hun), the enigmatic game master and another former champion, reports the Express.

The Front Man is now taking part in the games (
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(Image: NETFLIX))

"I thought, 'Is this really happening or am I hallucinating?'" gasped a fan on X (formerly Twitter ) after the third episode.

"But it's true 001 and Front Man are the same person! Did he do all this just to make those people stay? And now he's also going to participate in those deadly games? OMFG!"

"I didn't see that coming. Player 001," penned another stunned viewer.

One fan exclaimed: "I have soooo many questions! Is 001 the cops brother (the main bad guy)?" Meanwhile, another viewer was left in disbelief: "No way number 001 is that person [shocked face]" and yet another gobsmacked fan confessed: "Player 001 completely shocked me..." The buzz didn't stop there; it spilled over to Reddit where one user couldn't contain their surprise: "Holy s***, what a twist."
Seven new episodes dropped on Boxing Day (
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(Image: NETFLIX))
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Another chimed in with praise for the plot development: "Incredible twist," adding, "It's an awesome parallel to the narrative deceit of the first season, while we have an insider's perspective this time around. This mirror scenario will make for compelling character foil situations.

"This is how you can effectively repeat the same scenarios and settings, while still making it feel fresh and engaging, by changing just enough for unpredictability factors like this."

And in a final burst of astonishment, a fan declared: "The fact that the f***ing frontman was/is player 001 in this game is insane to me."

For those who've reached episode three, four more heart-racing instalments await, plus the promise of a third and final season within the year. The latest season is garnering high praise, though some viewers are expressing discontent with the cliffhanger ending of the last episode.

Squid Game season 2 is available to stream on Netflix.