July 14, 2025

The fourth season of Squid Game: USA takes the franchise to terrifying new heights, pushing the boundaries of morality, spectacle, and survival. Set against a backdrop of a fractured America grappling with economic collapse and societal distrust, this season reinvents the deadly game with an unapologetically American flavor. From decaying Rust Belt towns to abandoned malls and forgotten fairgrounds, the scenery alone evokes a chilling nostalgia that feels uniquely haunting.

This time, the contestants aren’t just desperate individuals, but symbols of different American archetypes — a fallen tech CEO, a laid-off steelworker, a disillusioned influencer, a war veteran suffering PTSD, and a single mother escaping medical debt. The character development is razor-sharp, making the emotional stakes higher than ever. With each game reflecting warped versions of classic American childhood traditions, the brutality feels intimate, and disturbingly personal.

Director Marcus Del Toro injects every scene with pulse-pounding intensity. The cinematography, drenched in gritty realism and neon-soaked terror, captures the essence of a society crumbling beneath the weight of its own illusions. One standout episode — “Liberty Bell” — reimagines a Fourth of July parade as a sinister psychological gauntlet, forcing players to betray their patriotic ideals for a chance to survive. It’s unforgettable, layered, and brutally poetic.

Unlike its predecessors, Season 4 leans heavier into political and ethical themes. It explores the cost of freedom, the illusion of choice, and the corrupt machinery behind “entertainment” as societal distraction. The Game Masters are no longer anonymous elites — we meet them face to face, and the revelations are chilling. There’s a twisted brilliance in how the show holds up a mirror to the audience, forcing us to question our own role as viewers.

Performances are outstanding across the board, especially from Zoë Kravitz as Camryn, a morally ambiguous journalist turned contestant. Her arc is both heart-wrenching and maddening, making her a character you’ll root for and loathe in equal measure. The chemistry between the players, the betrayals, the alliances — all are written with a level of tension and authenticity rarely seen in serialized dramas.

Squid Game: USA – Season 4 doesn’t just extend the series — it elevates it. With its masterful storytelling, unflinching social commentary, and moments of gut-wrenching emotion, it proves that the franchise still has sharp teeth. If this is the direction future seasons are headed, the game isn’t just far from over — it’s only just begun.