NetflixPlayer 398, Trinity Savon Parriman, was one of five contestants heading into the Squid Game: The Challenge Season 2 finale, and a shocking decision he made in the Netflix show has left viewers at home divided.
Like the other 456 contestants, Trinity has been on a roller coaster of emotions throughout the latest chapter of Squid Game’s reality spinoff. During Mingle, he was held back in a room despite wanting to leave and help his friend, leaving him in tears.
Next up was Marbles, where he ended up winning and sending Player 181, Manel, home. When it came to Slides and Ladders, it looked like Trinity was going to get eliminated by default, but instead he got to skip the game and move onto Circle of Trust.
In short, he fought a lot of battles to make it to the final five. But this is what makes his decision in Squid Game: The Challenge Season 2 Episode 9 all the more surprising. Warning: spoilers ahead!
Did Player 398 break the rules?
NetflixIn the final test, Player 398, aka Trinity, sacrifices himself and lets the other players know which choices to make to pass. But this is all totally above board – he didn’t break any rules.
For context, the test unfolds at the dinner party, where Trinity is joined by the other finalists: Player 302 (Dajah), Player 183 (Steven), Player 17 (Agnes), and Player 72 (Perla). They learn that one person will be eliminated, leaving four contestants to battle it out in the last game.
Related
The test involves five coins: four gold ones and one black one. The first player must conceal the black coin and a gold one in their hands and offer them to the next player, who must pick a hand and therefore a coin.
Whoever is left with a black coin picks another gold coin and makes the same offer to the next player. This continues until everyone has guessed once. The player with the black coin at the end of the game will be sent home.
NetflixThe order of play is determined by chance: the napkin at the seat they chose has a number on it. So, the person who goes first has a far better chance than the person who goes fifth.
However, none of this really matters, as Trinity – who is second in line – tells first player Steven that he wants the black coin. Initially, the other players think he’s joking, but they soon realize he’s not messing around.
They try to talk him out of it, but Trinity grows emotional and explains his reasoning. “I’m doing this because I love each one of your stories… and I’d rather one of you guys win it instead of me,” he says.
“I’m not trying to do this for show or anything. I talk about it all the time. I just hate having to keep eliminating people. And the closer I got with each one of y’all, it just breaks my heart, so I cannot do it.”
For each round after the first, Trinity presents the players with the two coins, telling them which one is which so they can pass, leading to his elimination.
While it’s an unconventional move, it’s not against the rules. Squid Game: The Challenge has always allowed players to self-eliminate, and nothing prevents contestants from revealing information to help others – even if it means sacrificing themselves.
Why Trinity’s choice is dividing Squid Game: The Challenge fans
NetflixThe move has proven divisive for viewers at home: some disagree and suggest he should’ve given another player the opportunity earlier on in the game, while others have praised him for his selfless act.
Among those who fall into the former camp, one wrote on Reddit: “I can’t respect Trinity’s decision. It wasn’t noble to make it to the final five to then decide other people were more deserving.
“If that were the case, he should’ve never signed up to be on a show where you have to literally eliminate people to win. He was just as deserving as anyone else but ruined it for essentially nothing. Literally nothing is more annoying than a quitter.”
Another agreed, “This 100%! Like over 400 people got a spot and tried their best to get to top five! And he gave his spot up like it was nothing. Like didn’t even try! What a waste of a player! Why sign up if you weren’t gonna play?!”
“I hate all this talk of who ‘deserves’ the money more,” added a third. “It’s a game show. Just play the games and the winner wins. If it’s about who deserves it more, Netflix should just solicit testimonials and give $4.56 million to the saddest story.”
NetflixOne referenced the backlash to Player 183 due to his background in poker and the fact that he’s won large sums of money in the past. “Exactly same, I don’t care what your backstory is, this is Squid Game, not backstory simulator,” they wrote.
“In my opinion, if you’re mad at 183 for being rich and ‘ruining Squid Game’ you should also be mad at the show itself as the whole point of Squid Game is to not explore the poor for entertainment.”
Others believe the test should’ve played out differently, with one suggesting, “The producers should’ve just eliminated him on the spot for doing that and kept the game going. Like get out of here.”
“Almost wish they could put a monetary punishment clause in their contracts for if they quit/refuse to play any game, but since only the winner gets paid, probably wouldn’t be feasible,” said a second.
A third even proposed the idea that Trinity could’ve pulled the rug from under his peers, writing, “What if Trinity (Player 398) were to continue to tell the truth with players three and four (he was second to choose), saying that the black coin is here.
“But then lie to the fifth player where the black coin was (in this case Player 17) as a strategy to stay in the game the whole time?”
“For a split second I thought he would do that,” one replied to this idea, to which another stated, “Would’ve made for better TV.”
Not everyone disagrees with Trinity’s decision, however, with many jumping in to defend him. “I respect his decision so much. That level of selflessness is unheard of in this day and age. Plus it was a beautiful way to share his testimony,” said one.
Over on Trinity’s TikTok page, he’s received plenty of messages of support. “You are a real one dude, your faith in God is unmatched,” said one. “That sacrifice was amazing.”
“You are very kind,” said another, while a third added, “Trinity, you’re so pure. I ran here after watching you sacrifice yourself.”
Others have said they’re now voting for him to be in Season 3. For the uninitiated, the Netflix show is currently casting for the third chapter, and not only can you apply yourself, but you can also vote for an eliminated Season 2 contestant to reenter the competition.
However, it’s too late to be voting for Trinity, as the top five have already been decided – you can vote here.
Read more about the winner of Squid Game: The Challenge Season 2. You can also check out all the Squid Game challenges so far (ranked by difficulty), if Squid Game: The Challenge is scripted, and the new shows coming to Netflix this month.