Warning: This article contains spoilers for the season finale ofSquid Game: The Challenge.
But Phill didn’t leaveNetflix’sSquid Gamereality spinoff empty-handed.
“It never felt like it was me against them.
Phill Cain.Pete Dadds/Netflix
It always felt like us vs. the game.
“I love music, and I actually got my college band back together after I got out.
We’re calledSix Ways to Saturday, and we’re putting out a new single today.”
Sam, Phill, Mai.Netflix
Why did you not want to step up and press a button?
PHILL CAIN:It was tough because I knew that one of us had to.
But at the same time, I was pretty scared, and I didn’t want to.
That’s why I asked, “Does anybody want to go?
Does anybody feel like they want to take the first step?
I really had no business going up there to risk getting eliminated.
That was definitely tough to reckon with.
So in my heart I’m like, “Why should I be the one to get to go?
Why shouldn’t I throw my hat in the ring?”
What was your reaction when you saw Sam push the red button and get eliminated?
It could have been me and maybe it should have, I don’t know.
What was it like for you in the dorm that night after Sam’s elimination?
My head was spinning.
I never in my wildest dreams thought that I would get this far.
What did you think of how the entire thing came down to Rock, Paper, Scissors?
Oh, my God.
I didn’t realize that there might’ve been strategy behind it!
There’s no backstabbing anymore.
There’s no more drama.
It’s just a simple game.
Let’s decide it right now.”
How many rounds did you play?
We played something like 33 rounds, and she whooped my butt in most of them.
[Laughs] She really earned that victory.
I was scrambling towards the end.
I was like, “How does she keep beating me?!”
We went through most of the keys, and there must’ve been 40-something keys in there.
How many times did you beat Mai?
Oh, gosh, I couldn’t tell you.
Maybe I won about a third-ish of the rounds?
It wasn’t even close.
She really won in a landslide.
At what point did you realize Mai won and it was all over?
When I saw her launch the safe.
Did you know she was lying in that moment?
No, I had no reason to suspect that she was lying.
I still don’t fully understand why she did.
But I definitely was surprised to see that because I really didn’t see that coming.
She’s smarter than you think!
Did you find out about the lie when you saw the episode?
Yeah, when I saw the episode.
She really knows how to keep a secret.
You also dominated Circle of Trust how were you so confident and successful in both of your guesses?
I really wasn’t sure!
But then with Ashley, it was a total shot in the dark.
The reason I chose her was because I knew that she was probably the smartest person in the room.
I don’t blame her for it.
I’m going to be silly.
I’m going to get my screen time.”
But I was fully ready for it to not be her.
I was just as shocked as the audience was.
In real life, it didn’t really play out as it did in the edit.
From my perspective, it seemed like Trey just kind of went AWOL and started jumping out of nowhere.
I really didn’t understand.
But at the same time, I don’t blame Ashley.
What didnt we see in the finale or during any other episode that you want fans to know about?
One thing that got cut from the edit is that Mai really stuck out her neck for me twice.
Both times I said, “No, Mai, it’s okay.
I’ve got this.
I’m going to take this responsibility.”
Now that the show has been renewed, would you want to retry and compete in season 2?
Listen, I feel like I owe it to myself to attempt to run it back!
Maybe I’ll give it one more shot.
I don’t know if I can do that again.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Squid Game: The Challengeseason 1 is now streaming on Netflix, andwill return for season 2.
