Warning: SPOILERS lie ahead for Squid Game: The Challenge season 2!After a heated series of physical and mental challenges, Squid Game: The Challenge season 2 has narrowed its roster down to five finalists, who are now reflecting on their experience with the show. Having survived everything from “Catch” to “Snakes and Ladders” and Marbles, among other iconic challenges from the mainline Squid Game series, the finalists of the 456 contestants include Vanessa Clements (017), Dajah Graham (302), Perla Figuereo (072), Trinity Parriman (398) and Steven Jones (183).

Ahead of their final games against each other, ScreenRant interviewed said finalists to discuss Squid Game: The Challenge season 2. During the discussion, the group were asked their thoughts on Eric Eldredge (415), who gained favor from other players with his mentions of it being his birthday and having a pregnant girlfriend, only for it later to come out that neither were true, and was instead part of his strategy to avoid being targeted by others for elimination.

Parriman started off by expressing he’s still “kind of upset” about Eldredge’s strategy and lies, particularly given “my real birthday was the day before“. The star explained that he sought to avoid telling anybody, as he “didn’t want a target on my back“, feeling frustrated and surprised when 415 instead started using that as a way to build trust. However, that didn’t completely upend some celebration from being had in the dorms, as Graham says she wished Parriman a happy birthday, who also confirmed the rest of the competitors sang him “Happy Birthday”.

Graham went on to share that she was surprised at some of the positive support Eldredge got from fans of the show and other players, feeling he was “going to get a lot of negative feedback” in particular for lying about having a pregnant girlfriend. Denoting she herself has a child, the Squid Game finalist described it as being “a sensitive topic to talk about“, let alone use as a strategy.

Figuereo and Jones had a similar outlook as Graham on Eldredge’s fake parental strategy, with the former calling it “unnecessary” and saying he “didn’t have to do all that“, while the latter lamented the fact that it ultimately worked out in the controversial contestants’ favor. She even pointed out the difference between his actions and those of actual parents in the game, who had a much different mentality and personality compared to 415:

Perla Figuereo: I was just like, “Bro, the parent guilt was too much.” I feel like everyone that worked in my alliance that had kids were not doing it to make you feel bad about anything. So, “I was just like, oh great, now we got to save him, because he has a kid on the way.”

Despite their various frustrations with him, however, the group do admit that one positive to come from their experience with Eldredge in Squid Game: The Challenge season 2 is that he “was really funny“. Graham also acknowledged that the show’s editing helps amplify some of the humor to come from the former contestant, with Clements laughing as she said that while his strategies were ultimately “a bit much“, 415 would be “ticked pink that we’re sitting here talking about him right now“.

The Group Have Little Regrets About Their Squid Game: The Challenge Season 2 Tenure

ScreenRant: I want to start with the fact that I’ve been to the set, I’ve been in those dorms. I’m just curious, what is the thing that surprised you that messed with you the most psychologically going in the game?

Dajah Graham: Behind the scenes, just how long everything took, oh my God. I know that the count is the first 13 minutes from the time when we’re starting, and the buttons pressed, but in reality, it was like eight hours, maybe longer. And we’re just standing, and it’s like, we can’t talk. The first day I was like, “Oh my God, I’m ready to go.” [Chuckles]

Steven Jones: The Pentathalon took two days! That was crazy.

Trinity Parriman: The alarm to wake up, I knew they were going to play it, but I didn’t realize how loud it was.

Perla Figuereo: It was so loud.

Vanessa Clements: It’s also very bright at night. Yeah, true.

Dajah Graham: Oh yeah. People talking while I’m trying to sleep. I have to have complete silence.

Perla Figuereo: I think for me, it was the showers. I was so grossed out because I needed shower shoes, and I kept putting towels on the floor.

Dajah Graham: I stole boot covers. [Chuckles]

Vanessa Clements: Yeah, so that was crazy. And they make the showers look dirty.

ScreenRant: Now, there is a vote to bring a player who has been eliminated back next season. I’m curious, who is your personal vote of somebody who you want to see get another shot, besides yourselves?

Dajah Graham: Yeah, besides ourselves, because all 456 are eligible. I felt like I got robbed a circle of trust. I wanted to play. I wanted someone to put a box on my desk so I could play. But aside from myself, somebody that I would love to see come back —

Vanessa Clements: I feel like a fan favorite is 100, Mark. He’s a top contender for sure. I’m seeing a lot of love for Mark and Viper. Catch was one of those games where it’s like, dang!

Steven Jones: Because you have to rely on someone else.

Vanessa Clements: Yeah, it’d be nice to see if they didn’t have to do that, if they could have made it further.

Dajah Graham: I would want someone who didn’t have a storyline to be able to be introduced to the world. Someone who has a good reason for the money, as well. Player 95, Carol, she was our mom. She was our mom of the group, and she’s amazing in Pentathlon. She sacrificed herself. She thought she would hinder us, so she purposely left us so that we could have a strong team. And that hurt my heart.

Trinity Parriman: I think for me, one of my friends, her name is Holland. I forgot her player number, but I think she’s a genuine person as well that didn’t get a storyline. So seeing her back in the game would be cool.

Perla Figuereo: My brother. I’m like, I need to see him in a tux. He’ll probably look very similar.

Dajah Graham: Just some curly afros walking around.

Vanessa Clements: And if he didn’t make it that far, then you could always tease him like, “I made it further.”

Perla Figuereo: Like, “Sorry, dude.”

ScreenRant: Trinity, I think the most heartbreaking moment of the show was in Mingle, when you couldn’t leave for your friend. I’m just curious what your thoughts are looking back at that moment now.

Trinity Parriman: Yeah, looking back at that moment, a lot of people have been like, “Why was he only mad at 172?” It’s because I only saw him and I only felt him trying to hold me back. I didn’t see the other players grabbing at me. Now that I watch it back, I know they were, but at the time, I didn’t. So seeing that back is kind of crazy. They cut out a whole lot, as well. A whole lot was not shown. But Leon and I have talked, and we’re good. Kelly, me and her talked since everything was done. We talked a lot. So, seeing that back, hearing the music, I don’t know for y’all, but it was kind of like PTSD a little bit. You’re like, “Oh no, what the heck?” But yeah, that was a hard moment to watch back. Hard moment to be in, but I’m glad the way it worked out, because if she didn’t get out, we’d be playing each other in Marbles.

Numerous contestants looking upset and shocked up at a screen in Squid Game: The Challenge season 2

ScreenRant: Is there anything, looking back, ahead of the finale, that you either wish you’d done differently, or do you have any unsaid business with somebody?

Dajah Graham: I wish I would’ve said Steven’s name out loud in Circle of Trust for my girl, Faith. Nothing against you, she’s just my friend, my girl. I wish I would’ve just trusted my gut. You’re welcome, I got you. [Laughs]

Perla Figuereo: Similarly, I feel like I would’ve told Melissa, “No, no, no. You have to listen to me. Kate, put the box on your desk. I’m not playing with you.” I said it out loud, but I wasn’t fighting against this. So, I think she keeps messaging me like, “I am so mad I didn’t listen to you.”

Steven Jones: I wish I didn’t divulge so much of my poker stuff. I don’t regret sharing my success, but I wish I didn’t exactly put maybe a dollar amount or that part of it, because it wasn’t received as well as I thought it was going to be from allies.

Trinity Parriman: Well, I don’t really regret anything. I think I played the game the best I could. There’s not a decision where I was like, “Eh.” There’s one time when I knew you put [it] on AJ’s desk. I was looking at Perla, over her shoulder, “It was Steven. It was Steven.” I just called it.

Steven Jones: How?

Trinity Parriman: I don’t know, I just felt it in my gut.

Dajah Graham: We’ve got to play poker.

Steven Jones: I was just going to say that, but now I’m like, I’m not messing with him. [Laughs]

Vanessa Clements: My answer is the same as Trinity. I have no regrets. I made it all the way to the end. Had a whole lot of luck and a whole lot of determination.

Be sure to check out our previous Squid Game: The Challenge season 2 interviews with:

Squid Game: The Challenge season 2’s finale airs tonight on Netflix at 9 p.m. EST!