‘Squid Game: Season 2’: Highlights from the show

Former Bigbang rapper Choi Seung-hyun, otherwise known by his stage name T.O.P, delivered a performance of Choi Su-bong aka “Thanos” or Player 230 in Squid Game: Season 2, who’s completely unhinged. His character, also a rapper, is one of many cash-strapped individuals gunning to bag the cash prize. He’s chaotic, uses drugs throughout the show, randomly speaks English, tries to hit on another contestant, and does whacky things like freezing in weird poses during the Red Light, Green Light game.

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While the casting of “Thanos” previously stirred a debate due to Choi’s controversial past, Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-hyuk addressed his casting decision. “This is a comeback after quite a long hiatus, particularly because he portrays a character that’s a rapper and also someone who is on drugs. I feel it took him a lot of guts to take on a role that mirrors some of his personal struggles,” adding that Choi performed very impressively and that he’s very satisfied with what he did with the character.

Honestly? Just watch Choi without any judgment.

Bloodbaths and wince-worthy moments aside, it’s not always violence and tragedy at the games. One character stood out for her heartwarming story arc–Jang Geum-ja or Player 149, played by Kang Ae-shim. The mother to Park Yong-sik aka Player 007, played by Yang Dong-geun, displayed maternal instincts, unconditional love for her deadbeat son, and looking out and caring for the other contestants even in such harsh environments.

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In a touching scene, Park approaches the young Kim Jun-hee or Player 222, played by Jo Yu-ri, to offer her more food from her dosirak (a Korean packed meal in a lunch box) after realising Kim is pregnant. She also tries to ensure Kim’s safety in some of the more brutal games despite being elderly. Hands down, Park is easily one of the Squid Game franchise favourites.

As Seong successfully sabotages the Red Light, Green Light game, the biggest plot twist unfurls–Hwang In-ho aka the Front Man, played by Lee Byung-hun, who was watching this unfold on CCTV, springs into action, changes the follow-up games, puts on the green tracksuit, and joins the games as Player 001.

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When Hwang and Seong, the latter unaware that Hwang is the Front Man, get acquainted, Hwang reveals a bit of his backstory to Seong, perhaps to win his sympathy. Hwang tells him that he’s here because of his sickly pregnant wife who’s determined to carry her pregnancy to term despite risking her life and that he’s even willing to use “blood money” to save them. It’s a sob story and not entirely untrue, but he’s recalling events from 2015 and his wife is already dead.

The two will later be allies through a slew of new games, with Seong unknowingly forging a bond with the enemy. The new games include:

• The “Six-Legged Pentathlon”: Players are divided into groups of five where they play as teams with their legs tied together. Along a running track, in five minutes, the team members have to play mini-games. To win, all the mini-games need to be completed and the team has to cross the finish line before time runs out.

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• “Mingle”: Players are to step onto a spinning platform in the centre of an arena, similar to musical chairs. When a random number is called out, players have to form a team which matches the number, run into one of the surrounding rooms, and close the door with said number of team members inside within 30 seconds or be eliminated.
  
  
• The “Special Game”: The fourth game played in Squid Game: Season 2 is the “special game” which was featured in the last season. In this game, players attack each other during lights out.

Additionally, in the first season, players are allowed to vote to go home–albeit only once–and empty-handed, at that. In Squid Game: Season 2, voting happens after every game and the remaining players are allowed to split the pot of money that accumulated to that point. Players are also given tags according to their votes which causes tension and sows division.

Finally, as a nod to the traditionally conservative South Korean audience’s changing views about and acceptance of LGBTQ+ content, Squid Game: Season 2 also included a transgender contestant–Cho Hyun-ju or Player 120, played by The Glory and Queen of Tears star Park Sung-hoon.

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The open ending in the final episode after the rebellion by the players signals a Squid Game: Season 3, a third, final season, which has been confirmed by director Hwang and is set to premiere in 2025. It’s unclear how many characters survived the rebellion though Hwang returned as the Front Man during the massacre and oddly, spared Seong’s life.

All will be (hopefully) answered in Squid Game: Season 3.

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