Season 2 ofSquid Gamesees Lee Byung-hun’s character, Hwang In-ho, come into his own, after his identity as villainous game-runner the Front Man was revealed late in season 1. He’s joined byKorean hip-hop star T.O.P, who arrives in the third episode of the season playing Thanos, a loudmouth rapper who’s entered the game after losing all his money in bad crypto investments.
The scene is set for these two heavyweights of Korean entertainment to square off in the following episode, when Thanos starts beating up another player with his friend Nam-gyu. They blame their victim, Myung-gi, for defrauding them with cryptocurrencies. With the other participants watching on, the Front Man steps in. “What makes you think you can behave like that?” he asks, approaching T.O.P’s character. This face-off appears to bea deliberate reference to the TV series that launched Byung-hun to A-list status across Asia.
Before Squid Game, Lee Byung-hun And T.O.P Worked Together In Iris
They Also Played Each Other’s Enemies In This First Collaboration
The 2009 Korean action thriller seriesIrisstars Lee Byung-hun as its principal hero,a black ops agent for the Korean National Security Service (NSS)tasked with thwarting the attempts of terrorist organizationIRISto stop the reunification of Korea. At one point, IRIS militants capture hostages which they use to try and pressure the government of South Korea.
When Byung-hun’s character Kim Hyun-jun goes to negotiate the release of one hostage, a young girl named Yuki, he meetsterrorist assassin Vick, played by T.O.P, who’s holding her at gunpoint. Initially, Hyun-jun gives Vick what he wants, before kicking a detonator out of his hand, grabbing Yuki, and abseiling to safety with her off the side of the Tamagawa Dam. A car chase ensues as T.O.P’s character tries to catch the hero, before he crashes headlong into another vehicle during the chase.
How Lee Byung-hun And T.O.P’s Iris Characters Compare To Their Squid Game Roles
The Front Man Is The Opposite, But T.O.P’s Role Is More Similar
Unlike his heroic special agent inIris, Lee Byung-hun plays an out-and-out villain inSquid Game. Yetdisguised as Player 001 for most ofSquid Gameseason 2, he appears to be one of the good guys – which only makes his character’s real intentions as the Front Man more horrifying. Forfacing down and beating up T.O.P’s character Thanosduring the fourth episode, he even gets a round of applause from the rest of the players. He seems to be an authoritative elder statesman among them who was the only one brave enough to stand up to a bully.
“Most shocking of all, though, is Player #1, who you may recognize as (Lee Byung-hun). Fascinated by Gi-hun’s desire to re-enter the games, The Front Man (also known as In-ho) makes a trustworthy ally for the hopeful disruptor, playing along with Gi-hun as he gathers allies.” - Graham Guttmann -ScreenRant review ofSquid GameSeason 2
Meanwhile,Squid Game’s Thanos, who takes his name from Marvel’s villain, isn’t exactly much of a step up from the Front Man in moral terms. T.O.P might not be playing the evil assassin he is inIris, but his character is still arrogant, aggressive and outright cruel. He doesn’t much care whether most other characters in the game live or die, and would prefer most of them to be killed, so he gets his money and pays off his debts. Herepeatedly bullies Myung-gi throughout the season, and almost strangles him to death in their final fight before he receives a fatal stab wound himself.
The Front Man And Thanos Were Both Highlights Of Squid Game Season 2
They Added New Layers To The Show
The Front Man’s infiltration into the game as what seems like a regular player from the third episode of Season 2 adds an extra layer of subterfuge and deceit toSquid Gamethat wasn’t really there in the first season. As a crowd gathers around protagonist Gi-hun, who’s trying to get everyone out of the game alive,Player 001 tells him, “You’re the reason I ended up voting to stay. It’s true.”
This is the ultimate example of dramatic irony, as only we as an audience are aware ofthe Front Man’s real identity and motives inSquid Gameseason 2. In a further twist of irony, however, he actually is speaking the truth, although not for the reasons he claims. He’s there to stop Gi-hun freeing all players from the game.
Disappointed By Front Man’s Squid Game Season 2 Twist? Watch This 15-Year-Old K-Drama For A Better Ending
Squid Game season 2 is big for Front Man’s story. But for those not happy with In-ho’s ending, a 2009 Korean drama is the perfect next watch.
T.O.P’s Thanos adds some extra venom to proceedings, too, by behaving in an inhumane and vindictive manner towards many of his fellow players. There’s no denying the actor-rapper’s charisma on-screen, though, as he brings more color toSquid Gamethan we’ve seen previously – quite literally, in the form of his rainbow-painted fingernails and spiky purple haircut. He also gives us something to cheer about when Myung-gi gives him his comeuppance inSquid Gameseason 2’s even spikier, rib-breaking death scene.
Squid Game - Season 2
Three years after his victory, Gi-hun returns to the deadly survival game with a renewed determination. As new participants vie for the massive cash prize, the series delves into their personal motives, testing alliances and moral boundaries in a high-stakes battle for survival and fortune.
