Squid Game Season 2 BTS Moments That Make Us Love Thanos Even More

In the second season of “Squid Game”, no one claimed the grand prize of 45.6 billion won; however, it’s Choi Su-bong (played by Choi Seung-hyun, formerly known as T.O.P from BigBang) who captured viewers’ affection despite his unsavory character. While he was indeed a jerk, his humor stood out. His eccentric style, characterized by unique purple hair and multicolored nail polish, reflects his rap persona that echoes the menacing presence of an early Marvel Cinematic Universe villain. True to his villainous nickname, Choi Su-bong pushed contestants to their limits during Red Light, Green Light, and threatened others to keep playing, endangering more participants with each round.

In “Squid Games,” even the actor who plays Thanos has a past with marijuana charges. Yet, this somber past fades away when you watch the making-of footage for season 2. Despite the show’s eerie atmosphere, it seems like everyone’s enjoying themselves during filming, particularly Choi.

Regrettably, Thanos doesn’t survive until the end of “Squid Game” Season 2, which means we probably won’t get to see him anymore unless there are flashbacks. However, it’s not all bad news as fans can enjoy more of Choi’s entertaining character in these different clips and photos instead.

Thanos’ little run

In Season 2 of “Squid Game”, an intriguing twist emerges: following each match, players have the power to decide collectively whether to leave and divide the earnings they’ve accrued or continue playing for a chance at more winnings. This decision-making process creates conflicts and internal dilemmas among some participants who yearn for extra money but are reluctant to risk their lives further. Amidst all this turmoil stands Thanos, who persistently chooses to stay in the game despite losing all his money in a cryptocurrency swindle.

Netflix Korea recently shared a fun behind-the-scenes video from Squid Game, featuring Choi Seung-hyun participating in voting scenes. In this footage, it appears that he’s casting his vote during the initial round following the Red Light, Green Light game, where he enthusiastically presses the button and does a small cheer. In the actual episode, Thanos (portrayed by Seong Gi-hun, played by Lee Jung-jae) tries to persuade everyone else to end the games immediately after casting his vote, but in this video, it’s shown that there’s a brief pause before Choi Seung-hyun’s exuberant celebration. After giving his cheerful “Woot!”, he playfully trots over to his side.

In the first season of Squid Game, it seems likely that Choi knew his funny little post-voting sprint wouldn’t be included, as Gi-hun appears soon after. The following clip shows Choi looking back at Gi-hun speaking, which ended up being featured in the episode. However, we hope for a chance to see Thanos running in Season 2 of Squid Game, because it’s quite endearing.

Thanos hyping himself up

In a simpler and more natural manner: Thanos, introduced in “Squid Game” Season 2, was quite lively. Some viewers found this overly playful aspect made him less credible as a menacing character. Yet, it’s hard not to admire actor Choi Seung-hyun’s dedication in portraying Thanos convincingly as a real person.

Instead of sticking to traditional, subdued actions, Thanos frequently employs expressive hand gestures and abrupt movements. In some behind-the-scenes footage from Netflix Korea, it’s clear that Choi is perfecting these movements. He can be seen pacing a semi-circle around the dormitory, while simultaneously rehearsing his lines and fine-tuning his gesticulations if you pay close attention.

It’s interesting to watch an actor’s technique, ensuring his dialogue matches fitting gestures. It’s also amusing to notice Thanos acting quietly despite being the most boisterous character in “Squid Game” scenes he’s involved in. However, we admire Choi’s dedication and effort in making every moment Thanos appears on screen captivating for viewers.

Thanos learns his handshake

In the backstage footage, there are numerous alternate takes and Choi Seung-hyun rehearsing his lines. However, it’s during the pentathlon scene where we finally see an unscripted mistake. Before the game commences in the show, all participants must divide into teams of five. Thanos is keen on having Se-mi (Won Ji-an) in his team due to her beauty, but she insists that her friend, the seemingly ordinary Min-su (Lee David), also be included. Although Min-su may not seem popular (a fascinating fan theory proposes he’s a VIP), Thanos still extends a warm welcome to him by embracing him and saying, “Welcome to the Thanos Universe.

Initially, it seemed, Choi needed some time to perfect the specific handshake with Thanos. In the video, a team member demonstrated this unique handshake to Thanos before inviting Min-su onto the team. Later, when Choi attempted to perform it himself, he stumbled over “Thanos World” during another gesture. As we mentioned earlier, Thanos is quite lively, which made it tricky for Choi to determine the right moments for his actions.

In the blooper from Season 2, Episode 4 of “Six Legs”, titled “Thanos World”, Choi initially performed the handshake followed by his line, but in the final scene, he altered it to say his line first and then transitioned the handshake into a hug. This serves as a helpful tip to experiment with changes if something isn’t quite right.

Thanos is a team leader

As a die-hard fan, I can’t help but feel a tad disappointed with “Squid Game” Season 2, Episode 5 – “One More Game.” While the montage of different teams battling it out in the six-legged race and mini-games was undeniably entertaining, it left little screen time for Thanos and his crew.

The show offered brief glimpses into their competitive spirit, with Thanos swaying to the music and appearing somewhat detached, but I can’t help but wonder what we missed by not seeing more of them in action. It turns out there’s a trove of unused footage featuring Thanos that reveals his true leadership prowess and unwavering support for his team – a captain and cheerleader like no other!

During this challenge, teams soon realize that synchronizing their steps is crucial to avoid stumbling over one another. Thanos, who stands out among them, often counts his team members to make sure everyone moves at the right time. However, it’s a bit confusing as to whether a comment made by Thanos refers to him as the Marvel character, the Squid Game contestant, or Choi Seung-hyun, the actor.

As a devoted admirer, I can’t help but feel a pang of disappointment when brief glimpses of Thanos’ leadership grace the montage in the series. It’s fascinating to witness a different facet of this complex character, even though it’s clear he’s under the influence of some potent substance. Yet, amidst his altered state, he manages to coax out the best in his team and guide them towards victory in the next round.

Thanos’ pentathlon team struggles

The six-legged race involves multiple components and requires each team to be linked together at the legs, moving as a single unit while navigating a course filled with mini-games. With just five minutes to conquer all these mini-games and reach the finish line, there are numerous opportunities for things to go awry. However, it’s important to note that even though Thanos’ team appears to triumph in the montage doesn’t imply that the actors didn’t encounter difficulties in sticking to the rules independently.

Following the stone throw, Thanos’ group briefly rejoices before heading towards the next mini-game. As usual, Thanos leads the way with his booming voice, seeming to instruct everyone to prepare for the shift. He counts them down, yet not all participants are in sync, and a few cast members find it challenging to move the correct leg at the right moment. Lee David’s Min-su even finds himself stuck momentarily as the actors on either side of him move their legs simultaneously.

As a die-hard fan, I must admit that even though the games depicted in “Squid Game” might seem childish at first glance, it’s quite evident that these seemingly simple activities are actually quite challenging for the actors to execute convincingly.

Thanos doesn’t have a care in the world throughout Squid Game Season 2

During the “One More Game” sequence, we catch quick peeks of Thanos grooving alongside his companions as they engage in diverse activities. Remarkably, additional footage from behind the scenes reveals this. Specifically, when Nam-gyu (Roh Jae-won) spins his top, Thanos is nearby, egging him on enthusiastically. Regrettably, on that particular try, the top wobbles to the ground, prompting Se-mi to scold him for not succeeding.

On his second try, Thanos moves in close to shout at Nam-gyu, and it’s only then that he manages to spin it properly. Despite Nam-gyu shoving Thanos back, he still sports a strange yet amusing expression. The rest of the team seems concerned, but he appears both resolute and distant simultaneously.

In certain scenes of “Squid Game,” Thanos appears more like a caricature character rather than fitting seamlessly into the grim atmosphere of the series. His over-the-top facial expressions and unpredictable body language make him seem detached from the grimness of the show, which can create an amusing effect that allows us to appreciate it as pure entertainment, even though we recognize its heavy themes.

Thanos dragging his friends

Without a doubt, the most intriguing game in “Squid Game” Season 2 is called Mingle. The contestants find themselves in a harrowing predicament as they stand on a revolving stage with music playing. Once the melody stops, a number is declared. They must swiftly divide into groups of that specific number and navigate their way to a room to endure until the next round. This situation forces them to make tough decisions – unless you’re Thanos, who instead encourages competition to find his designated room.

To the beat of the music, Thanos and Nam-gyu dance carefreely, seemingly unaware of the impending doom that awaits them. In a situation where they can only bring one additional person into a room, it boils down to a choice between Min-su and Se-mi. They decide to settle this with a game of rock-paper-scissors, with Min-su emerging as the lucky winner. Footage from BTS reveals that Thanos offers Min-su an invitation in various ways. In the first instance, he takes off running, presumably hoping Min-su will follow suit. For the second try, Thanos and Nam-gyu physically grab Min-su, dragging him along against his will.

There’s some debate about whether the initial recording is an actual mistake by Choi Seung-hyun, where he forgot to tug on Min-su, or if they were experimenting with a new method. Regardless, it provides an interesting insight as we watch Choi Seung-hyun rehearse various versions of the scene. An extra bonus is that we get to observe all the background actors casually moving around and interacting with each other while the camera focuses on Thanos’ group.

No Thanoses were hurt in the making of Squid Game Season 2

Watching backstage footage of fight sequences is particularly captivating. In the final edit, these scenes should appear as if genuine blows were exchanged between characters, and it’s intriguing to observe how different camera perspectives contribute to this illusion.

In the second season of “Squid Game,” Thanos often finds himself in the restroom. Notably, he has a heated altercation with Lee Myung-gi (played by Im Si-wan), who’s been at odds with him since the start due to being the YouTuber who endorsed a fraudulent crypto scheme that wiped out the rapper’s fortune. At one instance, Myung-gi attempts to strike Thanos; although it appears he missed from the angle shown, Choi Seung-hyun steps aside as if hit. The scene is also depicted from another perspective, where Myung-gi abruptly stops his punch upon hearing something from off-screen.

It’s fascinating to witness such daring feats being executed, and it becomes clear how Thanos manages to casually turn around expressionless in the final cut, a moment that further solidifies his image as an unyielding character.

Two Thanoses!?

In “Squid Game” Season 2, Thanos swiftly transitions from being grave to light-hearted. Luckily, Choi Seung-hyun seems to be a more cheerful individual who’s less likely to abruptly change his mood. In the restroom footage, Choi can be seen laughing and joking, evidently finding amusement in the process of this specific scene.

If you pay attention while watching “Squid Game”, you’ll discover a delight for fans: hidden in the backdrop, there’s a character with purple hair who appears to be the K-pop star’s stand-in. This individual is also noticeable in Netflix Korea’s other videos, seemingly waiting in the wings just in case Thanos becomes necessary for a scene that might endanger him.

When this duplicate stands among the other characters, he doesn’t appear in any scenes included in the aired episodes. It’s worth noting that if both versions of Thanos (Thane?) had been visible in the same frame, it would have certainly fueled numerous fan theories.

Thanos does do a lot of his own stunts on Squid Game Season 2

As a gamer putting myself in the shoes of Choi Seung-hyun, I can confidently say that based on this behind-the-scenes footage, I’m the one performing most of my own stunts for “Squid Game.” It’s me, not a stunt double, gasping for breath as Lee Byung-hun (Hwang In-ho) clutches my throat in an intense scene. The bathroom brawl in Episode 6, “X O,” which is packed with stunts, has me squarely in the thick of it. Incredibly, I’m the one throwing those punches and taking those hits.

In the restroom fight sequence from the video, Choi is prominently involved as it turns out he’s the one who eventually kills Thanos. The fight involves numerous characters, most of whom join forces, and Choi primarily engages with Im Si-wan. There’s a scene where Choi shoves him against the wall, and there’s also a stunt featuring Choi flipping Im onto the bathroom tiles. (The loud thud suggests that Im might not have been injured during this part.) Additionally, in another segment, Choi pretends to punch Im, who then tackles him – again, Choi performs his own stunts during these scenes.

It’s great to acknowledge the effort and dedication stunt doubles put into their work, often without receiving much recognition. Interestingly, in the case of actor Choi, it seems he chose to participate actively in many action scenes. This makes his involvement all the more impressive since he could have avoided tougher scenes if desired.

Thanos gets his picture with Player 196 after all

In the hypothetical second season of “Squid Game,” Kang Mi-na (also known as Player 196, portrayed by Song Ji-woo), who might have been the first character eliminated when the competition started, left a lasting impression on viewers. Online fans even dubbed her an “icon” and “diva,” despite her brief screen time. In scenes where she appears adorable and dismisses Thanos’ advances, she exudes charm. Interestingly, many of the players sought photographs with Thanos, who is a semi-famous rapper, before playing Red Light, Green Light. Thanos seemed smitten by Player 196 and requested a photo with her, but she declined. However, off the game field, they seemed to have a friendly rapport.

Song posted numerous photos on Instagram during her short stint filming “Squid Game” Season 2. One of these pictures shows her with two fingers raised, standing alongside Choi Seung-hyun and a few other cast members. It’s delightful to witness the actors in such high spirits, given the gruesome scenes they will soon portray once filming begins.

In some way or another, whether you admire him or dislike him, Thanos undeniably impacted the series “Squid Game,” and a behind-the-scenes look confirms that he generated just as many striking offscreen moments as on. As we eagerly anticipate “Squid Game” Season 3, there are numerous elements we hope to witness, and although another Thanos appearance might seem unlikely, there’s always the chance of a surprising plot twist.

2025-02-11 01:01