Gi-hun Could Have Saved Everyone in ‘Squid Game’ Season 2

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The second season of Squid Game has sparked mixed reactions among viewers. Some spectators are praising the fresh characters and story arcs, while others question the necessity of another season. The series, led by Lee Jung-jae, finds Seong Gi-hun back in the games, this time with a mission to put an end to them. However, despite multiple chances to rescue everyone, Gi-hun either failed to act or unintentionally caused more casualties in some instances.

If Gi-hun had spent more thought on his strategy from the very beginning of the game, he might have been able to prevent the games in round one, or even at the start of the series. At the very least, he should have come up with a more calculated plan against those controlling the games, rather than ending the narrative on such an unresolved note.

8
He Could Have Split His Prize Money

At the conclusion of Season 1 in the series ‘Squid Game’, Gi-hun stood alone as the last man standing and the fortunate recipient of a staggering 45.6 billion Won. Upon his return in Season 2, it became apparent that numerous players were in dire need of funds; their desperation was so profound that they were prepared to participate in another round of games for the opportunity to boost their earnings. Interestingly, if Gi-hun had merely proposed dividing his previous winnings among them, it’s likely that a significant number of these players would have chosen to halt the games. Intriguingly, during the initial round, the ‘X’ team was just one vote shy of victory; Gi-hun could have sealed his win by offering money to the remaining voters.

A Smart Gamble

Indeed, it’s possible that other players may not have trusted Gi-hun, or even tried to take his winnings for themselves. Yet, at this stage in the series, they were unaware that killing each other would lead to increased winnings. Some, driven by extreme financial need, might have been willing to risk it all, hoping for a positive outcome, especially if they had reasons to believe Gi-hun was truthful – perhaps because he had shared valuable information beforehand.

7
He Could Have Warned the Players Before Red Light, Green Light

Prior to the start of the initial match, Gi-hun passes the time, hoping for backup to arrive. Unfortunately, the device in his tooth that was being tracked has been taken out, making it impossible for them to locate him. In a state of distress, he warns the other players about the impending game’s lethal nature, stating that if they move, they will be eliminated. Initially doubtful, the others pay heed to his words, and things appear to be progressing smoothly—until one player is startled by a bee and promptly killed on the spot.

Why Not Both?

It’s peculiar that Gi-hun’s plan primarily relied on others rescuing him, rather than seeking help and informing the players about the situation. Although his actions indeed resulted in fewer first game deaths, more lives might have been spared if he had shared the information before the game began. The players could have developed a strategy to maximize survival rates, making the situation less chaotic compared to when the first death occurred.

6
He Could Have Bribed the Guards

Similar to the contestants, several security personnel in Squid Game were financially struggling. In fact, one guard, identified as number 11, accepted the job to gather funds for locating her daughter in North Korea. Although the specific compensation they receive isn’t disclosed, it seems unlikely that it justifies the oppressive environment they face. It’s likely that some of these guards may be searching for an escape route, and with promises of reciprocation, Gi-hun could potentially help them do so.

Lessons From Season 1

It became clear to Gi-hun that the guards sometimes disregarded commands, such as when some were exposed in the first season for collaborating with a doctor to extract organs illicitly. Given the watchful eye of the Front Man, it seemed unlikely that he could persuade a guard to aid him. Yet, it’s intriguing that he didn’t even attempt to win over one of them, considering he had good reason to think the guards too were trapped in the games—prisoners he intended to rescue.

5
He Could Have Attacked the Os First

After every match, it was up to the players to vote on whether to carry on playing or quit, with the majority’s decision determining their future. In a situation where the votes were evenly split, the ‘Os’ (those who wished to stay) chose to confront the ‘Xs’ (those wanting to leave) in an attempt to lower their numbers. Surprisingly, Gi-hun opted to betray these Xs for a better chance at deceiving and rising up against the guards. However, if he had warned the Xs of his intentions, they might have retaliated against the Os instead.

Sacrifice for the Greater Good

If the Xs initiated the attack on the Os initially, it would result in the Os perishing rather than the Xs. In this scenario, Gi-hun wouldn’t be considered a savior in a traditional sense. But if the Xs had eliminated more Os, they could have amassed enough votes to terminate the games themselves.

From a moral perspective, Gi-hun may have found issue with this concept, as he later conveys to one of the Xs that murdering the Os would only make them equivalent to them. Nevertheless, in essence, his actions mirrored this when he stood by idly as the other Xs were killed. To add insult to injury, their sacrifices proved fruitless since the players’ uprising was swiftly quelled. In truth, Gi-hun’s strategy is riddled with numerous ethical and logical inconsistencies, suggesting it was conceived spontaneously.

4
He Could Have Gone to the Media

A more straightforward approach for Gi-hun to rescue the new players and bring an end to the games might have been by revealing them to the public through media platforms. By this point in the story, Gi-hun had accumulated significant wealth, which he could’ve utilized to broadcast his revelations about the games extensively. Although not everyone might have believed him initially, a substantial number of conspiracy theorists would likely embrace his message and potentially collaborate with him to either halt or investigate these mysterious games.

Making Headlines

It seems unlikely that the game creators would approve of Gi-hun’s actions, but if they decided to eliminate him, it would only add to suspicions about their motives. There’s a chance one of the reporters could be an informant for the games, and might try to silence Gi-hun. Yet, he could also attempt to bribe that reporter (a recurring option in this scenario) or spread his message differently, perhaps on social media. Essentially, Gi-hun didn’t have to keep his plans secret and act alone, and we can’t help but wonder why he did so.

3
He Could Have Gone With Hwang Jun-ho to the Police

Initially, Gi-hun was unaware of Jun-ho’s identity due to his disguise during their initial encounter. But once he discovered Jun-ho’s involvement in the game, he had an opportunity to join forces with him and reveal their experiences to the authorities. It’s worth noting that two individuals discussing the games would be more persuasive, particularly when one of them possesses a large fortune seemingly acquired out of nowhere. Moreover, apprehending the Recruiter might lead to obtaining additional information and evidence from him.

One Glaring Issue

It seems that working with Jun-ho might necessitate placing trust in him, but there are concerns about his true intentions as he hasn’t been completely open about them. Moreover, the connection between Jun-ho and the Front Man presents a potential conflict of interest. However, Gi-hun is unaware of this link, which explains why he trusted Jun-ho to be part of the Gi-hun retrieval team. A suggestion might be to propose investigating the possibility of approaching the police together before taking any further steps. This idea seems straightforward and prudent.

2
A Little More Skepticism Would Have Gone a Long Way

In the series, one of Gi-hun’s key traits – his unwavering faith in others – is both a significant asset and a potential liability. He continues to trust people, despite being given reasons not to, such as when he trusted Cho Sang-woo during the first season, despite Sang-woo betraying him multiple times. Similarly, he places trust in the Front Man (Player 001) during season 2, even though the original Player 001 deceived him.

Finding Middle Ground

It seems unusual that Gi-hun hasn’t developed more caution when it comes to those he trusts closely, possibly due to his desire to avoid resembling Oh Il-nam’s pessimistic and nihilistic nature. Yet, one can be excessively trusting, and Gi-hun exemplifies this trait. In a survival game like the one he’s in, it’s acceptable – even necessary – to question others, but this doesn’t reflect on the overall morality of humanity.

1
He Could Have Purchased More Than One Tracking Device

Among all the options presented, this idea would have been the most straightforward for Gi-hun to execute. Since he had already acquired one tracking device, adding more wouldn’t cause much trouble. In fact, having multiple units could offer additional security. And to further enhance safety, why not acquire them from various surgeons and have different people present during each procedure?

A Matter of Odds

If Gi-hun had carried out everything as planned, it’s possible that one of the devices might not have been detected by the guards. It’s true that Hwang Jun-ho collaborated with a captain who eventually turned against them, so whatever Jun-ho learned could potentially have led to their downfall. Yet, if Gi-hun had held back some details from Jun-ho, those details would not have been passed on to the captain either.

It might seem that a skilled gambler such as Gi-hun would have taken additional steps to improve his odds. Luckily, since season 3 is on its way and there may be spin-offs in the future, it appears that Gi-hun will get numerous opportunities to rescue the remaining players and finally conquer the games for good.

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2025-01-05 04:03