Small Details You Missed In Squid Game Season 2

As a storyteller who has spent countless hours immersed in narratives of all shapes and sizes, I find myself captivated by the intricate web of secrets and lies that unfold in “Squid Game.” It’s not every day that we come across characters as complex and multi-layered as the ones found within this series.

Contains spoilers for “Squid Game” Season 2

In 2021, “Squid Game” was released and swiftly turned into a global sensation, breaking Netflix records to become their most popular series ever. The show chronicles the story of Seong Gi-hun (played by Lee Jung-jae), who agrees to participate in a series of games after being promised he could win some money. As a horse racing enthusiast, this sounded like a dream come true for Gi-hun. However, things took a grim turn when they started playing the first game, red light, green light: anyone caught moving while a giant doll is facing them gets shot. Needless to say, none of the players had anticipated this brutal twist in the games.

Even though he was taken aback initially, Gi-hun eventually emerged victorious in the games. Intriguingly, he was the sole survivor among the 456 players. The term ‘survivor’s guilt’ barely scratches the surface of his feelings. At the conclusion of “Squid Game” Season 1, instead of traveling to America to meet his daughter, he resolved to track down the organizers of the games with the aim of dismantling their operation. By the time we rejoin him in Season 2, he has been searching for them for three years. It’s only a question of when Gi-hun will be drawn back into the games once more, where a fresh batch of contestants have gathered to fight for their lives.

In the second season of “Squid Game” on Netflix, there are numerous subtle aspects that might have gone unnoticed. Here are ten hidden gems you could have easily missed in the latest season.

Gi-hun’s loan shark now works for him

In the first season of “Squid Game,” it swiftly emerges that Gi-hun is in debt to a ruthless lender, Kim Pub-lae. It’s evident that this lender and his henchmen are displeased with Gi-hun when they brutally injure him in a restroom. However, after winning the grand prize of 45.6 billion won in the games, Gi-hun’s fortunes take a turn for the better. In “Squid Game” Season 2, not only does Gi-hun settle his debt with Kim Pub-lae (who had threatened to take one of his organs), but he also enlists him to find the person responsible for recruiting him into these deadly games.

In the dialogue between Mr. Kim’s associates, it’s not explicitly mentioned that he was once Gi-hun’s loan shark. Instead, they question whether Gi-hun might be delusional due to their prolonged search for The Salesman (Gong Yoo). Having not seen him for two years, many have started to doubt Gi-hun. However, Mr. Kim expresses faith in Gi-hun because he has encountered debtors vanishing recently and Gi-hun is his only client who has ever repaid him.

In this new season, Mr. Kim is remarkably kinder than his previous portrayal. He even selflessly gives up for his newlywed friend Woo-seok, a stark contrast to the character who would have exploited Gi-hun had he not bribed him. This demonstrates that everyone has complex layers within them.

The man who brings people over to South Korea is back

In Season 1 of “Squid Game,” character Jung Ho-yeon (portraying Kang Sae-byeok) approaches a broker to facilitate bringing her parents from China to South Korea. Unfortunately, the broker provides little assistance and instead informs her that it would cost an exorbitant 40 million won for this service. Frustrated, she pours hot coffee on him and threatens him with a knife at his throat. Despite her displeasure, she resolves to acquire the necessary funds, leading her to participate in the games. Regrettably, she doesn’t live long enough to keep her promise. In Season 2, Gi-hun picks up where Sae-byeok left off: he confronts the same broker about bringing Sae-byeok’s mother to South Korea instead.

In this instance, the broker appears more accommodating. He not only managed to locate Sae-byeok’s mother, but he intends to bring her to South Korea immediately. Remorseful about their previous encounter with Sae-byeok, he expresses his regret. Interestingly, as soon as Gi-hun departs from his office, No-eul (Park Gyu-young), the amusement park worker who later becomes a game participant, arrives. She’s enlisting his help to locate the baby girl she left in North Korea years ago. Regrettably, he informs her that it’s impossible to find her daughter at this point. Despite the broker’s more friendly demeanor, it’s evident that the business remains challenging.

The opera songs the Salesman plays have some significance

In a turn of events, Gi-hun’s associates, under the guidance of their ex-creditor, track down the individual who enrolled Gi-hun into these games. Unfortunately, this leads to a series of escalating events. The Salesman, returning home with Mr. Kim and Woo-seok in restraints, forces them to participate in lethal activities for his entertainment. In another chilling moment, he even plays a game of Russian roulette with Gi-hun. Throughout these games, the Salesman prefers to accompany the chaos with opera music, finding the dramatic and intense atmosphere fitting for his twisted contests. Interestingly, each opera tune he selects carries relevance to the ongoing circumstances.

The initial contest unfolds with the enchanting melody of “Nessun Dorma,” a piece from the final act of Giacomo Puccini’s opera “Turandot.” This masterpiece is particularly recognized for being sung by the legendary Luciano Pavarotti. In this captivating story, the character Calaf competes against Princess Turandot in a game where he challenges her to guess his name. If she succeeds, he faces execution, but if she fails, they marry. The title “Nessun Dorma” translates to “None shall sleep,” which is what Turandot demands: no one in her kingdom can rest until Calaf’s name is revealed, and if no one discovers his identity, all will face execution. The song’s themes resonate with the contest, as Calaf expresses his determination by saying “Vincerò” or “I will win.” In the Salesman’s perspective, it serves as an ideal soundtrack for the game played by Mr. Kim and Woo-seok.

In the movie, the song titled “Time to say goodbye” (originally “Con te partirò”), sung by Andrea Bocelli, plays during the Russian roulette scene in Gi-hun’s Pink Hotel. The song was penned by Francesco Sartori and Lucio Quarantotto. The title translates to “I will leave with you,” but it’s more commonly known as “Time to say goodbye.” Despite having a more romantic tone compared to “Nessun Dorma,” it effectively conveys its message for those who are attentive.

The actors behind the Salesman and the Front Man are very famous

In the hit series “Squid Game”, several actors have gained international recognition due to their roles. However, there are two who were already well-known prior to the show’s release; one is the actor playing the Salesman, and the other is the Front Man. The man portraying the Salesman is Gong Yoo. While he had a significant impact in “Squid Game”, he is more recognized for his leading role as Seok-woo in the 2016 Korean zombie movie, “Train to Busan”.

Lee Byung-hun, famously known for his portrayal of the enigmatic Front Man, has made a significant impact on the international film scene. His diverse acting roles include Han Cho Bai alongside Bruce Willis in “RED 2” (2013), the T-1000 opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger in “Terminator Genisys” (2015), and Billy Rocks with Chris Pratt and Denzel Washington in the 2016 remake of “The Magnificent Seven.” You might also recognize him from his appearances as Storm Shadow in both “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra” (2009) and its sequel, “G.I. Joe: Retaliation.” Lee is a distinguished member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and made history as the first Korean individual to present an award at the Oscars in 2016.

Jung-bae is Gi-hun’s friend from the debut episode

In the thrilling world of “Squid Game,” as I found myself back for season two, a shocking revelation unfolded: my old buddy from the horse races, Jung-bae (Lee Seo-hwan), was drawn into the deadly games too! It’s easy to miss, but this is actually the same pal I used to wager with during the very first episode of season one.

In the first season, Jung-bae plays a relatively minor role compared to Gi-hun. He encourages Gi-hun at an ATM as Gi-hun uses his mother’s card for money, and they then place bets on horses together. However, it’s evident that the narrative primarily revolves around Gi-hun, with minimal focus on Jung-bae. Interestingly, when Jung-bae reappears in the second season, he seems older, and his circumstances have significantly changed. It appears to have been three years since they last saw each other, during which time Jung-bae got divorced, and his child is now with his ex-wife. Despite the unfavorable situation of Jung-bae participating in the games again, it serves as a nostalgic reference back to Season 1 if one notices it.

The actor who plays Thanos is a rapper in real life

One of the new players in “Squid Game” Season 2 is a rapper named Thanos. He’s played by Choi Seung-hyun, who is better known as T.O.P., his stage name. In the show, Thanos was a runner-up in Battle of the Bands, but he’s not as successful as the man playing him: T.O.P. is very well-known in South Korea, though these days he’s mostly associated with controversy. He’s a former member of the K-pop group Big Bang, one of the most influential South Korean music acts when it comes to the spread of K-pop overseas. In 2017, T.O.P. was fined 10 million won and received a suspended prison sentence of 10 months due to marijuana charges. Because of this scandal, T.O.P. stepped away from his high-profile work and officially confirmed he was withdrawing from Big Bang in 2022.

In the limelight again due to “Squid Game,” T.O.P.’s casting has stirred up debate in South Korea. Fans of the series were displeased upon learning about his past drug charges, but director Hwang Dong-hyuk has defended him vehemently. According to an interview with South Korea’s Maeil Business Newspaper (via Hindustan Times), Hwang considers T.O.P. the “ideal fit” for his character and is fully dedicated to the role. Despite the ongoing controversy, T.O.P.’s exclusion from promotional activities related to the show seems likely, but his portrayal of a compelling character remains. Let’s see if audiences will give him another chance when Season 2 of “Squid Game” is released.

No-eul keeps an eye on Na-yeon’s father in the games

In the realm of these digital battlegrounds, I, Park Gyu-young (No-eul), am a formidable warrior. I’m known for eliminating those who have fallen short, armed with a mighty weapon. Yet, there’s one opponent I may find it challenging to face: player number 246. That’s because behind that screen is Lee Jin-wook (Gyeong-seok), the father of Na-yeon, a little girl battling cancer. Our paths crossed at an amusement park where we both once worked. I was a captivating character in costume who won over his daughter with a lollipop during a parade, and he was a gifted cartoonist. However, life led us to the games, side by side but worlds apart.

One of No-eul’s final actions outside the deadly games was to give back the little girl’s hat while she went into the hospital, and overheard Gyeong-seok discussing with doctors about finding a way to cover his daughter’s medical expenses. It appears that a salesperson took advantage of his predicament and coerced him into participating in the games. In the first round – red light, green light – No-eul recognizes him. Remarkably, she seems determined to save his life despite her ruthless approach towards other contestants’ demise. This isn’t a primary storyline in “Squid Game,” but it adds an intriguing layer of complexity that may have gone unnoticed by some viewers.

The automatons play the same song from Season 1

In the Front Man’s office, where he often watches games, an automated band is located. During the initial season, their music accompanied the opening round of “red light, green light” and was also played at the end of Episode 8, a significant moment when Sae-byeok (Jung Ho-yeon) passed away and was subsequently cremated, with “Fly Me to the Moon” being the chosen tune. In the subsequent season, these mechanical musicians reappear, providing music during parts of “red light, green light” once more, this time in Episode 3.

In this particular setting, it’s clear that the Lead Character is directing the robots with a remote control, and they’re strategically arranged on stage. The scene takes place at an American jazz club, where each robot plays an instrument or, for the female robot, sings. You might not have noticed, but they’re playing the same song as in the first season (“Fly Me to the Moon”), albeit with a contemporary twist in the arrangement. However, this performance ends when the Lead Character leaves his office and the music stops.

There are several pop culture references in Squid Game Season 2

In the course of the program, you might have overlooked a few pop culture nods. One such jest involves Thanos (also known as Choi Seung-hyun in this context), a reference to the famous rapper. When he invites Se-mi (Won Ji-an) to team up with him for the second game and introduces himself as Thanos, she queries if he’s managed to collect all the Infinity Stones yet. This is a wink to the villainous character from comic books named Thanos, who was played by Josh Brolin in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In these movies, Thanos uses the Infinity Stones to eliminate half of all life across the universe.

There are a few references in the fifth episode of the show. First, Dae-ho (Kang Ha-neul) references Kim Byung-hyun when he’s referring to Jong-bae’s successful performance in the second game: Kim Byung-hyun was a successful Korean pitcher who played for the American baseball teams the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Boston Red Sox. He was with the Diamondbacks when they won the World Series in 2001, making him the first Korean player to win a World Series. He’s been retired for years, but Dae-ho’s reference is still potent because Jong-bae was like an expert pitcher in the second game.

It seems like Player 149’s first name could be linked to the character Geum-ja from Park Chan-Wook’s film “Lady Vengeance.” This movie, along with “Oldboy,” forms a trilogy. Both characters share names and find themselves in challenging circumstances not of their own making – Player 149 is trying to free her son from debt, while Geum-ja takes the blame for Mr. Baek’s crimes in the film. Whether this connection is intentional in “Squid Game” isn’t clear, but it’s certainly an intriguing parallel.

The story that Young-il tells about his wife is only half true

In the initial series of “Squid Game”, we learn that the game’s mastermind, referred to as the Front Man, turns out to be Hwang Jun-ho’s (Wi Ha-joon) brother, In-ho. A dramatic twist occurs just before In-ho shoots Jun-ho, causing him to fall into a coma. In the second season, we delve deeper into the Front Man’s character as he transforms into a player himself, taking on the role of number 001. Among his fellow players, he is recognized by the name Young-il. He claims that he has joined the games due to his wife’s liver disease and her pregnancy, necessitating a transplant. However, this backstory appears to be fabricated or outdated at best.

It turns out that In-ho’s wife passed away some time ago, and despite his involvement in the games and even winning, he couldn’t prevent her death. Additionally, it is revealed in Episode 2 of Season 2 that In-ho was accused of taking bribes, although he claims a vendor offered assistance for his personal circumstances. His employer mistakenly believed it was a bribe and terminated him, leading to his participation in the games. Interestingly, Jun-ho and his mother seem unaware of any children mentioned by In-ho. This suggests that either only In-ho and his wife knew about the child, or the child may have died as well when she did. It’s also possible there was no child at all. Whatever the truth, some event appears to have hardened In-ho’s heart.

2024-12-26 18:31