Squid Game Season 2’s Front Man Twist Feels Like Déjà Vu In The Worst Way

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As a die-hard fan who has watched “Squid Game” since its inception, I must admit that Season 2 left me feeling like I was stuck in a never-ending loop of Groundhog Day, only this time with bloodier consequences. While it’s undeniably thrilling to witness the return of our favorite characters, the storyline surrounding Hwang In-ho (aka the Front Man) feels like a pale imitation of Oh Il-nam’s arc from Season 1.

Contains spoilers for “Squid Game” Season 2

The second series of the hit Netflix show “Squid Game” has been released, but unlike its thrilling first season, the storyline in the second installment seems less impactful. This is mainly because the twist involving character Hwang In-ho, originally portrayed as the menacing overseer, feels like a repetition of the initial season’s surprise reveal. The creator, Hwang Dong-hyuk, aimed to use In-ho in an innovative way for this new season, but it ends up feeling more like a rehash rather than something fresh and subversive. Proceed with caution if you haven’t watched “Squid Game 2” yet, as major spoilers are coming up.

In the first season finale, viewers were left stunned by two shocking revelations: Firstly, it was disclosed that In-Ho, the long-lost sibling of officer Hwang Jun-ho (played by Wi Ha-joon), was not only alive but orchestrating the deadly island games for wealthy VIPs. Secondly, it was unveiled that Oh Il-nam, Gi-hun’s in-game associate, guide, and confidant, who was known as Player 001, was actually the mastermind behind the game itself. In season 2, when Gi-hun re-enters the game, it doesn’t take long for another startling twist to unfold: the new Player 001 is none other than In-ho himself, the Front Man.

Hwang In-ho’s Player 001 story is too similar to Oh Il-nam’s

Without a doubt, the way Hwang In-ho’s entry into the game is portrayed is masterfully done. His reappearance as the decisive vote to continue the games not only echoes Oh Il-nam’s vote from earlier seasons and sets up an intriguing subplot that could potentially take the series in new, perhaps even darker directions, but it also powerfully emphasizes the season’s main theme: the deception of free will within oppressive systems. It also leverages both the audience’s existing understanding and Seong Gi-hun’s ignorance about the Front Man’s true identity. As the camera ultimately reveals who will wear the fated green jacket as Player 001, Season 2 arguably reaches its climax.

After that pivotal moment, I, as a gamer, found myself disappointed with how Hwang Dong-hyuk and the “Squid Game” team didn’t fully capitalize on the initial twist to shake things up significantly. Just like Il-nam, In-ho (who cleverly chose the alias “il,” which means one in Korean) became Gi-hun’s closest confidant. At first, it seemed that In-ho might deviate slightly by working against Gi-hun’s chances to win or his efforts to unite the other players and escape. However, for most of the series, In-ho never took any action against Gi-hun or even prolonged the games. When we were about to vote before Gi-hun initiated a doomed rebellion against our pink overseers, In-ho cast his ballot to maintain a tie, which would have resulted in a continuation of the brutal competition if a “yes” had prevailed. While it’s plausible that this was part of In-ho’s grand scheme, the show doesn’t give us any insights into what that plan might be.

In-ho is somehow the show’s weakest character right now

In the second season of “Squid Game,” I found Hwang In-ho a bit enigmatic, but his motives were never unclear. Seong Gi-hun’s return to the games in Season 1 was driven by a desperate need to save his mother and find some semblance of hope for the future. However, what intrigued me most about his character in Season 2 was the internal struggle he faced when he realized that, despite living in luxury thanks to the deaths that fueled these games, he couldn’t ignore the fact that they continued to prey upon society’s most vulnerable while he remained untouched. Just like any well-developed character, Gi-hun’s motivations were always crystal clear and kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the season.

What could In-ho be aiming for or intending by his actions in “Squid Game 2”? We can only speculate based on his parting words to Gi-hun at the end of the season, which were a taunt suggesting that Gi-hun desires to play the hero. It’s possible that In-ho’s deception and eventual betrayal were a way to mentally torment someone who refused to acknowledge their own triumph. However, this interpretation is somewhat vague and complex. Given the limited information we have, it seems plausible but not definitive.

At certain stages early in the series, it appears that Hwang Dong-hyuk might be exploiting In-ho’s turn in a more chaotic manner. For instance, during the six-legged race, he deliberately hinders the team’s advance by repeatedly failing his mini-game. This leaves viewers, aware that In-ho, like Oh Il-nam, is likely to escape execution, with the impression that he might be sabotaging Gi-hun to eliminate his adversary since all other contestants have either died or been cleared. However, this isn’t the case. He eventually succeeds after a few more attempts and even assists Gi-hun in his own mini-game. This is just one of many instances where an opportunity to surprise the audience with the Front Man twist was missed, instead of keeping them engaged with a repetitive narrative they’ve already experienced.

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2024-12-27 02:30