Squid Game Season 2’s Worst New Character Feels Completely Out Of Place

by

As a gamer with over two decades of experience under my belt, I can confidently say that Thanos from “Squid Game” Season 2 is a character that doesn’t quite hit the mark for me. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate a good antagonist who stirs up trouble and creates tension, but Thanos feels more like an over-the-top caricature than a genuine threat.

Contains spoilers for “Squid Game” Season 2

As a devoted fan, I eagerly anticipate the return of “Squid Game” Season 2, which sees the resurgence of Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), determined this time to put an end to these lethal tournaments once and for all. Yet, a fresh batch of contestants, each with their unique motivations for risking everything, adds an intriguing twist to the storyline. Thankfully, bringing characters back from the dead was one misstep that the next season of “Squid Game” wisely avoids. Park Yong-sik (Yang Dong-geun) finds himself in deep debt due to gambling, while Hyun-ju (Park Sung-hoon) strives to raise funds for gender-affirming surgery. Despite their occasional questionable choices, their stories resonate deeply, making us sympathize with them on their journeys.

And then there’s Thanos (Choi Seung-hyun).

As a devoted gamer, I can’t help but notice that Thanos, the in-game rapper, stands out as the chief adversary among our virtual peers. While it’s evident that the game developers wield significant influence, Thanos takes antagonism to a whole new level. He even pushes players to their limits during Red Light, Green Light, potentially causing some to meet an untimely end.

This issue lies in its excessive and unrealistic portrayal. He may be rude, but he swiftly escalates into an unbelievably malicious character that seems contrived. Instead of being genuinely menacing towards others, he predominantly comes across as more of a nuisance than a genuine danger.

Thanos is a poor man’s Deok-su on Squid Game Season 2

In the first season, Thanos can be seen taking on the character of Jang Deok-su (played by Heo Sung-tae). Just like Deok-su, who was a gangster struggling with debts, Thanos also has a history that led him to participate in these games. Given his violent past, it’s not surprising that violence is a recurring theme for him within the games. Moreover, he possesses an intimidating physical stature, which made him a formidable opponent in any strength-based challenges. Even when the players were in their barracks, Deok-su (or Thanos) was a source of fear and threat.

Instead of merely rehashing the storyline with another gangster for “Squid Game” Season 2, they opt to explore a new antagonist type, one who exhibits characteristics other than gangsterism. Thanos, in many ways, appears pitiful. He’s a former rapper and his rapping abilities during his active years were mediocre at best. Furthermore, he has a troubling history of drug abuse, which could potentially influence his mental state and propensity for violence. This habit might even account for his aggressive behavior in the game Red Light, Green Light.

Instead, his position seems a bit peculiar, not quite falling into the category of a full-blown psychopath (which could have been thrilling), but neither does he embody the role of a fully sympathetic antagonist like Marvel’s Thanos, who was essentially driven to villainy. He’s less captivating than Deok-su, whose cunning and scheming made him more intriguing to watch. In essence, he’s more of a catalyst for chaos, resembling the Joker in that aspect, though perhaps he should have been named something else if this is his role.

Choi Seung-hyun’s casting on Squid Game Season 2 came with controversy

The series “Squid Game” has faced numerous debates and controversies, with one major issue being a lawsuit against Netflix for claims of plagiarism. Moreover, the casting of Choi Seung-hyun as Thanos stirred up additional controversy, not because Marvel/Disney was displeased about the Mad Titan’s mention in the show’s critique on capitalism, but primarily due to Choi’s past legal troubles that caused outrage among many.

2017 found me in a tough spot with a 10-month prison sentence due to marijuana use – not exactly the best news for South Korea’s strict stance on cannabis. When word got out that I was joining the cast of “Squid Game” Season 2, there were certainly some raised eyebrows. However, Director Hwang Dong-hyuk stood firm in his decision, explaining to Maeil Business Newspaper (via Hindustan Times) that my past transgressions took place a good while back and the sentence has been served. He further pointed out that many artists have returned after similar situations, so he felt it was fitting for me to make a comeback to the industry now.

Despite any previous circumstances, Choi has returned to prominence with “Squid Game.” Admittedly, his character might not have been fully developed as it could have been, but it did include some Easter eggs related to the Infinity Stones, which was appreciated by Marvel fans.

“Squid Game” Season 2 is now available on Netflix.

Read More

2024-12-26 19:30