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The Korean Netflix show, Squid Game, was a chart-topping success around the world at the time of its release. From TikTok trends to a themed pop-up store in Paris, the survivalist thriller craze was unlike anything else.
For a quick recap, the show revolves around a mysterious competition held on a remote island and conducted by masked men. The participants are from various walks of life and have one thing in common—all 456 contestants are in dire need of money.
The competition has various rounds, each centered around a different game. But eerily, the contestants soon realize that losing each round means losing their lives as well. The one who survives till the end gets to win 45.6 billion won as a prize.
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With confirmed news of the release date of Squid Game season 2 finally out, that is, on December 26, 2024. There are some important things to remember about season 1 before season 2 is released.
8 Important points from Squid Game season 1 to remember
- The man in the suit
- Young-hee and her boyfriend Cheoul-su
- The frontman
- The mysterious number
- The old man and the wealthy people
- Organ trafficking ring
- Jang Deok-su and Han Mi-nyeo
- The families of Sae-byeok, Sang-woo, and Ali Abdul
1) The man in the suit
In season 1, the show’s protagonist, Seong Gi-hun, gets involved in a deadly competition after he meets a mysterious salesperson who plays a game of Ddakji (Korean game) with him.
After inviting Gi-hun to the game, this suited man is not seen for the rest of the show, apart from the last scene, where Gi-hun is determined to catch him and unravel the mystery behind Squid Game. The unnamed man is expected to play an important role in season 2, as the new season’s description reads:
“Three years after winning Squid Game, Player 456 remains determined to find the people behind the game and put an end to their vicious sport. Using this fortune to fund his search, Gi-hun starts with the most obvious of places: look for the man in a sharp suit playing ddakji in the subway.”
2) Young-hee and her boyfriend Cheoul-su
While each game in Squid Game’s competition was memorable, Perhaps, the one that raised the most interest was the first game—Red Light, Green Light. In the game, a large robotic doll, known as Young-hee, shoots deadly beams from her eyes if she finds any player moving after hearing ‘red light’.
The show’s creator, Hwang Dong-hyuk, has mentioned in a letter released on June 12, that in the second season:
“You’ll also be introduced to Young-hee’s boyfriend Cheoul-su.”
Both these characters are based on a Korean textbook character.
3) The frontman
While the main story in season 1 revolves around Seong Gi-hun, Oh Il-nam, Sae-byeok, and Sang-woo, there’s another story that runs parallel. Amidst all the chaos of the games, the viewers see a police officer, Hwang Jun-ho, who enters the secret island to investigate the games and find his missing brother.
During the final few episodes, it is revealed that the ‘Front Man’—the one in charge of the other guards—is none other than Jun-ho’s brother. Creator Hwang Dong-hyuk mentions in his letter:
“The Front Man returns.” And “Front Man doesn’t seem to be an easy opponent this time either. The fierce clash between their two worlds will continue into the series finale with season 3."
4) The mysterious number
When Gi-hun chases the man in the suit towards the end of the series, the man accidentally drops a card. This card is printed with the symbols of the game on one side and a number on the other.
And when Gi-hun tries to call the number on the card, a voice on the other end tells Gi-hun to let it go. Instead of getting on the plane and meeting his daughter, Gi-hun decides to go back and find out the mysteries behind Squid Game.
This scene and the number on the card could be an important factor in season 2. Gi-hun is determined to investigate Squid Game and the number could be the starting point for his search.
5) The old man and the wealthy people
While season 1 of Squid Game was filled with twists and turns, the biggest one was the old man being the creator of the games. After winning the competition, Gi-hun gets a mysterious invitation, where he meets the old man on his deathbed.
In his final moments, Oh Il-nam reveals that he created the game as a way to entertain himself and other wealthy people like him.
This surprising twist is not explored further in season 1 and even the wealthy people are only seen in one of the games—with their identity still a mystery. In season 2, deeper motivations behind the old man’s creation, and the mystery of where these unidentified rich people come from could be explained further.
6) Organ trafficking ring
Another compelling subplot in season 1 is when Jun-ho is searching for his brother and lands in a secret organ trafficking operation. This is being conducted upon the bodies of the deceased players by the games’ guards.
Who is orchestrating this massive operation and are the wealthy people shown, connected to this ring somehow? This aspect could be of importance in the next season as Gi-hun tries to find the origins of the nefarious game.
7) Jang Deok-su and Han Mi-nyeo
An interesting pair that didn’t have any qualms about being ruthless in the game, Deok-su and Mi-nyeo were important antagonists in season 1. Deok-su is shown to be an aggressive gangster who makes his own group to further his chances of winning the game. Initially forming a relationship with Mi-nyeo, Deok-su betrays even her in a Tug of War game.
Filled with wrath, both the characters’ die dramatically when Mi-nyeo pulls Deok-su with her, killing both of them in a game of stones and glass. In season 2, it remains to be seen, if one will get a deeper backstory of these characters or will someone new play the role of similar ruthless players.
8) The families of Sae-byeok, Sang-woo, and Ali Abdul
While many characters die in season 1, it is revealed towards the end that Gi-hun has arranged for Sae-byeok’s mother to take care of Sang-woo’s brother. Even the whereabouts and what happens to Ali’s family are not shown.
Financial debt and families were the main reason the participants agreed to enter this mysterious competition. In season 2, we might get to see what happened with the families of these players.
Season 1 of Squid Game was an enthralling watch and many questions are still left unanswered. Before the next season premiers, catch all the episodes streaming on Netflix.
