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Netflix's Squid Game season 2 captivated global audiences with its new characters and intense survival challenges. Among the standout players was Thanos, or Player 230, portrayed by Choi Seung-hyun. Better known as T.O.P, he is the former lead rapper of the K-pop group BIGBANG and has made his acting comeback after nearly a decade.
Thanos quickly became a fan favorite for his eccentric antics and chaotic persona. Furthermore, one pivotal scene in the series sparked fan speculation about uncanny parallels between Thanos' life and T.O.P's real life.
In Squid Game season 2, Thanos found himself in a heated argument with Lee Myeong-gi, a cryptocurrency YouTuber portrayed by Im Si-wan. Myeong-gi, whose dubious financial advice led Thanos into crippling debt, mocked him during the scuffle. He sneered and accused Thanos of being a failed rapper, who forgot his lyrics during the final round of his rap competition.
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Fans were quick to draw parallels between this scene and a real-life incident involving T.O.P. During an early variety show appearance with his BIGBANG bandmates, T.O.P performed the track Intro from his album GD & TOP, a collaboration with fellow member G-Dragon. Mid-performance, after delivering the lines:
"My playground is called Seoul/ I shout at the center of the youths/ The city that wants…"
T.O.P suddenly froze, turned to G-Dragon, and admitted, "I forgot the lyrics!" The moment became a lighthearted yet iconic memory for fans of the group.
This striking resemblance further fueled the speculation that Thanos’ storyline might be intentionally inspired by T.O.P's personal and professional struggles. According to fans, Choi Seung-hyun’s portrayal of the eccentric, debt-ridden rapper added a layer of authenticity to the character, further blurring the lines between fiction and reality. One fan posted on X,
"THANOS was 'The Rap Battlegrounds' finalist & he forgot his lyrics during the show's finale. Was 'The Rap Battlegrounds' inspired by T.O.P VS. GD rap battle? He also forgot his verse."
"Actual footage of Thanos forgetting his lyrics during a rap battle," a fan added, posting the real-life footage.
"Wait wait, Thanos in squid game was actually a rapper, and he actually forgot his lyrics on stage. And he did drugs irl... The scriptwriter is too good," one netizen mentioned.
The resemblance sparked debates about whether the role was tailored to reflect Choi's life, making his casting one of the most talked-about aspects of the season.
"I think the director didn't give Thanos a script he just said, 'Do nothing just be yourself TOP,'" commented one X user.
"As a VIP and a T.O.P stan i just know that the purple guy is not thanos. He’s Bingu TOP hahahah," said this fan.
"T.O.P in squid game 2 is just being himself. Playing around," pointed out this viewer.
The character's story also felt familiar to T.O.P’s real-life controversies, particularly his 2017 drug scandal.
"I want yall to know thanos is played by T.O.P who was in jail like locked up for drug use and then his a** plays a character that abuses substance is that not funny to yall??" read a comment on X.
"He smoked weed and got lots of hate and then when he was serving in the military he took pills to unalive himself, luckily he failed. K-ent bullied him so much that even if wasn't blacklisted i'm sure he'd choose to never attend sht. Thanos is kinda a parody of TOP tbh," mentioned a netizen.
"Choi Seung-hyun, aka rapper T.O.P., was cast as Thanos because 'he was able to open up a lot about his own personal story. In their conversations, they built this Thanos character.' OMG," an individual on X added.
T.O.P's controversial role in Squid Game 2: A possible reflection of his past
T.O.P rose to fame with BIGBANG in 2006, becoming one of Asia’s most iconic idols. Apart from group hits, Choi’s solo singles like Turn It Up and Doom Dada were chart-toppers. He also established himself as an actor, earning acclaim for roles in I Am Sam (2007), Iris (2009), and 71: Into the Fire (2010).
However, his career took a sharp turn in 2017 when he was convicted of marijuana use while serving in the military. The incident led to a 10-month suspended sentence and a two-year probation, along with public condemnation in South Korea, a country with strict anti-drug laws. Choi’s handwritten apology and subsequent hiatus marked a low point in his career.
Furthermore, despite a brief BIGBANG reunion in 2022, the idol parted ways with YG Entertainment in 2023.
The decision to cast Choi in Squid Game season 2 was met with mixed reactions. Critics questioned the morality of featuring a former drug offender and doubted his acting skills. However, in an interview with People dated December 28, 2024, Squid Game creator-director Hwang Dong-hyuk defended the choice, highlighting Choi’s courage in taking on a role that mirrored his past struggles.
South Korean media largely criticized the casting, viewing it as a controversial move. However, international audiences offered a different perspective, seeing the role as a meta-commentary on societal judgment and redemption.
Subsequently, Thanos has become a standout figure in Squid Game season 2, and fans believe the character of the purple-haired ex-rapper draws clear parallels to Choi Seung-hyun's real life.
Squid Game season 2 debuted on Netflix on December 26, 2024, featuring a mix of familiar faces and fresh talent. Lee Jung-jae returns as Seong Gi-hun, now determined to uncover the dark truths behind the deadly game. Wi Ha-joon is back as Police Officer Jun-ho, still on a mission to find his missing brother, In-ho.
The new season of Squid Game introduces characters played by Im Si-wan, Kang Ha-neul, Park Gyu-young, Lee Jin-wook, T.O.P, and Park Sung-hoon, each with their own intricate backstories. The storyline delves deeper into the emotional and moral toll of the game, intensifying the stakes for both old and new participants.
Netflix has officially announced that the third and final season of Squid Game will premiere in 2025. Filming for both the second and third seasons was conducted back-to-back, aiming to reduce the wait time for viewers. However, the exact release date for season three has not yet been revealed.
