As a seasoned observer of the human condition, I find myself captivated by this intricate web of survival, deception, and camaraderie that unfolds within the confines of Squid Game. The world created by Hwang Dong-hyuk is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, as well as our capacity for both cruelty and kindness.
Indeed, this episode seems quite relevant, doesn’t it? Just recently, South Korea experienced a brief period under martial law declared by its democratically elected president. This move wasn’t well-received, as shown by the swift response of citizens organizing protests and legislators jumping fences to unanimously vote against the order. While some view this quick reversal as a demonstration of democracy’s strength, others argue that the incident itself casts doubt on South Korea’s reputation as a robust democracy. It’s important to note that such discussions about the state of democracy are not exclusive to South Korea. The creator, Hwang Dong-hyuk, revealed to The Hollywood Reporter last year that he was considering “the trajectory the entire world is taking,” specifically mentioning that season two would air around the U.S. presidential election – a term he referred to as “the ultimate O-X event.
In this current season, the popular series “Squid Game” presents an innovative twist that emphasizes democracy as a prominent topic. Following each contest, participants are given the opportunity to vote. If a majority votes to exit, they can depart with the winnings amassed thus far. Previously, leaving meant returning home empty-handed, thereby encouraging players to persist, even to the point of taking lethal actions like Sang-woo did towards Sae-byeok and himself. This rule raises ethical dilemmas about whether the majority truly deserves control when they might not be fully informed about the repercussions or may vote for decisions that disadvantage minorities. The show has nine games in total, leaving ample room to delve deeper into these thought-provoking questions.
Let’s encounter some individuals who will be exercising their right to vote. Once more, Gi-hun finds himself awakening to the soothing tunes of classical music, identified as Player 456. At the start of this episode, however, we are made acquainted with a fresh set of faces and identities: numbers, if you will.
333: Former YouTuber, Myung-gi, persuaded numerous individuals to heavily invest in a cryptocurrency that eventually plummeted. Currently, he is being sought after for allegations of fraud and other criminal offenses.
230: Su-bong, more commonly recognized as the former rapper Thanos, is a hothead with a penchant for fiery temperament. Known for his vibrant purple hair, boldly painted fingernails in various colors, and lyrics that subtly allude to half of humanity, he embodies his Marvel counterpart, the villainous Thanos, in both appearance and attitude.
120: Nam-gyu, often referred to as Thanos’s associate, due to a mutual enmity towards Myung-gi. (Once loyal followers seeking revenge; they attribute their financial losses to him.)
196: Mi-na is a diva who remains unfazed by Thanos’s popularity or his flirtatious, multilingual advances towards her.
100: Jeong-dae holds the largest debt of approximately 10 billion won ($7 million). However, he takes note, somewhat boastfully and guarded, that not everyone qualifies for such a substantial loan.
390: Jung-bae, a friendly divorcee, has been puzzled as to why his acquaintance Gi-hun has vanished without a trace. However, he’s somewhat surprised by the insistence with which Gi-hun urges him to keep a close watch.
120: Hyun-ju, a transgender woman who hasn’t undergone gender-confirmation surgery, is present before the game begins. It becomes evident early on that not all participants here are open and welcoming towards individuals like Hyun-ju.
7 and 149 represent Yong-sik and his mother, Geum-ja in this case. While they’ve both arrived with the intention of settling a debt, it seems their relationship is strained as she scolds him upon seeing him.
44 refers to a troubling shaman named Seon-nyeo, who informs Gi-hun that his presence in this place is due to vengeful spirits that linger around him.
Hopefully, it’ll only get easier to keep track of these characters as we learn more about them!
Following their morning awakening, the players begin voicing their grievances towards the masked pink military personnel. However, their complaints quickly subside upon being reminded of their substantial financial obligations. The realization that a staggering 45.6 billion won is at stake swiftly brings them back to reality. Prior to the deadly competition’s revelation, consent forms are duly signed. As time for photos arrives, Thanos attempts to capture a group shot with fans before posing individually with both middle fingers raised aloft. In stark contrast, Gi-hun appears as if he were a haunted soldier in an internet meme. At this juncture, he is yet to receive any backup assistance.
As it turns out, our backup plan is to sneak into the island. Captain Park, who seems to have all the leisure time in the world, is navigating his boat towards Jun-ho and the rest of the search party. Unfortunately, Gi-hun’s tooth signal has led us to a random fisherman’s trap. I think it’s possible that someone tipped off the Squid Game organizers about our plans, although I can’t help but suspect they would have checked Gi-hun for a tracking device even without insider information. After all, they’re the ones who implant tracking devices in their own players – and given that we had a team trying to tail Gi-hun, it makes sense to do a thorough search of someone suspected of having help.
Similar to the previous season, the initial game is Red Light, Green Light. Before Young-hee, the motion-sensing doll, spins around, Gi-hun secretly checks beneath his false tooth and understands that he’s left on his own. If the intense Dolly zoom doesn’t convey Gi-hun’s emotions sufficiently, he internally mutters, “I’m in trouble.
Initially, nobody trusts Gi-hun when he shouts that they will be harmed if they move. However, following an incident where a bee lands on Mi-na (196) and triggers a series of fatalities, people begin to pay attention. Jung-bae (390) no longer feels ashamed to associate with him for certain. Gi-hun suggests that everyone should follow stronger individuals, which seems effective; Player 222, looking queasy, manages to lean on someone else without getting shot. Conversely, Thanos, seemingly affected by one of the bright pills from his necklace, encourages those in front of him to their demise, then dances off merrily to the end. (While this “Fly Me to the Moon” remix is quite danceable, it’s hard not to question his actions.)
In the midst of the action, No-eul is one of the snipers firing at anyone who moves. She appears remarkably unfazed by her actions… until she spots Player 246, a father she recognizes, frantically trying to save his ill daughter wearing a strawberry hat. This doesn’t deter her from carrying out her duties. Despite the danger, Gi-hun and Hyun-ju (120) bravely return to assist Player 444, who has been wounded in the leg. However, No-eul continues to target him once he steps over the line.
In the end, all 365 participants manage to survive. A piggy bank serves as a tangible symbol of the prize money they’ve recently earned, and it is disclosed that each player who was eliminated contributed 100 million won. When the game concludes, the entire accumulated sum will be evenly distributed among the survivors.
The initial vote, determining whether to continue or not, takes place openly, with players voting in reverse order. To encourage others to join Team X, Gi-hun discloses his past participation in similar events. However, the O’s either doubt him or view having a previous winner as an disadvantage. They question why he’s threatening them by saying people will die. This logic is flawed. If his intention is to assist everyone in surviving, then the prize money won’t increase. Yet, in a democracy, individuals aren’t always fully aware of the consequences of their decisions. Moreover, Gi-hun is forbidden from further persuasion at gunpoint, making it difficult for him to help people comprehend the situation better.
With just one vote remaining, the score is evenly balanced. Player 1 uses this decisive vote to keep the game ongoing, and it turns out that he was none other than The Leader, exposed as In-ho. Earlier, we spotted him watching the initial round, but now it seems he’s stepped down to mimic Il-nam’s role as a contestant. Had Jun-ho been truthful, Gi-hun would have identified the looming threat. Instead, we can only speculate about The Leader’s intentions while he remains unnoticed.
Parting Shots
Previously, people observed that wall drawings in the sleeping area seemed to predict each game, so I checked if this pattern would repeat. Here, I see stick figures moving across triangles, which resembles a modified monkey bar setup. Additionally, there appears to be a pattern involving squares and plus signs, but it’s obscured by beds. Perhaps you all can get a clearer view?
Hwang Dong-hyuk, the creator of the show, did not anticipate the debate about casting a cisgender male actor for the role of Hyun-ju, a transgender woman. In an interview, he expressed that while he aimed to authentically cast the role, it was extremely challenging to find an openly transgender actor in Korea, where LGBTQ+ individuals continue to encounter discrimination. For instance, same-sex marriage is not recognized as legal in the country.
Choi Seung-hyun, formerly known as T.O.P from Bigbang, is taking on the role of Thanos in a new project. This retired rapper, who can be seen vaping and playing with pills in his ddakji video, has dialogue hinting at drug use. To put it simply, Seung-hyun was involved in a marijuana scandal in 2017 and served a suspended sentence for it. So, comparing him to Ariana Grande playing a character who frequently licks pastries might give you an idea of the situation. It’s daring, indeed! Personally, I’m excited to see Seung-hyun back, but not everyone shares the same sentiment. The casting choice has sparked enough controversy that director Hwang Dong-hyuk felt compelled to address it.
In this episode, fans of T.O.P will rejoice, as they get another chance to watch him act and listen to his rapping skills. It’s been a while since we last saw him, it’s been a while indeed.
• Unfortunate contestant: the one who merely wished to fish, yet found himself in a dangerous predicament involving gunpoint. Additionally, Player 444, unfortunate for having been hit by two shots. Given the symbolism of four as a representation of death in many Asian cultures, it’s possible that his destiny was predetermined. Too bad!
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2024-12-26 16:54