‘Squid Game’ Stars Lee Jung-jae and Lee Byung-hun Break Down ‘Fun’ Season 2 Twist for Gi-hun and The Front Man, Plus That Game-Changer Finale

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As a devoted fan and follower of the captivating world of Squid Game, I must say that the latest season has left me utterly spellbound. Having witnessed the transformation of In-ho (or should I say, The Front Man) from a desperate participant to a ruthless mastermind, I find myself in awe of Lee Byung-hun’s exceptional portrayal.

⚠️ Warning: This content reveals significant plot details from the final episode of “Squid Game” Season 2, currently available for streaming on Netflix.

In the warped world of the “Squid Game,” it’s no surprise to find Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) dealing with treachery from a hidden traitor, given his past experiences.

When the initial season of the Korean Netflix series “Squid Game” premiered in 2021, it was a shock to both the character Gi-hun and viewers that the elderly man Oh Il-nam (played by Oh Yeong-su) was the mastermind behind the games. However, in Season 2 of “Squid Game,” which debuted on Thursday, the unforeseen participation of the game’s head guard, The Front Man (portrayed by Lee Byung-hun whose real name is In-ho), as Player 001 upon Gi-hun’s return to the competition, is presented in a more unique manner.

In “Squid Game” Season 2, the character known as In-ho adopts the alias Young-il when meeting Gi-hun, who re-enters the deadly games with the aim of disrupting them from within. He hides his true identity and intentions, instead working gradually to win Gi-hun’s confidence and forge an alliance with other players sharing similar objectives.

Lee Jung-jae shares, “I find it intriguing because only the spectators are aware that it’s him, creating a sense of suspense as they watch him play the game and form an alliance with Gi-hun. I believe viewers will be on the edge of their seats, wondering when Gi-hun will figure out he is The Front Man, or how long he can keep his secret hidden in the game.

During their initial conversation with creator and director Hwang Dong-hyuk about potential storylines for Season 2, Lee Byung-hun and Hwang Dong-hyuk casually mused over drinks regarding In-ho’s backstory. However, Season 2 opted to reveal his past indirectly through dialogue, focusing on In-ho’s deceased wife who passed away due to illness when they were impoverished. Despite the lack of explicit portrayal of his past in Season 2, Lee Byung-hun continued to ponder how his character initially participated in the Squid Game and, like Gi-hun later on, emerged victorious. His thoughts also wandered towards the transformation in his spirit since that time.

Lee Byung-hun shares that the character he portrays has witnessed the darkest depths of human nature amidst the chaos and despair of Squid Game, causing his optimism for humanity and the world to significantly fade. He holds a rather cynical perspective towards the people he encounters.

In the continuation of the captivating series “Squid Game,” I find myself rejoining the ranks, this time partnered with Gi-hun in our quest to locate the enigmatic island where the games were held. As a participant in Season 1, my pursuit was driven by the disappearance of my brother, In-ho. However, as the story unfolded, I discovered that my brother had transformed into The Front Man, a chilling revelation that led to my being shot by him. Miraculously, I survived a near-fatal fall from the Squid Game island’s cliffs.

Displaying In-ho participating in the games alongside Gi-hun, who maintains hope in human kindness despite the brutal nature of the Squid Game, sets two contrasting characters in conflict. Lee Byung-hun was given the job to portray In-ho (who observed Gi-hun from behind a mask during Season 1) as he closely watches Gi-hun throughout the games, forming an alliance with him while keeping his genuine feelings hidden.

Lee Byung-hun explains that when In-ho encounters Gi-hun, who’s persistently challenging the system, returning to the games in hopes of making a change because he believes in humanity – it seems like In-ho wants to crush Gi-hun’s resolve. This is why you notice him watching Gi-hun closely throughout the games and carefully designing strategies to undermine his efforts significantly.

In “Squid Game” Season 2, a fresh collection of brutal contests awaits, featuring a largely different group of characters who have formed various alliances. Interestingly, the series initiates with a reprise of the iconic “Red Light, Green Light” challenge that launched the original season. Despite finding it challenging to film over five days, Lee Jung-jae admittedly enjoyed this game the most among those he participated in during Season 2.

Lee Jung-jae shares: “This season, the focus for Gi-hun is not just on himself; he’s aiming to rescue as many people as possible. The ‘Red Light, Green Light’ game left fans in shock during Season 1, but this time, it has a completely new vibe.

Lee Byung-hun notes that during the games, when In-ho is playing as Young-il, “it seems like he’s briefly savoring the moment.” He further explains, “I believe this brief moment is a hint at his former self.

For Lee Jung-jae, the most emotionally taxing moment during the season was enacting the rebellion scene in the Season 2 finale. In the last episode, Gi-hun witnessed his friend Jung-bae (Lee Seo-hwan) perish at The Front Man’s hands, effectively snuffing out any remaining hope for the uprising. Since The Front Man concealed his identity by putting on his mask again, Gi-hun was unaware that it was actually In-ho/Young-Il, who he believed had already been killed during their fight.

Lee Byung-hun elaborates on In-ho’s decision to take Jung-bae’s life in front of Gi-hun after having previously risked his own safety to save him during the intense, musical-chairs-style Mingle game. This event resulted in In-ho murdering another man with his bare hands to protect Jung-bae.

Lee Byung-hun stated that prior to the Mingle game, In-ho was still part of the close-knit trio with Jung-bae and Gi-hyun. Even though he revealed his violent side by killing someone in front of Jung-bae, In-ho felt it necessary to keep up the appearance of being on their team. At the end of Season 2, there was a question of what emotions In-ho experienced when he had to kill Jung-bae, as they were all connected through their shared experiences in the games. However, it’s also understood that killing Jung-bae was a means to wake Gi-hun up to the reality of their situation. During discussions with director Hwang, the question arose about how In-ho, or The Front Man, felt when he killed Jung-bae. My interpretation is that In-ho felt a sense of bitterness, but he may view it as sacrificing something small for a greater message to Gi-hun.

The treacherous actions of the Leader (which remain hidden from Gi-hun until he discovers that In-ho is the one beneath the mask) hurt all the more as Gi-hun and his band of companions are on the verge of executing their uprising and finally breaking free from the games forever.

Lee Jung-jae believes that the finale effectively amplified the emotions to make viewers feel like they’re on an intense emotional journey, leaving them with a climactic conclusion,” or simply, “The finale skillfully escalated emotions, creating a thrilling emotional ride for viewers, and it ended on a high note.

Lee Byung-hun believes that In-ho’s act of betrayal demonstrates that “during these truly challenging and brutal competitions, his emotions began to diminish.” He stated, “Any feelings of hope or happiness are no longer present in the In-ho character we encounter in Season 2.

In contrast to the first season which had nine episodes, “Squid Game” Season 2 may only have seven. Given the significant cliffhanger that concludes the second season storyline, actor Lee Jung-jae expresses uncertainty about how viewers might respond, musing humorously, “Perhaps they will curse us for ending at the finale.

Although Season 2 ends with several mysteries unsolved, it was simultaneously produced with the series’ last and concluding season, scheduled for a 2025 premiere. So, fans won’t have to wait too long before discovering how the confrontation between Gi-hun and In-ho will culminate. And based on In-ho’s plans, it seems the ending may turn out to be quite grim.

Lee Byung-hun explained that the character In-ho no longer holds faith or anticipation for the external world. Essentially, he seems to be lost because he doesn’t identify with this world anymore. It’s not primarily about protecting the Squid Game universe; instead, it’s more about his disillusionment with the outside world. With a sense of despair, he believes that these people are destined for a tragic and humiliating death. Given this perspective, why not participate in the games? Perhaps there’s a chance to offer someone a fresh start and a glimmer of hope. Since In-ho harbors such a pessimistic view of the world, he finds the Squid Game universe more comprehensible than the chaotic outside reality.

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2024-12-28 01:18