Season 2 of Squid Game sees the return of Lee Byung-hun as Hwang In-ho, the menacing Front Man, alongside the fiery debut of T.O.P as Thanos, a ruthless player driven by greed. Their clash in the midst of the deadly games evokes echoes of their previous collaboration in the 2009 action thriller Iris, where they played adversaries. This article explores the parallels and contrasts between their characters in both shows, highlighting the captivating performances that elevate Squid Game season 2 to new heights.
Season 2 of Squid Game sees Lee Byung-hun’s character, Hwang In-ho, come into his own, after his identity as villainous game-runner the Front Man was revealed late in season 1. He’s joined by Korean hip-hop star T.O.P , who arrives in the third episode of the season playing Thanos , a loudmouth rapper who’s entered the game after losing all his money in bad crypto investments.
The scene is set for these two heavyweights of Korean entertainment to square off in the following episode, when Thanos starts beating up another player with his friend Nam-gyu. They blame their victim, Myung-gi, for defrauding them with cryptocurrencies. With the other participants watching on, the Front Man steps in. “What makes you think you can behave like that?” he asks, approaching T.O.P’s character. This face-off appears to be a deliberate reference to the TV series that launched Byung-hun to A-list status across Asia. Before Squid Game, Lee Byung-hun And T.O.P Worked Together In Iris They Also Played Each Other’s Enemies In This First Collaboration The 2009 Korean action thriller series Iris stars Lee Byung-hun as its principal hero, a black ops agent for the Korean National Security Service (NSS) tasked with thwarting the attempts of terrorist organization IRIS to stop the reunification of Korea. At one point, IRIS militants capture hostages which they use to try and pressure the government of South Korea. When Byung-hun’s character Kim Hyun-jun goes to negotiate the release of one hostage, a young girl named Yuki, he meets terrorist assassin Vick, played by T.O.P, who’s holding her at gunpoint. Initially, Hyun-jun gives Vick what he wants, before kicking a detonator out of his hand, grabbing Yuki, and abseiling to safety with her off the side of the Tamagawa Dam. A car chase ensues as T.O.P’s character tries to catch the hero, before he crashes headlong into another vehicle during the chase. How Lee Byung-hun And T.O.P’s Iris Characters Compare To Their Squid Game Roles The Front Man Is The Opposite, But T.O.P’s Role Is More Similar Close Unlike his heroic special agent in Iris, Lee Byung-hun plays an out-and-out villain in Squid Game. Yet disguised as Player 001 for most of Squid Game season 2, he appears to be one of the good guys – which only makes his character’s real intentions as the Front Man more horrifying. For facing down and beating up T.O.P’s character Thanos during the fourth episode, he even gets a round of applause from the rest of the players. He seems to be an authoritative elder statesman among them who was the only one brave enough to stand up to a bully. 'Most shocking of all, though, is Player #1, who you may recognize as (Lee Byung-hun). Fascinated by Gi-hun's desire to re-enter the games, The Front Man (also known as In-ho) makes a trustworthy ally for the hopeful disruptor, playing along with Gi-hun as he gathers allies.' - Graham Guttmann - ScreenRant review of Squid Game Season 2 Meanwhile, Squid Game's Thanos, who takes his name from Marvel's villain, isn’t exactly much of a step up from the Front Man in moral terms. T.O.P might not be playing the evil assassin he is in Iris, but his character is still arrogant, aggressive and outright cruel. He doesn’t much care whether most other characters in the game live or die, and would prefer most of them to be killed, so he gets his money and pays off his debts. He repeatedly bullies Myung-gi throughout the season, and almost strangles him to death in their final fight before he receives a fatal stab wound himself. The Front Man And Thanos Were Both Highlights Of Squid Game Season 2 They Added New Layers To The Show Close The Front Man’s infiltration into the game as what seems like a regular player from the third episode of Season 2 adds an extra layer of subterfuge and deceit to Squid Game that wasn’t really there in the first season. As a crowd gathers around protagonist Gi-hun, who’s trying to get everyone out of the game alive, Player 001 tells him, “You're the reason I ended up voting to stay. It's true.” This is the ultimate example of dramatic irony, as only we as an audience are aware of the Front Man's real identity and motives in Squid Game season 2. In a further twist of irony, however, he actually is speaking the truth, although not for the reasons he claims. He’s there to stop Gi-hun freeing all players from the game. Related Disappointed By Front Man's Squid Game Season 2 Twist? Watch This 15-Year-Old K-Drama For A Better Ending Squid Game season 2 is big for Front Man's story. But for those not happy with In-ho's ending, a 2009 Korean drama is the perfect next watch. Posts T.O.P’s Thanos adds some extra venom to proceedings, too, by behaving in an inhumane and vindictive manner towards many of his fellow players. There’s no denying the actor-rapper’s charisma on-screen, though, as he brings more color to Squid Game than we’ve seen previously – quite literally, in the form of his rainbow-painted fingernails and spiky purple haircu
Television Squid Game Lee Byung-Hun T.O.P Iris Front Man Thanos Korean Drama Season 2 Netflix
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