The Real Reason Gi-hun Doesn’t Suspect Player 001 Is A Plant In Squid Game Season 2

Even after the major twist at the end of Squid Game season 1, Gi-hun still doesn’t suspect that Player 001 is a plant in season 2 of the hit Netflix series. In Squid Game season 1, Gi-hun became close friends with Player 001 in the games, and was heartbroken when he was seemingly killed. However, at the end of season 1, Gi-hun learned that Player 001, whose real name was Il-nam, was actually one of the people who created the games. This was a major twist at the end of season 1, which changed how audiences viewed the entire season.

The recently released Squid Game season 2 repeats this twist. However, this time, audiences know that Player 001 is actually The Front Man in Squid Game season 2. The story of Squid Game season 2 follows Gi-hun as he reenters the games in an attempt to help other players and form a rebellion against the Masked Men. To sabotage Gi-hun’s plan, The Front Man, whose real name is In-ho, also enters the game and pretends to align with Player 456. In Squid Game season 2, Gi-hun has no clue that Player 001 is actually the villainous Front Man in disguise.

Gi-hun Always Sees The Best In People Despite Everything That Happened

Gi-hun Is The Hero Of Squid Game

In Squid Game season 1, Gi-hun was introduced as a sometimes naive person who tends to see the best in everyone. He is very much the hero in Squid Game, and represents that archetype well. Gi-hun’s personality is arguably not ideal for the games, but he still wins in season 1. After the events of season 1, Gi-hun returns as a slightly different man in season 2. Between the events of seasons 1 and 2, Gi-hun was obsessed with putting an end to the games. Therefore, audiences meet a more serious version of Gi-hun in Squid Game season 2.

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Even though Gi-hun is different in Squid Game season 2, deep down, he is still the kindhearted man audiences rooted for throughout the first season of the show. Therefore, Gi-hun still trusts the other players in the game to do the right thing no matter what. It is shocking for him when other players in Squid Game season 2 continuously vote to continue the games. Throughout season 2, The Front Man wants to show Gi-hun that the games won’t end because new people will always want to play, which is a disappointing revelation for Squid Game’s heroic protagonist.

Gi-hun Believes Player 001’s Life Story (Because “Young-il” Was Being Sincere)

In-ho Tells Gi-hun A (Mostly) True Story About His Wife In Squid Game Season 2

In addition to Gi-hun choosing to see the best in Player 001, who goes by Young-il in the games, Player 001 also tells him a very believable story about why he joined the games. In-ho reveals to Gi-hun that his pregnant wife is sick and that they need money for a liver transplant. After learning about In-ho’s tragic story, it is completely understandable why he chose to join the games. Furthermore, In-ho’s story is believable because it is actually true. In-ho simply switched past tense to present tense to make Gi-hun believe that his wife was currently dying.

In-ho’s tragic story is so believable because he is speaking from the heart.

In reality, In-ho’s wife died years before the events of Squid Game season 1. This led In-ho to participate in the 28th Squid Games as Player 132, which were held in 2015. In-ho ended up winning the games but his wife and potential child died anyways, which led to him eventually becoming The Front Man. Therefore, In-ho’s tragic story is so believable because he is speaking from the heart. In-ho actually reveals his biggest heartbreak to Gi-hun, which builds trust between the two players.

Gi-hun Has No Reason To Think Another Squid Game Leader Would Repeat Il-nam’s Plan

It Would Have Been Impressive If Gi-hun Figured Out The Front Man’s Identity In Squid Game Season 2

In-ho successfully manages to convince Gi-hun that he is a genuine man with a family on the outside which he wants to support. However, beyond In-ho’s story, Gi-hun simply has no reason to believe Player 001 would be another Squid Game leader. At the end of Squid Game season 1, Il-nam, the previous Player 001, reveals to Gi-hun that he wanted to experience playing the games before he died. Therefore, there is no reason for Gi-hun to think that The Front Man would also choose to enter the games.

Hyun-jun, Yonk-sik, and Geum-ja in Squid Game season 2

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The Front Man’s plan in Squid Game season 2 is quite absurd. Even though he has power over the Masked Men, In-ho’s safety is never guaranteed in Squid Game season 2. Therefore, it would be shocking if Gi-hun ever figured out In-ho’s plan all on his own. There is so much going on throughout Squid Game season 2 that Gi-hun never has enough time to consider that Player 001, a man who has built trust with him, would actually be The Front Man.

Squid Game Season 3 Is Setting Up A Heartbreaking Reveal For When Gi-hun Finds Out

Gi-hun Will Be Crushed When He Learns Who The Front Man Really Is

The Front Man remains in character as Young-il until the very end of Squid Game season 2. He even helps Gi-hun and the others begin their rebellion against the Masked Men. It is not until Gi-hun and his close friend Jung-bae are almost at the manager’s office that In-ho decides to resume his role as The Front Man. At the end of Squid Game season 2, In-ho tricks Gi-hun into believing he has died, then puts his Front Man mask back on. In-ho allows Gi-hun some sense of hope that his rebellion might work before taking it all away.

The post-credits scene in season 2 teases more games in Squid Game season 3, which will be released on Netflix in 2025.

At the end of Squid Game season 2, In-ho stresses to Gi-hun that his hero campaign led to nothing but death. In-ho then kills Jung-bae right in front of Gi-hun. This is a crushing blow to Gi-hun right at the end of the season. However, Gi-hun still doesn’t know who The Front Man really is. When Gi-hun learns that The Front Man is actually Player 001, he will feel even more guilt over Jun-bae’s death. Learning The Front Man’s true identity will lead to one of the most heartbreaking moments in Squid Game yet for Gi-hun.