Squid Game season 1 left a lot of questions unanswered, and it is now up for Squid Game season 2 to solve those mysteries. While Squid Game worked as a standalone story until the very end, Gi-hun’s final scene all but guaranteed that the show was not over. Squid Game season 2 is happening, which allows the series to revisit plot points from season 1 and address questions that the first nine episodes did not answer.
Whether SquidGame season 2’s story can work without the surprising element of season 1 is difficult to say. Perhaps the ideal approach for the next SquidGame season would be to steer away from the competition dynamic and dive more into the mysteries raised by season 1. Now that Gi-hun is on a mission to stop the games forever, SquidGame season 2 could reveal more about the history of the competition and those behind it. Here are the 10 biggest mysteries SquidGame season 2 still has to solve.
10 Why Did In-ho Become The Front Man?
Squid Game introduced the Front Man as the person in charge of the games. The Front Man only answered to Il-nam, meaning that he was the second most important person in the entire operation. The Front Man was also responsible for the masked guards, including eliminating those who did not follow the orders. In one of the biggest Squid Game plot twists, the Front Man was revealed to be In-ho, Jun-ho’s brother, who once participated in the Squid Game. In-ho had previously participated in the 28th Squid Game, which his family did not know about.
At some point between the 28th Squid Game and the current edition, In-ho became the Front Man. What happened to the other Squid Game winners is a mystery, and the Front Man’s backstory can help solve it. Perhaps the trauma of being the sole survivor of a series of deadly games led In-ho to join Il-nam in the making of the games instead of running away from it. The Front Man believes that the games are fair, suggesting that he is not part of it just to “have fun.” What happened to In-ho and how he became Squid Game‘s Front Man might be a foreshadowing of Gi-hun’s story.
9 Is Detective Jun-ho Still Alive?
The Front Man’s identity reveal in Squid Game was followed by a shocking scene in which In-ho shot his brother, Jun-ho. The detective had spent the entirety of Squid Game season 1 infiltrating the games, trying to find his brother and unveil the secrets of the operation. Jun-ho discovered that the games had been happening since 1988 and that his brother won the 2015 edition. Despite tricking the guards and the Front Man himself for multiple episodes, Jun-ho was eventually captured. After revealing himself to his brother, the Front Man shot Jun-ho in the chest, and the detective fell from the cliff. Jun-ho’s body was never shown.
8 Did The Police Receive Jun-ho’s Messages?
.JPG?q=50&fit=crop&w=1500&dpr=1.5)
Before his deadly encounter with the Front Man, Jun-ho tried to send his boss pictures and recordings of everything he found during the games. At first, the detective did not have signal. However, just before Jun-ho began to run toward the cliff, his cell phone finally connected to the internet. Presumably, a few of Jun-ho’s messages got through. Still, even if the police received Jun-ho’s messages, it would still be difficult to track down the games. All that the Front Man would have to do would be change the location for the next edition. Likewise, since the games have been happening for 32 years, Il-nam likely had contacts inside the police and the government.
7 Is The Squid Game Happening In Other Countries?
One throwaway line in Squid Game season 1 hinted at there being similar games in other countries. When the VIPs arrive at the facilities toward the end of season 1, one of them says that the South Korean games have been their favorite. It would make sense if the Squid Game was being hosted in other countries simultaneously, especially after Il-nam explained why the games were created. Essentially, Il-nam and his millionaire friends were looking for entertainment, now that they already had everything money could buy. Il-nam may have helped other millionaires set up the Squid Game in their countries. If so, then international Squid Game spinoffs could work.
6 How Are The Squid Game Guards Recruited?
Squid Game’s masked guards defined the show’s aesthetics and have been featured in most of the promotional material. However, not much is known about the masked guards and where they come from. The only thing Squid Game season 1 revealed about the guards was that some of them were working on a parallel business to take organs from deceased participants and make a profit. Squid Game’s guards are in constant danger of breaking one of the rules and being killed themselves. They do not hesitate in following the Front Man’s orders, and it seems like none of them has ever tried to expose the games.
One possible explanation is that the masked guards were recruited in the same circumstances as the Squid Game players. The guards might be people who are in debt, desperate for money. That would explain why they are willing to follow the Front Man’s cruel orders and why none of them helps bring an end to the games. Serving as the guards for the Squid Game could be their own game, with the promise of having their debts cleared. Given how popular SquidGame’s masked guards became, SquidGame season 2 might reveal more about the visually impactful background characters.
5 What Happened To The Previous Squid Game Winners?
Squid Game season 1 takes place in 2020, but the Squid Game has been hosted since 1988. Despite the dozens of editions that have happened, the Squid Game operation has never been exposed. Not even the uncountable participants who never came ever led to the operation being discovered. Squid Game season 1’s finale revealed that there was no trick behind the game’s primary rule; the final person standing won the prize. Assuming the same happened in previous editions, dozens of people became millionaires because of the Squid Game. Now that Gi-hun wants to take down the games, he might try to track down previous winners for more information.
4 Was The Salesman A Former Squid Game Winner?
Squid Game’s Salesman, the person who recruits Gi-hun in episode 1, is one of the show’s most mysterious characters. The Salesman only appeared in Squid Game’s first and final episodes, yet the show made it seem like he is a very important character. More than a recruiter, the Salesman appears to be happy with bringing people to the Squid Game. Il-num was entertained by the games; the Front Man believes the games offer people a fair opportunity, but the Salesman appeared to be outright enjoying recruiting people to an almost certain death scenario. Like the Front Man, the Salesman could be a former winner who won Il-nam’s trust.
3 Who Replaced Il-nam As The Head Of The Game?
Il-nam, who disguised himself as Player 001, was the one behind the games all along. Il-nam created the first Squid Game to entertain himself and had since funded multiple other editions. Squid Game season 1’s biggest plot twist was that Player 001 was actually the head of the game and that his death during the Marbles game was a fakeout. Still, after reuniting with a millionaire Gi-hun during Squid Game season 1’s ending, Il-nam died. However, the games continue, as revealed by the Salesman’s return. With Il-nam dead, someone must have become the new head of the game, funding and organizing the competition.
2 Can Gi-hun Really Stop The Games By Himself?
After seeing the Salesman recruiting a man for the Squid Game, Gi-hun realized he could not let that happen to other people. Gi-hun decided to miss his daughter’s birthday and not board the plane. Gi-hun’s phone call with the Front Man suggests that the former Player 456 will use his money and experience to bring down their operation. However, it is difficult to imagine how just one person, even though it’s a person with resources, could take down the entire Squid Game operation. The Front Man may have access to tall the money left by Il-nam. In addition, Gi-hun’s entire family could be in danger if he threatens the games.
1 Will Gi-hun Participate In The Next Squid Game?
Squid Game introduced several characters and made audiences care about each of them. However, it cannot be denied that Squid Game season 1 was the story of Gi-hun. The underdog hero who beat all the odds to win it all, only to go back home and realize he was now more broken than ever made for a very compelling arc. Presumably, Squid Game season 2 will see Gi-hun trying to stop the games once and for all. However, whether Squid Game season 2 can work without featuring the actual games is a tricky question. Perhaps to stop the game, Gi-hun will have to play it again.
