In the inaugural season of Squid Game, viewers witnessed Gi-hun triumph over the gruesome array of games, ultimately securing a staggering 45.6 billion won (around 38 million USD). While this financial windfall should have represented a fresh start for him and his family, Gi-hun’s victory was overshadowed by profound emotional scars, particularly the loss of friends forged during the harrowing ordeal.
By the season’s conclusion, Gi-hun finds himself grappling with the aftermath of his victory, struggling to reintegrate into society. Surprisingly, instead of seizing the opportunity to reconnect with his daughter in the United States, he opts against boarding the plane. In a twist that left many viewers astonished, Gi-hun again enters the deadly games in the forthcoming season. The reasoning behind this unexpected choice is worth exploring.
Be advised: This article contains spoilers for season 2 of Squid Game.
Conclusion: Gi-hun at the End of Season 1
The Games Continue
- Loses his friend Sang-woo
- Endures survivor guilt
- Misses opportunity to reunite with his daughter
Participating in the Squid Games carries grave risks, with failure often culminating in death. The emotional toll is palpable, especially for Gi-hun, who faces the tragic loss of his childhood friend, Sang-woo. Ultimately, during the climactic finale of season one, Gi-hun emerges victorious, but not without the heavy price of his friend’s decision to sacrifice himself for Gi-hun’s escape.
Despite his newfound wealth, Gi-hun’s emotional state leads him to live a life reminiscent of his struggles before the games. Experiencing profound survivor’s guilt, he dedicates his fortune to philanthropy, such as purchasing a fish shop for Sang-woo’s grieving mother. His character arc thickens when he encounters Player 001, Oh Il-nam, the architect behind the Games. Through their interaction, Gi-hun learns about the sinister motives driving the brutal competition, meant to entertain the wealthy elite by testing humanity’s limits.
In an emotional climax, Gi-hun stands poised to board a flight to visit his daughter in the U.S. However, witnessing another desperate individual being recruited for the games ignites a moral dilemma within him. For this reason, he makes the heart-wrenching choice to forgo his personal happiness for a greater cause, reaching out to the game’s operators instead.
Gi-hun’s Sacrifice for Others
Returning to the Games to Save Others
- Forms an alliance with Detective Jun-ho
- Wins a high-stakes game against The Recruiter
- Re-enlists in the Games
In the second season, Gi-hun forges a crucial alliance with Detective Jun-ho, the Front Man’s brother, shortly after besting The Recruiter in a tense game of Russian Roulette. Determined to uncover the truth behind the games’ origins and leadership, the duo employs innovative tactics, including a tracker hidden within Gi-hun’s tooth. Unfortunately, their strategy is thwarted when Gi-hun notices the tracker has been removed once he re-enters the Games.
Despite facing overwhelming odds and losing a chance for easy escape, Gi-hun remains resolute in his mission to halt the games and protect future participants. Even though he sacrifices the possibility of reuniting with his daughter, Gi-hun feels morally compelled to confront the ongoing turmoil caused by the games and the Front Man, who ultimately becomes a player himself.
Tracking the Island
Jun-ho and Gi-hun Attempt to Locate the Island
- Tracker installed for the mission
- Tracker lost upon reaching the Game’s headquarters
- Jun-ho’s relentless pursuit continues
As noted, Gi-hun and Jun-ho take proactive measures to track down the game’s location by placing a tracker designed to illuminate the Games’ whereabouts. However, the scheming organizers of the Games prove shrewd, swiftly neutralizing this effort as Gi-hun later discovers he has been stripped of the tracking device.
Upon meeting the Front Man in a lavish setting, Gi-hun’s intent to rejoin the Games raises suspicion. This might explain how his efforts were swiftly derailed, as they likely anticipated his moves. In a critical conversation, Gi-hun implores the Front Man to dismantle the Games, which he flatly refuses. Although Gi-hun is now back within the game dynamics, Jun-ho and his team remain steadfast in their resolve to uncover the island’s location and dismantle the men’s operation.
Unraveling the Games’ System
Gi-hun’s Quest for Knowledge
- Gi-hun possesses firsthand experience of the deadly Games
- Seeks vital insider knowledge
- Gets closer to the Front Man while remaining unaware of his identity
Although protected by no one besides his past experiences, Gi-hun approaches the returning Games armed with the knowledge gained from his previous participation. However, confronted by the machinations behind the scenes, he remains an unwitting player seeking the full narrative of the games’ operations and the dominant figures behind the Front Man.
Unbeknownst to Gi-hun, Player 001 is intricately connected to the Front Man, and he learns the hard way that trust can lead to perilous consequences. As he forges a deeper, albeit deceptive, connection with the Front Man, details about past actions and intentions gradually unfold. Season two culminates tragically with the murder of Gi-hun’s ally, Jung-bae, at the hands of the Front Man following an uprising, leaving audiences on a suspenseful cliffhanger. The anticipated final season of Squid Game is scheduled for release in late 2025, promising a thrilling resolution to Gi-hun’s journey and the fate of the Games.
Currently, Squid Game is available for streaming on Netflix.
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