Recap of Squid Game Season 2 Episode 4: Key Moments and Highlights

Episode 4 Recap: Squid Game Season 2

Gi-hun asserts his leadership by sharing game insights and crafting strategies.
The Six-Legged Pentathlon introduces complex team dynamics that challenge competitors.
Episode 4 suggests potential implications for a Season 3, with heightened tension and high-stakes scenarios.

The intensity of Squid Game Season 2 escalates with every episode. After diving back into the treacherous competition, Seong Gi-hun (played by Lee Jung-jae) is ready to dismantle the sinister organization responsible for the deadly games. Following a harrowing introduction, where Gi-hun witnesses the brutal “Red Light, Green Light” game—claiming numerous lives—viewers are left questioning the competitors’ chances of survival.

As in the previous season, the lure of money proves irresistible. A pivotal moment arrives when the players vote to continue the game. The tie prompts Player 001 to press the “O”button, revealing his shocking identity as The Frontman. With the games continuing, the responsibility falls on Gi-hun to navigate the threats and protect as many players as he can. Let’s delve into what unfolds in Episode 4 of Season 2.

Why is the Spotlight on Gi-hun?

The answer is a resounding YES! Following the vote, the disguised Player 001 approaches Gi-hun, also known as Player 456. He expresses that he influenced the decision to continue based on Gi-hun’s previous victory, emphasizing that Gi-hun’s insight would be invaluable for survival. As discussions unfold about upcoming games, Gi-hun reveals that the second game was “Dalgona,” where competitors must choose among four intricate shapes: Triangle, Circle, Star, and Umbrella. The objective is to extract their chosen shape from a delicate dalgona cookie within a tight ten-minute timeframe, using only a small needle. Gi-hun shares that the Triangle shape is the simplest, enabling players to strategize better.

Despite dissent from some competitors, Gi-hun insists on sharing the game’s details, underscoring a collaborative spirit. Before the second round, a dream unnerves him, altering perceptions of the Dalgona game. However, expectations shift dramatically when it’s announced that the next challenge is not Dalgona, but a robust “Six-Legged Pentathlon.”

Player 001’s Strategic Role

Player 001 Strategic Influence — Image Credit: Netflix

While Gi-hun is central to the players’ strategies, it is Player 001 (In-ho) who emerges as a manipulative force, attempting to guide his fellow competitors. As the mastermind of the games, he enters the competition not only to test Gi-hun but to exercise his control. During discussions, tension mounts when a conflict arises between Thanos and Myung-gi—highlighting the importance of leadership as Player 001 intervenes decisively, reinforcing his authority.

Decoding the Six-Legged Pentathlon

The upcoming challenge is the Six-Legged Pentathlon, where teams of five must execute a series of mini-games while tethered together by their legs. Progressing through ten-meter intervals, one member competes in a mini-game at each checkpoint. The mini-games include Ddakji, Flying Stone, Gong-gi, Spinning-Top, and Jegi, all of which must be successfully completed within five minutes to avoid elimination.

Gi-hun teams up with Player 390 (Jung-bae), Player 001 (In-ho), Player 222 (Jun-hee), and Dae-ho (Player 388), while Hyun-ju (Player 120), Yong-sik (Player 007), and Geum-ja (Player 149) form another team. Thanos, describing himself as a captain, leads yet another group.

As the competition kicks off, the dynamics shift rapidly. The initial teams, consisting of five players each, dive into their respective strategies. Team #1, comprising Players 341, 395, 045, 286, and 254, paces themselves against Team #2, which includes Players 189, 416, 178, 198, and 016. Although Team #2 initially performs poorly due to a fumbled Flying Stone game, the competition intensifies as Team #1 discovers the potential pitfalls of the Gong-gi game. However, they ultimately succeed, while Team #2 struggles but manages to move on.

As time runs short, Team #1 completes the fourth game, Spinning Top, but tragically, both teams fail to finish in the allotted five minutes, resulting in their immediate execution—underscoring the life-or-death stakes of the games. The episode concludes with anticipation for the next round and hints that the plot may extend into an exhilarating Season 3, leaving audiences on edge with unresolved questions and thrilling cliffhangers. What began as simple entertainment now reveals a dark reality, where each player’s decision could lead to profound consequences.

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