The eagerly awaited second season premiered on Netflix on December 26 and has sparked diverse reactions from audiences.
While some viewers claim the second season surpasses the highly acclaimed first one, others have voiced dissatisfaction with the plot and its conclusion.
Several beloved characters from Squid Game have made a comeback in this new season, including Lee Jung-jae, who returns as Seong Gi-hun (Player 456).
The Front Man, portrayed by Hwang In-ho, also returns, following the revelation of his identity at the end of the first season.
Additionally, Gong Yoo reprises his role as the mysterious salesman who lures individuals into participating in Squid Game.
This season introduces many new faces, including South Korean rapper T.O.P.
T.O.P, whose real name is Choi Seung Hyun, is well known as a member of the K-Pop group BigBang and takes on the role of Player 230 in Squid Game 2.
His character, named Thanos, is easily identifiable by his vibrant purple hair.
According to The Mirror, some Korean media outlets have been critical of T.O.P’s portrayal of Player 230 in the popular Netflix series, even suggesting he should ‘apologize’ to fans of Squid Game.
Others have described his acting as ‘unbearable’ and ‘cringey’.
However, his supporters and Netflix viewers have come to his defense, with one fan expressing on social media that he is their ‘favorite character on the show’.
“T.O.P killed it as Thanos in Squid Game,” one viewer tweeted, while another commented, “T.O.P showing up is the only thing making me want to watch Squid Game.”
Another fan added, “T.O.P definitely did a great job playing his role in Squid Game that’s all I can say.”
In a different statement, Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-hyuk discussed his decision to cast the rapper and praised him for accepting the role.
Before his involvement in the series, in 2017, T.O.P was convicted of marijuana use (an illegal substance in South Korea), resulting in a suspended 10-month prison sentence and a two-year suspension from his mandatory military service, as reported by Billboard.
T.O.P expressed remorse to his fans, stating, “I’m truly sorry that I disappointed my fans and the public. I will do my best to make a fresh start and not to make such a mistake again with what I’ve learned from this lesson.”
Reflecting on T.O.P’s past legal issues, Dong-hyuk explained to PEOPLE, “This is a comeback after quite a long hiatus, and particularly because he portrays a character that’s a rapper and also someone who is on drugs.”
“I feel it took him a lot of guts to take on a role that mirrors some of his personal struggles.”
Squid Game 2 is now available for streaming on Netflix.