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In the turbulent world of entertainment, two striking stories have captured the harsh realities of what it’s like to live in a judgemental society, while also being under the limelight. One tragic narrative centers on Kim Sae-ron, an actress who could have flourished and lived more.

Kim Sae-ron | @ron_sae / Instagram

Another high-profile figure is T.O.P, who made an unexpected return as Thanos in Netflix’s Squid Game. Together, these stories offer a glimpse into a world where people aren’t allowed to make mistakes and are criticized for years.

Kim Sae-ron’s tragic demise and the toll of a toxic culture

Kim Sae-ron was a South Korean actress, whose promising career and life have now been cut short, at the tender age of 24. She was celebrated for performances in projects like Bloodhounds, but her work was overshadowed due to a drunk-driving car accident that led to public humiliation and isolation.

T.O.P Denies Bigbang Reunion ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

After people slammed singer-cum-actor T.O.P for rejoining his group Bigbang, he addressed the speculations and denied all the rumors. Read ahead.

Recently, many news reports claimed that Squid Game 2 actor T.O.P. (Choi Seung-Hyun) might rejoin his band Bigbang. The reports further stated that Bigbang has added T.O.P. ’s name and photo to their official YouTube channel. When people noticed that on his Instagram account, he put his stage name (T.O.P.) in front of his name, it fueled the speculations even more.

Netizens started to lash out at the actor for doing such a thing, while some claimed these were false rumors and that his name has always been on Bigbang’s official channel. A few even mentioned that he had no intention to rejoin the group. In his interview for Netflix’s Squid Game, the...

Perhaps the most colorful addition to the cast of "Squid Game" season 2 is Thanos (Choi Seung-hyun), a good-for-nothing young man who always seems to be starting a fight with someone. He loves investing in cryptocurrency, taking drugs, bullying his potential allies, and making major life decisions based on the assumption that he will never die. It might seem strange that such a sleazeball has become a fan favorite, but hey, viewers love a wildcard. 

That's why it's so tragic that he died somewhat randomly in season 2's penultimate episode, "O X," when another player stabs him in the neck with a fork. Sure, it made for a good upping-the-ante moment, setting the stage for a truly game-changing finale, but it also feels like a waste for the show to dispose of Thanos so soon. As far as the actor's concerned, however, it all made a lot of sense. As Choi...

"Squid Game" season 2 followed up the global phenomenon with a darker, bloodier season that weaponized audiences' familiarity with the story and nearly made me regret I ever wanted more of the show. Even if we had some characters that were easier to root for and follow than back in season one, we somehow also had some even more despicably evil players in the games.

Among them is Thanos, one of the best new characters of "Squid Game" season 2 and a hilarious chaos gremlin. Thanos is a former rapper who lost all his money investing in crypto and now desperately wants the games to continue until the cash prize is big enough that he actually can pay off his bills. He is a big part of the biggest change this season, the new dynamic wherein the players get to vote at the end of every round on whether they want to...

We're now more than a month removed from the premiere of Squid Game Season 2, and while the show has mostly lost its place in the conversation due to all episodes dropping at once, it's still hanging on to the #9 spot on Netflix's top 10 charts. This is largely due to the show's cast and creatives, who have been steadfastly giving updates on Season 3, which is confirmed to be coming in June later this year, but also providing additional insight into their characters. One of the most vocal has been Choi Seung-hyun, also known as T.O.P., who plays Thanos in the show. During a recent interview with Netflix's Tudum, Choi spoke about his character's death, and how reading it in the script wasn't shocking for him at all:...

The hit Netflix series "Squid Game" can be pretty controversial, as it skewers capitalism while also making millions for the streaming service, and one of the more controversial aspects of season 2 was a new character: Thanos, played by actor Choi Seung-hyun. First, there was the backlash to Choi's casting, as the actor was once a part of the K-pop band Bigbang but left in 2023 after the public found out about his past marijuana use and possession charges from 2017. K-Pop stars who are convicted of drug charges, even marijuana charges, frequently have a difficult time ever regaining stardom, and there were some very upset South Korean "Squid Game" fans.

Thanos' casting is a bit of art mirroring life, as the character is a disgraced rapper who has lost status due to drug abuse and getting involved in bad cryptocurrency, so Choi can really relate to someone trying to pick themselves...

Squid Game boasts an ensemble of villains but Thanos is easily the standout of Season 2. No one wanted him to win but fans wouldn't mind if he lasted longer; he made the games more unpredictable and interesting.

Actor Choi Seung-hyun (a.k.a. Kpop superstar T.O.P.) said Thanos would have relished the mayhem of Squid Game's Season 2 finale. "Based on my interpretation of him, Thanos would probably be dancing with the pink soldiers," he told Tudum. That image is befitting of a character who played so recklessly in such a deadly game. Thanos didn't survive long enough to witness Gi-hun's revolt, however; his surprise death was Episode 6's cliffhanger, and audiences knew he had it coming. Choi agreed that death couldn't have come sooner despite his character's cult following.

RelatedSquid Game Creator Explains Why New Season 2 Character Is Named Thanos

Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-hyuk explains why Choi Seung-hyun's...

Thanos is one of Squid Game's loose cannons; his recklessness raised the stakes and made the games more interesting. New footage reveals he was also a maverick player and cheerleader to his team.

Netflix Korea released behind-the-scenes footage from Squid Game Season 2, and it's packed with deleted scenes. These leave fans wondering how much material was scrapped from the final cut, and if an extended version will ever be released. Out of the season's new players, Choi Su-bong a.k.a. Thanos (played by T.O.P.) quickly became a fan favorite. His screen time was limited, however, and he didn't even make it to the season finale. The new footage fleshes out his character further and paints him as more of a team player. That's hard to believe considering he was cutthroat during the Red Light, Green Light and Mingle games, but he was almost a different person in the Six-legged Pentathlon.

From the very beginning of his Squid Gameintroduction, it’s obvious that struggling rapper Thanos — played by South Korean superstar Choi Seung-hyun, also known as T.O.P — stands out from the competition. Whether he’s grinning through Red Light, Green Light, intimidating fellow players, or dancing around the Mingle carousel, there’s no one else like Thanos on your screen. That was always Choi’s intention.

“I personally wanted to aim high and create a never-before-seen character,” Choi tells Tudum from Seoul. So he and director Hwang Dong-hyuk had countless discussions on how to build one of Squid Game Season 2’s most scene-stealing characters.

“We decided to be a little more bold with some parts of the character. We were experimenting with different elements. Through that process, there’s just so much that I learned as an actor,” Choi explains. Eventually, the duo — along with Squid Game’s hair...

Squid Game star Jo Yu-ri shared her reaction to fan theories about the highly-anticipated third and final season of the hit Netflix series. Jo was first introduced in Season 2 as Kim Jun-hee/Player 222, a young pregnant woman who joins the survival competition in hopes of winning the money to start a new life with her baby.

During a recent interview with Cinema Today, Jo revealed that most of the circulating fan theories about Squid Game Season 3 haven’t gotten close to what they really have in store for viewers. She teased fans to expect a much more "brutal and cruel" storyline for the remaining characters of the show. "It seems like a lot of people have been predicting the contents of Season 3, but it seems like not many of them have gotten it right as I thought," Jo said. "A truly unimaginably brutal and cruel story awaits, so please look forward to it.

Gi-hun's attempt to overturn Squid Game was foiled in the Season 2 finale. Actor Lee Seo-hwan said Gi-hun might resort to unspeakable acts now that he's more desperate than ever.

Lee Seo-hwan's dark theory for Squid Game Season 3 includes Gi-hun's villain arc. Speaking to Radio Times, Lee said his character Jung-bae's death might have pushed Gi-hun over the edge. "I know nothing about Season 3, but as a viewer and a fan myself, I think there could be three possibilities," he mused. "One would be Gi-hun losing all hope, and the second, him becoming even more vengeful. But the third possibility would be him becoming vengeful towards the players, not the people behind the game." That last possibility just stoked one fan theory that Gi-hun would become the next Front Man.

Related Squid Game Star Accidentally Spoils Season 3 With Potentially Huge Plot Leak

One of Squid Game Season 3's biggest plot twists...

After an amazing second season, Netflix's hit survival thriller series will be back with its third and final installment this year. That’s right, Squid Game will return, and fans can expect even more intense challenges, shocking twists, and edge-of-your-seat drama as the story reaches its gripping conclusion.

Squid Game season 2 ended on a shocking cliffhanger that left viewers eagerly speculating about what’s next for the remaining characters. Like the first season, there were many character deaths. While some were heartbreaking, others felt inevitable. However, there were three that stood out the most to us. With these characters truly gone and no chance of their return, it's clear we won't be seeing them in Squid Game season 3. Find out who they are below!

Spoilers from Squid Game season 2 ahead!

Lee Seo-hwan as Jung-bae in Squid Game season 2 | No Ju-han/Netflix Jung-bae

Jung-bae's death had to be one of...

Fans cannot wait for Squid Game season 3, coming to Netflix this year! However, we cannot get over the characters that either resonated so well with the viewers, or were a much-needed classic embedment within the story.

We can't help but compare Jan Deok-su from season 1 and Thanos who we met in the second season. If you think about it, they are quite similar. Yet entirely different in their own ways as well.

There certainly remains an emotional investment with a typical character, but no, I’m not talking about any investment with these two. Despite each character entering the game helplessly to win a handsome amount of money that would help solve their life problems, every character seemed weak and vulnerable. So the question raised is: Are Jang Deok-su and Thanos villainous or just eccentric?

Courtesy: Netflix Jang Deok-su: Player 101 in season 1

Deok-su in Squid Game season 1 was an interesting character.

Warning: This article contains spoilers for Squid Game season 2.The second season of Netflix's hit drama Squid Game introduces a whole series of new characters, alongside some returning faces, to expand this fictional universe in fresh and interesting ways. One of the standouts of Squid Game season 2's cast is Choi Seung-hyun, who plays the character of Thanos. This amateur rapper is one of the main antagonists of the season, taking a wholly selfish approach to the games and never being afraid to throw other contestants under the bus in order to increase the prize fund.

One of Squid Game's most obvious themes, ever since the first season, has been the exploration of humanity's innate selfishness and greed. It's a story about how far people will go to become rich and avoid their problems, which is exactly what Thanos exemplifies in season two. He knows that only one...

Many successful TV shows attract loyal fan bases who are excited to tune into something similar with each new episode, expecting a comforting cast of familiar characters, locations, and plot lines to appear on the screen. While this may work for some television programs, other notable shows draw in audiences due to their unpredictable nature and fast twists.

For viewers of these shows, investment stems from the compelling nature of their storylines, which can rarely be guessed ahead of time. As a result, fans journey alongside the characters in the show, blind to what will occur confusion, so that they can experience moments of highs and lows, and at times confusion, in real time. For example, shows like Donald Glover's Atlanta seamlessly switch in genre and tone with each new episode, while series like David Lynch's Twin Peaks aren't afraid to devolve, boldly plunging the story line into chaos.

Squid Game Season 2 star Choi Seung-hyun has addressed his casting as the character Choi Su-bong/Thanos in the hit Netflix series. Also known as T.O.P, the K-Pop star and actor was involved in a marijuana-use scandal in 2017 that halted his career. His acting in the new Squid Game season has met with acclaim, even as he had to do limited promotion and press for the comeback because of the controversy surrounding his casting.

Squid Game Season 2 introduced Thanos as a cash-strapped former rapper with a drug problem. In an interview with The Korea Times, Seung-hyun finally discussed the role, which eerily mirrors his former real-life struggle. He revealed his initial hesitance, only agreeing to play the character at the insistence of the show's creator, Hwang Dong-hyuk, to whom he remains grateful. "The offer to play Thanos was a daunting proposition. The character mirrored my past, reflecting aspects I'd rather keep hidden,...

Squid Game’s victims never need an autopsy. We all know what killed them. However, the show itself deserves a post-modern. What happened to the once-great Korean thriller? While not terrible, the recently concluded second chapter hasn't generated as much talk as the first. Part of that concerns the widespread perception that the show didn’t need to continue. According to many fans (and a few critics), Gi-hun’s story was better suited for a miniseries.

2.5/5 Squid Game TV-MAAction & AdventureMysteryDramaThriller

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*Availability in US Release Date September 17, 2021Cast Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-hun, Park Hae-soo, Yim Si-wan, Kang Ha-neul, Wi Ha-jun, Park Gyu-young, Lee Jin-wook, Hoyeon, Oh Young-soo, Park Sung-hoon, Yang Dong-geun, Heo Sung-tae, Kim Joo-ryoung, Kang Ae-sim, Lee Da-wit, Choi Seung-hyun, Anupam Tripathi, Lee You-mi, Jo Yu-ri, Won Ji-an, Jun Suk-ho, Park Hye-jin, Chae Gook-heeSeasons 3 Expand

Still, we can understand Netflix’s decision to...

This article contains Major Spoilers for Squid Game Season 2.

Tension peaked during the six-legged pentathlon in Squid Game's second season. One team couldn't have survived Episode 5 without fan-favorite character Cho Hyun-ju.

Park Sung-hoon said he really slapped co-star Chae Cook-hee in Squid Game Season 2. Fans know this as the moment Cho Hyun-ju [Park] hit the Shaman Seon-nyeo [Chae] during the six-legged pentathlon, which required five players to take on a gauntlet of children's games. Hyun-ju led and motivated his team during their turn, which they almost didn't finish; they were only given five minutes to complete five games of skill, luck, and patience. Seon-nyeo quickly succumbed to the pressure, forcing Hyun-ju to slap her out of her stupor. Speaking to Netflix, K-Content, Park explained why Hyun-ju's slap looked so believable.

Related 'This Will Not Happen Again': Squid Game Star Catches Controversy After Posting Nsfw Photo

The Squid Game actor...

Squid Game season 2’s breakout character, Thanos, has been hilariously reimagined in fan art that merges him with his Marvel Cinematic Universe namesake. Netflix’s hit series returned with new deadly games and even deadlier players, introducing T.O.P (Choi Seung-hyun) as Thanos, a flamboyant rapper whose quirky behavior and intense personality quickly made him a standout character in Squid Game season 2. With his purple hair and unpredictable strategies, Thanos brought fascinating chaos and a wicked charm to the dystopian thriller.

In a video shared on Instagram, graphic designer isaiasarts brought the Squid Game character full circle by blending T.O.P’s Thanos with the MCU’s Mad Titan. The final image features T.O.P’s face and signature purple hair imposed on the body of Josh Brolin’s Marvel villain, Thanos, complete with a fork in the grasp of the Infinity Gauntlet. Check the video out...

Former Kpop star Choi Seung-hyun (also known as T.O.P), who played fan-favorite character Thanos in Squid Game season 2, has broken his silence about joining the action drama's sophomore season. Choi has become one of the breakout stars from the new season, after his wild, unhinged character Thanos caused chaos among the new group of contestants.

Thanos caused an instant stir when he joined the mix in season 2, ardently determined to do whatever it takes to claim the enormous cash prize, even if it means all the other contestants have to die in the deadly games. A rapper, Thanos lost all his money after investing in cryptocurrency scam and became addicted to drugs. The scammer himself is also a contestant, causing tension from the outset.

Thanos' energy made fans instantly love him... or love to hate him, at least. His dancing on the carousel during the game Mingle has...

Quick Links What Has Happened in 'Squid Game' So Far? What Will Happen in 'Squid Game' Season 3? This Theory Shows That the 'Squid Game' Franchise Might Continue

Korean series are usually nothing short of extremely thrilling and highly addictive, which is exactly why the excitement about new additions to various streaming platforms is completely understandable. Netflix, for one, has brought fans one of the biggest Christmas gifts when the streaming platform finally released the second season of one of the most beloved Korean dystopian series.

It hasn’t even been that long since the second season of Squid Game was released on Netflix on December 26, but one day of binge-watching later, the investment went beyond watching and straight into coming up with possible theories. The internet is already full of various theories regarding Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), the Front Man, other players, and particularly the continuation of the franchise.

Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-hyuk has explained why a fan-favorite Season 2 character portrayed by Choi Seung-hyun is named Thanos. Bearing the same name as the popular purple-skinned Marvel Cinematic Universe villain, one would be forgiven for believing the character inspired the purple-haired Squid Game contestant's name.

In an interview presented by Still Watching Netflix on YouTube where he and series star Lee Jung-jae reacted to TikTok clips inspired by the show, Hwang revealed why he chose the name for Seung-hyun's rapper character. Hwang intended for Thanos to transcend South Korean popularity and become an international sensation. "The reason I named the character Thanos, It doesn't really suit a rapper as a name, was to design him to be a character fans worldwide could love. But I am so grateful he is getting this much love,' he explained.

Related 'I'm Your Father': Squid Game Star Responds to Season 3 Theories with...

Squid Game's breakout star Choi Seung-hyun, also known by his stage name T.O.P, breaks his silence following his casting backlash as Thanos. Following the release of season 2, Thanos became one of the standout new characters in the series due to his eccentric but amusing response to the games. While T.O.P has received praise for his performance, his casting didn't come without backlash due to the star's controversy with his marijuana scandal.

In an interview with The Korea Times, T.O.P spoke about his casting as Thanos and reflected on his life since the marijuana scandal.

"The offer to play Thanos was a daunting proposition. The character mirrored my past, reflecting aspects I'd rather keep hidden. The fear of being pigeonholed into one role made me hesitate. But destiny seemed to be pulling me in this direction."

"For almost 10 years, I felt no one looked at me,...

This article contains Major Spoilers for Squid Game Season 2.

Squid Game co-stars Lee Jung-jae and Lee Byung-hun addressed fan theories about the show's biggest mysteries. The latter sidestepped one question, fueling speculation over Season 3's plot twists.

Actor Lee Byung-hun dropped a major "spoiler" for Squid Game Season 3 in an episode of First We Feast. "Squid Game season 2 ends with a cliffhanger and fans are already speculating about the next season," his co-star Lee Jung-jae said. "Tell me which of the following fan theories is true: the island is a ship, Gi-Hun is the son of Oh Il-nam, or the Front Man is an undercover cop." The first rumor gained traction in Season 2 with Hwang Jun-ho's failed attempts to find Squid Game island, and Season 1's finale sparked the theory Gi-hun is related to Il-nam. Lee Byung-hun dismissed all of these speculations.

Related Squid Game Now Holds 2 of Netflix's...

Netflix continues to find immense success with the hit show Squid Game. After the debut of the anticipated second season, the series has set an incredible feat for the streaming platform.

On Tuesday, Netflix announced that Squid Game is still dominating the Top 10 charts as the most-watched title of the week with 26.3 million views. Overall, the season has climbed up to 152.5 million views since its Dec. 26 premiere. This makes Season 2 the third most-watched season on Netflix ever, putting it alongside the first season of the show. Jenna Ortega's Wednesday, which has a second season in the works as well, is the other title in the Top 3.

Related Squid Game Star Explains the Front Man's Decision in Season 2 Finale

Squid Game Season 3 could end with a surprising turn for its main villain.

The success of Squid Game is also going up in other ways. Season 1 logged another week on the Non-English TV charts,...

Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-hyuk had good reason to name Thanos after the Marvel Cinematic Universe character. Introduced in season 2, the character is a naive and compelling rapper with a good heart and a strong personality. Every player in Squid Game season 2 has their own unique traits and gimmicks, but Thanos' career history, hair color, and bizarre name helped to set him apart. While it would be easy to assume that Thanos' name came because of his purple hair, the reason was far more practical.

In an interview presented by Still Watching Netflix on YouTube, Hwang gave the real reason for Thanos' surprising name. Hwang reacted to a variety of TikTok clips, which each related to his show in some way. After seeing a video of Thanos, he elected to explain Thanos' unique name. Rather than gearing the character towards the South Korean audience, Hwang intended for Thanos to become...

The second season of Squid Game brought an intriguing new character into the spotlight: Thanos, a purple-haired rapper with a name that immediately caught the attention of Marvel fans worldwide. While his vibrant personality and quirky name stood out, the story behind his creation is just as fascinating.

Creator Hwang Dong-hyuk explained the reasoning behind naming the character after the famous Marvel villain. Speaking in an interview with Netflix’s YouTube channel Still Watching Netflix, Hwang revealed that the choice was deliberate.

“The reason I named the character Thanos… It doesn’t really suit a rapper as a name, was to design him to be a character fans worldwide could love. But I am so grateful he is getting this much love.”

By tying the character to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Hwang aimed to give Thanos international appeal, making him a standout figure in the series.

Related: ‘Squid Game’s...

This article contains Major Spoilers for Squid Game Season 2.

One player in Squid Game Season 2 stood out as a loose cannon. Despicable yet entertaining, Thanos owned the games to the very end.

Squid Game returned for another round in Season 2, introducing a new crop of contestants. Among the desperate hopefuls was Choi Su-bong a.k.a. "Thanos", played by Choi Seung-hyun, who's also known in South Korea as pop star T.O.P. Thanos was teased as a pesky villain from the start; he played the "Red Light, Green Light" and "Mingle" games while under the influence. Speaking to People, series creator Hwang Dong-hyuk praised Choi Seung-hyun's performance, which drew from T.O.P.'s public persona and troubled past.

Related 'Took the Craziness of the Games to Another Level': Squid Game Creator Explains Season 2's Younger Ensemble

Squid Game Season 2's new storylines signaled a drastic thematic shift for the show.

It may shock fans to discover Squid Game actor Choi Seung-hyun (better known as T.O.P.) was at the center of some major controversy before appearing in the series. 

Choi debuted in Season 2 of the hit Netflix series, joining Squid Game's extensive cast as Thanos, a retired rapper who lost his money after making a dodgy crypto investment, forcing him to partake in the games. 

Fans may recognize the actor as the musical artist T.O.P., a South Korean hip-hop artist previously part of the beloved K-pop group BigBang. 

Read full article on The Direct.

One Squid Game season 2 star broke their rib while filming the intense bathroom fight scene. Season 2 introduced two new players, Thanos and Lee Myungi-gi (Im Si-wan), who were already at odds with each other due to Myungi-gi, a YouTuber, causing many of his followers to lose money on the crypto scam, including Thanos. Just before the rebellion in the Squid Game season 2 finale, a fight broke out between the "X" and "O" voters in a bathroom as players were divided on leaving the game. Thanos targets Myungi-gi before ultimately being stabbed and killed by the YouTuber with a fork.

While speaking with Xports News (with translation from The Tab), Im addressed the filming for the bathroom scene, including the preparation and injury that occurred. The star shared that he and T.O.P trained together at a school to ensure their chemistry would translate on-screen. However, the choreography’s intensity led to T.

T.O.P Face Blurred Squid Game 2 ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

Squid Game Season 2 was released in December 2024 and has barely left the headlines. Amidst all the praise for a tight narrative, the show also saw itself as a part of scandals and gossip circles following the revelations of the cast’s past scandals. One of the cast members, Player 230, aka rapper Thanos, was subjugated to legal punishment following his indictment in a narcotics abuse case. After the verdict, he was out of the spotlight for nearly nine years.

Player 230/Thanos, whose real name is Choi Seung Hyun, was a part of the K-pop group Big Bang as T.O.P. Following a rather public defamation, T.O.P retired to a quiet life. His role in season two of Squid Game was one of the most anticipated ones. His appearance on the show was met with mixed reviews from the audience, but...

Squid Game actor Yang Dong-geun, who plays Park Yong-sik (Player 007) in season 2, revealed that his character took a major turn during production. Yong-sik is a gambling addict who joins the games to clear his debts, unaware that his mother, Jang Geum-ja (played by Kang Ae-sim), has also entered to help him. The mother-son duo became a standout highlight of Squid Game season 2, as Yong-sik often grapples with choosing between protecting his mother from elimination and pushing forward in the deadly games to win the prize money.

In a Netflix featurette, Yang and Kang discussed how Yong-sik’s character evolved during the production of Squid Game season 2. Initially conceived by Squid Game director and creator Hwang Dong-hyuk as a tougher, more antagonistic character, Yong-sik’s dynamic softened significantly due to his mother’s compassionate presence in the games. Here's what they had to say:

Yang: The director initially imagined Yong-sik to be stronger,...

This article contains spoilers for "Squid Game" season 2.

"Squid Game" season 1 was a global phenomenon and easily the biggest hit Netflix has had outside of "Stranger Things." The Korean death game thriller about a man who accepts an invitation to join a sick contest to win money by playing twisted (and deadly) versions of children's games captivated audiences everywhere. It was gory, shocking, and terrifying, but also fun and rather poignant in its commentary about class and capitalism.

The second season acknowledges that the surprise is gone, but instead leans into the audience's prior knowledge of the premise of the games and weaponizes that against them. This season is darker, meaner, and crueler, as if creator Hwang Dong-hyuk was rebelling against the capitalist systems that made the first season of "Squid Game" a global hit, yet prevented him from seeing any of the rewards, by making a second season could...

While Lee Jung-jae’s Seong Gi-hun might have been the titular character of Squid Game, there were several iconic stars in the recently released season 2, that stole people’s hearts. One among them was Choi Seung-hyun who played the role of Thanos, Player 230, a rapper who was on drugs.

Choi Seung-hyun as Thanos aka Player 230 in Squid Game season 2 | image: Netflix

Now, shockingly Choi Seung-hyun’s onscreen character was rather similar to his real-life persona, especially since he’s popularly known as the controversial K-pop star, T.O.P. once imprisoned for recreational use of marijuana. Thus, reflecting on his casting, the Squid Game creator addressed the star’s struggles and the courage it took him to make a comeback.

Squid Game star Choi Seung-hyun was imprisoned for using marijuana

Introduced in the new season of Squid Game, Choi Su-bong, aka Player 230 immediately comes off as an erratic character with his purple hair and bad-boy demeanor.

The second season of Squid Game is in the can, and while it doesn't wrap things up the way the first season did, it was definitely a good watch, not to mention another huge success for Netflix. In a world of deepening wealth inequality, this story about heavily indebted people being willing to fight each other to the death for a chance to win a huge cash prize has struck a chord.

Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-hyuk definitely had those sorts of issues on his mind as he wrote the series. You can see it in the way the Xs and Os — those who vote to leave the Squid Games and those who vote to stay — fight each other towards the end of the series, rather than fighting the sickos who are organizing these games in the first place. "I believe that juxtaposition really reflects our current reality," Hwang told The Hollywood Reporter.

Squid Game star Lee Jung-jae and creator Hwang Dong-hyuk are teasing the third and final season of the Netflix series.

Jung-Jae and Dong-hyuk talked to Deadline on the Golden Globes red carpet and teased what viewers can expect for Season 3.

“In Season 3, slightly different than Season 1 and 2, there’s going to be more twists and turns and more conflict between the characters — something a little bit different, more complex,” the show’s star said. “It’s going to be chaotic and you are not going to know where we’re taking you.”

Dong-hyuk said, “It’s the craziest one. It’s a crazy, crazy, crazy season. It’s the best season finale,” adding that they are working on post-production of the series and are “almost done.”

The series’ second season was released on December 26 and raked in 68M in its first three days on the streamer, according to Netflix. Squid Game was also No.

This article contains major spoilers for Squid Game season 2.Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-hyuk explains why season 2's most divisive character died so early in the season. With its second installment, the characters in Squid Game expanded to include a mother and son duo, a marine, and a YouTuber who lost his money in a scam, among several others. But the breakout is arguably Choi Seung-hyun, also well known as T.O.P, who played Thanos. The purple-haired antagonist is stabbed and bleeds out in a surprisingly quick scene, given his centrality in many of season 2's episodes.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Hwang shared that he was a fan of T.O.P's performance. He also acknowledged that the death of Choi Seung-hyun, better known as Thanos, is surprising. Still, in the quote below, Hwang says that it was ultimately the right time for Thanos to die...

One of the most notable yet controversial castings in Squid Game Season 2 was Thanos, played by former Bigbang member T.O.P. or Choi Seung-hyun. Part of the issue with his involvement in the famed Korean horror series was due to his previous scandal related to marijuana use, which is considered illegal in South Korea.

T.O.P. in Squid Game / Credits: Netflix

The public figure received a two-year mandatory military service and a ten-month prison sentence after he was found guilty of drug use. In 2017, he suffered from a suspected drug overdose after he was found unconscious at his military station.

What happened to T.O.P. before playing Thanos in Squid Game?

It’s difficult to imagine someone else portraying Thanos in the second season of Squid Game after T.O.P.’s exemplary performance. While he endured backlash for receiving work again after the scandal, series creator Hwang Dong-hyuk...

In Squid Game: The Challenge, as 456 hopeful contestants zipped themselves into those green tracksuits made famous by the South Korean drama series Squid Game and competed for an incredible cash prize, the reality show took great pleasure in emphasizing just how debt-ridden and desperate most of the competitors were. It was all utterly tasteless, flying directly in the face of Squid Game’s message about the dehumanizing effects of modern capitalism. But The Challenge did come up with a clever trick that Squid Game 2 similarly employs to great effect: using the audience’s familiarity with the games against them.

The second season of Hwang Dong-hyuk’s series begins three years after Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) emerged from the Squid Game with ₩45.6 billion in prize money and a burning desire for revenge. He’s spent that time and much of that fortune amassing weapons and a small army of followers, all...

Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-hyuk teased what fans can expect from Gi-hun’s storyline in the highly-anticipated third and final installment of the hit Netflix thriller. This comes after over a week since the show’s Season 2 debut, which had already broken viewership records for the streamer. It became the first Netflix show to garner 68 million views in its premiere week, beating Wednesday Season 1’s previous record of 50.1 million views.

Hwang opened up about Gi-hun’s Season 3 storyline, following the shocking Squid Game Season 2 finale that left Gi-hun in a state of shock and heartbreak. Speaking with Variety, the Emmy-winning creator confirmed that the final installment will introduce another side of Gi-hun, as he finds himself in a more difficult and seemingly hopeless situation. "For the storyline of the third season, Gi-hun having lost everything, including his best friend, and all of his attempts going to failure, it’s now,...

This article includes a discussion of drug use and suicide.

Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-hyuk defends his decision to cast controversial K-pop star, T.O.P after a drug scandal. T.O.P, whose real name is Choi Seung-hyun, received a ten-month jail sentence and two-year mandatory military service after being found guilty of marijuana use, which is illegal for recreational use in South Korea. The star was then blacklisted in the entertainment industry after the scandal. T.O.P's comeback as Thanos, Player 230, a rapper who uses drugs during the deadly games in Squid Game season 2, has received backlash from fans since the casting announcement.

In an interview with People, Hwang defended his decision to cast T.O.P as the problematic rapper. He admits that Squid Game is a comeback for the star, who hasn't been involved in any project after the marijuana scandal. The creator stressed that...

When Squid Game premiered in 2021, it got off to a fairly slow start. However, as word spread, the Korean survival series became the biggest show in Netflix's history, smashing records at every turn. Now, 3 years later, the series is back for its second outing. And the viewership has very much continued where it left off: Squid Game season 2 had the biggest opening week of any Netflix show, ever.

Squid Game season 2 premiered on December 26, drawing in an astonishing 68 million views in its first week. To put this into perspective, the previous record-holder for Netflix was Wednesday, which boasted 50.1 million views. Currently, Squid Game season 2 is already ranked 7th on Netflix's all-time top 10 list for non-English programming, and just 30 million viewers away from besting the lowest entry on its English language top-10 list. Squid Game season 1 retains the coveted #1 spot across both English and non-English lists, with 265.2 million views.

Squid Game...

The first season of the Netflix series Squid Game premiered back in September of 2021 – and on December 26th, 2024, after a three year wait, the streaming service finally released season 2 of the show. Thankfully, we’re not in for another long wait between seasons, as the third and final season of the show will be coming along sometime in 2025. In fact, Netflix has already unveiled a teaser trailer for the next batch of episodes… and in doing so, they have also introduced a new killer doll. This one is called Chul-su and he hangs out with the “Red Light, Green Light” doll Young-hee. We’ll have to wait and see what Chul-su will be bringing to the games in Squid Game season 3.

Here’s the Squid Game season 3 teaser:

Everyone say hi to Chul-su Squid Game 3 coming 2025. pic.twitter.com/hCgNexjJbC

— Netflix (@netflix) January 1, 2025

Series creator Hwang Dong-hyuk is the director,...

This article contains Squid Game season 2 spoilers, as well as references to suicide and drug use.

Squid Game season 2 introduces Choi Seung-hyun (also known as T.O.P) as Thanos, and the purple-haired villain has some great moments for various reasons. As one of Squid Game season 2's best new characters, Thanos was one of many incoming personas who helped to shape the show's updated formula, and he stood out for his intense personality and unconventional way of playing the games. Although his death at the end of Squid Game season 2 means he won't be able to return for the third and final season in 2025, Thanos made a massive impact.

Out of all 7 episodes of Squid Game season 2, Thanos is only absent from one installment. However, most of his story comes at the heart of the run and is a little thinner in other episodes. With hair the same color...

Squid Game season two cranked up the drama with new players and test that also means a new set of antagonists including Thanos, player 230, a self-absorbed rapper with purple hair. Fun fact, Thanos is actually played by Choi Seunghyun, better known as T.O.P. from Bigbang, the K-pop legends who ruled the 2000s and 2010s.

Choi Seunghyun’s Thanos in Squid Game Season 2 Credits: Netflix

If the name doesn’t ring a bell, his viral moments definitely will, and believe it or not, one of his wildest things on the show actually happened in real life!

This Squid Game moment actually happened in real life!!

In Squid Game Season 2, one of the standout moments came during the finale when Lee Myung-gi, aka Player 333, calls out Choi Seunghyun’s character named after the Avengers villain, Thanos, Player 230, for forgetting his own lyrics mid-rap.

Related Squid Game Season 2 Mid Credits: The Jack and...

Note: This story contains major spoilers from “Squid Game” Season 2.

If you thought the final face-off during the “Squid Game” Season 1 finale was stressful, you’ve seen nothing yet. Season 2 of the Netflix original ups the stakes in every conceivable way, adding in more players, bigger personalities, wilder twists and crazier games.

And that means Season 2’s finale is more intense than anything this series has ever done before. Whether you need to dissect what you just watched or you’re the type of person who flips to the back of a book before finishing it, here’s your guide to the Season 2 finale of “Squid Game.” Also, as an added bonus, series creator Hwang Dong-hyuk and stars Lee Jung-jae and Lee Byung-hun tell TheWrap what that emotional ending will mean for Season 3, coming in 2025.

How does “Squid Game” Season 2 end?

The beginning of the end started in the bathroom.

The second season of Squid Game is out now. Like the first, we meet a collection of colorful characters who are deep in debt enough to participate in the Squid Games. Whoever reaches the end of the games gets a huge cash prize, but if at any point you lose, you die.

The contestants, who number over 400, are divided over whether they want to leave the games with the money they have or keep going in the hopes of getting a bigger prize, even if it means most of them will die. One of the people who most ardently wants to keep going is a rapper named Thanos, played by real-life rapper Choi Seung-hyun, also known as T.O.P. Pretty early on, Thanos establishes himself as a proper psycho; he deliberately gets people killed during a game of Red Light, Green Light, he's a bully, and he hops himself up on...

Spoiler Alert !!!Spoilers ahead for Squid Game season 2!

The return of Squid Games has excited everyone who was enamored by the first season. There’s certainly something enjoyable about its high-stakes drama with a deeply unsettling narrative. Now that season 2 has dropped, fans are not only discussing the finale but also the mid-credits scene.

Lee Jung-jae in Squid Game | Netflix

By the end of season 2, we get a glimpse of what to expect from the next installment. The ending was a surprise to many but what does the cryptic scene really mean? Let’s dissect and look at the details to know what might unfold in season 3.

Dissecting the mid-credits scene in Squid Game Cheol-su, the new doll in Squid Game | Netflix

Season 2’s mid-credits scene raises the stakes even higher. The shot opens with some surviving players who enter the arena where they play ‘Red Light, Green Light.’ The backdrop looks all too familiar,...

Spoiler Alert !!!Spoilers ahead for Squid Game season 2!

Season 2 of Squid Game was the most anticipated one in 2024, and it was yet another milestone for the dystopian survival thriller. Millions of people tuned in to watch the global sensation which broke several records with its first season. So expectations were high, and viewers were eager to see Seong Gi-hun after his life-altering victory.

Choi Seung Hyun as Thanos in Squid Game | Netflix

Even this time around, everyone hoped to see a high-intensity drama, that would take a deeper dive into the sadistic organization. The show has deserved praise for a few things, but it’s disappointing to see how they’ve treated characters like Thanos and Player 380.

Thanos and Player 380 are wasted potential in Squid Game Won Ji-an as Player 380 in Squid Game | Netflix

In Squid Game Season 2, we see Choi Seung Hyun aka T.O.P, the renowned rapper and singer playing Thanos.

This article contains Major Spoilers for Squid Game Season 2.

Squid Game's breakout success hinged on its unique premise, but audiences were hooked by its player dynamic. Series creator Hwang Dong-hyuk explained why Season 2 focused on its younger characters' stories.

Squid Game expanded its fan base by casting three K-pop idols in its Season 2 ensemble. Actors Jo Yu-ri, Im Si-wan, and Choi Seung-hyun first made waves in the K-pop scene, making their Squid Game roles more engaging. Season 2 still featured an eclectic mix of characters, but the side stories leaned heavily on its younger players, whose reasons for joining the game expose real-world ills. "There are a lot of younger generations who are already neck deep in debt," Series creator Hwang Dong-hyuk told The Wrap. "Because [this season's players] are younger, it led to the increase of diversity within the games and also a sense of wildness. They have a lot of adrenaline and energy.