Squid Game Season 1 Recap: 10 Things You Need To Remember Before Season 2

It is crucial that viewers recall the events of the first season of this renowned South Korean thriller series, as Squid Game season 2 is scheduled to debut on Netflix on December 26, 2024. Squid Game, which debuted in 2021, rapidly became the most-watched TV series on Netflix and became an instant smash. Squid Game enthralled viewers of all stripes with its blend of startling terror and a distinctively sinister premise. The second season of the show, which is finally returning, promises to be every bit as terrifying and incredible as the first.

According to the trailer, Squid Game season 2 appears to be a straight-forward continuation of the first season, in which unfortunate individuals are persuaded to participate in the Squid Games while being aware of the potentially fatal repercussions. Notably, Seong Gi-hun, the show's main character, is making a comeback to both the show and the games. Regardless of what his peers may think, it appears that he intends to destroy these games. Beyond that, the new game is probably going to provide further answers to queries about how and why the games work. So far, Squid Game has provided the following explanation:

Seong Gi-hun is the primary character in Squid Game.

Seong Gi-hun, the protagonist of Squid Game, opens Season 1. Viewers are informed right away that Gi-hun is divorced and has a daughter that he almost ever sees. In addition, he has a gambling problem that has left him deeply indebted, and he lives with his aging mother, with whom he rarely gets along. Gi-hun appears to be in a very difficult financial situation at the beginning of Squid Game, and his life is generally pretty dismal and discouraging. His fate is altered, for better or worse, by his entrance to the games.

Gi-hun's origins are significant since they provide clues about his personality and motivations for the rest of the season. Gi-hun is in dire need of money due to his debt, which the Squid Games could supply if he prevails. Gi-hun might use the money to see his daughter once more in addition to paying off his debts. Gi-hun has very little left in his life, therefore leaving does not concern him, unlike other characters who might decide not to participate in the Squid Games because they do not want to leave their families behind.

The Salesman Tricks Needy People

A mysterious guy known only as the Salesman introduces Gi-hun to the Squid Games. This person comes up to Gi-hun and gives him the opportunity to pay off his obligations and become a multibillionaire. Gi-hun accepts him even though this scenario clearly appears dubious and too wonderful to be true. Although money undoubtedly plays a significant role, there is also a perception that the Squid Games will be simple. Without understanding the scenario, Gi-hun and the others presumably believe that winning a few games won't be too difficult.

Even though he only makes a fleeting appearance, the Salesman is the central character of Squid Game. People in need are tricked into unwittingly offering their lives for the Squid Games, as demonstrated by the Salesman's encounter with Gi-hun. Knowing that these individuals have addicted tendencies and are in debt, the salesman approaches them and takes use of these flaws to persuade them to play the games. Gi-hun is motivated to participate not just by his debt but also by his addiction to taking high-risk bets.

The Squid Games Are Horrible Games for Kids

After Gi-hun reaches the Squid Games' secret location, viewers discover the true purpose of the competition. 456 players are housed in a room without windows and dressed in recognizable green tracksuits. They are led away by anonymous guards to play kid-friendly games, but these are more complicated than they may appear. A huge baby doll shoots players who move during a red light in the game Red Light, Green Light. It turns out that the winner must be the last person to live, and that every game has a fatal cost.

As if this weren't awful enough, the Squid Games' violent regulations make them even more vicious. The contestants discover that the total payout is increased by $100 million for each contestant that passes away. Furthermore, players can be assassinated by their peers; they are not need to be slain during the games. Gi-hun and the other competitors are forced to constantly watch their backs in order to avoid being killed by people around them, creating an extremely deadly system.

Gi-hun Meets Up With Other Important Applicants

Gi-hun finds himself searching for allies due to the huge stakes of the Squid Games. He gradually develops relationships with other competitors who were tricked into playing the game as well. Gi-hun's childhood closest buddy, Cho Sang-woo, plays the games in order to avoid being charged with embezzlement. An immigrant named Kang Sae-byok hopes to win enough money to leave North Korea with her family. Lastly, Gi-hun feels obligated to protect Oh Il-nam because he is the game's oldest competitor.

Gi-hun is the main character in Squid Game, but these other characters give the narrative a lot of complexity. Audiences learn about these individuals and realize how much everyone wants to win and what they have sacrificed to be here. These backstories also suggest that the Squid Game competitors might not be the most ideal individuals. All in all, they increase the games' stakes and provide some context for the larger narrative.

What Befalls The Other Characters In The Squid Game?

Not surprisingly, by the end of Squid Game, practically every supporting character dies as a result of the games. Their deaths are by no means unimpressive, though. For instance, Sang-woo stabs Sae-byeok during a Squid Game challenge, killing her. Presumably, Sae-byeok bleeds out and passes away. Then, in the last round of the Squid Games, Gi-hun kills Sang-woo. Ultimately, during the marbles challenge, Il-nam passes away.

Consequently, Gi-hun is the only Squid Games participant to return to season 2. This is somewhat disheartening because the earlier characters had such captivating backstories, and viewers might have grown attached to them. However, Squid Game season 2 offers the opportunity to present even more amazing personalities, and maybe some of them will make it through this time.

Hwang Jun-ho Is Seeking His Sibling

Another plot line is developing concurrently with Gi-hun's adventure through the Squid Games. Hwang Jun-ho, a police detective whose brother vanished, is at the core of everything. He tries to sneak into the enigmatic location where the Squid Games are held because he thinks his sibling was abducted by them. Like Gi-hun's story, Jun-ho's has equally high stakes, and it finishes with a surprise plot twist that many did not anticipate.

It turns out that Jun-ho's brother, who is the Front Man in the Squid Games, was neither missing nor deceased. The Front Man is a Squid Game leader who wears a mask, dressed entirely in black, and occasionally makes an appearance among the competitors. He appears to be a host or emissary for the games, as his name implies. After learning about his brother's involvement in the games, Jun-ho is stabbed by him. However, given that he will be returning for season 2, Jun-ho appears to have survived the attack.

Actually, What's Going On Behind the Games

The competition is not taking place in secret, which is another significant revelation that happens throughout the games. Viewers discover in season 1 that a number of affluent individuals, known as the VIPs, watch the Squid Games from a distance for amusement. Interestingly, the VIPs don golden animal masks and appear to have no problem with witnessing murder and death. This discovery demonstrates that the Squid Games are far more sinister than previously believed and that there is a manipulator at work.

Who is behind the games is revealed at the end of Squid Game season 1, however season 2 would be interesting to know more about the VIPs. These men probably provide financial backing for the games even though they do not manage them. Additionally, their involvement in general reveals something about their personalities. Eliminating these persons is nearly as crucial as destroying the games as a whole, assuming that they hold significant positions in the globe.

The Squid Games and Oh Il-Nam's Role

The revelation to viewers that Oh Il-nam is the true founder of the Squid Games and never died during the marble challenge is the most unexpected of all the twists and turns that Squid Game season 1 takes. It turns out that Il-nam was a very rich man who wanted to add some excitement to his life by creating this terrible competition since he was so bored with his wealth. Il-nam joined the games for a final adventure before passing away after discovering that he had a brain tumor that was killing him. All of this is revealed to Gi-hun while Il-nam is near death.

There is tension in the last scene with Gi-hun and Il-nam. It's clear that Gi-hun feels deceived and hurt by Il-nam's disclosure. When Il-nam bets with him that the homeless guy outside their window won't receive any assistance before midnight and would die from frostbite, his emotions only get worse. Eventually, the man receives assistance, but Il-nam's attitude endures. Through the Squid Games, wealthy individuals have complete control over the universe and can alter it as they like.

The Squid Games Were Won by Gi-hun, But at What Cost?

Gi-hun ultimately prevails in the Squid Games. The children's game that gives the show its name, the Squid Game, is played by Gi-hun and Sang-woo in the last challenge. Until one competitor is unable to continue playing, the game continues. The men must therefore essentially fight until the end. The struggle is challenging because of Sang-woo and Gi-hun's similar backgrounds, but Gi-hun prevails in the end. This is a terrible reality as well as a relief, of course. Despite the loss of 455 lives, Gi-hun has become a billionaire.