7 Of The Most Convincing Theories About What Will Happen In Season 2 Of ‘Squid Game’
Now that Season 2 has been confirmed, let's look at what the future holds for Gi-hun.
Squid Game stans, rejoice! We’re officially getting a Season 2 of the smash-hit Korean drama about crippling debt and deadly kids games.
As Netflix’s most-watched original series of all time, it’s no surprise that the dystopian show has been renewed for a second season. But after weeks of speculation, Squid Game writer and director Hwang Dong-hyuk finally confirmed that he would be whipping up a sequel.
“So there’s been so much pressure, so much demand and so much love for a second season,” Hwang Dong-hyuk told the Associated Press. “So I almost feel like you leave us no choice!”
“But I will say there will indeed be a second season. It’s in my head right now. I’m in the planning process currently. But I do think it’s too early to say when and how that’s going to happen.”
“So I will promise you this…Gi-hun will come back, and he will do something for the world.”
COMEBACK SQUID: Hwang Dong-hyuk, the director, creator, writer of #SquidGame says the show will be back with more Gi-hun adventures. pic.twitter.com/uqC1DIdZqy
— AP Entertainment (@APEntertainment) November 9, 2021
As we saw at the end of Season 1, Gi-hun decided against hopping on the plane to visit his daughter in Los Angeles after seeing a recruiter trying to lure more innocent players into the game.
Instead of just going to visit his daughter like a good dad, Gi-hun called the organisers of the game, told them that he didn’t forgive them, and essentially vowed to find out exactly who was behind the Squid Game. And thanks to such an opened-ended cliffhanger, this means that Hwang Dong-hyuk can take Season 2 of Squid Game in a number of different directions — especially as he plans to involve a writers’ room and collaborate with “multiple experienced directors” this time around.
So here are all the best theories swirling online about what may happen in Season 2 of Squid Game:
1. Gi-hun Will Return To The Squid Game As A Guard
One of the biggest theories about Season 2 is that Gi-hun plans to return to the games and take down the operation to stop the vicious cycle.
But many believe that Gi-hun’s decision to dye his hair bright red was to foreshadow his new role and mission in the Squid Game: infiltrating the new games as a guard.
Similar to how Hwang Jun-ho snuck into the game as a guard to gather information, people think Gi-hun will do the same. However, considering the game makers knew exactly where Gi-hun was when he decided to dial the number on the calling card, I doubt he will be able to sneak back in undetected.
2. Jun-ho Survives And Continues To Take Down The Games
Most people think that Jun-ho isn’t dead, which means there’s room for the wounded police officer to reappear in Season 2.
During Jun-ho’s death scene, the Frontman intentionally shot his brother in the shoulder even though he was only a few metres away meaning a fatal shot would’ve been pretty easy to deliver.
While most deaths in Squid Game were confirmed by showing a dead body, we never saw Jun-ho after he fell off the cliff and the Frontman didn’t ask his staff to retrieve the body. And if Oh Il-nam’s death was anything to go by, you can never assume someone is dead until you see them dead.
If Jun-ho is alive, this means he and Gi-hun could possibly work together in the new season to complete Jun-ho’s original mission: take down the Squid Game from the inside.
3. The Police Will Try To Stop The Games
Before Jun-ho’s “death”, the police officer desperately tried to send evidence of the games to his colleagues.
In fact, he even managed to get a hold of his boss to share his location and give a quick rundown of what was happening at the games. And even though his boss thought he was crazy, Jun-ho’s prolonged disappearance could convince the police force to come looking for their lost officer.
If this happens, Season 2 of Squid Game may potentially focus on the police takedown of the games and those involved instead of us just watching another round of games take place.
4. Season 2 Will Be A Prequel Series About The Frontman’s Games
As the actors of Season 1 of Squid Game as so beloved, show writers may decide to make the second season a prequel to bring back these characters.
Specifically, Season 2 may focus on The Frontman’s own Squid Game and delve into how Hwang In-ho won the games in 2015, yet wound up as a worker instead of enjoying his winnings in the real world.
If this storyline happens, then we can also find out more about Jun-ho’s relationship with his brother and get a deeper look into the stories of how our favourite players ended up in such serious debt.
In an interview from October with The Times, director Hwang Dong-hyuk actually shared that he was already thinking about potential storylines for a second season — revolving around the Frontman and the Korean police — as he was writing the first.
“While I was writing Season 1, I thought about the stories that could be in Season 2 if I get to do one — one would be the story of the Frontman,” said Dong-hyuk.
“I think the issue with police officers is not just an issue in Korea. I see it on the global news that the police force can be very late on acting on things — there are more victims or a situation gets worse because of them not acting fast enough.”
“This was an issue that I wanted to raise. Maybe in Season 2, I can talk about this more.”
5. Or About Oh Il-Nam’s Life And The Very First Squid Games
Now that we’re certain that Oh Il-nam is dead, Season 2 could be a great opportunity to explore why the billionaire did what he did.
This prequel could explain a lot of the unanswered questions that remain about Season 1. For example, we could finally find out how was the death island was constructed, how the workers of the game were recruited, what caused the “rules” to be created, and how the workers ensured players didn’t leave and just immediately report the games to the police.
Understanding how and why the Squid Game was started would also be an easy way to explore Oh Il-nam’s character and finally answer the series biggest question: is Il-nam the father of Gi-hun?
6. Gi-hun’s Loved One’s Will Be Put Into The Games
Although Gi-hun thinks he’s smart and will be able to stop the Squid Game, the game makers are always one step ahead of him.
One theory swirling around online is that all of those close to Gi-hun will be put in the game, which will force the former winner to play again in an attempt to protect them, as he did with Oh Il-nam.
By putting people like his own daughter, Kang Sae-byeok’s little brother and Cho Sang-woo’s mother into the Squid Game, Gi-hun would be far too distracted to be able to focus on his goal of taking down the game. And holding his loved ones over him may even force Gi-hun into a role like Frontman, which may be exactly what happened with Hwang In-ho.
Of course, kids don’t normally play in the Squid Game but I’m sure when the entire operation is under threat, exceptions could be made.
7. Or The Games Will Actually Take Place In A Different Country
Although very unlikely, some think that Season 2 will focus on a Squid Game that’s set in another country — especially now that Oh Il-nam is dead.
With no host for the Korean games, Season 2 could potentially explore the Squid Games that take place in any of the other countries the VIPs hail from. However, considering Squid Game is a Korean drama and is named after a Korean childhood game, it’s very unlikely that director Hwang Dong-hyuk will recast the show with white actors to play Western games.
But if Squid Game taught us one thing, it’s that you really can’t assume anything about the show — so we’re just going to have to wait and see.
You can stream the first season of Squid Game on Netflix now.