Lee Byung-hun’s role as player 001 was one of the most memorable parts of Squid Game season 2, and his costars revealed an interesting behind-the-scenes detail that makes his performance even more menacing. Having adopted the mantle of the Front Man in season 1, Byung-hun’s part in season 2 was completely different, as his character actually participated in the games. The Front Man’s transition to player 001 in Squid Game‘s latest outing was a major part of the story, as he attempted to break Gi-hun’s spirit while proving his attempt to take down the games was worthless.
Rather than simply rigging the game against the protagonist or setting him up to fail, In-ho ditched his Front Man persona and adopted a fake name to compete alongside Gi-hun, wanting to see his failure firsthand. To do this, he also had to participate in each deadly game, but one particular scene showed just how terrifying Byung-hun’s performance really was. Although he had a few suspicious moments as player 001, In-ho truly let his mask slip in front of Jung-bae during Mingle when he killed another player, and his fellow cast members’ comments made his role even better.
Lee Byung-hun’s Eyes “Changed” During The Scene Young-il Kills Another Player In Mingle
The Front Man Actor Had A Menacing Look In His Eyes During His Iconic Mingle Scene
In-ho was relatively calm and peaceful while using his Young-il persona inside the games, but his Mingle kill scene saw his real personality surface, and his eyes even changed during the incident. Byung-hun’s switch from the seemingly innocent Young-il just trying to compete and survive to the menacing Front Man was clear to see, with his cast members describing just how noticeable this change was. Lee Seo-hwan (Jung-bae) explained how Byung-hun’s eyes changed as In-ho killed the man and even stated “I couldn’t tell if he was acting or not“, showing how convincing the performance was.
Kang Ha-neul (Dae-ho) followed up by claiming the moment was scary, once again emphasizing how into the role Byung-hun got. The fact that his costars could notice the tweak in his eyes as his colder side came out is a testament to how well the actor did with In-ho/ Young-il, which shouldn’t be a huge surprise given his track record. While some fans are still holding out hope that In-ho can find redemption in Squid Game season 3, the sinister nature of his violent actions makes it feel like a long shot, especially since Byung-hun plays such a good villain.
In-ho Was Just As Scary Pretending To Be A Player As He Was As The Front Man (If Not More)
His Unpredictability & Unclear Intentions Meant He Could Have Gotten Anyone Hurt
The Front Man’s presence was one of the most intimidating parts of season 1, but In-ho posing as a player was equally terrifying. Having this mysterious figure overlooking the games and controlling the narrative added an unsettling edge to the first installment, with In-ho appearing untouchable from his ivory tower. Subsequently, seeing him compete as a player in such a vulnerable setting should have made him far less threatening, yet he kept his menacing aura. His killer stares, unpredictable behavior, and personal grudge toward Gi-hun also made it seem like he could potentially do even more damage as a contestant.
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Even though he chose to ally with the protagonist and his group, it felt like things could go south at any moment. In-ho intentionally sabotaging the spinning top game in season 2 put a lot of pressure on Gi-hun to deliver, and had he failed, his whole squad may have died. In addition, watching him murder another player during Mingle while easily beating up Thanos and Nam-gyu on his own was a clear indicator of what he was capable of, and knowing he could turn on Gi-hun and the rest of the main characters at any moment was spine-chilling.
Lee Byung-hun’s Performance Is What Sold Squid Game Season 2’s Player 001 Twist
Having The Front Man Competing In The Games Was Elevated Thanks To Byung-hun’s Memorable Performance
Given season 1 had already pulled off the twist of player 001 being a plant, season 2 repeating it could have been lackluster had it not been for Byung-hun’s masterful performance. Viewers will have recognized In-ho right away, giving the player 001 twist a completely different vibe to season 1, but having him compete alongside Gi-hun had the potential to fall flat without conveying a proper sense of jeopardy. Luckily, Byung-hun was able to match that same level of intimidation as The Front Man while inside the games, all while remaining undercover and posing as a normal competitor.
Squid Game season 3 has been confirmed and is set to premiere in 2025.
Had he gone overboard with the violent scenes or tried to extract too much personal information from Gi-hun, it could have made the protagonist feel incredibly naive. Instead, Byung-hun perfectly blended his villainy with the perception of being a genuine player, which is a testament to his acting skills alongside the show’s strong writing. While there are numerous excellent performances in Squid Game season 2, Byung-hun really stands out mainly because of how different he feels compared to season 1, and he made In-ho’s presence in the games one of the story’s best aspects.
Source: Netflix K-Content on YouTube
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