Squid Game
Save this article to read it later.
Find this story in your accountsSaved for Latersection.
[To the tune of In da Club] Go, Gi-hun, its your birthday!
In case you forgot, our main protagonist was born on October 31.
Gi-hun doesnt acknowledge the personal significance of the date, which makes sense to me.
Plus, Gi-hun has a revenge mission to focus on.
I dont expect him to be drinkingbirthday soupand blowing out candles.
So far in season two, I dont think weve seen him smile once.
While this exposition-heavy episode still doesnt get Gi-hun back to the game, it lays the final groundwork.
First, he needs a team.
Gi-hun trusts them enough to show them his blood money stash and his impressive collection of guns.
Jun-ho still hasnt told anyone that In-ho is the Front Man.
Jun-ho raises his voice while trying to assure his mom (and maybe himself?)
that In-ho doesnt resent them for not helping more.
He insists In-ho is the only one responsible for ultimately accepting bribes to get the money he needed.
Before joining forces with Gi-hun, Jun-ho asks if he intends to kill the Front Man.
Im curious how he would have reacted if the answer were yes, but Gi-hun shakes his head.
He thinks killing the Front Man wont stop the game and brings up game creator Oh Il-nams VIP clients.
Does he think killingthemwould stop the game?
His exact strategy isnt super-clear.
But whatever hes planning, Gi-hun seems sure itll be dangerous.
Before Halloween, he checks up on all the people he cares about.
He verifies from a distance that Sang-woos mom and Sae-byeoks little brother, Cheol, are happy and healthy.
Basically, hes acting like someone who thinks he may be about to die.
You know whos not concerned, though?
A small explosive in Jun-hos car detonates and also stops his pursuit.
The Front Man dryly asks if Gi-hun was hoping to kidnap him.
Its bulletproof, so he switches tactics and volunteers/demands to be put back in the game.
After knockout gas fills the limo, the partition drops to reveal that the Front Man is riding shotgun.
Welcome back to the game, he says.
Jun-ho, still watching Gi-huns tracker move, instructs the backup team to initiate plan B.
After quitting her job, she receives a Squid Game card.
Theres no slapping involved, which suggests shes not a player.
She calls the number, then burns the card along with a drawing from Strawbaby.
Will she be capable of more cruelty now that she has a triangle over her face?
Guess well find out soon.
Let the deadly childhood games begin.
Parting Shots
Is Club HDH named in homage to Hwang Dong-hyuk?
(Looking atyou and your cowboy hat, Taylor Sheridan.)
Gi-huns motel isnt fully soundproof; Jun-ho hears a single gunshot while parked outside in the rain.
Wow, that neighborhood sure knows how to mind its business.
For a dark thriller,Squid Gamehas pretty funny moments.
I particularly enjoyed the wordless panic when Strawbaby wanders into the amusement parks dressing room.
Winner of the episode: Hmm … maybe the health-insurance industry?
Insurance rarely has to foot the bill for lifesaving treatments in this show.
Loser of the episode: Gi-huns backup team.
Sorry, but given how much their combat experience was hyped, I expected them to be more helpful.
Google tells me there are tires built to resist gunfire and/or keep rolling for miles after being punctured.
Why not ask Gi-hun to buy some if the main plan depends on cars?
Im not saying Front Man couldnt still have stopped them somehow.
My point is just that it feels as if more precautions could have been taken.
Hopefully, theyll redeem themselves with whatever plan B is.
