Summary
Squid Gameis one of the most successful modern limited series. It has shocked fans and critics with its thrilling story and intricate characters, and the show has already been renewed forits third season. A group of powerful individuals recruit downtrodden civilians and force them to play life-or-death games for their entertainment, with the promise of riches for whoever survives to the end.Squid Gamefocuses primarily on the players and the struggles they go through as they quickly end up in over their heads and must do the unthinkable to survive another moment.
Squid Gameis not a simple test of physical ability or skill; sometimes, games can be manipulated or tested using the right strategy. The ability to see all the pieces in a game can give a player an advantage and help them move on to the next round. Not many players are capable of this, as the games can only be designed by the host and the VIPs. However, those who perform well under pressure and have no qualms about playing with people’s lives manipulate the system and their fellow players to win the game. Here are some ofthe most manipulative characters inSquid Game.
7Seong Gi-Hun
The Star Of The Show
Seong Gi-hunmay be the star of the show and dons a mission of redemption in season two ofSquid Game. However, in season one, he was just like the other players in the first game and was lured in by The Recruiter for his greed and massive amount of debt.
A main focal point ofSquidGame’s first season was Seong Gi-hun’s constant moral battle between wanting to win the game and his unwillingness to sacrifice those around him. While he tried to maintain his good-guy persona, from time to time, he would slip into a manipulative persona, like duringthe marbles gamewhere he seemingly took advantage of Oh-Il-nam.
6The Recruiter
Pied Piper Of The Game
The Recruiter’sjob is one ofthe most insidiousresponsibilities inSquid Game. He is tasked with finding desperate and depraved individuals who would make for good entertainment for the VIPs. To do this, the Recruiter preys upon each individual’s weaknesses, debt, greed, or naivety to lure them into making a decision that will alter the rest of their life, and most likely end in them losing it.
What makes The Recruiter even worse is how much joy he takes in leading his victims to their doom. He takes pride in his job and the hundreds of people who have died because of it.
5Han Mi-Nyeo
A Hellion With Her Eye On The Prize
Han Mi-nyeowas the queen of theSquid Gamein season one after arriving like the other players and instantly understanding the stakes after the first game. Not out of desperation but as insurance for survival, Han Mi-Nyeo attached herself to the strongest player in the game, Jang Deok-su.
Using her charm and sexual prowess, she caught Jang Deok-su on a hook and rode him as far as she could. Unfortunately, two wrongs don’t make a right, and Jang Deok-su eventually turns on her, which is his most fatal mistake.
4Oh-Il-Nam
The Player And The Host
Oh-Il-namappeared to bea feeble old manwho had no business being invited to the games, clearly suffering from diminished capacity. However, as the games went on, Oh-Il-nam seemed to have a slight edge, with his younger self coming to the surface to help him survive.
Unfortunately, this was not the case, as Oh-Il-nam was a facade, and he was a part of organizing the games all along. Never in any real danger, Player 001 was a benefactor of the games and wanted to experience them in person. This makes him one of the most sinister and manipulative characters, not only to the players, but also to the viewers.
3Cho Sang-Woo
An Honorable Con Man
Cho Sang-wooappeared to be a decent human being who was tricked into joining the games just like countless others with hopes of fixing their life. In the beginning, he feigned remorse as players died and even campaigned to end the game.
On the surface, he imitated what a good man would do while hiding his alterior motives. Cho Sang-woo played behind the scenes and carefully positioned himself and others in positions that would increase his chances of survival, even going so far as to get his hands dirty when necessary. Cho Sang-woo had everyone fooled until the end, when he became one of the two remaining players along with Seong Gi-hun.
2Thanos
Using His Fame As A Weapon
Thanoswas just as unsuspecting as everyone else when arriving at the secret facility and having the rules of the games explained, but when the bodies began to drop, Thanos took it in stride. He realized what type of situation he was in and instantly started looking out for himself.
Some of the other players recognized him as a famous rapper, so he used his fame to manipulate them, took them under his wing, and created a barrier for himself. He used people as tools to get ahead in the games and to strong-arm weaker players out of his way, and then tossed his own people aside without a second thought.
1Front Man (Hwang In-Ho)
The Most Devious Of Them All
Front Man, the Host, or Hwang In-ho, is the man behind the mask in season one ofSquid Game. He is a cold and ruthless man who serves the VIPs and ensures that the game goes off without unseen complications.
In season two ofSquid Game, his role expands as he mimics Oh-Il-nam’s ruse of joining the game so that he may witnessSeong Gi-hun’ssuffering in person. Portraying himself as a regular player, Front Man lets the mask slip occasionally and reveals a sinister smile when blood is spilled and Seong Gi-hun’s guilt increases.
