Gi-hun’s decision to seek revenge at the end of Squid Game season 1 is bad news for his season 2 survival, but it could still be possible for him to get his happy ending. As the winner of his games, Gi-hun could have walked away toward his happy ending in the United States. However, he threw it all away so he could attempt to end the brutal Squid Game. Of course, a desire for revenge is a good way to compromise someone’s morality, and Gi-hun’s kind nature ultimately kept him alive in season 1. So, that could all change in Squid Game season 2.
Gi-hun watched hundreds of contestants die during the brutal Squid Game games, many of whom met their fate because of their poor moral decisions. The cutthroat games revealed the true nature of each person playing them, for better or worse. For most, the prospect of money turned the contestants into killers. However, Gi-hun was one of the few who managed to remain morally sound. He went out of his way to care for those around him, like Sae-byeok and Il-nam. Then, in the last game’s final moments, he chose to walk away rather than kill Sang-woo. Ultimately, this had a hand in his victory.
Gi-Hun Must Stay Moral In Squid Game S2 (To Get A Happy Ending)
Squid Game is full of complex themes and social commentary, and one of the many concepts it explores is the lengths that humanity will go to attain wealth. On top of this, audiences see how even once someone has money, it is often not enough. Oh Il-nam demonstrated that the massively rich and terribly poor have much in common—neither is happy. Gi-hun learned this the hard way as well. Still, from beginning to end, he remained good. His survival was a metaphor for the idea that if people do their best to care for those around them, they will reap the reward.
Even though Gi-hun walked away from his chance at happiness with his daughter at the end of season 1, there is still a chance he could get his happy ending in Squid Game season 2. His decision to put an end to the brutal games so that no one else would have to go through the physical and emotional suffering he witnessed was, in itself, selfless. If he can successfully take down the Front Man and the VIPs profiting off the pain of the poor and desperate, he will have done a truly good deed. Then, in his own eyes, he would deserve happiness.
Gi-Hun’s Revenge Arc Is Bad For His Squid Game Survival
Of course, revenge is often the start of a villain’s origin story, and Gi-hun’s path forward will make it difficult for him to maintain his morality. At the end of Squid Game season 1, Sang-woo didn’t deserve Gi-hun’s mercy since he had manipulated and murdered to make it to the final game. However, as a good person, Gi-hun still refused to kill him. If Gi-hun is seeking revenge in Squid Game season 2, it’s unlikely he would make a similar choice twice. After all, if killing the Front Man or VIPS meant the end of the games, it would be challenging to choose mercy again.
Still, especially if Squid Game season 2 is as brutal as season 1, it seems the only way Gi-hun could survive is if he continued to make morally sound choices. His revenge arc is likely to be a slippery slope to bad decisions—which tend to get people killed in Squid Game. This is exacerbated by the fact that Gi-hun has wealth now. Between his money and desire for revenge, Gi-hun may be hard to recognize in Squid Game season 2. Still, it can be hoped that he will make it out alive again, preferably with enough remaining morality to finally be happy.
