Is Gi-Hun Destined to Follow in The Frontman’s Footsteps?

Season 2 of the Netflix series Squid Game ended on a massive cliffhanger, making fans excited about what lies ahead. However, the cliffhanger ending has already prompted fans to come forward with theories that link Seong Gi-Hun and The Frontman in a shocking way.

Squid Game season 2 saw Gi-hun (played by Lee Jung-jae) re-entering the deadly competition, and he wanted to end the games once and for all. Determined to dismantle the sinister organization from the inside, Gi-Hun returned with a newfound resolve, fueled by the horrors he witnessed in the first season and the trauma of losing his fellow participants. He leads a rebellion against The Frontman and gathers everyone to fight against the evil organization. However, he was outclassed by The Frontman, who entered the game posing as Player 001. Although The Frontman killed Gi-Hun’s best friend Jung-bae, fans never got to see what happened afterward and how many players won the game or died during the game. With season 3 already announced and Gi-hun alive, fans have started floating theories regarding how Gi-hun’s character might be in the third and final season suggesting that Gi-Hun and The Frontman might be eerily similar.

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According to X (formerly Twitter) user Raina Mermaid (@HFXMermaid), fans are actually witnessing a villain origin story unfold, with Seong Gi-Hun being slowly broken and groomed to become the next Frontman—or perhaps something even more sinister. This idea stems from Gi-Hun’s increasingly dark and calculated demeanor in Season 2, as he ventures deeper into the game’s inner workings. The user wrote, “My Squid Game theory is that we are actually watching a villain origin story. Gi-hun is being broken and groomed to become the next frontman, or something similar.” On the other hand, the user speculated that the captain of the boat who took Jun-ho to the island might not be as noble as he seems. The user added, “Also, I called that dang boat captain from his first appearance.”

The psychological grooming theory finds its roots in how the games exploit the vulnerabilities of their participants. From the start, Gi-Hun has been a victim of the system—desperate, financially ruined, and emotionally strained. Although he emerged as the victor in Season 1, the trauma and guilt lingered, with his experiences leaving him scarred and obsessed. In Season 2, his return to the games marked a shift in his character. He was willing to manipulate the situation and take extreme routes to get out of the situation. Moreover, he let a lot of people die when Team O started attacking the members of Team X, making viewers realize he is now at a stage where he just wants to finish the games by hook or crook. By keeping Gi-Hun, aka Player 456, alive and drawing him deeper into their world, the game’s masterminds might be orchestrating his moral decay, molding him into their next pawn.

If the theory holds, the final season could deliver a haunting narrative twist. Gi-Hun’s journey might culminate in a choice: break the cycle by sacrificing himself or fully embrace the system in a bid to survive and achieve his version of justice. Also, it would confirm that The Frontman was true in saying that people can be corrupted and be pulled into situations that force them to do something diabolical. Jung-jae has already made it clear that Season 3 will have more “twists” and “turns.” While talking to Deadline on the red carpet of the Golden Globes, the actor noted that the final edition of Squid Game will be “different” from the previous two seasons. He added, “It’s going to be chaotic and you are not going to know where we’re taking you.” His comments mean that the final edition might be bloodier and more action-packed than the first two editions, giving a satisfying finale to viewers.

Season 2 of Squid Game is available for streaming on Netflix.

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Squid Game Season 2 Ending Explained

Did Seong Gi-hun lead a successful rebellion? How many players was he able to save? Take a look at how Squid Game season 2 ended.

Source: X