Squid Game rocked the world with its unapologetic and brutal narrative, peeling back the covers on the nature of humanity and the lengths humans will go to survive. A total of 456 players are put through the wringer, competing in a series of Korean children’s games for the enormous cash prize of ₩45.6 billion (which is an estimated $31.46 million).
But aside from its dynamic and complex characters and vibrant set pieces, Squid Game hit the nail on the head with its fantastic dialogue. From amusing wisecracks to the grimmest reflection of human nature that’ll leave you speechless, here are some of the most memorable quotes throughout Seasons One and Two of Squid Game.
10
“Good Rain Knows The Best Time To Fall.”
An Unnamed VIP
We’ve only seen the VIPs nearing the end of Season One, and they swiftly establish themselves as hedonistic degenerates watching the Squid Game as entertainment.
During the final round between Sang-woo and Gi-hun, rain began to fall, causing one of the VIPs to quote this line. The line comes from a poet from Ancient China named Du Fu, who mainly says it to refer to rain falling in spring for a good harvest. We doubt that he meant it to refer to a death game made to entertain the wealthy.
9
“This Is Hell. What Are The Rules In Hell?”
Jang Deok-su
Jang Deok-su was one of Season One’s primary antagonists, a selfish man who prioritizes his life and isn’t afraid to sacrifice others — even his own allies.
Despite possibly being one of the worst people in Squid Game history, Deok-su did have a point when he said this quote. The Squid Game is merciless and programmed to turn people against each other. Although there are kind-hearted people like Gi-hun and Ali, most of the players are only out for themselves, and there are no rules against betraying or killing your fellow players to get ahead.
8
“You’re Nothing More Than Their Dog.”
Seong Gi-Hun
The first episode in Season Two sees Gi-hun finally track down the Recruiter after years of hunting him down, only for the Recruiter to find him instead. Gi-hun and the Recruiter have their fated showdown in a deadly game of Russian Roulette.
Throughout the game, the Recruiter taunts Gi-hun, likening the players of the Squid Game to trash and saying that Gi-hun is still garbage despite winning. However, Gi-hun wins the game, and before the Recruiter shoots himself, Gi-hun echoes his words back to him but instead tells the Recruiter that he’s little more than a slave in the end, beholden to the VIPs’ desires, just like the players.
7
“Whether You Sell The Dead Bodies’ Organs Or Eat Them Or Whatever, I Don’t Give A Damn. However, You Ruined The Most Important Aspect Of This Place: Equality.”
Front Man
Nothing underlines the Front Man‘s (or Hwang In-ho) sole motivation for involving himself in the Squid Game than this quote. He desperately believes in the equality that the Squid Game offers, likely as justification for what he’s doing.
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In Season One, several of the guards have been colluding with one of the players, who is a doctor. In return for using the doctor’s skills in their organ harvesting operation, they would feed the player information about the next games. However, the Front Man catches wind of this and is infuriated, believing that the equality of the games has been compromised, and ultimately executes them.
6
“If You Give Up, I Will Kill You Before Your Gods Do.”
Cho Hyun-ju
In the Pentathlon game, trans character Hyun-ju quickly establishes herself as the leader of the group. Although she is calm throughout, she quickly loses her temper when the shaman lady, Player 044, begins to hyperventilate.
After slapping her twice, Hyun-ju picked up the spinning top and declared that she would kill Player 044 herself if she didn’t get it together. The Pentathlon arc did well in subtly hinting at Hyun-ju’s background as a former Special Forces agent, showcasing her leadership skills and ability to remain calm under pressure.
5
“Let’s Say, I Pressed X And We All Left. Would Everyone Have Been Happy?”
Oh Young-il
In a plot twist at the end of Season 2, Episode 3, the Front Man inserts himself as Player 001 under the name Oh Young-il. After the first game ends, the players vote if they want to continue the game or leave. Young-il presses ‘O’, ensuring that the game will continue.
Later on, Young-il has a conversation with Gi-hun, who is irritated with him for choosing to continue. He responds with this quote, which emphasizes the reason everyone calls the number on the invitation card. Young-il sadly has a point since everyone who signed up was on their last leg, and leaving the games would mean returning to the debt trap with no way out.
4
“Although I Felt Liberated, My Life Became So Much Harder.”
Cho Hyun-ju
Hyun-ju shocked her allies (and viewers) when she chose to remain in the games. She feels ashamed and embarrassed over her choice and has a heart-to-heart with her group.
She unveils her motivation for entering the games, giving us a glimpse into her tragic backstory. Once holding a respectable ranking in the army, Hyun-ju was fired and abandoned by all her loved ones the moment she decided to stop living a lie. Although the decision was a courageous one, Hyun-ju’s life took a turn for the worse, leaving her isolated and in piles of debt.
3
“Listen, You Don’t Trust People Here Because You Can. You Do It Because You Don’t Have Anybody Else.”
Seong Gi-Hun
In Season One, Gi-hun, Sang-woo and their group begin to notice signs of certain players planning something nefarious. Gi-hun begins to warn other players, starting with Il-nam, before approaching the loner Sae-byeok.
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Sae-byeok didn’t take up Gi-hun’s invitation to join the others at first, saying she didn’t trust any of the players. Gi-hun essentially tells her that it’s not a good idea to be alone, especially in the Squid Game, and she has to be discerning enough to choose who to ally with.
2
“Do You Know What Someone With No Money Has In Common With Someone With Too Much Money? Living Is No Fun For Them.”
Oh Il-nam
Oh Il-nam is revealed to be the Host and the brainchild of the Squid Game, and in the Season One finale, he lies dying from his brain tumor. Il-nam has one final conversation with Gi-Hun and tells him the entire reason for setting up the Squid Game.
In a careless, even cold manner, Il-nam said that he was simply bored and had made more money than he knew what to do with. Although he views the poor and desperate as trash, Il-nam states that he finds a certain commonality with them. While the poor find life unbearable due to what they lack, the wealthy find life to be aimless. Unlike the Front Man, Il-nam doesn’t delude himself into thinking the games are equal, saying point-blank that everything is entertainment for him and his rich friends.
1
“Player 456. Did You Have Fun Playing The Hero?”
Front Man
In the finale of Season Two, Gi-hun manages to outwit the guards and grab hold of their guns. He stages a rebellion with several of the X players, determined to barge his way into the control room and kill the Front Man.
Outgunned, outmanned, and unaware he’d been betrayed by Young-il, Gi-hun is forced to his knees. The Front Man sheds his disguise, returns to his role, and goads Gi-hun over his failed heroism. Throughout the second season, we see how the Front Man seems to test Gi-hun’s ideology against his own, only to have Gi-hun’s actions of sacrificing other players for the greater good cement his belief in human nature.
