The cast details for Squid Game season 2 confirm the Netflix series will feature new and old faces, but one returning character creates a plot hole that the popular K-drama will need to address. Squid Game was met with massive praise when it debuted in 2021, and the series’ brutal storytelling approach was part of the reason it became so popular. By the end of Squid Game season 1, very few major characters remained alive and ready to take on season 2.
Squid Game‘s sophomore season will see Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) — the sole survivor of the titular Squid Games — seeking revenge against the organization that runs them. This leaves room for Squid Game‘s villains to return as well. However, a recent cast update suggests Gi-hun won’t be the only hero making a comeback. With Squid Game implying that most of its good guys are dead in season 1, a certain character’s return will raise some eyebrows. Hopefully, Netflix’s K-drama finds a satisfying way to explain his inclusion in the coming episodes.
Jun-Ho Will Return In Squid Game Season 2
Hwang Jun-ho (Wi Ha-joon) is among the characters returning for Squid Game season 2, which is something of a surprise considering his fate at the end of season 1. During Squid Game‘s first outing, Jun-ho sneaks onto the remote island where the games take place in the hopes of learning what happened to his brother. The police officer gets the answers he’s looking for, but they don’t exactly offer closure. Instead of finding that his brother is a victim of the Squid Games, Jun-ho discovers that he’s the Front Man (Lee Byung-hun) of the organization behind them.
During Jun-ho’s confrontation with his brother, the Front Man shoots him in the shoulder. The shot doesn’t look fatal on its own, but the impact causes Jun-ho to fall off a cliff. Most viewers assumed the character was dead after this encounter at the end of Squid Game season 1. However, the news that he’ll be back is exciting, even if creates a plot hole Squid Game needs to address.
Jun-Ho’s Survival Creates A Squid Game Plot Hole
After Squid Game season 1’s ending, Jun-ho’s survival in season 2 creates a problem for the series. It’s already hard to believe the character survived a gunshot and falling off a cliff, but there’s an even bigger issue with his inclusion in season 2. While it’s possible Jun-ho makes it away from his encounter with his brother alive, the K-drama must explain how he remains this way until Squid Game season 2.
The Squid Games take place on a remote island, and Jun-ho’s sleuthing throughout season 1 confirms that it’s heavily guarded. Even if he manages to survive his fall, there’s the question of how Jun-ho keeps himself alive until the events of season 2. Presumably, he needs to escape the island — a feat that’s nearly impossible. If he’s still on the island, that also warrants explanation. The Front Man could have kept him alive intentionally, but it’s unlikely he’d be able to harbor his brother. A wounded Jun-ho would need to find a secret shelter somewhere on the island, which seems even more unlikely than finding a way off of it.
How Season 2 Can Make Sense Of Its Surprising Cast Announcement
.JPG)
Although Squid Game‘s surprising cast detail raises questions about Jun-ho’s survival, there are a couple ways season 2 can make sense of his return. For one, it’s possible the new episodes don’t actually feature Jun-ho in their present-day timeline. Flashbacks are an easy way of bringing dead characters back into the fray, and Squid Game can utilize them to revisit a fan-favorite. If the Netflix series explores the Front Man in further depth, it’s possible he’ll think back on his brother. That would explain Jun-ho’s inclusion without undoing his tragic fate in season 1.
It’s also possible that Squid Game season 2 will find a way to explain Jun-ho’s survival, and one scenario immediately comes to mind. While it’s difficult to find a way off of the remote island, Gi-hun must have gotten home somehow. Perhaps Jun-ho snuck onto the ship that took the Squid Games’ winner back to the mainland. If this is the case, Squid Game has already set up the means for these characters to become acquainted in season 2. Perhaps they’ll take down the Front Man and his mysterious organization together. It’d certainly be a fitting way for the series to tie season 1’s storylines together.
