The reveal in Squid Game season 1 that the mysterious Front Man was the ex-cop brother of Hwang Jun-ho, Hwang In-ho, could hint at the dark themes of season 2. Jun-ho had assumed that his brother had died competing in the Squid Game, but it turned out that In-ho had won in the past. Somehow, the victor became the right-hand man for the creator of the cruel sport in Squid Game and became responsible for leading the masked guards. Still, much of In-ho and the guard’s story is a mystery, but that could all change in Squid Game season 2.
Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-hyuk addressed the topic of the Front Man and season 2 (via Forbes) and stated that he would like to dive further into In-ho’s police background. “I think the issue with police officers is not just an issue in Korea.” he said, “I see it on the global news. This was an issue that I wanted to raise. Maybe in season two, I can talk about this more.” Since Squid Game centers around the corruption of society and how that affects the powerful compared to the weak, it makes sense for season 2 to explore how In-ho would end up on the side of the powerful—and explain how the other guards got there as well.
The Front Man Means Squid Game Guards Could Be Ex-Cops
If the Front Man is an ex-cop in Squid Game, and creator Hwang Dong-hyuk wants to dive deeper into the concepts surrounding police brutality, it would make sense for the masked guards to have all come from a similar background. The Game preys on those who are so desperate for money they are willing to compete to the death for financial security. Perhaps in the case of the guards, the Squid Game gives disgraced cops the opportunity to exercise their power in a new way—with three round meals and a warm bed included.
Little is known about where the Squid Game guards came from before they put on their masks, but it is revealed in season 1 that they vary significantly regarding age. One high-ranking guard showed his face to a player, who proclaimed that the guard was little more than a kid. The player questioned what “they” had done to the guards to make them such feelingless murderers. This question was never answered. Still, with the variety in ages and personalities, it could easily be true that they come from the police force. This way, they would already be trained in using weapons and desensitized to violence.
The Squid Game Guards Are Still A Mystery
A popular theory after Squid Game season 1 came from when protagonist Seong Gi-hun was first recruited to participate in the Game. He and the recruiter played a game that involved a blue and red tile, and before they started, future player 456, Gi-hun, was given the choice of which tile he wanted to use. He picked the blue tile, and since he ultimately ended up one of the Squid Game players (who wore blue uniforms), a theory developed that had he chosen the red tile, he would have instead become one of the red-clad guards.
Hwang Dong-hyuk addressed this theory, stating that audiences were “definitely more creative” than him (via Forbes) and that no matter which tile Gi-hun had chosen, he would have ended up a contestant in the Squid Game if he had decided to call the number indicated by the card. So, this implies that the guards seen in their red uniforms aren’t just desperate people off the street. So, though audiences can look for clues, there likely won’t be more to learn about the guard’s backgrounds and identities until Squid Game season 2.
Could Gi-Hun Enter Squid Game As A Guard In Season 2?
Squid Game season 1 left off with Gi-hun turning away from his flight to the United States and assuming that he would take action against the evil Games that had so affected his life. It’s entirely unclear how he would plan to go about this. However, with the tease that Squid Game season 2 could dive further into the inner workings of the games, including the identities and nature of the masked guards, it could be that Gi-hun will arrive at the mysterious island this time as one of them himself.
This would be no easy feat, but it’s important to remember that Gi-hun is now one of the wealthy and powerful elite. The entire point of Squid Game is how money makes the world turn, and those who have it have immediate power over those who don’t. This lesson explains why Gi-hun was so hesitant to use his prize money since it is entirely tainted by blood. Still, the perfect way to use his new-found wealth and power could be to apply it to his goal of ending the brutal treatment against desperate souls—and a good starting place is the guards marked by circles, triangles, and squares.
