While many had reservations heading into Squid Game season 2, this very easily could’ve become an unwarranted sequel given how the first season wrapped up on a very high note. Fortunately, this wasn’t the case. Considering one of the major highlights of Season 1 was its memorable cast of characters and their dynamics, on that front, Season 2 didn’t disappoint.
But among its new strong cast of characters, it was Thanos, aka Su-bong, who was undoubtedly the most enigmatic new addition, both off-screen and onscreen.
Who Is Thanos in Squid Game? T.O.P’s Role in the Netflix Series Explained
Even though not inevitable, Thanos’ stay in season 2 was undoubtedly one of its strongest aspects, and was another case of a villain that we loved to root against. Played by Choi Seung-hyun, interestingly, his on-screen counterpart mirrored his real-life struggles to an extent.
In addition to being a rapper, who goes by the name of T.O.P, Seung-hyun has also had troubles with substance abuse, and was blacklisted from the South Korean industry after founding guilty of using marijuana. In the show, Thanos also struggled with drug abuse, and his obsession with winning the prize money was the catalyst for the narrative’s progression, as he actively indulged in keeping the games running.
Although not the biggest antagonist in this season, he proved to be an agent of chaos through his relentless pursuit of keeping the games going by manipulating other players, which ultimately contributed to his demise.
Why T.O.P’s Thanos Character Could Be Key to Squid Game Season 3
Even in death, the possibility of Seung-hyun’s future in the show hangs in the balance, as despite failing to make it out of the brutal confrontation against Player 333, his story might continue through the lens of Nam-gyu. Given their close bond in season 2, which even saw Thanos sharing his narcotics with him, there’s a strong chance the former’s influence will continue to affect Nam-gyu’s path, potentially for the worse.
With Nam-gyu likely in possession of his dead ally’s drugs, we might see him hallucinate heading into season 3, which could serve as the perfect vessel for both Seung-hyun’s return and a deep dive into Nam-gyu’s crumbling psyche.
Will T.O.P Return as Thanos in Squid Game Season 3? What We Know So Far
Not only viewers, but T.O.P’s portrayal of Player 230 also left a lasting impression on creator Hwang Dong-hyuk, who even admitted he was one of his favorite characters in the show.
The creator even applauded the actor for taking a gig that resonated with his real-life struggles, adding (via People), “I feel that it took him a lot of gut”.
Even though Dong-hyuk stands by his decision to kill Thanos off, he confessed that the character’s presence will be felt through season 3, and will, in some ways, impact the plot (via THR).
He’s one of my favorite characters, too! I believe that was the right time to see him off. Although I will admit, I do think the death was sudden. It was very intense, which was the right way at just the right time for him to go. The way he leaves the story, if you watch until the third season, it will almost feel as if he’s still there in some ways in terms of how he affects the plot.
With season 3 in the corner, it’ll be interesting to see how his presence, or in this case, absence, will shape the narrative, and if one has to guess, it could manifest through Nam-gyu’s crumbling psyche, as discussed.
Squid Game season 3 will premiere on June 27, 2025.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
