*This is a spoiler free review!

Season 1 Recap

The first season introduces us to the games and primary protagonist–Seong Gi Hun (played by South Korean veteran actor, Lee Jung Jae) a gambling addict in massive debt. Tired of his life, he meets a man at the subway (The Salesman played by the iconic K-drama superstar Gong Yoo) who asks him to play a popular children’s game–Ddakji–with him in exchange for money. Gi-Hun ends up getting an invite from The Salesman for the bigger games where he can earn more money (final prize of ₩45.6 billion/$31 million).

On arriving at the games, Gi-Hun realises that they’ll be playing children’s games but the catch is that the losers lose their lives, as in, they’re killed on losing. We learn towards the end of season 1 that the “game” is a larger gambling scheme where the players themselves are pawns. And the money they “win” is just the bets made on them.

The queer critique post season 1 was that they showed the one and only gay character to be a rich, sinister molester. It’s an age-old negative stereotype that doesn’t help queer representation in the media. Especially when it’s on a globally popular show and from a blatantly queerphobic country like South Korea.

Season 2 Trailer Drop––A Trans Character?

Season 2 trailer didn’t reveal much about the new episodes, but seasoned K-drama fans noticed a familiar face and started putting 2 and 2 together. With barely a second on the screen, people recognised rising villain star Park Sung Hoon in a wig. Park Sung Hoon has been largely cast as gruesome villains in his career, playing them splendidly. Which got me worried that given season 1’s history, they wouldn’t have cast Park as a trans villain, further antagonising queer folx in the country. One of the prominent fan-theories that came forward was that he’s playing an undercover cop, the second theory that came out (which turned out to be true) was that he’s playing a transwoman. And thus a controversy erupted––should a cis-actor play a trans character?

To which I say,

1. We don’t know if he’s a cis-man, we all know the lengths Korean entertainment industry goes to cover up their stars’ personal relationships, let alone queerness.

2. Name one trans actor in the South Korean industry who would have dared to come out and play a trans character without facing immense hate later on?

South Korean netizens are harsh and often run hate-campaigns against stars who even get married. It took decades for a gay actor like Hong Seok-Cheon decades before he was given bigger roles in shows and still remains as one of the only openly gay actors in South Korea.

I did some more digging and found out that there were only 5, mere FIVE shows with trans characters in South Korean shows till Squid Game 2 dropped (making it 6).

The last show we saw with a trans character, Ma Hyeon-yi was in Netflix’s Itaewon Class (2021) which was played by Lee Joo Young (a cis-woman).

The show’s creators and cast have come forward and opened up about how tough it was for them to find a trans actor to play the character of Hyun Joo thus leading them to cast Park in the role.

So, Did They Get It Right?

They did manage to do Hyun Joo justice, they made her a well-rounded character that has surprises packed for you throughout her appearance. She’s shown to open up slowly as the games progress and she finds allyship with her team members. She knows that after facing death thrice together, she can trust them with her story. First seen as a shy-timid and reserved girl who keeps to herself, and is shown to face issues during team games due to her trans identity. She’s not scared, mind you, she’s one of the first players to speak up against the soldiers’ harsh behaviour. And she’s also the first one to trust leading man Gi-Hun’s instructions during the first game.

We learn that she’s soft and protective and here to make money to finish her transition. She dreams of moving to Thailand after paying off her debts in South Korea. We also find out that she’s not in debt because of gambling, but rather because she’s transitioning and has lost her job, family and all of her friends. The system has forced her into debt, making it impossible for her to even live a dignified life.

One of her dialogues that made me truly sad was, “I may be happy in my body now, but my life’s gone to shit otherwise.” It highlights body dysphoria in a new light within mainstream media.

Fun Fact–the hindi dubbing for Hyun Joo was done by Sushan Divgikar! Who also used all of her earnings from the gig to fund a transgender doctor–Dr. Ruth Johns’ PG (masters) education!

Hyun Joo–a leader!

The moment I realised that the showmakers were serious about creating a good character for Hyun Joo is when during the six-legged race, we see her transition from a timid girl to a natural leader. Leadership comes to her as easy as her breathing. She’s calm even in the face of death, her iconic slap was just to show everyone that she understands her team members despite having just met them. We also find out that she’s actually a dismissed soldier. No wonder she’s soooo good at keeping people calm and is able to give and follow orders that well!?

A wholesome moment where we also see what a great actor and potential trans-ally Park is when Hyun Joo is called Unnie (older sister) by a fellow player, Yong Mi. There’s a spark in Hyun Joo’s eye that screams gender euphoria. We can see in those micro-seconds how Hyun Joo just wants to cry and hug Yong Mi for accepting her. It’s probably also one of the first times that Hyun Joo is called unnie.

Another lovely addition to her arc is that she’s never shown to sacrifice her masculinity for her femme presentation, she doesn’t run away from who she used to be, she’s still the same person who is just more happier in her skin now!

Other Potential Queer Characters (fan theory)

There’s a certain sexual tension between The Salesman and Seong Gi-Hun, because, hear me out, they only unravel like that around each other. We have always seen the Salesman as a composed guy, but he looks obsessed with Gi-Hun by the time episode 1 ends.

My second contender is Thanos (played by K-pop star T.O.P of Big Bang) who flirts with everyone. I know that he primarily flirts with women by calling them señorita, but I’m sure no one missed how he flirted with men along the way too. He’s a peacock–he will show his flamboyant colours in order to get what he wants––attention and money.

And lastly, ladies and gentlemen, Sae-mi : there’s no way she’s straight, her eyes are screaming that she’s only interested in winning and women!

What’s The Bigger Picture?

So this season we’re not just learning about the new characters but also more about the old, surviving characters. We learn that Gi-Hun’s daughter still expects him to call, we learn more about the relationship between the hot cop, Hwang Jun Ho (played by Wi Han Joon) and the Front Man (played by Lee Byung Hoon) who was revealed to be his “Hyung” or brother in the previous season.

It’s more on the nose about the show’s anti-class remarks, without wanting to get labelled communist. A great remark made by Song Gi Hun was that capitalism/rich people manipulate vulnerable people into entering these high risk games/situations and the mask of choice that is presented to everyone. We also get to see how the pink soldiers are recruited and some behind the scenes of disparity there.

There’s a cis-het analogy of the matrix, they manipulate the viewers and the characters into thinking that no one is good, everyone inherently is evil.

But the thing is, that’s also part of the matrix, it’s also a capitalist facade that everyone bends morality for the sake of greed. But what if greed is the only option?