Squid Game Season 2: 10 Reasons Lee Byung-hun was the perfect cast as the Front Man in Squid Game Season 2

In Squid Game Season 2, we got to see more of the Front Man, played by Lee Byung-hun, as he removed his mask and disguised himself as one of the players.

After watching Gi-hun lead everyone in the Red Light, Green Light Game in Squid Game Season 2, Byung-hun’s Front Man decides to join the game to understand Gi-hun’s game plan, derail it, and teach him a lesson.

In season 1, when he shot his brother, his character still appeared to be mysterious and sinister, but with joining the game in season 2, he became one of Gi-hun's trustworthy friends, only to backstab him at the end, without the latter's knowledge.

There were moments where Lee Byung-hun displayed a menacing look, depicting that he was still the Front Man, under whom the game is being conducted. Here’s a list of 10 such moments from Squid Game Season 2, which prove that Lee Byung-hun aced the role of the Front Man.

Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers and is based on the writer's opinion. Readers’ discretion is advised.

10 Reasons Lee Byung-hun was the perfect cast as the Front Man in Squid Game Season 2

10) Joins the game as player 001 (Episode 3)

Lee Byung-hun in Squid Game | Image via Netflix

The biggest shock was when the Front Man (Lee Byung-hun) joined the game in episode 3 of Squid Game season 2. Initially, he watched how Gi-hun was trying to convince everyone that he had already played and won the game.

Later, he sees Gi-hun guiding everyone in the first game of Red Light, Green Light. Byung-hun’s Front Man was amused by Gi-hun’s efforts to sabotage the game, but also got curious to know more about his thinking, which would later help him sabotage his plans. Hence, he joined the game as a player.

9) His deciding vote for the game to continue (Episode 3)

After the first game, half of the players supported Gi-hun and quit the game. Therefore, the number of players wanting to quit and wanting to continue comes as a draw with 182 each. That’s when Lee Byung-hun enters as player 001 and casts his vote to continue the game. In the end, he gives a sinister look at Gi-hun, who was oblivious to being watched by the Front Man himself.

His menacing look suggested that he was going to teach Gi-hun a lesson by destroying his plan from within, and Byung-hun’s one single look was enough to understand what chaos he would bring to the game in the upcoming episodes.

8) Celebrates when Hyun-ju’s team wins (Episode 4)

Lee Jung-jae and Lee Byung-hun in Squid Game | Image via Netflix

To destroy Gi-hun’s plan, he needed to befriend him and mingle in the same circle. It can be seen when he cheers with the other players as Hyun-ju and Geum-ja’s team win after struggling a bit in the next game, which was the Pentathlon games. After the end of the previous episode, which clearly showed Front Man’s motive of destroying Gi-hun’s plan, he changes overnight into a supportive player like Gi-hun.

The transition that Lee Byung-hun makes from Front Man to In-ho is impeccable, as he quickly becomes the scene stealer in season 2 of Squid Game.

7) Offers his food to Jun-hee (Episode 5)

There were several moments in Squid Game Season 2 that made the viewers empathetic toward the Front Man as he joined the game and showed a different side of himself. For instance, when he discusses why he had joined the game with Gi-hun, and tells him the truth that he joined the game to win the money for his wife’s treatment.

In another incident, he even offers his milk carton to Jun-hee as she needed to have more strength than him, showing a caring side of him. Lee Byung-hun made people hate him while he was the Front Man and made the same people root for him as he played In-ho.

6) Beats Thanos and Nam-gyu up (Episode 4)

One of the first acts of his to be noticed by Gi-hun and the others was his handling of the rapper Thanos, played by BIGBANG’s T.O.P. As Thanos and his minion, Nam-gyu, were trying to annoy Myung-gi (player 333) for Thanos’s loss of money that he invested in his crypto, Lee Byung-hun’s In-ho asked them to leave Myung-gi alone.

However, they did not listen to him, and he had to show his moves by beating them both in just a couple of seconds, resulting in everyone cheering for him. This act caught Gi-hun’s attention, which might be one of his motives to get close to the player. At this point, it was hard to imagine, Byung-hun is still the same ruthless Front Man, who is conducting the game.

5) Takes his time to complete the pentathlon games (Episode 5)

His game plan was unpredictable, which made us surprised in every move he played as In-ho in season 2 of Squid Game. For instance, his trying to fail during the Pentathlon games was intense and also a smart move.

With his plan of not being able to complete the game, he might have been testing the patience of Gi-hun to see how mad Gi-hun can get if he does not play well. While playing, he checked Gi-hun’s reaction without letting the other notice any foul play is just Lee Byung-hun showing his acting prowess as he maintains his persona as the Front Man but also fools Gi-hun and the others at the same time.

4) Votes X to quit the game (Episode 5)

This might mark his last attempt to convince Gi-hun that he was on his side as he goes and votes X to quit the game. His move of voting X reassured Gi-hun that he had convinced him of his cause. However, he has no idea that it was he who was being deceived, as Lee Byung-hun’s in-ho knew that even if he votes X, there will be many players who will vote to continue the game.

3) Kills another player during the mingle game (Episode 6)

It was impossible for him to hide behind the good guy mask for a whole season, and there was one crucial moment where Player 001 could not hide his identity. For instance, when the Mingle game began and it came to being on survival mode, the Front Man could not help himself and killed without any hesitation, and that too in front of Jung-bae, terrifying him.

As they locked themselves in a room where only two players were allowed, another player joined them before the door was locked. To survive the round, Lee Byung-hun’ In-ho did not hesitate for a second and choked the third player to death.

2) Becomes a part of Gi-hun’s rebellion (Episode 7)

The last couple of moments in Squid Game Season 2, where Lee Byung-hun was player 001, were during Gi-hun’s rebellion, where he grabs a pink guard and takes his weapon. Many took part in Gi-hun's rebellion, and player 001 was one of them.

As they went on their search for the Front Man, the guard they were using to take them to the management area recognised the Front Man, who was right behind Gi-hun with the same terrifying look, but before he could say anything, he was killed. Byung-hun’s Front Man fooled Gi-hun through the game, showing his despicable side from time to time, but still did not get caught.

1) Kills Jung-bae in front of Gi-hun (Episode 7)

At the end of season 2, Lee Byung-hun’s Front Man dons his mask again and becomes the man whom Gi-hun has been searching for since the beginning. Just as Jung-bae and Gi-hun reach the management area, the Front Man confronts them himself, and as he asks Gi-hun whether he had fun playing the hero, he also shoots Jung-bae in front of him, lamenting his win over Gi-hun in a brutal way.

Throughout the season, Lee Byung-hun switched between playing the Front Man and player 001/In-ho in such a way that made the character more complex but also showed why he has been the Front Man for so long. His versatility in portraying the duality of the character also proved why he was the best actor to be cast as the Front Man.