Summary
One of the most pivotal reasons whySquid Gamebecame such a massive success for Netflix is how it drew viewers into this chaotic world through its characters. Every character played an important role in taking the story forward, and they had their own ambitions. However, life didn’t turn out to be good for them, and they faced a lot of difficulties. To make things right, they turned their attention to a competition which would give them a chance to win a lot of money and give them the life they had always wanted. That’s when viewers get introduced to Seong Gi-hun, the main protagonist of the series, who entered the games to secure a good life for her daughter. Meanwhile, there was one more important character viewers got to know about, and that was the Front Man, a prominent member of the organization who was responsible for these deadly games and oversaw the operations of these games.
For most of Season 1, the Front Man remained behind a mask, and people could only hear his voice. However, in the ending moments of the first edition, the audience finally got to know about his real identity and his real name: Hwang In-ho. The aforementioned person is responsible for how the games are being conducted, the deaths, and everything else. As a result, viewers took him as the main antagonist and the person who doesn’t give a damn about how many people die during the games. But in Season 2 ofSquid Game, viewers realized that there’s more to his story, and why he joined forces with such an evil organization. It gave people the idea that In-ho might be a product of a broken system, not just a villain by choice, but a survivor shaped by pain, loss, and desperation, slowly consumed by the very darkness he once tried to escape.
A lot of people believe that they might see a change of heart with In-ho, and he might help Gi-hun in destroying the game. As Season 3 of the Netflix series gets ready for release, the biggest question to be answered is: if In-ho really deserve that kind of ending? Is redemption even possible for the Front Man?
Who is Hwang In-ho, aka The Front Man, and how did he join the games?
In Season 1 of theSquid Game, the Front Man is introduced as a powerful figure within the evil organization who oversees everything. His biggest task was to run the diabolical games smoothly and verify that players didn’t have any kind of authority. Although people don’t get to see his face, they realize that this man doesn’t mince his words and holds a lot of authority over the guards and managers. However, by the end of Season 1, the audience found shocking details about his identity. In the final moments of Season 1, it is revealed that the Front Man’s real name is Hwang In-ho, who is the missing older brother ofpolice officer Hwang Jun-ho, who was investigating the terrifying games as a detective.
But that’s not all about him. As the story intensified, viewers learnt that In-ho had previously entered as a player and a winner of the dangerous competition, meaning he not only witnessed the horrifying nature of the games but survived them. Meanwhile, in Season 2, when he re-joined the games as a player to find out what Gi-hun wanted to do, viewers got to know more about his backstory. He told Gi-hun that he was a police officer when his wife had a terminal illness and needed a lot of money for her treatment. As a result, he started taking bribes. Unfortunately, he was caught accepting money from a criminal and was booted out of the police force. His desperation made him attend the games, and in that desperation, he decided not to care about anything and just focus on winning the competition.
But after winning the games, he decided to join the evil organization, showcasing that something in him had changed. That decision might have been rooted in guilt, trauma, or simply the belief that there was no way out. Either way, it marked the beginning of his fall from grace. Asthe Front Man, he not only made surethat the games were running as per the plan, but he also made sure that people were dying and no one was there to take care of them. It seemed like In-ho watched humanity at its worst during the games, and everything good in him just vanished, making him a cold-hearted human being. We have already seen how he’s also responsible for so many deaths and illegal activities. After all this, does he actually deserve a shot at redemption?
Does In-ho really deserve his redemption arc?
In the initial moments ofSquid Gameseason 1, the series didn’t shy away from showing the Front Man, aka In-ho, as a true villain who didn’t care about anything at all. He was brutal and didn’t think twice before killing one of his guards when he found out he was revealing secrets about the games. But what viewers saw in Season 2 made In-ho a very complex character because it showed that he is not just a villain, but a man who has gone through the same level of brutality that Gi-hun and others are experiencing right now. Whatever he witnessed during his time as a player might have made him believe that there was no way to beat the system. All the rich, affluent people around the world are connected to the games. Not just rich, but powerful as well. Even if he had thought of doing something, such power would have brought him down and made him feel like he was a failure. So, as someone who was completely shattered, he decided to become a part of the system that he once wanted to defeat.
WithSeason 3 of Squid Game on the horizon, there are a lot of possibilities for where In-ho’s, aka the Front Man’s, story could go. After seeing Gi-hun’s commitment to save humanity, In-ho might realize that he has a chance of destroying the evil games with the help of Player 456. In the past, he might not have come across such a strong character who was willing to do everything to bring justice to all who lost their lives because of the deadly games. Moreover, In-ho knows the games inside-out, and could help Gi-hun in knowing all the secrets about them, which would assist him in conquering the rebellion. This would not only make him useful but also give him a real chance at redemption.
But the strongest reason for In-ho to turn toward redemption would surely be his brother, Hwang Jun-ho. In-ho doesn’t know if his brother is still alive after he shot him off the cliff at the end of Season 1. His inclusion in the entire scenario might prompt In-ho to think differently, and would raise the emotional stakes for him. Jun-ho might come face-to-face with his brother and tell him what the consequences of his actions are, and how he still has time to correct his wrongdoings. Either way, the tension between the two brothers would be intense and emotional. But we all know that redemption always comes with sacrifice. In-ho might have already sacrificed a lot of things in his life, but to be this sort of hero in this story, he would have to sacrifice a lot more. In-ho might end up dying to save someone else, perhaps Gi-hun, perhaps Jun-ho, or even a group of new players. Such a plotline would be powerful and emotional, making him an unlikely hero.
But it is quite difficult to answer the aforementioned question: Does he deserve redemption? There is no doubt that In-ho has committed several terrifying acts and was responsible for mass killings during the game. While thinking about those things, it is easy to understand how he doesn’t deserve even a kind of remorse. However,Squid Gameis a unique showand always talks about human nature and survival. In-ho’s redemption would not erase his crimes. But it might help bring justice to the system he once helped maintain. Even if he decides to stop the games, it won’t make him a hero, but it could make him human again. Only time will tell if the Front Man finds his way back. But one thing’s for sure, his journey will be unforgettable.
