Throughout Squid Game, fans are on the edge of their seats waiting to see what fates might befall their favorite characters. Every new game feels just as high-stakes as the last because failing to complete a game leads to tangible consequences. The characters are well aware that their deaths are real and permanent. This changes in the big reveal at the end of the first season.
Oh Il-nam, also known as Player 001, became incredibly beloved throughout his time on-screen and during the games. Fans sympathize with him because he has a brain tumor and is the oldest person shown participating in the games. He comes up with strategies that help his team survive and seemingly sacrifices himself during the Marbles Game. Sadly, season one's ending revealed that Oh Il-nam was behind the games,
9 It Takes Away From The Emotional Impact Of Episode Six
The sixth episode of Squid Game is widely known to fans as the 'heartbreak episode', and for good reason. Between Ali, Ji-yeong, and Il-nam, there are hard-hitting losses throughout Gganbu that involve fan-favorite characters. The reveal at the end of Squid Game's first season makes it so any impact Il-nam makes during the Marbles game is completely lost. It removes all meaning from Il-nam's 'sacrifice' because he knows that he won't die.
8 Why Doesn't Il-Nam Die When He Loses The Marbles Game?
During the big reveal scene, Il-nam states that he joined the games because he wants to feel the exhilaration of being put in a life-or-death situation. After all, his brain tumor threatens his life and he knows he will die either way.
Fans are left wondering why he survived the marbles game. It removes all suspense that players feel when they watch him during games, or any of the cast who are on his team. For example, characters will feel no suspense or risk when he plays Tug of War because they know he can't die during the games.
7 The Delivery Of The Postcard To Gi-Hun Makes Absolutely No Sense
It isn't until a year after Gi-hun is declared the winner of Squid Game that he goes out and does anything with the money he's given. He gets a haircut and sits on the beach. While he's there, he's approached by a flower saleswoman who hands him a card from Il-nam along with the rose he purchases.
This scene makes little sense. Who is this woman and what's her connection to Il-nam? How does she know who Gi-hun is and exactly where he is? Although the higher-ups of the game are shown to monitor him after the games, she isn't shown to have a connection to any of the players.
6 It Makes Rewatches Of Squid Games Less Exciting Instead Of Adding New Layers As Good Twists Should
Good twists should do three things: partially surprise the audience, add something to the overall viewing experience, and make sense with what fans see happen beforehand.
Sadly, the twist reveal at the ending of Squid Game doesn't manage to nail any of these points. There are enough hints beforehand to give away his involvement. Instead of adding things for a potential rewatch, the reveal simply takes away all suspense during scenes where he's present.
5 What Is The Front Man's Connection To Il-Nam And Why Does Il-Nam Trust Him So Much?
The reveal of Il-nam as a fellow player within Squid Game raises many more questions than it answers and leaves fans scratching their heads. One of these involves the Front Man, who is later revealed to be Jun-ho's brother.
This makes Jun-ho's apparent death at his hands all the more emotional. Squid Game doesn't explain why Il-nam chooses the Front Man to help with the games. After all, the Front Man watches the games and keeps players in check while Il-nam acts as a player. The Front Man is also trusted enough to deal with the VIPs and lead Gi-hun home after winning, but fans are never told why.
4 Who Is Keeping The Games Running After Il-nam's Death?
One question that the big reveal poses is: who is running the games after Il-nam's passing if he was the orchestrator? Many viewers might be quick to say that it has to be the Front Man, but there's evidence as to why this should be untrue. If it is the route the writers went with, it's wholly unsatisfying.
After all, the Front Man is shown to have suffered severe trauma as a result of killing his brother. As he's attempting to clean out his wound, he hears his brother's voice and sees his face in the mirror, both of which have a visible effect on him. If he can keep running the games as if nothing happened, it'd feel like his trauma had no meaning. If it's not the Front Man, then who's carrying on the games?
3 His Reasoning For Running The Games Is Incredibly Weak And Dissatisfying To Most Fans
At the very least, perhaps fans would have been willing to look past the reveal of Il-nam being the true mastermind if his reasons were compelling. If it added something to his character, or the story as a whole, many of the other glaring issues would be much easier to get over.
However, his motivation is incredibly simple and underwhelming. He and his other incredibly rich friends get together and decide to start hosting a life-or-death competition because they have a lot of money and they're bored. There are many other ways they could've enriched their lives without resorting to hosting a death game, and this reason feels incredibly weak to most viewers.
2 It Removes The Moral Dilemma Of Gi-hun 'Sacrificing' Il-Nam During The Marbles Game
Squid Game's sixth episode, Gganbu, is painful for a multitude of reasons, most notably for what it implies for Gi-hun's character. Up until Gganbu, he's shown to transform from a greedy gambler willing to steal from his mother to someone who cares deeply about his friends' lives and wants everyone to escape together. It feels like he's begun to change.
However, when the Marbles game rolls around, he takes advantage of what he believes is Il-nam's dementia to give himself a fighting chance when he's about to lose. Since Il-nam is shown to be faking dementia, and because he doesn't die as a result of Gi-hun's actions, it reframes these scenes and it's hard to feel the emotional turmoil fans did the first time around.
1 It Completely Goes Against The Game's Principals Of Everyone Playing On Equal Footing
One part of the twist that makes the least sense is that it means Il-nam is going against the rules of the game. The same rules that the Front Man is seen point-blank shooting other characters for don't apply to Il-nam.
Il-nam's hypocrisy feels very cheap and makes the rules of the game feel disingenuous. After all, the Front Man states that the games are about equality and giving everyone a fair shot at winning. When one player is the orchestrator of everyone and can play with zero personal risk, it loses all credibility.