Warning: SPOILERS ahead forSquid Gameseason 3.Squid Gameseason 3 finally gives viewers a glimpse into the Front Man’s backstory, but the flashback to the character’s experience in the games left actor Lee Byung-hun feeling “weird.“Squid Game’sthird and final season debutedon Netflix on June 27, revealing what became of all the characters introduced in seasons 1 and 2.
The new episodes also shed light onwhy In-ho became the Front Man, showing a flashback to his own tournament and how he won it. Oh Il-nam gave him the same choice that he gives Gi-hun in season 3 — onlyIn-ho actually does kill all the other players as they sleep, securing his win.
In a featurette forStill Watching Netflix,Lee Byung-hun admitted he “felt bad while filming this scene,“adding, “It was so brutal.” It’s not surprising that such a violent moment left the actor feeling conflicted, though he was eager to know more about In-ho’s time in the tournament:
“I had to act, but it made me feel weird. I was curious myself, and I figured many viewers were all as well, wondering what kind of mental state In-ho was in during the Squid Game and what kind of journey he went through.”
TheSquid Gamestar also noted that the sequence is “short” and “fragmented,” so it doesn’t give the full picture of In-ho’s character before the tournament. It does, however, explain his outlook during the show and how his experiences changed him. As Lee Byung-hun notes:
“By the time he reached that point, he had already seen the worst sides of human nature, witnessed betrayal, and watched many people die. So I imagined he’d be physically and emotionally exhausted and in a deeply pessimistic state. When he first entered the Squid Game, his mindset was completely different from who he had become by the end.”
Watch the full discussion with Lee Jung-jae and Lee Byung-hun below:
What Lee Byung-hun’s Comments Mean For The Front Man’s Character
His Flashbacks Prove He’s A Complex Villain
Lee Byung-hun’s comments about the Front Man’s flashback sequence are interesting becausethey suggest we still don’t have a complete view of theSquid Gamevillain. It’s great to get a look at how he won the tournament, but it’d be equally compelling to see what led him to that point.
We get key details of the Front Man’s history overSquid Game’s three seasons, learning that his wife died while pregnant. These losses help humanize the character, as do his surprising decisions in season 3. He’s still a villain, but these layers make him more interesting. And the actor’s comments suggest there’s even more to unpack when it comes to his backstory.
Our Take On Squid Game Season 3’s Front Man Flashback & The Actor’s Comments
The Front Man’s History Deserves To Be Unpacked More
Lee Byung-hun’s comments about the Front Man and his backstory make me even more interested in the character — and more convinced that anIn-ho prequel is a much better directionforSquid Gamethan an American spinoff. The brief glimpses of In-ho killing the other players only make me more eager to know where his desperation comes from.
And given how impressively theSquid Gamestar captures the villain’s complexity, there’s little doubt such a spinoff would be well-acted and spark interesting conversations. The fact that it would be in direct contrast to Gi-hun’s story, which sees him maintaining his belief in humanity, would make it even more powerful.
