Many of Lee Byung-hun’s notable roles in television and movies have followed a tragic trend, but surprisingly,Squid Gameseason 3 seems to finally break it. Lee Byung-hun was first introduced inSquid Gameseason 1 as one of the primary villains. The opening season of theNetflix Korean showbarely revealed anything about his history but hinted at how he ended up becoming the Front Man.
Squid Gameseason 2 gradually removed the tapestry surrounding his shrouded backstory to confirm that he, too, was once a player in the central games. The events of the games eventually made him lose his hope in humanity, prompting him to become the key enabler of a system that once exploited him.
Owing to the developments in theFront Man’s story inSquid Game’s seasons 1 and 2, it was hard not to believe that he would meet the same fate as many of Lee Byung-hun’s other characters. However, surprisingly,Squid Gameseason 3 broke one major trend in the actor’s career by ending the Front Man’s story in an unpredictable way.
Lee Byung-hun Has An Extensive Track Record For Character Deaths
Many Of His Characters In Both Movies And TV Shows Have Died
Lee Byung-hun has played myriad characters in movies and TV shows. Although most characters he portrays are significantly different from one another,many of them surprisingly meet the same fate: they die. In close to ten movies, the actor’s characters have died in the strangest and often the most tragic ways.
Even when the actor appeared in Hollywood movies, likeThe Magnificent Seven,Terminator Genesis, andG.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, his characters still often met with grim or sacrificial ends. On television, Lee Byung-hun’s Hyun-Jun Kim died inIRISafter being shot in the head. Similarly, his character, Eugene Choi, met with a similar fate inMr. Sunshine.
Based on this death trend alone, viewers familiar with his extensive line of work could not help but believe he would also eventually die inSquid Game. The show, however, surprised many by not only keeping him alive but also giving him a semblance of redemption towards the end.
There Were Theories That The Front Man Could Have Died
His Death Was A Possibility After He Killed Jung-bae
Many viewers could not help but theorize that the Front Man would eventually die inSquid Game. It was believed that either Gi-hun or Jun-ho would kill him to ensure the games ended for good. The Front Man brutally murdered Gi-hun’s friend, Jung-bae, inSquid Gameseason 2’s endingmoments.
This led many to believe that Gi-hun would be out for blood in season 3 and would set out to seek revenge after learning about how the Front Man deceived him in season 2. Despite having little humanity left in him, the Front Man spared his brother, Jun-ho, in season 1 by ensuring he got medical attention after he shot him.
It was heavily theorized thatJun-ho would not show the same level of mercy to his brother. His strong sense of justice as a police officer would encourage him to kill his brother instead of sparing him. Surprisingly, Jun-ho, too, does not kill In-ho even when he gets the opportunity to, which breaks Lee Byung-hun’s death trend.
The Front Man Survives Squid Game Season 3 Ending
He Not Only Survives But Also Gets To Redeem Himself
The Front Man watches Gi-hun die from a distance inSquid Gameseason 3’s ending. Although his brother, Jun-ho, considers killing him, he changes his mind after recalling how In-ho spared him. After watching Gi-hun sacrifice his life for the baby,the Front Man seemingly finds some of his lost humanity.
The end of the Front Man’s narrative inSquid Gameseason 3 is slightly ambiguous, but it confirms his survival and hints he might walk down the path of redemption instead of returning to the games.
Owing to this, he sends Jun-hee’s baby to his brother, believing that he would do a better job at raising the child. He also heads to the United States and gives Gi-hun’s daughter access to his winning prize from the games. The end of the Front Man’s narrative inSquid Gameseason 3 is slightly ambiguous, but it confirms his survival and hints he might walk down the path of redemption instead of returning to the games.
It’s A Nice Change For A Lee Byung-hun Character
His Character’s Closing Story Is Still Bittersweet
Like most of Lee Byung-hun’s characters, who die towards the end of their respective narratives, the Front Man, too, gets a bittersweet closure. However, his conclusive arc seems more sweet than bitter becausehe at least manages to survive and retain some of his lost morals.
22
3
Budget
US $21.4 million in season 1 and ₩100 billion in seasons 2 & 3
Streaming On
Netflix
Given how Squid Game always took a no-holds-barred approach towards character deaths and killed off most of its main characters before ending its three-season run, it could have given the Front Man the same fate as most of Lee Byung-hun’s other characters. It is good to see, though, thatSquid Gamedefies expectations and offers a rare glimpse of redemption for the character.
Squid Game
Squid Game is a South Korean series released in 2021 that follows numerous financially struggling participants who are invited to partake in children’s games with deadly outcomes. As they compete, they vie for a substantial cash prize, all while navigating lethal challenges orchestrated by mysterious figures.
