Squid Game season 2 stormed back onto Netflix in 2024 with thrilling new games, a deeper dive into key characters, and some interesting new players. It shattered viewership records, ranking #1 in 92 countries, and while reactions to the story were mixed, especially with the season ending on a major cliffhanger, there is no denying it gave fans plenty to talk about.
One of the most talked about new players was Thanos, a washed-up rapper portrayed by real-life rapper and actor Choi Seung Hyun, better known as T.O.P (formerly of iconic K-pop group BIGBANG). Once a popular rapper with stacks of cash, Thanos lost his fortune on risky crypto investments. Now broke and desperate, he keeps voting for the games to continue, hoping the prize money will grow big enough to save him from financial ruin.
Greedy and cruel, Thanos' chaotic nature added to the madness of the games. He used substances as a coping mechanism and was bizarrely entertained by the mayhem unfolding around him. Despite the terrifying nature of the games, he seemed completely unbothered by the violence. That, coupled with his delusional confidence and cringey dialogue, made Thanos ironically funny and one of the most meme-worthy characters of the season.
In a behind-the-scenes Netflix interview, Seung Hyun revealed that Thanos was intentionally written to be cringe-inducing. He recalled discussing with creator Hwang Dong Hyuk, “I wanted to design and create a unique never-before-seen character.” He added, “I talked with the director to find ways for Thanos to come off as more cringey, so I tried to maximize his expressions.”
To bring Thanos to life, the actor "used gestures that are outdate and exaggerated” aiming to make viewers uncomfortable. As Seung Hyun puts it, “I wanted viewers to sense an odd vibe from him.” Mission accomplished.
What took things up a notch was Thanos’ awkward English. He frequently used English words in conversations, clearly trying to sound cool, but instead coming off as pretentious and embarrassing. Seung Hyun explained, “This guy has never been to the States or taken English lessons. I was told his English pronunciations shouldn’t be too good,” so his mispronunciation and clumsy attempts were entirely deliberate. Thanos’ dialogue, sprinkled with bits of broken English, helped make him feel like a flashy, over-confident, wannabe-classy rapper eager to impress those around him.
Given that rap is a Western influence in South Korea’s music scene, Thanos naturally tried to incorporate English into his speech as part of his rapper persona. The only problem? He didn’t really learn the language. The result: hilariously cringeworthy moments that reflect his pretentious self. This is evident in a now heavily memed scene where Thanos tries flirting with a fellow female contestant using his face-palm-worthy rap bars with English tossed in. Seung Hyun even reacted to that very scene during the interview, exclaiming, “I’m really cringing.”
The actor also pointed out that Thanos “uses many phrases that are old-fashioned for his age,” further revealing that the character was not only a failed rapper who peaked in the 2000s but has been stuck in the past ever since. This makes Thanos rather pitiful, leaving us wondering whether to feel sympathy for how pathetic he is or rage at his immature actions causing unnecessary chaos and bloodshed. And so, for many, his quick, jarring death felt like a sweet relief.
In another interview with Netflix’s Tudum, when asked about the character’s final scene, Seung Hyun explained that Thanos was a dangerous character who was mostly under the influence of drugs. “When I first read how he dies in the script, I honestly thought that it was about time,” he said. He also thanked the director and the team for making his exit extra impactful by having Thanos meet his end at a very random moment in the story. “I thought his death was quite timely, and I also thought he deserved to die.”
Thanos constantly kept the audience on edge with his unpredictability. Whether you liked or hated the character or just cringed through his scenes, he was one of the many unforgettable players that made the season so wild.
Fans won’t have to wait long for the third and final season of Squid Game; it premieres on June 27, 2025.
To stay up to date on everything fantasy, science fiction, and WiC, follow our all-encompassing Facebook page and Twitter account, sign up for our exclusive newsletter and check out our YouTube channel.