Squid Game enthusiasts are still buzzing with theories about Netflix’s hit South Korean series since its Boxing Day return.
The gripping drama follows a sadistic series of games where desperate participants like Seong Gi-hun (played by Lee Jung-jae) risk their lives for the chance to win a massive cash prize.
However, the latest season threw several curveballs at the contenders, including the revelation that the previous tournament’s Front Man, Hwang In-ho (Lee Byung-hun), is secretly participating and seemingly sabotaging the competition from within.
This twist mirrors a similar one in the first season, where it was unveiled Player 001, Oh Il-nam (O Yeong-su) was the mastermind behind the games and decided to participate before succumbing to a brain tumour.
Fans have since been speculating that the Front Man and Il-nam were related and have been scouring both seasons looking for evidence to back up the theory, reports the Mirror US.
One subtle moment in the second season may have provided the proof they were seeking – but it appears the theory doesn’t hold as much weight as viewers might believe.
During a brief respite after another gruelling challenge, the groups are served lunch which includes a carton of milk.
In-ho gives his to his pregnant teammate Kim Jun-hee (Jo Yu-ri) claiming he won’t drink it anyway. Viewers are now convinced this act of kindness links to a casual remark made by Il-nam in season one.
A screengrab went viral on Reddit, supposedly showing a connection between Squid Game’s enigmatic character Il-nam and the Front Man – all because of their shared intolerance for plain milk.
Yet savvy viewers have spotted that things aren’t quite as they seem. The ‘evidence’ isn’t accurate, since the original dialogue shows Gi-hun prefers chocolate milk due to intolerance, while Il-nam reflects, “As a kid I’m willing to bet you got spanked a lot… my son did too. He was just like you, friend.”
Furthermore, in the show’s second innings, In-ho simply states “I don’t drink plain milk”, not necessarily that he can’t digest it.
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This theory was wobbly from the get-go and now appears to be based on dodgy facts or an overzealous imagination rather than solid proof.
Critics within the Squid Game community also argue that even if this twist in the plot was true, the coincidence of lactose intolerance is statistically likely but dramatically dull.
Highlighting the commonality of lactose intolerance in Korea, one Reddit user chimed in, “This could foreshadow a connection or it could just be that more than 75% of Koreans are actually lactose intolerant.”
With the Squid Game finale slated for release later this year, there’s still a sliver of possibility: Could the Front Man be unmasked as Il-nam’s progeny? The answer requires patience.
Squid Game season 2 is available to stream on Netflix. Season 3 is coming in 2025.
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