Summary
There are a lot of reasons as to whySquid Gamehas become a successful worldwide phenomenon, with one of the biggest ones being its proclivity of killing off main characters without holding back. After all, this show is an intense thriller, so feeling like not even the most popular characters are safe adds a lot of high stakes to the experience.
Many iconic and memorable characters have tragically perished throughout both seasons ofSquid Game,and some of their deaths have been so heartbreaking and/or shocking that no viewer has been able to forget them. Whether they happened inside or outside the actual games, the following eight deaths inSquid Gameare still burned in the minds of every fan.
8The Recruiter
The First Time Someone Involved With The Games Was Defeated
The Recruiterwas one of the most popular characters ofSquid GameSeason 1, mostly thanks to Gong Yoo’s charming performance. So, naturally, when the second season kicked off with an entire episode centered on him, the stakes were definitely quite high, especially at the very end, when he and Gi-Hun finally meet once again in a suspenseful game of Russian roulette.
Fortunately, the protagonist managed to outsmart the Recruiter and beat him, killing him in the process. This is a major highlight of Season 2 because not only did it show the audience that characters can still very easily die outside the games, but also because it was the first time that an antagonist involved in their organization was defeated,resulting in a satisfying moment that marked the beginning of Gi-Hun’s new mission.
7Ji-yeong
This Character’s Tragic Sacrifice Made Her All The More Memorable
Player 240 (real nameJi-yeong) was not one of the most noteworthy characters of the first season, but her death has still remained as one of the most tragic ones in the entire show. This is because she sadly perished during the game of Marbles in Episode 6, which also resulted in the deaths of many other beloved characters.
Ji-yeong very quickly established a friendship with Kang Sae-byeok, and she slowly revealed her dark backstory to her during said game. After their deep and meaningful conversation, however, she realized that her new friend had a lot more to live for and finally decided to sacrifice herself to save her. In a series that’s filled to the brim with selfish characters that are always worried about money, this was a surprisingly beautiful moment that pulled on the heartstrings of many viewers.
6Kim Young-mi
A Poor Woman Who Met An Unexpected Demise
Season 2 may not have featured as many main characters deaths as the first season, but it still had some truly unforgettable ones, with one of them being the tragic momentKim Young-mimet her end. While she was an anxious young woman who instantly regretted her decision to participate and voted to go back home, she still managed to form friendships with some of the other players, especially Cho Hyun-ju.
Unfortunately for Kim Young-mi, however,the game of Mingle was chaotic as it was ruthless. After many close calls, she got pushed and was left outside the door just when the time ran out. Her friend Cho Hyun-ju desperately tried to save her, but Lee Myung-gi prevented her from doing so, or otherwise their entire team would have died. The final scene of Young-mi being shot while she stares at her friend through the door remains as one of the most ruthless and soul-crushing moments in all ofSquid Game.
5Jang Deok-su And Han Mi-Neyo
Two Memorable Villains Who Died Together In A Glorious Scene
Season 1 introduced viewers toJang Deok-su, a sadistic gangster who eventually became one of the most ruthless and violent players in the games. At one point, he formed a relationship with a crazy and manipulative woman namedHan Mi-nyeo, who also joins his team. However, and to no one’s surprise, Deok-su later expels her from his team during Tug of War. But, of course, she was never going to forget this betrayal.
In one of the most shocking yet satisfying scenes in all ofSquid Game, Mi-nyeo confronts Deok-su in the middle of the Glass Stepping Stones game, grabs him and jumps back into one of the glass panels, killing him (and herself) in the process. While most of the deaths in this show are more subdued and emotional, this one was way more cinematic, which made it all the more memorable for viewers. After all, Han Mi-nyeo basically sacrificed herself just to get revenge on the man who betrayed her, which was quite impressive.
4Park Jung-bae
Gi-Hun’s Good Friend Sadly Couldn’t Make It To The End
The exciting season 2 finale saw Seong Gi-Hun and his new group of friends finally standing up to the Pink Soldiers and successfully pulling off a rebellion in order to put an end to these cruel games. Of course,Gi-Hun’s longtime friendPark Jung-baewas right by his side during all this, and his military training proved to be of extreme importance during their shootout with the Pink Soldiers.
However, the Front Man managed to get the upper hand at the very last minute and captured both Gi-Hun and Jung-bae. He could have very easily killed off the former at that moment, but he decided to shoot the latter instead, which was very clearly meant to be a cold-blooded psychological punishment for Gi-Hun. After knowing him for two seasons, Park Jung-bae had become one of the most lovable characters inSquid Game,and his shocking death was the perfect way to close off the second one. Fans are now hoping that Gi-Hun will be able to avenge his friend in the upcoming third season.
3Kang Sae-byeok
One Of Season 1’s Protagonists Was Unceremoniously Killed Off
There’s no denying that Seong Gi-Hun, Cho Sang-woo andKang Sae-byeokwere the three main characters of season one, which was pretty much confirmed by the fact that they were the final three contestants of the games.While she had proven to be a sympathetic but cunning player, she was tragically damaged by a glass shard during the fifth game, so she was struggling to survive before the sixth and final one.
In an extremely suspenseful scene, Sang-woo hinted at the idea of getting rid of her just so two players remain. Despite his best efforts to prevent this, Gi-Hun couldn’t save her, and Sang-woo abruptly stabbed her while he wasn’t looking. At the end of the day, one of the most beloved and memorable characters inSquid Gamedied in a very quiet and unexpected way, further proving how truly unpredictable this show can be.
2Cho Sang-woo
A Morally Gray Character Who Died After Admitting Defeat
Despite being introduced as Seong Gi-Hun’s childhood friend,Cho Sang-woobecame less and less likable with every episode, and the moment in which he brutally killed Kang Sae-byeok finally cemented him as a morally gray character who viewers didn’t want to see win. Because of all this, his final battle with Gi-Hun in the sixth and final game - the titular Squid Game – was incredibly intense and emotional.
Like the kind-hearted man he is, Gi-Hun beat Sang-woo but still tried to save him, but the latter realized that he didn’t deserve that redemption, asked his friend to use the money to help his mother and committed suicide by stabbing himself in the neck. The long awaited final game of the show ended with one of its most impactful, powerful and satisfying (for some viewers) deaths yet,and it ended up having huge repercussions on both Gi-Hun and the rest of the story.
1Ali Abdul
A Nice Man Who Didn’t Deserve To Get Betrayed By His Friend
Gganbuis often considered to be the absolute bestSquid Gameepisode, as it proved audiences that no character was safe, no matter how likable or important they were. Many fan favorites met their end during this tragic game of Marbles, but the most heartbreaking and unforgettable death was that ofAli Abdul, who was betrayed by none other than Cho Sang-woo.
Ali was a very polite and kind man who sadly had a very hard life living in South Korea. Nevertheless, his good heart helped him make some good friends during the games, and Sang-woo was one of them. But, at the very last moment, he backstabbed Ali by taking his marbles and giving him a sack of pebbles. The moment in which the poor man realizes this betrayal remains one of the most heartbreaking and frustrating in the show, as viewers all around the world basically screamed at their screens while the Pink Soldiers executed Ali. In any other story, Ali Abdul would have been the honorable protagonist who made it to the end, but his unforgettable death is the exact moment that setSquid Gameapart from other shows.
