Yeah, about refusing the money I thought that was understandable. It wasn't that he was ungrateful, he was ticked at the fact that this guy thought he could be bought off like that and not care about his daughter. I think it did help him be a lot more sympathetic in that episode once the mother's condition comes out and becomes the reason for his desperation, especially after that first episode where it was hard to root for him. I also liked that he at least initially chose not to play because I thought for sure the gambling side of him would win out.

I did like that they released them all and then the vast majority realized how screwed they really were and that there just was no hope. I mean what choice does the MC have, if he doesn't get the money his mom dies and his organs get harvested anyway, and it really does feel like there's no way out except for this fighting chance. Agreed about what happened to the money that was supposed to go to the victims... though it would probably help a lot if the subtitles gave some indication of won to US dollar conversion. They big bad did mention that the ones who did not come back had to be watched, but I guess they do actually want you there of your free will.

those silly VIP masks would preclude you from drinking out of a glass.

Unless Il Nam didn't mind truly perishing what the hell was he going to do had that tug of war gone the way it was most likely going to? Are we supposed to somehow sympathize with his point that he never forced people to participate?

Also, if Gi hun never touched the money at all, how the hell did he keep his organs? And if he did touch it why not use it for others except a year later?

glass shard

why a previous winner was the "head man" and when not in the game seemingly lived in a tiny apartment with no money, unless he was tapped on the shoulder just for this game (which given his role doesn't seem likely)

When it was revealed that the brother was the 2015 winner, I instantly guessed that he was the game host.

However, I thought an additional twist was going to be that the Squid Game winner gets to choose between taking home the jackpot or killing the host and taking on the new role (offers power and wealth). I thought maybe the subsequent winners (2016, 2017, etc) turned down killing the host and opted for the jackpot.

His brother is looking for him like he just disappeared recently, not six years ago. His landlady says that she doesn't check on the renters everyday but he stopped paying around a week ago, so he was either just paying rent at that hovel for fun or he was actually living really poor until he left to go lead the games. There are even dead goldfish in his room. There's no way he'd just leave a loose end dangling like that either not paying rent and leaving his belongings there

I thought they would reveal something like he's disgusted by money similar to Gi hun and decided to live like that except for when he's called back, but he seemed just as ruthless as everyone else involved in the games so it's not that.

They said a potential 2nd season would be about the current host, but yeah dude is ruthless - and I think the other guy is alive. The thing with the apartment made very little sense and I guess was supposed to be a poorly done red herring?

only the frontman in the black mask espoused the idea that the games are to give each of the contestants a fair chance. I am not sure even he believed it. The old man created the games because he wanted to have fun again and his attitude was to look down at the homeless man calling him filthy even on his deathbed. The VIPs were there to bet and watch a spectacle.So only the frontman believed in the equal chance stuff mixed with luck. Maybe the frontman tried to bring down the games but could not and decided it was best to try and change it from the inside.

There is a youtube video out there that shows that Il Nam was not padlocked to the rope like the rest of the players. If he lost - then he would probably jump to the side before the group fell down and a guard would probably 'execute' him on the platform (which is up very high away from the other players) and help him exit the game.

You can definitely see the lack of lock around his wrist.