10 Squid Game Characters Who Died Too Soon

10 Squid Game Characters Who Died Too Soon

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at “Squid Game” characters who met their demise earlier than expected (players only). Be warned, major spoilers ahead!

Ji-yeong[a]

It’s unfair that the ones we grow to love always seem to die early, but that’s the heartbreaking reality of “Squid Game”. We really got to know Ji-yeong when she joined Gi-hun’s team and became close to Sae-byeok. Their connection deepened during the marble game, where they shared their traumatizing stories. But just as we connected with Ji-yeong, we lost her. Like Sae-byeok, we were totally shaken when she sacrificed herself to save her only friend. Her tearful smile as she thanked Sae-byeok for playing with her made her loss even harder to bear. If we had our way, both friends would’ve lived long enough to enjoy the prize money. But the show had other plans.

Player 196

In Season 2, Gi-hun re-enters the deadly competition to try and put an end to it. But as soon as he’s let back in, his plan goes sideways. So, he becomes determined to save his fellow contestants. As a result, the Red Light, Green Light game pans out differently, with his guidance saving scores of players from sudden death. Unfortunately, player 196 becomes the first casualty after a bee lands on her face. It sure feels like a deliberate move by the game creators to ensure panic and carnage. With her main character energy and Thanos clearly smitten with her, we figured she’d have a bigger role. But it wouldn’t be “Squid Game” without some nasty surprises.

Do Jung-soo[b]

Sang-woo has done some terrible things, but this is one of his absolute worst. Why kill the one person who helped you get this far? We’re talking about the death of Do Jung-soo, player 017. He came so close to surviving the Glass Bridge game until Sang-woo robbed him of the chance. Using his expertise as a glass manufacturer, player 017 easily identified safe panels, helping others behind him survive. But after the Front Man turned off the light, his skill became almost useless. With time running out, Sang-woo made a callous move and pushed him off the panel. How utterly cruel! One more step and he may have reached the next game or even the finale, but Sang-woo’s depravity ruined it all.

Thanos

Bearing the name of the MCU’s iconic villain is enough to make you stand out. Back that up with an extraordinary personality, and you become unforgettable. Awful as he may be, Thanos was undeniably fascinating, dominating every scene he was in. His ecstatic approach to the games was bizarrely entertaining, even though it was also sad. Since the show sets him as a major antagonist, naturally we thought he’d stick around longer. But boy, were we shocked in episode six when he was brutally stabbed! It’s yet another reminder that, in “Squid Game,” no one is safe, no matter how important they may seem.

Se-mi

We get that many characters have to die, but killing one as intriguing as Se-mi feels wrong. There’s no denying she was one of the most likeable characters. A smart player, Se-mi joined Thanos’ team, thinking they’d be easy to control. But that backfired. After voting to end the game, she landed on Nam-gyu’s target list and was killed during the lights-out riot. Was that unfitting death necessary at this point? With how the character was built, we thought she had so much more to offer. And we can’t forget about her traumatized friend Min-su. Well, just further evidence that “Squid Game” thrives on shocking us, not satisfying us.

Gyeong-seok[c]

The last time we saw this struggling artist in the outside world, his daughter was battling cancer. So, it wasn’t so surprising to see him in the game, desperate to win money for her treatment. Towards the end, he joins Gi-hun’s rebellion- a decision that tragically seals his fate. As the shootout with the armed guards intensifies, Gyeong-seok and other rebels soon run out of ammo. When Dae-ho fails to return with reinforcement, Gyeong-seok surrenders. Despite pleading for his life to be spared for his daughter’s sake, he’s mercilessly shot. Though we aren’t entirely sure if he’s gone, his plan was likely doomed from the start, since the Front Man was always one step ahead.

Young-mi

Even knowing “Squid Game’s” brutal nature, we can’t help getting attached to certain characters, especially relatable ones like Young-mi. A sweet-natured girl, she formed an adorable friendship with Hyun-ju and became part of the show’s most likeable teams. But during the Mingle challenge, tragedy struck. We can’t even begin to explain how wild her death was. One minute, Young-mi and her friends were racing to their secured room; the next, she was helpless on the floor. Hyun-jun tries to save her, but she’s too late. If only there’d been enough time. Honestly, her death feels painfully unfair, especially since she desperately wanted to leave. Those pleading eyes of hers still haunt us.

Ali

Some might rationalize Sang-woo’s actions, but for manipulating Ali during the marble game, he deserves to be labelled as an evil character. Poor Ali was too kind and pure for a game this ruthless. He managed to survive many brutal challenges, only to die in the most heartbreaking way. Perhaps, if he hadn’t been so trusting and compassionate, he may have lived longer. But as the violent show will have it, the last we see of Ali is his tearful face after realizing he’s been duped. His death feels like the most unfair because no one lost quite like he did (and no, Player 001 doesn’t count). Surely, Ali didn’t deserve to die heartbroken and betrayed.

Jung-bae

The Front Man strikes again, and this one hurts almost as much as Ali and Sae-byeok’s death. Just like in season 1, Gi-hun's friend enters the game, except he’s unlike Sang-woo and we actually like him. As Gi-hun’s strongest ally, Jung-bae was on his team from day one and didn’t hesitate to join his uprising, only to meet a grim end. While on their way to the control room, the Front Man ambushes them, shooting Jung-bae right in front of Gi-hun as a way to treat and completely crush him. It’s devastating and shocking. And honestly, Gi-hun is partly to blame. His half-baked plan arguably led many to their deaths. But then again, if Jung-bae had voiced his suspicions about player 001, perhaps this tragic turn could’ve been avoided.

Sae-byeok

After the glass panel exploded, it left the remaining players injured, but none more than this fan favorite. Bleeding profusely, it doesn’t look like Saebyeok will make it through the night. Since she’s badly wounded, Gi-hun goes to find help, but then we get a gut-wrenching revelation. Sang-woo attacks again, stabbing Sae-byeok with a hidden knife to further his odds of victory. Imagine being so close to winning, only for a shard of glass to ruin your chance. And then as you’re clinging to your life, a ruthless rival takes it away. That doesn’t seem fair at all and Sae-byeok seriously deserved so much better. But when has fairness been a thing in this brutal world?

Which death hurts the most in “Squid Game”? Let us know in the comment section.

[a]https://www.yarn.co/yarn-clip/19d0c64c-89ba-4de3-8f07-db9999d60184
[b]https://translate.google.ca/?sl=ko&tl=en&text=%EB%8F%84%EC%A0%95%EC%88%98&op=translate
[c]https://translate.google.ca/?sl=ko&tl=en&text=%EA%B2%BD%EC%84%9D&op=translate