With Squid Game, writer-director Dong-hyuk Hwang has created one of the most violent and entertaining explorations of the survival game subgenres. The story revolves around 456 participants taking part in a deadly game to win the cash prize of 45.6 billion yen (the US $ 38.5 million). The protagonist, Seong Gi-hun or Ki-hoon or # 456 (Jung-Jae Lee), meets an old man or # 001 (Yeong-Su Oh) at the start of the game. As the game progresses, a deep bond seems to develop between them. However, as with any other connection, this almost father-son relationship is tested when the two are pitted against each other. If you’re wondering if the old man dies in “Squid Game” we’ve got you covered. SPOILERS TO COME.
Does old man die in the Squid game?
Yes, the old man dies in the ‘Squid Game’. The audience is introduced to the elderly gentleman at the same time as the protagonist. It is revealed that he has a brain tumor. When Gi-hun criticizes him for participating in the Game and not staying at home, eating the food his daughter-in-law prepares, and enjoying the company of his grandchildren, the other man retorts by asking Gi-hun if his parents get to do all that.
Player 1 quickly establishes himself as a resourceful player. He is the first to cross the line in the game Red Light, Green Light. Ultimately, his vote also decides whether or not the candidates will return home after the first game. Outside, Gi-run meets Player 1, who tells him that he is currently at a friend’s house in the neighborhood because he has nowhere to go. As they share a drink on a particularly rainy evening, Player 1 reveals that he is returning to the game as he’s running out of time anyway.
Gi-hun and most of the others are coming back too. After the cookie game, Player 1 compliments Gi-hun on his method, which the former apparently copied and completed the game. Before Tug-of-War, Gi-hun recruited Player 1 for the team, much to the dismay of Cho Sang-woo or No.218. However, Player 1’s suggestion proved to be decisive in the victory of the team this round.
Even Gi-hun is reluctant to team up with Player 1 for Game 4, but ultimately, after presuming Player 1 will be killed if he’s not on a team, Gi-hun chooses him. The 4th game turns out to be the marbles, in which they are forced to face each other. Gi-hun learns that the old man’s name is Oh Il-nam. As Player 1 begins to show signs of dementia, GI-hun cheats on him and wins the game. As he leaves, a gunshot is heard, making him assume that Il-nam is dead.
However, in the season finale, after Gi-hun wins the match and has spent a year living as before, he is given a card with similar markings as before. He goes to the address printed on it and finds Il-Nam, bedridden and weak, but not dead. Gi-hun soon learns that Il-nam created the game so that he and his very wealthy clients can use it to bet against each other. He spoke the truth when he said he was dying and wanted to participate in his creation.
Il-nam makes one last bet with Gi-hun. Pointing to a man on the street in winter, he tells Gi-hun that no one will come and save the man until midnight. He wants to show Gi-hun that humanity does not exist beyond pretension. But someone is helping the man on the outside. As Gi-hun turns to point it out to him, Il-nam is already dead. Despite this, the game continues, with In-ho the Leader in charge.
