Player 001 T-Shirt

Spoiler Alert:

The character of Oh Il-nam, or Player 001, plays a pivotal role in Squid Game, and his true identity is revealed through significant twists in both Season 1 and Season 2. Here’s a breakdown of his character in both seasons:

Season 1:

Oh Il-nam is introduced as an elderly man who participates in the Squid Game with the other contestants. At first, he appears to be weak and vulnerable due to his age, but he quickly forms a bond with the protagonist, Seong Gi-hun. Oh Il-nam becomes one of Gi-hun’s allies, offering him support and wisdom throughout the games. He is portrayed as a person who’s genuinely concerned about the well-being of others in the game.

However, towards the end of Season 1, a massive plot twist reveals that Oh Il-nam is not a mere participant, but the mastermind behind the entire Squid Game. He is the creator of the deadly competition, which he designed as a form of entertainment for the ultra-wealthy.

This is revealed in the final moments when Gi-hun faces him during the last game. Oh Il-nam admits that he has been watching the entire competition unfold as part of an exclusive group of wealthy individuals who enjoy watching people struggle and die in a game of life and death. He explains that he wanted to relive his youth and excitement through the games, making it clear that for him, the human misery and violence were an exhilarating form of amusement. The twist is that Oh Il-nam was also the one who funded the game and made it all possible. This revelation casts a shadow over his earlier friendship with Gi-hun, as the bond was built on a false sense of trust.

Before his death, Oh Il-nam asks Gi-hun if he still believes in humanity, leaving Gi-hun with a moral dilemma about his own survival and the choices he made throughout the game.

Season 2:

In Season 2, Oh Il-nam’s legacy continues to influence the events of the game. It is revealed that he remains a key figure in the game’s expansion. As the story delves deeper into the origins and structure of the Squid Game, we learn more about Oh Il-nam’s involvement, and his role in crafting its twisted rules and purpose for entertainment.

The exact specifics of his involvement in Season 2 remain closely tied to the Front Man (who is also linked to the inner workings of the game) and the larger system of power behind the game. He is remembered as a character who not only introduced the deadly competition but was the one to watch it all unfold from behind the scenes.

Key Scenes Explained:

1. Player 001’s First Appearance (Season 1):
   • Oh Il-nam is first introduced as a participant in the game, where he seems harmless due to his frail age. He shares stories of his life and builds rapport with Gi-hun, offering support when needed. Throughout the first games, he is seen as a harmless, endearing character who could easily be written off as too weak to be a serious threat.
2. The Marvel Game (Season 1):
   • This is the game where Oh Il-nam and Gi-hun form an emotional bond, playing marbles together. In this game, each player must pair up with another and try to win marbles to advance to the next round. Oh Il-nam’s seemingly innocent behavior during this round makes viewers believe that he’s just a frail old man who has no chance of winning.
3. The Final Game (Season 1):
   • Gi-hun and Oh Il-nam become the last two participants, and the big twist is revealed when Oh Il-nam confesses to being the mastermind behind the game. He admits to orchestrating the entire event for the enjoyment of the ultra-wealthy. This scene turns the entire perception of his character upside down, as his earlier kindness and vulnerability now appear as manipulative tactics.
4. Oh Il-nam’s Death (Season 1):
   • In his final moments, Oh Il-nam shares a crucial philosophical statement with Gi-hun, asking if he still believes in humanity after everything that happened. This moment is emotionally charged, leaving Gi-hun (and the audience) questioning the morality of the game and the choices the players made.