Gong Yoo took center stage in the first episode of Squid Game Season 2.
The episode, titled Bread and Lottery, premiered on December 26th. After winning the game, Gi Hun (played by Lee Jung Jae) is about to board a flight to the U.S. when a phone call changes his plans. He decides to turn back and begins a relentless search for the “Salesman” (Gong Yoo) in a desperate attempt to rejoin the game.
The Salesman is the crucial gateway into Squid Game. No one can participate without him. Half of the first episode focuses on Gi Hun’s exhausting pursuit of this elusive character.
Bread and Lottery reflects the offers the Salesman makes to impoverished people in the park. “Bread” symbolizes fleeting satisfaction, while the “lottery” represents the promise of lasting comfort. Watching people shift from hope to despair, the Salesman reveals glimpses of his inner madness.
In Season 1, Gong Yoo made only a brief appearance, but his role in Season 2 is significantly expanded. He completely dominates the first episode. As a sharply dressed gentleman with a warm smile, he invites people to the game. However, his demeanor changes when he forces his opponents into a corner during a game of Russian roulette, exposing a chilling, psychopathic side. This stark contrast between his two personas creates a unique and thrilling tension.
Here’s how viewers reacted to his performance in the first episode:
#GongYoo’s acting skills are insane…#SquidGame2 pic.twitter.com/8KuFcRKXsI
— kdrama diary (@kdramasdiary) December 26, 2024
can we also consider the fact that this is gong yoo’s first time playing a psycho villain role??? and this is the material he’s serving??? give him the best supporting actor award NOW#SquidGame2 pic.twitter.com/lE1p43Ivdl
— m 🦕 (@gongyoosimp) December 26, 2024
no thoughts. head empty. only manic unhinged psycho salesman#SquidGame2 pic.twitter.com/o7AhSpsQmb
— m 🦕 (@gongyoosimp) December 26, 2024
I’m sorry, but every time that he did this, I felt things. 🤷🏻♀️#SquidGame2 pic.twitter.com/ksXGcr8EZB
— ^^; (@gongyoo_ni) December 26, 2024
This is Gong Yoo’s first time playing a villain, and his darker side feels fresh and captivating. Why had no one offered him such a role until now? Director Hwang Dong Hyuk, who showcased Gong Yoo’s range in the 2011 film Silenced, now highlights yet another facet of his talent 13 years later.
In a recent interview with Trunk, Gong Yoo described Squid Game Season 2 as “a project that reminded me of the joy of acting.” He explained, “It’s a character I’ve never tried before, and since it didn’t have deep ties to other characters, I could shape it entirely on my own. I really enjoyed that freedom.”
He wasn’t exaggerating. Gong Yoo makes a powerful impression in the opening episode, setting the stage for the bloody games to follow.
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