Squid Gamecreator Hwang Dong-hyuk had good reason to name Thanos after the Marvel Cinematic Universe character. Introduced inseason 2, the character is a naive and compelling rapper with a good heart and a strong personality.Every player inSquid Gameseason 2has their own unique traits and gimmicks, butThanos' career history, hair color, and bizarre name helped to set him apart.While it would be easy to assume that Thanos' name came because of his purple hair, the reason was far more practical.
In an interview presented byStill Watching Netflixon YouTube, Hwang gavethe real reason for Thanos' surprising name. Hwang reacted to a variety of TikTok clips, which each related to his show in some way. After seeing a video of Thanos, he elected to explain Thanos' unique name. Rather than gearing the character towards the South Korean audience, Hwang intended for Thanos to become a worldwide sensation:
The reason I named the character Thanos… It doesn’t really suit a rapper as a name, was to design him to bea character fans worldwide could love.But I am so grateful he is getting this much love.
What Thanos' Name Meant For Squid Game Season 2
Thanos' Name Did Make Him A Sensation
As a rapper,it was not entirely surprising that Thanos would prefer to use his stage name, as opposed to his legal designation or his game-provided number. Outside of his career, he was known as Choi Su-bong in his personal life. In the game itself, he was given number 230. Choi Su-bong would be a fairly traditional South Korean name, so the decision to buck that trendhelped Thanos stand outboth for Korean audiences and worldwide viewers. It also helped to tie his identity with the wildly successful MCU, which likely brought attention to the character.
Thanos was played by T.O.P. (Choi Seung-hyun), a real-world Korean rapper.
Thanos is also fairly unique in that he regularly speaks English with little prompting. Like the VIPs in the previous season,Thanos' decision to speak Englishhelped him develop his personality and his one-of-a-kind disposition. Unlike their fluent and business-oriented English, Thanos' proved his need to fit in with the international community. His vulnerability contrasted strongly with his English skills, which have always been tied to power, wealth, and influence in the show.
Thanos Was A Controversial Character In Squid Game Season 2
The Actor’s Background Made Him More Controversial
Though his name was intentionally chosen and generally a positive choice for the series,Thanos was a controversial character inSquid Gameseason 2. Part of this debate stemmed from casting backlash regarding T.O.P., the real-life rapper who portrayed the purple-haired player. T.O.P. was involved in a drug scandal that found him guilty of recreational marijuana use, which is illegal in Korea. The former K-pop star was on the outs with the entertainment industry after this scandal, and his subsequent casting inSquid Gamecaused backlash.
In addition to this behind-the-scenes drama, Thanos is not exactly the easiest character to warm up to in the Netflix show. The character is self-serving, regularly playing dirty to win the games. He is also fairly abrasive in personality type, causing other players, as well as some viewers, to dislike him. His English name, synonymous with the MCU icon, contributed to how much he stood out from other characters, for better or for worse.
Our Take On Thanos' Name
It Was A Brilliant Decision That Made His Arc Compelling
Despite the controversy,Thanos' character was actually one of the best inSquid Gameseason 2. He is definitely not the most likable person, and his cleverly placed English-language lines sometimes make him seem even more arrogant. His inclusion in the games, however, highlights the range of people willing to participate in the Squid Game. He is staunchly pro-continuing the games, up until his death, and is a character whose name makes him recognizable cross-culturally, even for those unaware of the actor’s scandals.
Tying Thanos to the Marvel character was a clever decision, and it had narrative decisions as well. Though Thanos appeared to be a ruthless and cold-blooded player, he had more depth than it initially appeared. He was a deeply caring person, who struggled to cope with a complicated world. He relied on divine signs and hope to get by, and he faced a devastating loss at the end. All of that describes both the MCU’s Thanos villain andSquid Game’s Thanos. It was an interesting connection, and it was not just purple hair and nails that made it work.
Squid Game
Cast
Squid Game is a South Korean series released in 2021 that follows numerous financially struggling participants who are invited to partake in children’s games with deadly outcomes. As they compete, they vie for a substantial cash prize, all while navigating lethal challenges orchestrated by mysterious figures.
