“Squid Game” Season 2 Actor T.O.P Earns Scathing Reviews
Spoiler Alert
When blasted for casting former BIGBANG member T.O.P as one of the “villains” of the second season of the world-renowned Netflix show Squid Game, director Hwang Dong Hyuk stepped up in the idol-turned-actor’s defense.
The director assured viewers that T.O.P was screened multiple times and stood his ground that “this character and work had to go to T.O.P.”
We decided that we had no choice but to prove to the viewers through the final result as to why this character and work had to go to T.O.P. That was why we did not cancel it and pressed through with it.
— Hwang Dong Hyuk
With the second season now premiered, viewers looked for the said reason for such a controversial casting—and were left deeply disappointed, according to multiple Korean media outlets.
Since the official release of the second season, reviews have questioned T.O.P’s acting in the show. MBC slammed the idol-turned-actor’s character to be “unbearable,” pointing out that a “talented rookie” should have been cast instead.
TOP is rapping here #SquidGame2 pic.twitter.com/lHQJhf6d0Y
— loves G 🐉 übermensch (@deaashleyy) December 25, 2024
After watching the second season of Squid Game, T.O.P’s screen time feels excessively abundant, to the point of being unbearable. ‘Thanos’ being a character who uses drugs overlaps with T.O.P’s real-life controversies, amplifying the unpleasantness watching him portray such a character. His acting isn’t particularly impressive either. Instead, it feels awkward and unsettling. Was it truly necessary to cast someone with a criminal record for such a role? The character’s rap-heavy lines are also hard to understand. And, frankly, just watching him walk into a scene feels unappealing.
Had a talented rookie actor been cast instead, they might have gained global recognition through this role, and viewers would likely have felt less disappointed. Additionally, director Hwang Dong Hyuk would have been praised for his eye in discovering new talent.
It’s unclear what T.O.P stands to gain from appearing in this project. His prior conviction for marijuana use has been brought back into the spotlight, his acting is receiving criticism, and his character isn’t one that garners sympathy.
— Reporter Kim Kyung Hee for MBC
Both JoyNews and Newsis expressed utter confusion at the director’s decision to keep T.O.P cast in the role.
this scene really distracted me. i can't believe im still watching lee byunghun x choi seunghyun battle in 2024 😭 i can even feel the beefing from 14 years ago still there 😭😅#ChoiSeunghyunForSquidGame #SquidGame2 pic.twitter.com/SF8SGo7e93
— pinoy (@puppiesbreads) December 26, 2024
Director Hwang said, ‘I believe viewers will understand that this decision was not an easy one and that T.O.P himself must have found it challenging to take on this role.’
However, after watching Squid Game Season 2, viewers are left questioning instead of understanding: Why did Hwang feel the need to cast T.O.P, and what exactly was the courage the idol supposedly showed? Although the production team claimed to have thoroughly vetted the casting, the result is a character that feels hollow due to a lack of acting skills, ultimately disrupting the immersion of the show.
Why are viewers being expected to understand or empathize with the difficulty T.O.P faced in taking on this project? Did the creators genuinely believe that by saying, ‘We vetted him,’ and ‘We deemed him suitable,’ the viewers would simply nod in agreement and move on? Or did they assume that because the Squid Game series targets a global audience, the disappointment from Korean viewers could be ignored? These are new questions that viewers now feel compelled to ask Director Hwang Dong Hyuk.
— JoyNews
In fact, Newsis even questioned if T.O.P landing the Thanos role was him pulling his connections, commenting that otherwise, “the decision to cast T.O.P is difficult to understand.”
Thanos is the most annoying character in this drama! His death felt justified because he was so infuriating. Plus, his constant use of English is super annoying! #SquidGame2 #SquidGame #SquidGameSeason2 pic.twitter.com/PxTr3Ud1w0
— Ta-da (@te3_tia) December 26, 2024
No matter how much Director Hwang denies it, the claim of T.O.P being cast with his connection is inevitable. Casting T.O.P—someone who publicly clashed with fans on social media, declaring he won’t be making a comeback in Korea and hasn’t acted since 2014—in the most globally successful project in K-Drama history seems inexplicable unless it’s attributed to his close relationships with the main cast of Squid Game.
Some argue that T.O.P still has a strong international fanbase and could be appealing to overseas viewers. He’s being compared to Jung Ho Yeon in the first season, whose acting felt awkward to some Korean viewers but left a powerful impression on global audiences who couldn’t easily assess her Korean delivery. However, considering the risks associated with casting T.O.P, it appears to be a decision that offers little benefit to the Squid Game franchise. In fact, due to negative public opinion about T.O.P in Korea, Netflix hasn’t included him in any official domestic or international promotional events.
A domestic content investment expert remarked, ‘The Squid Game production team must have known that T.O.P doesn’t possess the kind of acting skills that could silence controversies in one stroke. They also must have known that a role requiring a rapper-turned-actor wasn’t essential for the story. The decision to cast T.O.P is difficult to understand.’
— Newsis
Amid the scathing reviews, viewers from around the world are tuning into Squid Game Season 2. Will the sequel and its fresh new faces be able to top the glorious first season? Stay tuned for updates.
Read more about actor Park Sung Hoon‘s character in Squid Game here:
“Squid Game 2” Director Directly Addresses Transgender Character’s Controversial Casting
