Why Would Gi-hun Return? The Psychological Quandary of Squid Game Season 2
When Squid Game Season 1 ended, it left us with a lingering image: Seong Gi-hun, now a millionaire, turning away from a flight to Los Angeles, his face hardened with resolve.
He had won the game, escaped the cycle of desperation, and secured a fortune that could have changed his life. Yet, he chose not to board that plane.
Fast forward to Squid Game Season 2, and we find ourselves grappling with an even greater question: Why would Gi-hun willingly return to the nightmare he barely survived?
A Choice That Defies Human Nature?
Survival is hardwired into the human psyche. After experiencing such psychological and physical trauma, most individuals would seek distance, not re-entry.
The first season built up Gi-hun as a desperate but ultimately compassionate man, a victim of an unjust system rather than someone with a death wish.
If anything, his victory should have been a means of reclaiming his lost agency, not an excuse to plunge back into the abyss.
Yet, here he is—returning to the Squid Game once again. Is this revenge?
A hero’s misguided attempt to dismantle the machine from within?
Or is this something more deeply unsettling: an addiction to the thrill of survival itself?
A Hero Complex in Disguise?
Another possible explanation is that Gi-hun has developed a hero complex, a psychological phenomenon where an individual feels compelled to ‘save’ others, even at great personal cost.
His refusal to use the prize money, his pursuit of the recruiter, and his ultimate decision to return to the game suggest that he sees himself as a moral avenger.
This raises the question—does Gi-hun genuinely want to dismantle the system, or does he need to validate himself through self-sacrifice?
His actions mirror those who believe they alone must bear the burden of justice, even if that justice is futile.
In this light, his return is not just a reaction to trauma but an attempt to construct an identity where he is not merely a survivor, but a savior.
Survivor’s Guilt or Self-Destruction?
Winning didn’t free Gi-hun—it trapped him in an existential crisis. Survivor’s guilt is a well-documented phenomenon in those who outlive traumatic events, whether war, natural disasters, or, in this case, a sadistic bloodsport.
He didn’t just win; he did so while watching countless others die, including people he had formed bonds with.
Did the money feel tainted? Did he feel unworthy of the reward?
His actions suggest he is chasing something, but what? Closure? Justice? Or, in a bleaker interpretation, punishment?
The Thrill of the Game
There’s a reason reality competition shows exist, why some people get addicted to gambling, and why the adrenaline rush of narrowly escaping death can be intoxicating.
What if, despite all logic, Gi-hun was drawn back because the game had become his only sense of purpose?
The structure, the clear rules of engagement, the immediate consequences—it all contrasts starkly with the meaningless drudgery of the real world.
There’s an argument to be made that, in the face of an indifferent society, at least in the game, actions matter. Every choice carries weight.
However, what if the repetition is deliberate? What if it mirrors how trauma victims unconsciously return to familiar cycles, even when they know it’s harmful?
A Flawed Narrative or a Perfectly Imperfect Decision?
NOH JU-HAN/NETFLIX
Criticism surrounding Squid Game Season 2 suggests it struggles to justify Gi-hun’s return, opting instead for spectacle over substance.
Repetitive game structures and forced plot contrivances may dilute the emotional gravity of his decision.
However, is that the failure of the show, or does it mirror the flawed nature of human psychology?
This shift may make the story feel disjointed, but it also aligns with the idea that Gi-hun’s return is less about playing the game again and more about unraveling the system from the inside—a journey that, by design, cannot be linear or easily resolved.
What Could Season 3 Bring?
If Gi-hun’s actions thus far suggest anything, it’s that he cannot escape the gravitational pull of the game.
Season 3 is likely to escalate this internal struggle, possibly positioning him in direct conflict with the system’s higher powers rather than just the masked enforcers.
The ending of Season 2 leaves an open path for a larger rebellion, but whether Gi-hun will lead it or fall deeper into his self-destructive path remains unclear.
A recurring pattern in long-form storytelling is the fall of the hero—their slow descent into moral ambiguity as their mission consumes them.
Could Gi-hun, in his crusade against the system, become just another cog in the very machine he seeks to dismantle?
Season 3 may explore whether he is truly fighting for justice or if he has become another player, trapped by his own inability to let go.
However, recent information about Squid Game Season 3 suggests a far more intense and psychological battle ahead.
The upcoming season will not only pit Gi-hun against the system but will also explore the redemption arc of the Front Man, a character whose ambiguous loyalty may turn the tide of the games.
The reintroduction of the VIPs, absent in Season 2, hints at a larger conspiracy, suggesting that Gi-hun’s fight is far from over.
With new, deadlier challenges such as the rumored Red Light, Green Light upgrade and increasing surveillance mechanisms, Season 3 could be where the true purpose of the games—and Gi-hun’s role in them—is finally revealed.
We like to believe that survival means learning from past mistakes. But history—both personal and collective—suggests otherwise.
We return to destructive habits, toxic relationships, and self-defeating choices, even when we know better. Why should Gi-hun be any different?
Whether his decision is a betrayal of character or a painfully realistic portrayal of human contradiction is up for debate. And maybe that’s the point.
The Conversation Continues
Does Gi-hun’s return make sense? Is it a lapse in storytelling or a masterstroke of tragic character writing?
Either way, Squid Game Season 2 leaves us unsettled.
The Squid Game Season 2 review landscape has been divisive, with some arguing it is creatively bankrupt, while others see it as an expansion of the Squid Game universe.
And perhaps, that was always its true intention.
Additional Insights
For more details on the upcoming season, check out Netflix’s official announcement and this in-depth analysis of what to expect.
Where to Watch
Both Squid Game Season 1 and Squid Game Season 2 are available to stream on Netflix.
