What happened to Player 197? “Brutal” Squid Game Season 3 fan theory is almost true
Squid Game Season 3has landed onNetflix, but it’s not just the brutal new games making headlines. Player 197 is back, and a “brutal” theory about his fate almost came true.
It’s all to play for in the third and final chapter of the dystopian TV show, but while we might be rooting for Seong Gi-hun and co,Hwang Dong-hyukhas warned us not to expect a happy ending.
Needless to say, this rings especially true for the peripheral players. It’d be impossible to pay attention to all 456 contestants, but occasionally one or two grab viewers’ attention, and this is certainly the case for Player 197.
InSquid Game Season 2, he earned praise from thirsty fans (no judgement), while others compared him to Players 380 and 388, Se-mi and Kang Dae-ho, leading to a very specific theory. Warning:spoilers ahead!
Player 197 Squid Game Season 3 fate & theory
Player 197, played by actor Do Ye-joon, iseliminated in the Squid Game Season 3 game Hide and Seek.
Before Season 3 landed on Netflix, a TikTokersaid, “No idea why I just thought of this, but imagine if they made his hair look like Dae-ho’s, so we’d think he was Dae-ho when he got killed. And then it would be revealed that the one who was killed was actually Player 197.”
“That would be awesome and brutal at the same time,” replied another. It isn’t a far-fetched idea – in fact, it very nearly played out this way.
During theHide and Seek challenge, players are split into two teams: the blues have to hide and escape, while the reds each have to kill at least one player on the opposing team. Both Dae-ho and 197 end up on the blue team.
Gi-hun is still raging about Dae-ho’s betrayal in Season 2, and so he spends a majority of the time trying to hunt him down and confront him. Eventually, he finds him and backs him into a corner – but when he turns around, we find out it’s actually 197.
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Just like the theory predicted, he’s got the same hairstyle as Dae-ho, hence the confusion. But Gi-hun hesitates before actually killing him, meaning it’s only half true. Still, pretty impressive that they were that close to uncovering a niche plot point.
Why Squid Game fans were rooting for 197
Many fans have declared Player 197 as their favorite side character, praising star Do Ye-joon for his portrayal and his storyline in theNetflix show.
On the actor’sInstagramaccount, one wrote, “You have three min screen time in Squid Game Season 2 but you are my fav character.” Others have pointed out that he voted X to stop the games, and how he heroically avenged his friend Player 067’s death during the dorm fight.
“Can we say hello to the best background character in Squid Game history?” said another fan, while a third added, “Player 197 I hope you will survive Season 3!”
Alas, with even the main characters on the chopping block, Player 197 was always going to meet his grisly end. At least he died a hero.
Squid Game Season 3 is streaming on Netflix now. If you’ve watched it, check out ourbreakdown of the ending, everySquid Game challenge ranked, and find moreTV shows out this month.
