[Editor's note: The following contains spoilers for Squid Game.]
One reason why Netflix’s latest mega-hit Squid Game has been able to resonate with viewers beyond the shocking, deadly games is the cast of interesting characters. Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), Sang-woo (Park Hae-soo), Sae-byeok (Jung Ho-yeon), and Ali (Anupam Tripathi) are just some of the few characters whose journeys audiences were captivated by across several brutal games. One character, detective Jun-ho (Wi Ha-joon), had his own mission on the other side of the Game, investigating the dirty dealings that are behind it and trying to find his missing brother. However, a shocking turn of events in the penultimate episode left his arc feeling unresolved, leaving many to wonder if it’s really the end of the road for the top cop with the impressive jawline.
To back up a bit, the second to last episode, “Front Man,” found Jun-ho coming face-to-face (well, mask-to-mask) with the VIPs who put big money down on watching the contestants play to the death. After securing some damning evidence from the creepiest of the creepy VIPs, Jun-ho attempts to escape the facility to notify his superiors — with several henchmen on his tail. Trapped in the edge of a cliff, the mysterious Front Man, who has spent the series cloaked in black and having no qualms with shooting anyone at the drop of a hat, attempts a more careful approach with Jun-ho. After some time, he reveals himself (Lee Byung-hun!) as Jun-ho’s brother, In-ho, then asking his younger sibling to come with him. When Jun-ho refused, In-ho shoots him and sends him off the edge of the cliff.
This is the last time we see Jun-ho in the series, and of course, such a finale to his story begs a pretty obvious question: Did that dude die? That cliff looked pretty high, so mixing that tumble with a gunshot wound doesn’t paint an optimistic picture for the detective. Plus, we do have to remember what kind of show this is. Every episode has seen scores of people killed through various means, and so it stands to reason Jun-ho was just one more casualty on this death island, his discoveries dying with him. However, I don’t think this is a simple open-and-shut case.
For one, Jun-ho’s story arc had too much going for it for him to meet such an indefinite end. Throughout the majority of the series, viewers had been following him as he infiltrated the organization, giving us a glimpse into what the lives of the henchmen are like, and why the Game exists at all. In fact, his side of the story is arguably one of the most important of the show, elevating it beyond the Game and its players, providing a lot of answers to a lot of questions that would simply go ignored otherwise. While he may have had to hide his handsome face behind a mask for most of that time, there’s no denying what we see through his eyes is of immense importance to the show.
As well, the question of his possible death is left an even more open book not only because of how he was shot and sent off that cliff, but why. His brother, seemingly very entrenched in the operations of the game — very intensely protecting what he feels is the sanctity of keeping everything “fair” — pulled the trigger, but not without a bit of hesitancy in his expression. There’s far more to his story left to tell as well, with plenty to be explored over why he shot his brother, and whether it was a calculated move or because it was further proof that his life is about the Game and nothing more. Also remember, we see a ripple in the water where Jun-ho fell in, but the camera lingers on In-ho for a time, so only he knows if a body floated to the surface.
Not only was his arc too big and too important to leave off for good on such a note, it simply wouldn’t make sense to abandon him for good should there be a season two. Even if the show didn’t become a monster hit on Netflix, the ending hints that there’s more to this show than what we got in season one. Gi-hun — with his fiery new hair — seems determined to expose and bring down the Game as a whole during the finale’s last moments. With the information he has and perhaps having more incentive than ever to do the same, Jun-ho is the perfect ally to team up with (keep in mind, the two met before Gi-hun went back for his second go at the Game) to bring everything down for good.
No, we don’t have any information right now to determine whether or not Jun-ho met his end for good. So, to answer "Did that dude die", all I can say for sure is “Who knows.” But considering the framework for his death and what very big role he could play in the future, I have little room to doubt this is the last we’ve seen of detective Jun-ho — and hopefully — he gets to show more of his face for the second round.