Korea’s Most Trusted Film Critic’s Brutally Honest Review of T.O.P’s Acting in Squid Game 2

Renowned film critic Lee Dong-jin has shared his thoughts on T.O.P (Choi Seung-hyun) of BIGBANG fame and his acting in Squid Game 2. Known for his trusted reviews and star ratings, Lee’s critiques carry significant weight among the public.

On January 15, Lee’s YouTube channel Lee Dong-jin’s PIAKIA released a video titled “Squid Game 2 Questions Answered! (In-depth Interview with Director Hwang Dong-hyuk).” During the discussion, Director Hwang touched on the most distinctive character in the series, saying, “It was both the most challenging and refreshing role,” and mentioned Thanos, the character played by T.O.P.

In Squid Game 2, T.O.P’s character, Thanos, is a drug-addicted and self-serving rapper.

Lee remarked, “That’s not something that can be achieved just through direction,” to which Hwang responded with a laugh, “It doesn’t seem like method acting.”

Hwang elaborated, “I didn’t create the character Thanos with Seung-hyun in mind—it was a pre-existing concept. Initially, I envisioned an exaggerated, swagger-filled rapper with over-the-top energy, inspired by contestants from Show Me the Money. Adding the element of drug use, the character was always intended to be perpetually high and detached from reality. After several developments, Seung-hyun ended up taking on the role. He was quite nervous at first, having been away from the public eye and the camera for so long. The character itself is isolated and floating, which made him question whether he was portraying it right.”

The director continued, “Seung-hyun relied on me heavily at the start, and I had to make many decisions for him. After shooting a few scenes, some people expressed concerns, but that only pushed me to lean into it further. If I tried to ground Thanos, he’d lose his uniqueness. So, I decided to elevate him, metaphorically speaking, to another level of absurdity. I gave him more impromptu directions, and he started to embody the character, bringing a lot to the table himself. That’s how we ended up with Thanos as the ultimate ‘campy, chaotic’ figure.”

Speaking about working with T.O.P, Hwang added, “It felt like an adventurous gamble, but it was also fun, and I became more confident as we went along. This kind of character feels essential to the story. Unsurprisingly, the reactions were polarizing after the release, but I expected that. The series has many cartoonish elements, and without some over-the-top, caricature-like characters, it wouldn’t fit.”

Critic Lee commented, “In a way, Thanos in Season 2 is like Jang Deok-su in Season 1. Personally, I think Seung-hyun’s performance was very fitting for the role.”

He highlighted a specific scene: “One of the most surreal and memorable moments is when two characters lock arms and spin around singing ‘Ringaringa,’ seemingly carefree, while everyone else is terrified. That bizarre act, juxtaposed with the gravity of impending death, feels like a core image of Season 2.”

Lee concluded, “That scene gave me a strange sense of satisfaction every time I watched it. From this perspective, I think T.O.P’s performance fit the role well, but I seem to be in the minority on this opinion.”