Trans

Squid Game viewers declare trans character Player 120 the ‘best character’ of season three

Squid Game character Player 120 looking up towards the camera, surrounded by other contestants.

Squid Game character Player 120 has been hailed as the ‘best character’ by viewers. (Netflix)

Squid Game character Player 120 has been hailed as the 'best character' by viewers. (Netflix)

Squid Game season three has arrived and viewers have already declared trans character Player 120 the “best character” in the series.

(Warning: Spoilers for Squid Game season three, episode two follow)

Season three of Squid Game premiered on Netflix on Friday (27 June), bringing the smash hit Korean drama to a conclusion. The season follows the aftermath of season two’s cliff-hanger, with Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) forced to make some important choices. 

Trans character Hyun-ju, also known as Player 120 (played by Park Sung-hoon), also makes a return, but sadly not for long. 

The character quickly became a fan favourite in season two, as it emerged she had joined the dystopian game in order to win money to fund her transition, facing prejudice from other players in the process.

In season three episode two, player 120 puts her own life on the line to successfully protect a heavily pregnant Kim Jun-hee, also known as Player 222 (Jo Yu-r) and the elderly Jang Geum-ja, also known as Player 149, (Kang Ae-shim) from being killed by other players during a twisted game of hide and seek.

After killing two other players in self-defence and showing her incredible fighting abilities in the process, Player 120 manages to successfully locate the door that allows players to exit the game. However, in a tragic turn of events, she chooses to go back to ensure her friends escape with her, and is killed just as she reaches them.

Despite her short participation season three, viewers online have declared Player 120 as Squid Game‘s “the best character”. 

Taking to social media, many have praised her for being the hero of the season. 

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“Forever a hero,” one person wrote of the character.

“Player 120 was the real winner, no matter what anyone says. She was the strongest, the smartest, and the kindest. She felt truly human, someone willing to sacrifice herself for the safety of others,” one person wrote of the much-loved character. 

Another wrote of episode two: “THIS IS DIABOLICAL. SQUID GAME S3 EPISODE 2 IS HEARTBREAKING.”

“I’ll NEVER forgive them for killing Player 120. My courageous queen,” another fan commented of player 120’s demise. 

Another fan posted a montage showing various sketches of Player 120, captioned: “Yes, I watch Squid Game for the plot. The plot:”

The show’s creator, Hwang Dong-hyuk, previously defended the decision to have a cis male actor play Player 120, a trans character. He said there were “misunderstandings” about the decision, and “there are really not many transgender [people] who have come out”.

Share your thoughts! Let us know in the comments below, and remember to keep the conversation respectful.  

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