Warning: SPOILERS ahead for Squid Game season 2, episode 2, “Halloween Party.“Squid Gameseason 2, episode 2 gets viewers acquainted withPark Gyu-young’s character, No-eul, before delivering a surprising twist— one the burning of Na-yeon’s drawing alludes to. The majority ofSquid Gameseason 2 is set three yearsafter Gi-hun’s tournament, and the premiere catches viewers up with Gi-hun, as well asHwang Jun-ho, who survivedhis encounter with the Front Man. While episode 2 continues their stories,it also introduces a new character: No-eul.
No-eul’s early scenes focus on her job at an amusement park, where she dresses up as a pink bunny and hands out candy to children. One of those kids is Na-yeon, a young girl with blood cancer who takes a liking to No-eul’s character. Early in the episode, she gives No-eul a drawing of the two of them together. However, No-eul burns it later on. This may seem surprising, especially since she’s searching for her own child and seems touched by Na-yeon’s gesture. ButgivenSquid Game’s big twist surrounding No-eul, it has a deeper meaning.
Why Does No-eul Burn Na-yeon’s Drawing Of Them In Squid Game Season 2, Episode 2?
She’s Leaving Her Life At The Amusement Park Behind
No-eul’s desperation to find her child leads viewers to believe she’ll be anew player inSquid Gameseason 2, but episode 2 debunks this theory. “Halloween Party” ends with the revelation that No-eul has signed up to become one of the Masked Men during this outing. It’s a surprising turn of events given her kindness to Na-yeon. And No-eul burns the drawing while mulling over the business card she receives for the Games. This is no coincidence, asshe’s considering leaving her life behind — and she ultimately chooses to.
The Real Meaning Behind No-eul Burning The Drawing Explained
No-eul Can’t Bring Her Humanity To The Squid Game Tournament
No-eul obviously can’t bring Na-yeon’s drawing with her to the Games, and burning it makes a certain amount of sense given that she’s leaving that part of her behind. It’s not just No-eul’s job and current circumstances that she’s burning away though. It’s unclear how much No-eul knows about the tournament before making that call, butshe’s forced to give up her humanity to join the Masked Men. And her connection with Na-yeon is representative of that humanity, as she feels empathy for the young girl.
Every Major Death In Squid Game Season 2
Like its predecessor, Squid Game season 2 features many character deaths - while some of these are predictable, others catch the viewer off-guard.
That’s something the Masked Men aren’t able to show, as they’re charged with gunning down the players in the Games. While No-eul does seem to question the organization throughout season 2 — especially after realizing that Na-yeon’s father is a player — she can’t afford to put her humanity on display. Whether she’ll change her tune inSquid Gameseason 2 remains to be seen, but the fate of Na-yeon’s drawing suggests she’s hidden that part of herself away.
Squid Game
Cast
Squid Game is a South Korean series released in 2021 that follows numerous financially struggling participants who are invited to partake in children’s games with deadly outcomes. As they compete, they vie for a substantial cash prize, all while navigating lethal challenges orchestrated by mysterious figures.
