When people talk about the worst person in Squid Game, we frequently see Oh Il-Nam or Cho Sang-woo mentioned. However, there's one villain I feel is underestimated in terms of evil; Jang Deok-su.
The first thing to specify; heinous and evil are two different things. Villains like Il-Nam, In-ho (the Front man) and VIP's are obviously more heinous due to worse actions but they have way more resources to work with than Deok-su. Doing worse actions than someone doesn't make you more evil.
For me, someone truly evil is a sadistic psychopath who knows that they are doing is wrong and actively strives to hurt others with no redeeming or sympathetic qualities. Let's look at the other villains;
Oh Il-Nam - Started the Squid Games out of boredom, making him responsible for thousands of deaths. However, he genuinely liked Gi-Hun as a friend as he admitted in his final moments, from the way he talks of them he clearly loves his family, there's nothing that indicates his affable, friendly nature is an act and he voted to let everyone leave when it came down to his vote. Il-Nam, while causing the most harm, isn't sadistic or cruel for the sake of it and has redeeming qualities. Plus at his age, think about the amount of wars and economic issues he's witnessed or suffered. Can you blame him for his bad view on humanity (doesn't justify his actions though)?
Front Man - Oversees the games, kills guards for removing their masks and even shoots his own brother (doubt he's dead though). However, he clearly was hesitant and regretted doing the latter, he has genuine respect for Il-Nam (visits his death bed), is against cheating and likely has a sympathetic background (seeing as he was in a situation where he played the games himself).
Cho Sang-woo - Lol Sang-woo worse than Deok-su? Sang-woo did do bad stuff during the game; not telling about the second game, tricking Ali, (accidentally) pushing 69 to suicide, pushing the glassmaker and killing Say-byeok. However, Sang-woo takes no pleasure in any of his actions and clearly shows remorse of most of them. Unlike Deok-su, none of his actions are out of malice, he's just acting to survive. He even redeems himself in the end, sacrificing himself so Gi-Hun can get the prize money and help his mother.
All of of the other major villains, despite their flaws, have positive qualities (the VIP's are a group and don't have much individual personality so I don't count them).
Deok-su? Beats a girl in his first scene while making rac
... keep reading on reddit β‘
Hi Everyone! Thanks to the awesome mods, and, of course, the fabulous members, of r/fantasy for having me here today! Iβm Jadie Jang, author of MONKEY AROUND, an urban fantasy set in the San Francisco Bay Area during the Occupy Movement, featuring Monkey Queens (well, really just the one), murder mysteries (also just one, although with multiple murders), Macguffins (one), and migrant mayhem. β¦ !
MONKEY AROUND tells the story of Maya McQueen, a barista, activist, and unlimited shapeshifter with a monkey default form, who doesnβt know what she is or where she came from (sheβs an orphan). Maya works as a Jill of All Trades for the sorceress at the local supernat sanctuary/cafe, co-edits a progressive magazine, and Occupies Oaklandβs city center by night, planning capitalismβs downfall.
Mayaβs investigating the disappearance of an aswang (Filipinx vampire) when bodies start piling up, all with their souls sucked out. Meanwhile, her college crush comes back into her life, chasing his rebellious little sister, as well as a mysterious magical walking stick. Meanwhile, the police are coming down hard on the Occupy protesters, and Maya is hit with moral dilemmas, as well as opportunities for pranks, from all sides.
MONKEY AROUND is a love letter to my adopted home. Iβve lived in The Bay for 23 years, working as a community organizer, activist, and nonprofit professional in the areas of social justice, arts and culture, and disability justice. I wanted to depict my own community, and also use the mythologies of the cultures members of my community come from. The Bay Area is one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse regions in the world; Iβm hoping MONKEY mirrors that diversity with its pantheon of non-western critters.
So Ask Me Anything! And if youβd like to play, Iβm giving away 6 e-book and 4 paperback copies of MONKEY AROUND to the first 10 people who, in the comments, can guess Mayaβs favorite color correctly! (Itβs not in the book, so youβll have to hazard an educated guess!) First come, first serve on the hardcopies!
Iβll also give away a set of bookmarks and three stickers to the first 10 people who can name (in the comments) an Asian-American-authored book, not including MONKEY AROUND, OR an Asian-American-cast film or television series, featuring some version of the Monkey King as a character!
... keep reading on reddit β‘I personally think Xiaolong takes this
I am currently on chapter 230 and I want to know if Cain manage to kill Jang Wei or not, spoiler is accepted of course. I just hate the guy.
