Squid Game Season 2 - Lee Jung-jae (Player 456) & Lee Seo-hwan (Player 390)

Summary

In this candid conversation, JJ and Lisa discuss their experiences and challenges while filming for their respective roles in a popular series. JJ reflects on his character’s quest for justice and the emotional journey he undertakes in the face of escalating violence and loss. Lisa opens up about the difficulties of keeping secrets during back-to-back seasons and the strain of staying isolated to avoid spoiling plot details. Both actors share insights into the physical and emotional demands of their roles, highlighting the complexity of portraying characters caught in a high-stakes, emotionally charged narrative.

Takeaways

• 😀 Kiun's motivation centers around seeking revenge and justice for the atrocities happening in the game, which has been his driving force for the past three years.
• 😀 Kiun's primary goal is to stop the game and bring those behind it to justice, reflecting his deep sense of duty and anger towards the system.
• 😀 The actor playing Kiun initially believed the game movements would be easy but struggled due to age, requiring extra rehearsals to ensure his performance was smooth on set.
• 😀 Despite believing a month of preparation would suffice, the actor admits that the difficulty of performing the movements grew as he got older, highlighting the challenge of physical roles.
• 😀 The emotional arc of Kiun fluctuates throughout the season as he feels empathy and sorrow for the contestants who are eliminated during the games.
• 😀 Kiun’s character experiences emotional ups and downs, with his fury being tempered by the grief of watching others die in the game.
• 😀 The actor reveals how maintaining secrecy about plot details during filming affected his social life, with friends expressing frustration about not being told anything.
• 😀 To prevent accidentally revealing plot details, the actor isolated himself from friends, claiming he was too busy to meet them, emphasizing the difficulty of keeping secrets in a high-stakes production.
• 😀 The emotional journey for Kiun is complex, as his motivations of revenge are tempered by moments of compassion and understanding as he witnesses the brutality of the game.
• 😀 The actor describes how, despite the challenge of balancing physical preparation and emotional depth, filming the game scenes on set went smoothly, with minimal delays.
• 😀 Overall, the interview gives insight into both the emotional complexity of the character Kiun and the physical challenges the actor faced in preparing for his role in the high-intensity game scenario.

Q & A

What is the primary motivation driving Kiun this season?

Kiun is driven by a desire for revenge and justice. After being unable to board the flight before, he has spent the last three years hunting the recruiter responsible for the game's atrocities. His goal is to put an end to these injustices and bring those behind them to justice.

How did JJ prepare for the physical demands of the game in the new season?

JJ thought he didn’t need much preparation since the games seemed easy. However, certain movements required practice, so he dedicated a month to rehearsing. Despite struggling at first, especially because the games were harder than he remembered, he was able to perform well once the cameras started rolling.

Did JJ find it difficult to get back into the rhythm of the games after years of not participating?

Yes, as JJ mentioned, when he was younger, he was very good at the games. However, as he got older, the physical movements became much more difficult, and he realized that a month of preparation might not have been enough. Despite the challenges, he successfully adapted once filming began.

How did Lisa Juan cope with keeping secrets about the show from her friends?

Lisa Juan struggled with keeping secrets and eventually chose to isolate herself from friends to avoid accidentally revealing plot details. She told her friends she was busy and couldn’t meet up. When the first trailers featuring her were released, her friends were upset that she hadn’t told them anything.

What emotional changes does Kiun go through during the season?

Kiun experiences a range of emotions throughout the season. Initially, he is filled with fury and anger. However, as the games progress and people are eliminated, he begins to feel pity and sorrow for those who die, and his emotions evolve from pure rage to a more complex mix of empathy and regret.

How did JJ’s emotional arc evolve over the course of the season?

JJ’s character, Kiun, goes through emotional ups and downs. While his initial motivation was rooted in anger and revenge, after witnessing the pain of others being eliminated, he begins to feel sympathy for them. This emotional evolution adds depth to his character as the season progresses.

What role did secrecy play in the production of the show for the actors?

Secrecy was a major factor for the actors. Both JJ and Lisa Juan mentioned how they had to keep tight-lipped about the show's plot. Lisa Juan even distanced herself from friends to avoid letting any spoilers slip. This created a sense of isolation for the cast, but it was necessary to preserve the mystery around the show.

How did the physical preparation for the show differ for JJ compared to his younger self?

When JJ was younger, he was much better at handling the physical challenges of the game. However, as time passed and he got older, the movements required for the games became harder to execute. He found that a month of rehearsal, though helpful, wasn’t entirely sufficient to prepare for the physical demands.

What does JJ's preparation reveal about the challenges of shooting the show?

JJ’s preparation highlights the physical demands and complexity of the games, which are not as simple as they might seem. Despite initially underestimating the need for preparation, he realized that certain physical movements required more practice and focus. This reveals the hidden complexity behind the scenes of the show.

How does Kiun’s emotional growth throughout the season affect his motivations?

Kiun’s emotional growth deeply affects his motivations. While he begins the season driven by anger and a thirst for revenge, the emotional toll of watching others suffer causes him to question his initial purpose. This shift from vengeance to empathy shows a more nuanced side of his character as he grapples with the moral complexities of the situation.