Recently, the official Netflix account conducted a survey asking, “Who is your favorite new character in Squid Game 2 this season?” In the survey, which was participated in by 700,000 people, T.O.P’s portrayal of Thanos took the top spot, with 50% of the votes.
Second place went to Park Sung-hoon, who played Hyeon-ju, with 23%, while third place went to Jo Yu-ri, who portrayed the pregnant Jun-hee, with 19%. During the press conference, T.O.P’s absence, which was due to concerns over domestic public opinion, led to overseas netizens expressing curiosity and leaving comments asking for his appearance.
T.O.P appeared as Thanos, a rapper from a hip-hop survival show in Squid Game 2, and his casting stirred controversy from the start. He had previously announced that he wouldn’t be active in South Korea, which sparked negative reactions about his casting. When Squid Game 2 aired, his clumsy rap and exaggerated movements led to “bad acting” criticism from domestic viewers. Additionally, many viewers expressed discomfort with his appearance in the show.
T.O.P had been convicted of marijuana use in 2017 and was sentenced to 10 months in prison, with a 2-year probation. His character’s storyline—where he plays a rapper whose career is destroyed by drugs—fueled the controversy, as it closely resembled his real-life issues.
However, things were different overseas. Many international viewers saw Thanos as a “game changer” in Squid Game 2. The fact that they viewed T.O.P’s performance through subtitles or dubbing, which was a different viewing experience from South Korea, may have contributed to the different reception. As Thanos was a unique and standout character in season 2 compared to season 1, it caught the attention of overseas viewers.
Business Insider, a foreign media outlet, praised T.O.P’s performance, saying, “The character most frequently mentioned by critics is Thanos, played by T.O.P. From dancing in the middle of a bloody challenge to delivering an unsettling but upbeat performance, he’s one of the best villains of the year.”
Director Hwang, in an interview, emphasized, “We auditioned many people, and T.O.P was the best among them. I don’t know him personally, and I’m not a BigBang fan. I didn’t cast him to help him make his comeback.” He also mentioned that he had expected the character to be well-received overseas.
Director Hwang added, “In season 1, there were many who disliked the exaggerated beauty of certain characters. Korean audiences prefer more realistic performances and find exaggerated acting awkward. I thought Thanos might be received that way in Korea. But overseas, people like such characters. The way people view character performances varies depending on the culture.”
Meanwhile, T.O.P, despite not attending the official Squid Game 2 promotional events due to concerns over public opinion, has consistently promoted the show through his social media.
The post Despite Koreans’ Criticism, T.O.P’s “Over-the-Top Acting” Makes Thanos Voted “Favorite New Character” Overseas appeared first on KBIZoom. KBIZoom – Breaking news about K-pop, K-drama, Anime/Manga and worldwide entertainment KBIZoom – Breaking news about K-pop, K-drama, Anime/Manga and worldwide entertainment
