Squid Game's main villain, the Front Man, could be redeemed in this summer's final season according to a popular theory

Warning: SPOILERS ahead for Squid Game season 2.Squid Gameseason 3 will reveal what becomes of the show's most important characters, and one theory about In-ho and Jun-ho suggests that the Front Man's redemption is imminent. With the Front Man posing as Player 001 in season 2, viewers got to see more of the series' villain. And despite Lee Byung-hun's character stealing the show this season, Squid Game season 2's ending drives home that he's still as ruthless and cruel as ever. It makes you wonder whether he's beyond redemption, but one theory posits he'll find it before the show is through.

Squid Game season 3 will be the final outing of Netflix's hit series, and there's a lot that needs to happen before it comes to a close. In addition to establishing the outcome of Gi-hun's second Squid Game tournament and revealing his character's fate, the next chapter needs to resolve In-ho's and Jun-ho's stories. The brothers briefly reunite at the end of Squid Game season 1, but that encounter concludes with In-ho shooting Jun-ho, who falls off of a cliff. This doesn't deter Jun-ho from searching for the island again, and Squid Game season 3 may redeem In-ho with their reunion.

The Front Man Will Redeem Himself Saving His Brother In Season 3 – Theory Explained

He Clearly Still Has A Soft Spot For Jun-ho

The Front Man sits in a brown leather chair while watching the games in Squid Game season 2

In-ho's reunion with Jun-ho seems inevitable in Squid Game season 3, and a popular theory posits that the Front Man will betray his allegiance to the competition to save his brother. Although Gi-hun's humanity isn't enough to sway Squid Game's villain from his mission in season 2, it's obvious he still has a soft spot for his step-brother. This is why he shoots Jun-ho in the shoulder in season 1 rather than aiming for a more fatal spot. And this is likely why Captain Park saves Jun-ho: because In-ho asks him to fish him out of the water.

This uncharacteristic moment of humanity from the Front Man has led viewers to believe he'll choose his brother over the tournament again in Squid Game season 3.

This uncharacteristic moment of humanity from the Front Man has led viewers to believe he'll choose his brother over the tournament again in Squid Game season 3. Jun-ho is still searching for the island where the Games are held when season 2 comes to a close, and he's determined to find and help Gi-hun. If he manages to infiltrate the Games again, there's little doubt he'll be caught, especially after Gi-hun's uprising. But while the Masked Men and VIPs might be willing to execute Jun-ho, it seems unlikely that In-ho will allow it.

Gi-hun frowning in Squid Game season 2 against a purple warped image of the Masked Men

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Jun-ho landing himself in trouble with the Games' higher-ups could find In-ho stepping between them — a decision that will no doubt result in the Front Man's own untimely end. And even if their reunion isn't quite so dramatic, there's a good chance In-ho will try to get Jun-ho off the island unscathed. With all the theories about Gi-hun becoming the new Front Man, In-ho losing his life does seem likely though.

There’s No Way Jun-ho And In-ho Get A Happy Ending In Squid Game Season 3

It Wouldn't Be Tonally Consistent With The Netflix Show

Squid Game season 3 has to kill either In-ho or Jun-ho, and after everything he's done, the Front Man seems like the obvious choice. There's no way the reunion between these characters can be anything other than tragic. That wouldn't fit with the tone of Squid Game, which delivers massive emotional blows in both of its existing finales. Season 2 highlighting the Front Man's deeply buried humanity means even the smallest bit of redemption is probable, and the best way for In-ho to make up for his crimes is to sacrifice himself.

Gi-hun looks away while Front Man talks to him in Squid Game season 2

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Given how bleak Squid Game tends to be, it wouldn't even be that shocking for In-ho's sacrifice to fail, condemning both brothers to tragic ends. It'll be surprising if anyone gets a positive outcome after season 3's finale, and Gi-hun, In-ho, and Jun-ho all seem destined to die or be stuck upholding the existing system. Jun-ho would be the most likely to get a happy ending, but he could very well die alongside his brother. If he witnesses In-ho's attempts to save him, though, that'll be enough to redeem the Front Man just slightly before Squid Game takes its final bow.

The Front Man Saving His Brother Doesn’t Mean In-ho’s Beliefs Will Change

Squid Game Can't Give Him A Full Redemption

Lee Byeong-heon as Hwang In-ho in Squid Game season 2

Even if In-ho has a last-minute redemption story to save Jun-ho's life, Squid Game can't go all the way with such a narrative. In-ho saving his brother is still inherently self-interested, as he doesn't want to lose someone he cares about. It doesn't mean the Front Man's beliefs about the Squid Game tournament or the system it upholds will change. He'll still serve as the villain of Gi-hun's story, and he'll still contribute to the competition otherwise. Saving Jun-ho would push him into morally gray territory, but he'd still mostly be a villainous character.

That feels consistent with Squid Game's perspective on human nature anyway, and it ensures that the Front Man's previous crimes aren't overlooked. Although many viewers want Jun-ho to get some sort of closure with his brother, there's no undoing the terrible acts In-ho has committed. We've seen too many of them ourselves, with Jung-bae's death being the worst example of the Front Man's cruelty. There's no way he could be completely redeemed after that, and the Netflix show shouldn't bother trying.

In-ho And Jun-ho’s Reunion Will Be Squid Game Season 3’s Most Exciting Moment

The Only Scene That Will Rival It Is The Front Man's Unmasking

Jun-ho and The Front Man from Squid Game

Whatever happens when In-ho and Jun-ho reunite, this moment is bound to be Squid Game season 3's best scene. It's something the show has been building to since their first encounter with one another, which was far too brief — and fails to give Jun-ho a chance to ask questions or reason with his brother. Allowing them to have a full conversation in season 3 will likely show a new side to the Front Man, and it will raise interesting opportunities for both characters' arcs. That includes redemption for In-ho.

Squid Game season 3 is confirmed for 2025.

The only Squid Game season 3 scene that might rival this one is the Front Man's unmasking, as Gi-hun has yet to discover that he was working with the villain for most of season 2. This will be another huge moment saved for the final season, and the fact that these are among the most-anticipated interactions highlights just how the relationships between characters fuel Squid Game. While the second half of the competition will still be a reason to tune in, most of us want to see what becomes of the characters we've come to care about.