How The Front-Man And Il-nam Cheated In Every Squid Game

I saw that many of you appreciated my short about 'how the Front Man would survive every game,' so I decided to follow up with a video explaining this in more depth, as there was still some confusion about it. I will also discuss how Il-nam would survive every game in the second part of the video.

The Front Man and Il-nam had distinct yet equally effective strategies to survive every game in Squid Game. The Front Man didn’t actively participate in the games unless necessary, ensuring his safety by manipulating situations behind the scenes. For example, during the Tug of War, his team went last, guaranteeing control over the outcome. In more chaotic games, like the mingle game, he used the confusion to isolate himself, avoiding direct danger. Even when he appeared vulnerable, as in the special game, guards closely monitored him, ready to intervene. His primary motive wasn’t enjoyment but maintaining the integrity and entertainment value of the games by disrupting Gi-hun’s plans to reduce casualties.

Il-nam, on the other hand, participated for the thrill but always had fail-safes in place. He avoided danger entirely in Red Light, Green Light, as the doll was programmed not to detect him. During games like Tug of War and the Dalgona challenge, he relied on guards and clever manipulation, such as ensuring his shackle wasn’t locked or hiding broken pieces if necessary. His participation ended before the Glass Bridge game, as it was the riskiest for him. Even during the special game, he took precautions by climbing to safety and ending it prematurely when chaos grew unmanageable. Both Il-nam and the Front Man had calculated moves ensuring they were never truly in harm’s way.

[lastar]

The fact gi-hun trusted 001 twice is crazy

[gneu]

Imagine the guards seeing the frontman with a gun standing in a random place during rebellion and they're like "he's not actually doing it right"

[jayDClo]

Such a good metaphor for the elite in society. They're so ignorant they believe they're "playing the game" like everybody else, but they're never really even close.

[torinjones]

5:05 I think a lot of fans seem to forget that in season 2, it is revealed that guards are given call outs on who to shoot. Simply, the guards would never be told to shoot player 001. Therefore, regardless of whether 001 moves when he shouldn't, the order will never be given to kill him.

[JesusChris]

Everyone seems to miss that in the second game the front man was using his right hand to wind and throw the top, and then throws it with the left at the last second. Throughout the show it’s clear that he’s left handed. He was toying with them the entire time.

[arondaftari]

We know he cheated in the third game because on the round after he seperated from the group there where 141 people left. However the intercomes said 16 people died without cutting out, as it included the end of list message. If we add them up there where 157 people at the end of the 4 person round, meaning the frontman got through without a team.

[Indocryptic]

The thing is, for the honeycomb game, Il-nam could've simply pretended that he got the shape. I mean, who else would care if he actually carved it or not? Everyone was focused on carving their own shape, so if the time ran out and Il-nam's shape was still incomplete, the guards could've just let him pass and nobody would suspect a thing.

[nathangoedeke]

I always suspected Il-Nam had a trick for every game, but I thought he didn't care about being eliminated because he was going to die of the brain tumor anyway

[MattDillon-fvhz]

The front man probably didnt participate in red light green light because he probably gets off by watching that game from the comfort of his quarters with his whiskey and music every time

[shadi]

Exactly, I don’t get why some people say Front Man joined for "fun" or because he listened to Il-nam. That’s not why he joined at all lol. Do fans even pay attention to what they watch anymore? We’ve seen his genuine reactions and depressed-looking expressions while watching Red Light, Green Light. He can’t even sit through it without relying on drinks and music to calm himself down. Meanwhile, Red Light, Green Light seemed to be Il-nam’s most favorite game lol. It’s a different story for Front Man. There’s nothing fun about the games in his eyes. He was once a real player too and had to witness everyone else die. If anything, the games must be full of bitter memories for him. Il-nam sees them as fun because he comes from a completely different background than Front Man. Front Man had a mission when he re-joined the games; Il-nam, on the other hand, was just looking for some entertainment.

[onyiturner]

I think the Frontman killed the 3rd player so that his identity wouldn’t be blown or questioned. If there were 3 players in a room instead of 2 and they didn’t die that would be way too suspicious so he had to commit. (Jung Bae was mortified about what he saw and started distrusting “Young-Il” but didn’t speak up.) Same for the six-legged race. The Frontman needed Gi-Hun and his friend/s (Jung-Bae) alive his later plan.

[justsomeguy]

Il nam was hoping in the marble game to be the odd man out, as no one would want to partner with a sick old man. He then could drop out and have everyone assume he was killed or bypass the game and then likely "mysteriously" know which glass panes are tempered. He'd probably fake his own death after that point as he can't cheat the last game.

Since he was paired up with Gi Hun, he took the opportunity to bait out Gi Huns ruthless side, forcing his partner to trick a dementia addled old man for the sake of survival.

It didnt work, as GI Hun maintained his moral compass and only fought for his own survival rather than Greed. This is what makes the Front man so committed to breaking player 456's spirit.

[azharulalam]

I suspected ill nam twice. First when he pissed on his pants and the guards were calling him nonstop and after removing his blanket he didn't want to stand up but the guard was way too much respectful to him. Secondly, the man can't remember his name but remembers every small tricks from childhood games exactly when he needed.

[Thepopcornator]

I feel like Il-Nam could have passed the bridge game by memorizing the correct route before the games started. He could have put himself near the back of the line so it wouldn’t seem quite as suspicious, just slightly lucky.

[NinaPB]

Il-nam didn’t stop the fighting early because he was worried about putting his life at risk. As he said, if it continued any longer, there would be no one left to play. Or at least not enough to fill the remaining games. He was covertly, yet plainly, telling his employees that. He wasn’t truly scared for himself. No one came close to him.

[Gogettor]

Regarding the Special Event, all eyes were on 001.

Something I loved about S1 was that Il Nam who was chilling standing on top of the bunks screamed STOP IT (they showed him in the guards camera and Fronty ordered to do it) and the Guards immediately showed up.

So yeah, I believe that at least for Season 1, 001 could call the shots from inside.

[clintonweir]

7:45 I think an explanation is available: Because of the uneven number, 001 expected that he would not be selected for a team, and thus would be presumed to have been eliminated by default.

When he did get selected, he then had to find a place where he could "get executed" out of sight.

[there_is_no_switch]

I don't think the Front Man is trying to stop Gi Hun from reducing the number of deaths, if that was the case he'd just shoot Gi Hun or have one of the guards do it. I think there's two possibilities. The less likely is that watching the people rise up against the wealthy elite and fail is much more exciting to the wealthy elites, they even get to experience their own frisson of danger. I think that's unlikely because the Front Man has to bet that by entering the games he can steer Gi Hun to that very particular outcome. More likely is that the Front Man wants to complete the work of Il Nam and prove to Gi Hun that good really has gone from the world, and I think he'll do that by manoeuvring Gi Hun into a position where he has to make a choice and he chooses something selfish. My best guess is that Gi Hun will become the deciding vote on whether to continue the games and will be told that in the next game he'll have the opportunity to go against the Front Man so he chooses his personal revenge over the greater good.

[dianekier]

Idk because in season 2 the pink guard that they held captive seemed really surprised to see the frontman

[mokkcacino]

I disagree with the last point. It seems like while they were picking partners, il-nam wasn't interacting because he was supposed to be the odd one out. This is probably why he seemed so surprised when gi-hun asked to be partners. If mi-nyeo wasn't the odd one out, it would have been il-nam, and he would have supposedly "died".