[SBS Star] T.O.P Receives Contrasting Reactions for His Acting in 'Squid Game 2' in Korea & Abroad

K-pop boy group BIGBANG's former member T.O.P, who returned to acting through Netflix's series "Squid Game 2," is receiving starkly contrasting reactions at home and abroad. 

From the casting stage, T.O.P faced backlash due to his past drug-related conviction. And since the show's release, he has been subjected to harsh criticism for what many consider "below-standard acting."
In the series, T.O.P portrays Thanos, a rapper who loses a fortune in cryptocurrency investments and ends up participating in the deadly game. 

Thanos is a character with a completely unpredictable attitude and intense scenes involving violence and illicit substances.

Shortly after "Squid Game 2" premiered, Korean viewers criticized T.O.P's performance, labeling it lacking in quality. 

Online communities and social media were flooded with complaints about his unclear pronunciation, which made his dialogue hard to understand, overly exaggerated facial expressions and gestures, and awkward rap scenes that broke audience immersion. Many described his acting as a "total disaster." 
In contrast, international audiences have reacted quite differently, with some even naming Thanos the most captivating character of the season and praising how well T.O.P portrayed the role.

International media echoed this sentiment. Entertainment Weekly praised his performance for bringing "phenomenal charisma and swagger to Thanos," while the BBC noted that he "brilliantly captured the spirit of a drug-addled rapper."
It was unclear whether "Squid Game 2" would be able to match the unbelievable viewership of the original, which remains the most-viewed Netflix show of all time, with 2.2 billion hours watched and 265.2 million views. 

However, Netflix recently announced that "Squid Game 2" racked up 68 million views in its premiere week, surpassing the previous record held by Wednesday with 50.1 million views.

(Credit= 'Netflix Korea 넷플릭스 코리아' YouTube) 

(SBS Star)