Squid Game season three has sparked polarized reactions among its audience, with many labeling it as the series’ weakest chapter. The finale contributed to this sentiment, alongside the increased focus on the show’s most loathed figures: the billionaire VIPs who observe the deadly games from behind their opulent masks and glass barriers.
This season highlighted the VIPs’ more invasive role in the competition. In the early episodes, they disguised themselves as the pink guards, brutally eliminating contestants during the Hide and Seek game. At one point, they even suggested that Player 222’s infant daughter replace her deceased mother as a contestant, spanning the line into sheer madness.
It’s safe to say these characters are purposefully detestable. They symbolize the ruthless elite who, when not engaging in petty insults amongst themselves, laugh maniacally while the players perform desperate acts for the prize money. Their enjoyment rises in tandem with the escalating body count, serving as a stark illustration of the show’s themes of greed and exploitation.
What makes the VIPs even more unbearable? Their voices. While the main characters converse in Korean, the VIPs deliver their lines in poorly dubbed English that only amplifies their already cringe-worthy dialogue. Although issues with VIP dubbing were present in season one, their impact is magnified in the latest season.
As reported by IGN, even the actors portraying the VIPs found the dubbing decision puzzling. In response to a TikTok video critiquing their performance, actor Bryan Bucco explained, “Those are the English dubs. I was the actual actor. What’s being played here isn’t my voice.”
Bucco speculated about the dubbing choices, suggesting that the process may have involved a one-size-fits-all approach. He indicated that if English dialogue was already performed, it shouldn’t need dubbing in the Korean version unless certain lines needed re-recording for clarity.
The issues continued into the filming process, as Bucco noted that the VIP scenes were shot last. He shared, “Every night we sat together reading through lines questioning how any of it should really be said… It was mostly just us sitting in a room reacting to something that wasn’t there.”
Ultimately, Bucco admitted the VIPs failed to enrich the storyline, echoing a fan complaint that “[the VIPs] didn’t further the story or complement it well.”
You can catch Squid Game season three on Netflix now. Though, don’t be surprised if you find yourself fast-forwarding through the VIP scenes unless you’re in the mood to see them as comedic relief.
What did audiences think of the VIPs in Squid Game season three? Many fans expressed strong dislike for the VIP characters, citing their detestable personalities and unconvincing performances. Despite being designed as characters viewers should loathe, their presence detracted from the overall experience for many.
Why does the dubbing sound different in Squid Game? The English dubbing of the VIPs in Squid Game has received criticism for its poor quality. Some believe that it was poorly produced, leading to dissonance between the actors’ performances and the dubbed dialogue.
Did the VIPs add anything to Squid Game’s storyline? Many viewers believe the VIPs did not significantly contribute to the plot or character development, often serving as a distraction rather than an asset to the narrative.
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