Squid Game season 3’s biggest failure isn’t the ending
So bad that it was actually distracting
by Hannah Cowton-Barnes · Tech AdvisorSquid Game’s quality puts a lot of Netflix series to shame, in so many areas. The practical sets are insane, the acting is top-notch, and there are more heartbreaking twists than you can shake a giant creepy doll at.
I’ve just finished the final season (no major spoilers here), and while the official audience Rotten Tomatoes score has left viewers split over the ending, I enjoyed the conclusion – it was in keeping with the tone of the show, and left me with some intriguing questions about the future. My problem lies elsewhere.
Why, for the love of God, are the VIP characters so bad to watch? STILL?
The instant that this group showed up, the haunting atmosphere that had been so carefully crafted was punctured with one cartoonishly laughable line: “Mamma Mia!”
The character that says the dreaded words in question is supposed to be British (and as a Brit, I can count on one hand the number of times someone from this country has said that phrase unironically), if the ridiculous over-the-top accent doesn’t give you a clue.
I’m certain he’s been instructed to speak that way, because the actor is from Hastings and surely knows the difference between a naturally posh voice and RP (received pronunciation), which is barely heard outside of Buckingham Palace. This sentiment also applies to other villains in the group, particularly those with American accents.
When the VIPs first showed up in season 1, I thought they might only have sounded out of place in the context of everyone else in the show speaking Korean. Or that their voices were deliberately jarring and grating – especially as their characters were arguably some of the most vile people in the Squid game universe… and that takes some doing.
In case you need a reminder, the VIPs are a select group of ultra-rich people from around the world who use their wealth to fund the games. They then travel to the island to witness the horror unfold in person, casually quipping over deaths as they sip on cocktails and kick their feet up on human footstools.
Concerns about the poor-quality scenes were addressed by both the actors and creator Hwang Dong-hyuk after season 1 aired. Firstly, actor John D Michaels, who has built his portfolio on screen in South Korea over the years, gave an interview to The Guardian about the experience. He said: “…non-Korean performers often act with dialogue that is translated by a non-native – sometimes even by Google Translate – so it can sound unnatural.”
Another VIP actor from season 1, Daniel C Kennedy, elaborated that the costume and staging hindered the performance: “We were all wearing very heavy plaster masks, and sitting on couches that were at least 20-30ft away from the closest VIP. We all had to yell our lines vaguely into the air, which added to the weird tonality of the delivery.”
Meanwhile, the writer and director placed the blame back on the actors when asked about these scenes from season 1: “I don’t know if the criticism was more about the dialogue, but I believe it was more about the acting because we had used non-professional actors back then… This time around, we tried to cast the best, capable actors as VIPs, so I hope it’ll come off better.”
So, the performers have been recast, and the team were surely aware of the complaints surrounding the script for these characters. But still, in spite of a ₩100 billion budget (which translates to $68.62 million/£53.39 million), the same problems have arisen yet again.
The sound mixing is one of the most egregious aspects of the scenes this time around. The lone woman VIP’s lines are so obviously ADR’d, being projected louder than everyone else in the room – and unnaturally clearly. Other VIPs also fall victim to this sloppy editing from time to time, but sadly, nearly all her lines appear to be dubbed over. I’m not sure why that is.
I truly don’t understand how it is that a show with such a high budget can’t find a way to edit dialogue to fit in more subtly with the scene – it’s such an oversight.
It appears that Hwang Dong-hyuk didn’t take on board feedback about the script itself, because the lines were as cringeworthy as ever. Here are some stellar examples:
- “It’s like, we’re watching one of those family reality shows.”
- “This is a bigger twist than the resurrection of Jesus!”
- “Who knows? This might turn 222 into some kind of Marvel superhero!” “Like Wonder Woman?” “That’s actually a DC superhero… but anyways.”
Combine that with the fact that this dialogue was often slapped over some of the bleakest and horrific moments, and it truly feels like the show learned nothing from the backlash that made headlines back in 2021. And I don’t think blame can be placed on the actors this time, considering that the worst elements seem to be down to the editing, script and directing.
Despite this annoying element, if you’re on the fence about Squid Game season 3, I’d encourage you to block it out or laugh it off. While the series continues to hammer home just how cruel people can be, it proves that not everyone is rotten to the core. Some are fiercely protective and willing to put their lives on the line to help others.
That alone makes the ending to this Korean Netflix hit worth watching – just grit your teeth through those parts.
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