- Why Squid Game VIP Scenes Felt So Awkward – Poor translation & editing contributed to the VIPs’ unnatural dialogue.
- Heavy masks and distant seating made performances awkward.
- Season 3 tried better casting, but fans still weren’t impressed.
- The VIPs may be satire, but execution missed the mark.
Squid Game Season 3 has reignited the debate over its infamous VIP scenes, with fans once again criticizing the awkward dialogue and performances of the wealthy masked spectators.
Despite the show’s global success, these scenes have been a persistent sore point. Now, the actors and creator Hwang Dong-hyuk are addressing the backlash—here’s what they’ve revealed.
Why Are the VIP Scenes So Different?
The VIP scenes stand out because they’re in English, unlike the rest of the Korean-language series.
According to Hwang Dong-hyuk, the issue in Season 1 was casting non-professional actors. For Season 3, he said,
“We tried to cast the best, capable actors as VIPs, so I hope it’ll come off better.”
However, fans still found the performances jarring.
What Went Wrong with the Acting?
Several factors contributed to the unnatural delivery:
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Translation issues: Dialogue was sometimes translated by non-native speakers or even Google Translate, making lines sound stiff.
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Mask & distance challenges: Actors wore heavy masks and had to shout lines from far apart, affecting their delivery.
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Editing problems: Korean editors may have selected awkward takes due to language barriers.
One Season 1 VIP actor admitted,
“We were only given our scenes, so we had no idea of the tone”.
Did Season 3 Improve the VIPs?
Not quite. While Hwang aimed for better casting, fans still called the Season 3 VIPs “cringe” and “worse than Season 1.”
Some even joked that the dialogue sounded “like Grok, Meta AI, and ChatGPT having a conversation”. Their forced participation in the games also drew criticism for feeling unnecessary.
Were the VIPs Based on Real People?
Hwang Dong-hyuk hinted that the VIPs were inspired by real-world elites like Elon Musk, saying,
“The people who really control the power and the system… willingly take their masks off”.
This suggests the exaggerated performances might be intentional satire—though fans argue it fell flat.
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