Warning: SPOILERS ahead for Squid Game season 3.
Squid Gameseason 3 saw the return of the series' most controversial characters — but according to the Netflix show’s editor, she cut many of their scenes. TheVIPs are easilySquid Game’s most controversialaddition, as they oversee and bet on the deadly tournament, treating its players as though they aren’t people at all.
The VIPs are introduced at theend ofSquid Gameseason 1, but we don’t see them again until season 3, when they show up for the latter half of the competition. And the masked spectators are even more infuriating this time around, as they’re more involved. In an interview withEntertainment Weekly,Squid Gameeditor Nam Na-young admitted we almost got more of them, too:
“Actually, there were more scenes with the VIPs. As I was editing, I did cut them a lot because when we’re in the VIP room, the tension kind of releases. The contestants' emotions and reactions of the games were what I prioritized when editing.”
WithSquid Gameseason 3 only being six episodeslong, it makes sense that certain scenes didn’t make it to the final cut.Nam Na-young’s comments shed light on which ones did and why,and they confirm a smart approach to the return of these heinous characters.
What Cutting VIP Scenes Meant For Squid Game Season 3
Viewers Get More Of The Characters They’ve Been Following For 3 Seasons
As Nam Na-young points out, reducing the number of VIP scenes inSquid Gameseason 3 helps keep the final episodes flowing. With so many character arcs and storylines to wrap up,it would feel strange to focus on the VIPs too heavily. While they, admittedly, have important roles in the tournament, viewers want to know the fates of the players and named characters far more.
And as the action and suspense rise in the final episodes, the cuts to the VIPs do feel a bit tedious at times. It’s clear that the important scenes are still there; the VIPs are needed to drive some of the major decisions, likeSquid Game’s dark Player 222 twist. However,Nam Na-young’s edits clearly take a thoughtful approach, ensuring the series hits the right balance.
Our Take On Squid Game’s Cut VIP Scenes
It’s A Good Thing The Show’s Editor Sought Balance
I’m gladSquid Game’s editor was conscious of having too many VIP scenesand how that could affect season 3. Unless there was going to be some huge reveal involving the characters, it wasn’t necessary for viewers to see more of them. Their identities are intentionally left anonymous, as their inclusion is about what they represent.
Squid Gameseason 3’s final cut ensures they serve the purpose they’re meant to, but it doesn’t bombard us with extra details.
And even with more input, the VIPs don’t contribute much to the story. It’s much more interesting to unpack the Front Man’s backstory or dig into the players' choices than it is to dwell on the masked villains.Squid Gameseason 3’s final cut ensures they serve the purpose they’re meant to, but it doesn’t bombard us with extra details — and that’s a good thing.
