The creator of Squid Game has weighed in on whether viewers sticking on the second season of the hit show should be watching with subtitles, or should go with the dubbed version.
When the release of the first season of the Netflix show came in 2021, whether to watched subbed or dubbed was a hot topic of debate.
The Korean series focuses on a group of 456 contestants all competing for a life-changing sum of money by taking part in deadly twists on childhood games.
Though fairly unheralded prior to its release, Squid Game exploded with interest, leading to it becoming Netflix’s most viewed series ever.
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LADbible spoke exclusively to the show’s creator, Hwang Dong-hyuk, and asked whether those watching the show should enjoy it in the original Korean with subtitles, or watch it with voice actors dubbing over the lines in English.
Dong-hyuk said: “You know, as people growing up here in Korea, we are very used to watching American or British or overseas films with subtitles.
“So we're very used to that. But I think a lot of the English speaking countries, they're not as used to watching other content with subtitles.
“For Squid Game, it's going to be there's the dubbed version and the sub version as well.
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“I suggest for those of you out there to really get the essence of the actual actors voices and the nuances of their tones, I suggest watching it with subtitles on. I think it's going to be for a better viewing experience.”
We also spoke to the show’s lead, Lee Jung-jae, who is returning for season two. When posed with the same question but answering from an actor’s perspective, he shared the same view as Dong-hyuk.
He said: “I think I would rather the viewers to watch it with subtitles, because when you watch it with dubbed, then I don't think it conveys the authenticity of my performance to the fullest.
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“You have to really listen to the voice of the actor, and the accent and the emotions and everything are really compiled into the voice of the actor.
“So yeah, I think it's a better way to really immerse yourself into the character and into the story.”
When asking Jung-jae about the criticism that the show’s second season has been ‘Americanised’, he said: “Hearing this, and we just actually tried our very best to create an amazing season two, because we know that there is so much love and support from the fans of season one, but maybe you thought it looked a little bit Hollywood?
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"Well, that was not our intention, but we just wanted to create a really amazing season two, and we try to perfect every episode and every cut that is in the episode. So that's what I can tell you about."
Topics: Entertainment, Netflix, TV, TV and Film, Squid Game
Michael Slavin