People have been memeing the Squid Game English dub to high heaven since the arrival of season two late last month. I can’t scroll through my TikTok feed for even a few seconds without a compilation of awkward out-of-context dialogue or Gi-Hun shouting “I’ve played these games before” at the top of his lungs. Without knowing the scene in question or only watching Squid Game in the original Korean, you can’t deny that the dub is a little bit goofy.
The thing is, it was always going to be. When it comes to anime or video games from Japan or Korea, I have always opted for the original language option when available. Performances are more genuine and well-timed, while you avoid the risk of localisation changing the meaning of dialogue. For a long time though, this wasn’t possible, and many of the games or shows released outside their native countries would offer up dubs and nothing more. You grow used to many of the unique qualities and eccentricities, so only recently have dubs become punching bags for online discourse. Korean shows like Squid Game are much the same.
Squid Game’s English Dub Doesn’t Deserve To Be A Meme
I’ll be honest, I was light-heartedly clowning on the English dub like a lot of others. That was until I walked in on my housemate watching the new season dubbed and sat down to see if any of the jokes were actually justified. Like a lot of games, films, and shows, once you are settled into the vocal cadence and delivery of each character, it feels totally normal. Like the anime I consumed as a kid, I began to associate these characters with select voices, and it was hard to view them in any other way. Dub viewers of Squid Game likely feel the same.
Fullmetal Alchemist and Ouran High School Host Club are two things I remember most impacting me with their exceptional English dub efforts. Going back to the original Japanese still doesn’t feel right, even all these years later.
Critics are also ignoring how difficult it is to dub productions like this, whether they happen to be live-action or animated. Animated shows and video games must produce dialogue that’s able to match lip movements and shot timings in fresh languages while simultaneously taking into account the needs of localisation to make sure narrative elements, distinct jokes, or nuanced character motivations come across with minimal obstacles.
That’s a hard job, especially with a show like Squid Game that moves at a million miles a minute with an ensemble cast of varied characters. But with a live-action show like this, it’s going to feel out of place and awkward at times because there is simply no avoiding it. That doesn’t mean it deserves to be torn apart.
Laughing At English Dubs Like This Should Be Left In The Past
@linuxnzt english dub is a CRIME 😭🙏 #squidgame #001 #netflix #squidgamenetflix #season2 #fyp ♬ I PLAYED THESE GAMES BEFORE – ⚜️
This is also Netflix, and Squid Game is one of its biggest shows ever, and I bet my ass that a lot of viewers will stick to the English dub without ever considering a subtitled viewing. When you first launch the show, it defaults to the dubbed option too, so chances are its mainstream audience is only ever going to consume the show in this way.
Yet it appears the discourse is coming from people who should know better, and are slamming the efforts of a solid cast of actors because it gets them millions of views on TikTok. Any dub removed from its context is going to be worthy of a laugh, especially a show like this, but it’s a hollow joke that will serve nobody in the end. Not to mention the stacked English cast do a great job, with Greg Chun of Judgment fame leading the charge as Player 456.
You can make legitimate criticism of an English dub when it comes to performances fitting a character, the delivery of certain lines, or the overall direction of a production, but very few of the criticisms I’ve seen have been made in a productive way. It’s all memes, jokes, and brief TikToks, all intent on dunking on something without a trace of nuance.
There is a legitimate debate to be had when it comes to choosing between subtitles or dubbing in shows like Squid Game and the value watching something in the original language can offer, but for this conversation to hold any water, you first need to acknowledge that both options have their merits. It’s okay to have preferences and critique things that aren’t to your liking, but hurling hard work under the bus for clout doesn’t serve anyone.
In Squid Game, a mysterious invitation to join a competition is sent to people at risk who are in dire need of money. Four hundred fifty-six participants from all walks of life are locked into a secret location where they play games to win 45.6 billion won. Games are selected from traditional Korean children’s games, such as Red Light and Green Light, but the consequence of losing is death. To survive, competitors must choose their alliances carefully – but the further they go in the competition, the more likely betrayal will rear its ugly head.