The highly anticipated final season of Squid Game is here, but not all of its returning elements are welcome. The show’s infamous VIP characters—those stiff, animal-mask-wearing figures from season one—are back, and they’re just as awkward and poorly written as before. While the series remains as brutal and gripping as ever, these characters continue to drag down the otherwise sharp storytelling.

Editor’s Note: Squid Game became a global phenomenon for its intense drama and social commentary, but the VIPs have always been a weak spot—cartoonish villains in an otherwise razor-sharp story. Their return is a letdown for fans hoping the show would ditch its clunkiest element. It’s a reminder that even the best shows can have flaws that stick around.