News on Netflix: Is The 8 Show Really the New Squid Game?

What is it about?

Eight people trapped in a mysterious eight-story building participate in a tempting but dangerous game show in which their winnings increase over time.

8 Show, a series created by Jae-rim Han with Ryu Joon-yeol, Woo-hee Chun, Park Min-jung…

Is this really a new Squid game?

8 The show is not a comedy. At least not completely. This South Korean series presents itself primarily as a thriller with its share of social commentary on inequality and wealth distribution with a dark comedy tone. It’s a bit like Squid Game meets La Plateforme.

There we meet eight strangers who are in bad shape in one way or another. In fact, the series begins with the main character about to jump off a bridge to escape the loan sharks that are chasing him. The story is in the first person voice. And this young man, Bae Jin-soo, looks at least as lost as Gi-hoon in the squid game.

However, a second before he jumps, he gets a message on his phone that the money has been credited to his account. He also receives a message inviting him to devote his time, which he was about to give up anyway, to the competition. A limousine stops in front of him and he says to himself: “Why not?!”

He then walks into a huge building where a red carpet is rolled out for him. After one final question, it’s off to the gameshow arena.

Along with eight other volunteer candidates, he is now locked in the building. The rules are few, but the results are described. There is nothing for them except eight rooms randomly distributed and unfurnished. Everything is fake.

They are given a form and the amount of money accumulated by each contestant is indicated on the board. Every minute, the amount increases. In other words: the longer they stay, the more money they make.

Social satire

The peculiarity – and what makes this game a mix between Squid Game and La Plateforme – is that the amount won by each candidate is different. The building has eight floors, each with one bedroom. The higher you are, the bigger your room and the more money you earn per game minute.

Upon arrival, each participant chose his own number. Of course, the later you get into the game, the fewer numbers you can choose. In this sense, the accidental aspect is at work in the same way as in wealth and freedom or poverty and oppression.

A huge countdown timer is displayed in the common area of ​​the game show building, called “The Plaza”. Because time is literally money in The 8 Show, they have to increase the clock time to stay as long as possible.

what are the rules

They are not very clear. Only a few basic rules and guidelines are given. The rest is learning by doing or the ability to understand things logically. Or by chance… In order to stay as long as possible, they must discover all the hidden rules of the game.

But since nothing in life is free, you have to pay for anything and everything. And if the (very high) price of things is the same for everyone, because candidates don’t earn the same amount of money, inequality begins.

The main purpose of the show is to create social inequality among them. Just to see how they handle it. All this constantly increases the pressure. And in the name of fun.

One of the main rules: if someone dies, everyone loses the jackpot. It’s a game of psychological manipulation that gets even crazier with the participants. Between someone who looks a lot like a thug and a young woman who seems like a sociopath from the start, nothing will be easy.

8th showCurrently on Netflix.