Psychological thriller? Yes, please!
A perfectly written psychological thriller that talks about human behavior under unique circumstances. I have to say, I went into this TV series with high expectations, but unlike others who craved blood and death games, I kind of guessed from the trailers that this wouldn't be bloody and would be more like a human experiment on behavioral issues, which I was right about.I recommend this series to everyone who wants to see the thrill of miserable people craving money without the death or blood factor. I don't think we need blood and death games to make something interesting, because the human psyche is interesting without them as well.
The main characters are very different people, so as you are watching, you will probably have your favorite, which you're going to cheer for. I don't think the series showed us unrealistic characters; I would say they chose a big spectrum of people that represent broad humanity. They showed the bad, the good, and the middle, and they also included disabilities and special skills. In other words, there were only 8 players, but they kind of represented a much bigger group of people.
I love how the production style was very artsy and the background music was classical music.
My biggest positive point is that they managed to wrap the story in just eight episodes, and honestly, they wrapped it so well that season two isn't needed in my opinion, which is rare with Netflix shows.
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What’s with all the hate?!
Reading all the negative reviews I’m stunned!The message(s) this show sent were so clear, and quite simple to understand. Money will not buy happiness. Even after our main character survived the show, he was haunted by what happened to him. Begin only able to sleep and begin haunted by nightmares whenever he does, made it irrelevant if he had money or not. Because of the things he had to do for those numbers on his phone, he’s just as miserable. And the underlying message was said directly to us: life will go on. No matter what we go though, everything will continue as it used to.
Another criticism of this show that I’ve seen is that it’s „a cheap copy of squid game” which is just baffling to me. Squid game and The 8 game may tackle on the same issues on the surface but the way in which they do so is completely different. Squid game was fair, every player had the same ground-zero, it’s point was mainly the lengths people will go to in order to earn money (small squid game spoiler ahead) proven by how many players returned to the game. The 8 game on the other hand replicated the outside world with just 8 people, rigged from the start just as life is. By creating an ecosystem with a hierarchy we got sort of an „animal farm” scenario with everything returning to higher floors supremacy.
I do have my own criticisms of the show. However overall, for a tv show, this is brilliant. But again, looking at the reviews not everyone agrees with me. Not liking something is fine but the nonsense reasons I see are just insulting.
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Survival Thriller Show with Wes Anderson direction - Must Watch!
If you like narration as in Wes Anderson's film "The Budapest Hotel" and survival game dramas/movies that showcase human desperation like Squid Games, Alice in Borderland & The Platform - then you must watch this show. Worth the binge watch!PRO:
• Almost everything - good plot, pacing, acting, suspense, moral lesson
• Unique Factor: narration like Wes Anderson film done by the main character (Floor #3), changes in aspect ration. Easter egg in the end where another character (Floor #7) opens floor to Season 2
• Compact format, but does due diligence to cover every character's backstory, changes during the game & after
CON:
• Not exactly a negative point - but the show does not give immense thrill, only cause we know of shows that have come previously like Squid Games and Alice in Borderland. So for some this may blur into the same category & not be unique.
• Personally did not like the sacrifice shown in the end, though it fits well in the story. But just my opinion that the finale episode could have ended differently.
OVERALL:
If this genre is to your liking - give it a watch, else skip. Not a unique-never-seen-before drama, but compact format makes it a good watch if you enjoy such thrilling survival shows that focus on how humans will do anything to survive!
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Disturbing,gripping
Chun woo hee, the woman you are, i became her absolute fan. Her best work,how annoying she was i wanted to break through the screen and slap the shit outta her.Ryu jun yeol, another blast show by this man. He can for sure act very well.
The show was what squid game had but with a social commentary and no survival games.
They made time as an important aspect too.
The ending could have been more different but it was okayish.
The show had many disturbing parts and sometimes I didn’t know what was actually happening,but i see thats how it’s meant to be.
The actors made this show more watchable for sure!
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money,power and its effects on the human's mind
I binged watched this beautiful show for the whole day and I was sooo satisfied watching it .. the artistic direction in this show is really amazing. this shows basically show you how capitalism ( money and power combined) can effect someone's mental health .. how society made people think ,behave and act and how its all related to how the cruel reality made them this way ..) this show is very philosophical so i don't expect everyone to like it ... but for me this is the best show I've watched in a while ❤️and chun woo hee (the psycho 8th floor) the range of actinggg that she gave for this character I was amazed by her ...
conclusion if you like psychological philosophical shows this will be your show
if you are here just for action you might not like this.
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Most Disturbing show I’ve ever seen
So I don’t know if that’s a good thing or not. To this shows credit, I really think it wants to be disturbing.. but beyond that what is it trying to say? What is the story? It’s kind of on the nose, but isn’t functional in the end because of the inconsistency it has. .. let me explainSo I think this drama had a lot of potential. I haven’t read the webtoon nor do I want to, but if it’s anything like this show then I am going to say again that I think deviating from the source material for the benefit of the story being told is good. But what was the story?
In the first half I liked it, but after that it just kept the same beats again and again. There was no triumphant end for anyone, and if it could be argued that there was who was it for? I can do shows with multiple main characters, but at least one character out of all with a niche is a good person that is realistic. Here they leaned into the crazy too much with them all, floor number three was good but he also was just as hard to watch because he had no backbone. For something so disturbing being told I would’ve thought that maybe, somewhere someone would outsmart a game in a satisfying way that was righteous. Instead every single character is inconsistent with a loose goal that they all share. There is a little character build up with them, but really most of the characters actions are so disturbing and irredeemable that anything they’ve done before as a person cancels out. What fun is there in watching horrible people do horrible things to helpless individuals ? It’s not. At some point I felt so disturbed I wanted to quit.
Episodes in and closer to the end I realize this show is just passing beat by beat and has shock and horror just for the sake of it. There is a little story to be told, but it’s pretty cheap in the end. The ratio of good things and bad deeds here is god awful. I see some artistry with the set design and score, but beyond that when you strip this show down it’s just disturbing. It wasn’t fun in the end to watch because there was no satisfying conclusion.
If you have the decision to make people so bad and horrible then please have one character be good. I thought maybe one of them would truly outsmart the game as a whole, but no. It was people torturing others because they were crazy and horrible and that is just what I found it to be. It was honestly a shell of what it could be. I can’t help but compare to the predecessor that was Squid Game. Which in comparison is a whole million times better than this. That built up characters naturally and Decisively. It showed what was the common evil as well as showing how bad human nature can go to exploit eachother for money. It knew what it was. Here the characters don’t start off torturing eachother, they have the choice to not do it. But they do for money? I mean I got it I guess, I watched it. But time and time again the top floors of people just abused the bottom and not one person showed remorse, and if they did they fooled me because they just tortured them again. It wasn’t realistic to survive that much brutality, and if it was it wasn’t realistic the decisions both sides had.
So this drama was unrealistic and that is a given. I sure hope it would’ve be real. But at least have consistent characters that act like people instead of just caricatures. If they are caricatures and a study of human psyche than it’s just on me for not being able to stomach this. I am a person who can take disturbing content, but I’m also someone that likes to enjoy things. I’m simple and want the good guys to win and the bad to lose. I didn’t need justice with violence, I just wish there was wit to this story. Instead everyone was really dumb and unbelievable. It was hard to watch most of the time. For that I don’t like it, it was not good but not horrible.
If someone really doesn’t want to get tortured then lock yourself in the room. They can’t play with you if you are locked in the room. Power in numbers is a thing. Buy a weapon on the first day. It was like these people were so unlucky to the point that it hurt. It really hurt to watch this, it wasn’t fun.. but I didn’t hate it either? It was artistic enough that I watched.. but I feel a bit sick saying that.
Not bad but not good. If you want a commentary on class watch Squid Game or Pyramid Game. If you really want to watch this you can. I really wouldn’t recommend it. I wouldn’t watch it again either. To see what people would do for money is interesting, but I can’t believe people would end up in some places people did in this show. Why?
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Its a psychological torture
This drama is so intense, if you decide to watch it make sure you are mentally prepared by it This drama is like Squid Game and its also like Big Brother House wit a horrible twist. 8 different people were chosen to play this game . 8 different people with different personalities combined in one place, but all have one aim, to be a winner of the said gane and take away the prize money. If I will play in the said game it will surely drive me crazy, because I dont know who is my enemy, its hard to trust someone in this kind of game.How far you will go or haw far you will do for the sake of money? All of the have different struggles including money, so they are willing to do anything for the sake of it. Doesn't matter if they hurt someone as long as they win. Some players have a heart wherein they mind others feelins but some players have no heart they dont mind if they hurt others. I can say that its a psychological torture because they experience torture which affects them mentally.
All the cast did their best in portraying their roles, they are effective on it because all your emotions you will feel in this drama. Its a good drama because its very unique but its a bit dark.
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A wasted potential
Okay so, I just finished watching this show and, I had some things that I wanted to share.I'll start with my rating and how i felt about it then i'll explain why
To me, this show was a 7/10. It started well, the premise was interesting, the settings were too, actors were great, I liked how they made us hear inner thoughts of 3rd floor and made him the narrator of the show, I liked the dark tone of the series, the dark humour etc...
Until, I think it was episode 7th or 6th, I don't remember which one, after that, it went downhill. I didn't like were the show went.
In case you just clicked to see my review despite still not having seen the show, i'll not go into more details, but if you watched it, you know what i'm referring to.
Anyways, to me, the ending wasn't good. And usually i'd say that I didnt like it, not that it wasn't good, but here, I think it's just wasn't good. Hear me out
This show is pretty much a human study made into a drama, or the other way around it, you know what i mean.
It's meant to show us that people would literally do anything for money and honestly, I think it's true, to a certain extent.
But the show failed there and let me explain why. SPOILERS AHEAD DO NOT KEEP READING IF YOU HAVENT SEEN THE SHOW YET!!
Like I said, if we go from "people will do anything for money" we shouldnt have good or bad guys, but just people trying to make money and be done with it. And if the show actually had done that, I wouldn't have had any issues with the ending.
But clearly, there was good and bad guys here.
I'm sorry but 8, 6, 4 were clearly bad guys. If i wasn't writing a review, i'd use more rash terms, trust me.
Those people were straight up enjoying the mess that was happening, they were enjoying making other people suffer, show little to no remorse except for maybe 4.
3rd and 2nd floors were the good guys. They had many opportunities to take revenge but didn't. 3rd refused everytime to do harm whenever possible, didnt even grope 5th in the challenge and got tazed instead.
7th was a more nuanced character, I think his character was really realistic, he was just trying to get by I think, he wanted to survive and that's why he allianced with the top floors but you clearly could see he had remorses and wasn't feeling good about it.
So not a "good guy" per say, not a bad one either, just a realistic dude, I mean being put in his shoes, i'll probably have acted like he has.
He was the best character to me.
So, we have good and bad guys, but the show want us to make us think that people would be willing to do anything for money, but clearly, it's not the case, 2/3rd floors had clear limits and principles.
Now that we've etablished that, let's talk about the ending.
I don't have an issue with 1st floor's death. I think it makes sense.
I like the fact that 7th floor gave money to 1st floor family, that was touching.
But that's it? 8 is not going to get punished beside the fact that she went to jail for what she did to a gallery art?
6 sent flowers and now is piss chilling being rich?
Not a semblance of happy ending?
Since we had good guys and no happy ending, it left a bad taste in my mouth.
I guess that, is very realistic, in real life, things rarely ends up happily. And I hate that. I just do.
I think it's cope to say that the ending wasn't bad.
They wanted to be original with that bittersweet ending but honestly, it felt very weak.
You can agree with me or not, I just wanted to share my opinion about the show.
I hope that you'll like it though :D
Thanks for reading this. Have a good one.
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Money Maketh Man
Money is a delimma, a critical delimma. There is a saying that goes " Don't let money manage you, manage the money" and another that goes " Money can change a person".Well, this story brought out those two sayings in the most cinematically and praise-worthy way. From bringing us an hierarchy view of how people with more power ( but in this case money) can control what anyone below them have or get, how small destructive behaviour can turn into something even worse and to how resulting to violence can lead to more violence and nothing else.
Desperation to keep the money and to survive without any harm was impossible, especially when money is being given away for free. The sad part unless you are at the top of the food chain you have better chances to survive but if you are at the bottom...you have to do what you can.
When they couldn't change the rooms as expected, I was not surprised. They had all these plans but they didn't go as they did plan, and it brings us back to life and how no matter how much you plan...the most unexpected things tend to come out.
And so brings me to my conclusion, When they first started the show ...they were managing the money but as the money grew their opinions and decisions became clouded then we watched the money managed them.
I believe this was portrayed in a very elegantly disturbing way. Likeable characters turned unlikeable but the more I watched the more I understood how rational and irrational us humans become when faced with such a great amount.
This is worth the watch, definitely give it a shot. But to me overall 10/10
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An artistic and humourous approach to a dark show!
This show is clearly not every ones cup of tea but trust me if it meets its audience then you in for a fun ride....it's a dark comedy thriller as well as a psychological drama about eight people who find them selves involved in a game where they collectively win a specific prize money with each time that passes..the game has all kinds of rules some coming off as interesting while others are unfair....this show further more throws light on how the actual world we live in works, things like social classes and hierarchical benefits, injustice and unfairness, greed and more.....it's relatable in a way that it relates to the society we live in.Now onto the drama I must say I loved the artistic and humourous approach to this dark show....the humour was on point well mostly for those who understand dark comedy....the artistic approach was seen from the way the drama it's self is shot and directed as well as the catchy goofy and humourous background music that made the scenes stand out in a lively manner!
The pacing of the show was fine door me..not so fast and not so slow enough for me to keep being engaged to the story and to the characters, the characterisation was good I love how each one of these characters was written with personality and drive....the acting was phenomenal and I had fun binging this.
As I said this might not be a show for everyone but if you can handle brutality because it does get brutal with time and if you love dark comedy and are a fun of survival shows potrayed in a variety show setting then this is exactly what you should watch.
Overall I found it interesting..loved the second half of it more but overall it was amazing to watch!
If you want a short weekend watch to binge in one seating look no further than THE 8 SHOW
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A Disappointing Descent into Sadism; Wish I could put rewatch value to zero
This series unfortunately falls short of delivering a compelling viewing experience. With so many Major plotholes, this show offers nothing new in terms of plot or character development, instead relying heavily on graphic depictions of torture and the sadistic tendencies of its characters. Some plot twist is there but overall it is based on cruelty and unjustice, based on recycling tropes that we have seen countless times before.One of the most troubling aspects of "The 8 Show" is its relentless focus on human suffering, much like the "Saw" series. I never actually completed the 'Saw' series as it was wholly based on torture from the very beginning, but this series was a trap. It started with a curious plot but ended up being total nonsense. Only sadistic people can find it enjoyable. When those problematic scenes started, I had to fast-forward to find the end result. That's how I finished the whole series in one day.
A Familiar Game, Played Without Originality
The core plot offers no surprises. We've seen desperate characters pitted against each other in deadly challenges before. The show relies heavily on these well-trodden tropes, neglecting to develop a unique identity.
Major Plot holes
Why didn't they buy food from the main door during the time when the eighth girl stopped giving them food. At the very least, they could have bought drinks. They could have snatched her card in the first place and overruled her throne? i think they were not even aware of all the rules at that time! That was the dumbest plot.
The show could explore a wider range of strategies characters use to survive; For example, the 1st guy's situation highlights a problem. While a life-or-death situation can make people desperate and ruthless, it seems a bit absurd. Why wouldn't he try to buy some precious jewels from the 8th girl's account and sell them later after getting out? He could have at least tried switching floors with himself using the 8th girl's money ??. By then, it was clear there weren't any rules stopping anyone from doing whatever they wanted. I also think they could have shit in that common room one by one rather than doing it in their own room ? . They could have also make 1st floor as common toilet and share other room together at the first place when there was no such clear conflict. They could have just find out solutions one by one sitting together and I am sure such discussion could also earn them time?. As people also equally find it amuzing when a group of people try to find solutions to a problem. They used their brain for making soju but not making basic level of comfortness! Totally illogical smh?♀️?♂️. Furthermore, without proper hygiene maintenance, people could have gotten seriously sick or smelly. Even sitting next to each other would have been a nightmare???️. Anyone could have bought water and a bathtub with her money, then transferred them to the next three larger floors for everyone to take proper showers (again, lol). At the very least, they should have used her money to make everyone more comfortable. Later time, for self-defense, buying weapons for everyone wouldn't have been a bad idea either?. Why they didnt even buy a pair of fresh cloths, I wonder. This much brutality was not necessary when running through stairs can give you extra time, lol?. You only had to bring some creativity to extend the stay. And its illogical when normal people finds brutality as creativity ??. Does this drama simply portray a collection of dumb poor people? ?????The hypocritical fifth lady was weird. She was too soft until episode 6 and then suddenly became ruthless in later episodes. The blind baseball bat beating scene was completely illogical, as anyone could have died even though no deaths were allowed to complete the game. Also, people seemed to heal too quickly without any proper treatment after so much beating. How did the cruel sixth guy even stand up and overcome all the others after being tied up for days with wounded feet??
Character Development Takes a Backseat to Brutality
This overwhelming emphasis on brutality overshadows any potential for meaningful character development or emotional depth. Instead of fleshing out the contestants and their motivations, the show throws them into a gauntlet of violence. The focus on graphic torture and sadistic behavior becomes tiresome quickly. While some may find shock value in the bloodshed, it ultimately feels gratuitous and detracts from any potential character depth. Moreover, the characters themselves are largely one-dimensional, defined primarily by their capacity for cruelty or their roles as victims. This lack of complexity makes it difficult for viewers to form any genuine connection with them. Instead of being invested in their fates, audiences are left feeling alienated and disinterested.
A Disappointing Experience
Unless you're solely interested in graphic violence, "The 8 Show" offers little to recommend itself. The derivative plot and underdeveloped characters fail to captivate, leaving viewers with a hollow and unpleasant experience. I also hated the fact that the totally insane eighth girl got too lucky, while almost everyone else had their fair share of torture, that makes this series more disappointing.
Dark side
Even more troubling is the show's reinforcement of a real-world dynamic: the power of wealth. By constantly placing the characters in situations where ruthlessness is rewarded, 'The 8 Show' implies that those with money and power can bully their way to the top. This reinforces existing societal imbalances where the wealthy and powerful can exploit the less fortunate. The show offers no challenge to this status quo, instead reveling in the humiliation and suffering of those without power. This glorification of bullying tactics can have a negative impact on viewers, potentially desensitizing them to real-world power struggles and the plight of those who are bullied.
Summary
The series seems obsessed with exploring the darkest sides of human nature, often in a gratuitous and sensationalized manner. Scenes of torture and sadistic behavior are not only frequent but are depicted with a level of detail that borders on the voyeuristic.
In a landscape abundant with innovative and heartfelt Korean dramas, "The 8 Show" stands out for all the wrong reasons. Its reliance on shock value and a stale, uninspired plot makes it a tedious and unpleasant watch. For viewers seeking a series with depth, originality, and a compelling storyline, this is not the show to invest your time in. "The 8 Show" serves as a grim reminder that sensationalism without substance rarely results in good entertainment.
Recommendation:
If you're looking for a suspenseful survival drama, look elsewhere. This show might appeal to those who enjoy extreme violence, but for most viewers, it's a skippable entry in the genre.
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Boring
this show is a joke, full of bullshit.After watching so many genres of this kind, this one was very disappointing. They really failed at giving something new and original, everything was predictable, and pretty much a copy-paste of some shows and movies, very bad plot twists, poor writing, very weak character developemet, also a lot of plot holes and stupid decisions. However, the acting was pretty good (10/10)!
If you want to watch something to kill time, you can watch it.
And I don't see a second season happening because at least for me this show can't offer more.
I was wondering when they kept showing the reference of the 8 and ∞ infinity symbol that maybe either one of the participants is already stuck in the game like the 8th or 1st floor or maybe all the participants won't beat the game unless they die, but i guess it doesn't have a meaning. Then the ending was breaking the cameras and just like that, they were free, and it was the only rule they broke, pretty disappointing, I also had no attachment to the characters except for the 1st floor.
They made the show from the 3rd floor's pov, and made him the endgame, again another weak character like the lead of squid game. with no skills suddnely he's good at shooting (what the,,,,)
The 8 and 1st floor were the only characters that made me continue watching.
They tried to portray different personnalities like bringing kind, or selfish or smart characters. Number 7 had to be the worst smart charachter ever.
The show's idea was pretty cool, they could've done better, but it kept getting worse especially the ending.
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