The 8 Show (2024)

The most frustrating shit you will ever watch

Honestly I don’t even wanna review this. This was beyond frustrating, not even a moment of satisfaction in here. Granted I liked the first few episodes, even when things got ugly. But the amount of times things happened where I just wanted to scream…Not one likable character in there.

Reminded me of squid game but a clear replica of it. It isn’t bad but it pissed me off more than anything, and I hate Ryu Cheol so he was an eye sore throughout the show. Continued just out of curiosity and Chun Woohee my babygirl.

Everything else? Yeah. Nah. This was just pure rage show. Pissed me off so much that I disliked it. I didn’t even know it was possible to piss me off this much. Smh.

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Waited for so long and… IT WAS TOTALLY WORTH IT !

I BINGE WATCHED IT (IN 3 DAYS) AND WOULD TOTALLY RECOMMEND IT !
I already knew the series before even knowing it because I’ve read the webtoons from which it was adapted (money game and pie game by bae jin soo and both available on the WEBTOON app if y’all want !). I’ve waited for so long for that series to be released and two days ago, on the first day I started watching and immediately recognized the essence of these WEBTOONs : I clicked when I saw the money counters in the rooms.
But in this review I won’t deal with whether it’s a loyal adaptation or not !

I love the concept of showing us rough yet realistic things using this series because eventhough everyone knows a group of people can’t stay still for a long period of time especially when money is involved, writers found a way to make it entertaining AND realistic. They showcased how people would grow greedy and the toughests will ended ruling and that’s what the show demonstrated ! We saw gradually, as each episode went by, the downfall of the serenity, the downfall of each character !

(Btw I loved how each episode -the intro and the first minutes- was always dedicated to one character, to getting to know them better, their lore).

The fact that the levels of the flats and the space of which each person disposed of was a reflect of society is even more deep in my opinion.

The characters winning time from being progressively violent to each other (they quickly went from the ´cute ´ version of the king game to tasering each other then hitting each other with bats…) was also accurate considering humans under pressure and with the illusion of gaining money would do anything.

Also, don’t get fooled by the synopsis that might make you think of squid game ! I’ve watched both and they have nothing in common except them showing humans being greedy, being guided by their will of money, to escape their debts !

Besides, I might sound weird or psycho but a few parts in the show really made me smile or giggle out of nowhere 😭

Before I break down why I did like or not each character, I would like to say the intro and especially the song used is such a good idea. And that part where it speeds up is genuinely addicting, I don’t know why !

The acting/ the cast : I loved them all. Every one did such a good job, for example floor 1´s actor playing the pitiful character, floor’s 7 playing the intelligent one and helper to turn his back afterwards or even floor’s 8, who really embodies the apparently naive yet very controlling and manipulative character ! I also saw people boycotting ryu Jun yeol because of what’s going on with Han so hee and tbh I still don’t get the goal of this (I don’t support him dating shortly after breaking up especially if it’s to date Han so hee tho) but I respect your choices .

The characters :
- Floor 1 : I don’t know why but I adore him so much and from the beginning ! He is so sweet and caring but he also knows why and how to step up for himself ! I was gladly surprised by his performance during the talent show lol ! 😭
He is so talented as a clown and mime ! May he rest in peace because even when he lost it, he stayed human in a way !
I loved him so much 😭❤️.

- Floor 2 : That woman is so badass and doesn’t let someone else decide for her (ex : before the vote for to decide about who will get to keep in their room everyone’s feces). Maybe once or twice she would lightly lowers under the pressure but she always knows how to bounce back.

- Floor 3 : He seems rather realistic and by that I mean he always let what others will think of him and how he might looks like to them rule how he acts (ex : when he helped floor 1 during the days they had to go up and down the stairs to gain time or even when they had to write down the amount of pieces they want and the only condition was them receiving the amount they were willing for if the addition of what everyone wrote made the number they would have to partake from the beginning. Another example would be him choosing to get tasered to not look like a depraved or even him refusing floor 8´s favors for the same reason).

- Floor 4 : I hate that woman so much I swear ! Her trying to sound ´cute ´ with this voice really pisses me off to be fair… As well as floor 8. It feels too unnatural to me.
Then her character in itself is so much self-centered ! She acts like a clueless and naive character but when the leaders stand out she would willingly follow them and harass the others ugh.
- Floor 5 : I don’t know what to think of this woman to be honest lol. She felt like if we had to choose a not-so-well-written character, it would have been her but she was cute among all those people. It was funny seeing her always hitting at not being bothering doing spicy things etc..
She might looks stupid, naive etc… but she’s actually the most human among them ! And her avenge against floor 6 was so good !

- Floor 6 : This man is so exhausting. He is one of the reasons of why everything went downhill… He thinks with his d!ck and his knuckles to put it down mildly… I really hate him. BUT at least he paid tribute to floor 1 by sending flowers and not coming to his funeral after all he did to him !

- Floor 7 : I had faith in him is all I can say… BUT he still is my favorite character because even when we thought he would continue betraying he would end up helping. Overall he was a really good character, loyal even when he was threatened with a gun by floor 6 for example. The only time he deceived me was a moment of weakness compared to other characters (esp 6,4,8 that will always be the real villains to me !).
- Floor 8 : Even if I hate this woman I have to admit SHE is the QUEEN here. She controls everything eventhough she might seems naive and stupid at first sight (what the actress really embodied !) !
For example, when she got them changing the politics after they voted her off to be the one keeping everyone’s trash and then she punished them and got them waiting for food and water for days. Or even escaping the taser’s sentence and then with the help of inferior floors (7,6 and 4), taking the lead other the others.

I loved her duality despite her being a really despicable person in herself. Maybe the system of winning money being different (the sound of money won per minute being different from a floor to another) etc… but once again the series reflects society and it’s difficulty !

The 8 that is a number really present in the series even in the title is really symbolic to me. It is showed as the number of the power (floor 8 is in a way the powerful one here) but also symbolizes how this game is made for no one to get out. They are stuck in for infinity (if you turn the 8 to the side it looks like the infinity sign ♾️) since there will always be someone who will want to stay in due to their greed (like floor 1 did and really disappointed me on this eventhough I always had the feeling he was the one who did these horrible things to elongate the time they will have to stay in). There will always be also the powerful one deciding and stopping everyone to get out just for their interests as floor 8 did. I was genuinely scared and horrified by how far she went for her own pleasure (depriving many from sleep and forcing floor 5 and 4 to heal everyone and keeping them ´enough ´ alive to keep the game going on)….

At ep 6, I remember how I was so glad floor 2 said louder what I always thought of, leaving since everything was for once going on good but then floor 1 destroyed everything for what ??? Changing room. My jaw dropped at him explaining why he always wanted those 1 billion just to change room 😬.

I loved their revolution otherwise because the whole time (approx. 160 hrs) by themselves without those toxic leaders, they were genuinely enjoying each other’s company and living life ! I was so relieved at first when they were 10 hrs from the liberation but guess what 😭💀.

Btw something doesn’t click : weren’t they not supposed to not be out of their rooms from midnight to 8 in the morning ?? because at the end (from ep5/6 to the end) they kept doing that 😭.

Watching the show made me feel like those psychos that were watching from behind the cameras. Idk the way it’s filmed, the POV we had in each single of those episodes made me feel that way.

The end got me so emotional and everything ended ´well ´ in a way. May Floor 1 rest in peace !
Would have liked to see floor 7 at the funeral but he did something really important on his side as well !

To sum up, my faves were floor 1,2,3,5 and 7 !
The question is why didn’t they buy something after the two first months they decided to stay ? They could have used the amount of time the creators kept adding so that at one point the time would have came to 0 yk…

I know I wrote so much. If someone has read that much then congrats lol !

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A doable weekend sitting binge if you like survival shows.

If you like survival shows then you might enjoy this. It felt predictable and I definitely went in expecting this to be no different than Squid Game. The story doesn't really have a takeaway for the audience. I guess it doesn't need one since this theme of human greed and flaws is repeated in every survival show. I think the characters are pretty interesting to watch and what made me want to get through it. In reading the comments, everyone seems to have connected with a different character for different reasons which might make the show feel relatable to viewers. I thought the game rules were solid for the most part and easy to remember. It's not rewatchable though. I don't think survival shows have a lot of rewatch value unless there's a second season, then you'd rewatch to remember. It is bingeable if that's what you're in the mood for.

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A brutal drama that makes you see how rotten society is today

I don't know how to adjust my emotions correctly after finishing watching it.

I think that even if you don't like this type of genre, you should see it at least once in your life. It will really give you a 180° turn and make you reflect on the rotten and disgusting society we have become.

It really is not an easy series to watch, the first chapters seem innocent but then everything becomes so brutal, so violent both physically and psychologically, that in many moments you will question if you want to continue living in a world like this. So morbid and repulsive.

Would you do anything for money even if it means physically and psychologically torturing other human beings? Would you sell your humanity and your morals even if it means killing other people? What would happen to you after leaving a program after doing so many atrocities? Would your life remain the same or would your conscience torment you until it drives you mad? Is it really worth it to become an object of entertainment for a morbid audience?

This drama is a very harsh social critique and slaps you in the face very hard.

Unlike the Squid Game, here a very clear message is really given about the rotten society in which we are living.

People who pay money to see the suffering of others because it "amuses" them, out of morbidity and because they are apparently "bored" of always seeing the same thing.

"A poor person shouldn't be so coveted, right?" Those were number 1's last words after he died. His death left a great emotional impact on me. He wasn't a bad person at all, he was just a person who was looking for a better life for his family.

Some characters, like number 8 and number 6 who had no morality at all. They were sick people who enjoyed inflicting physical pain, being very violent and torture of all kinds.

Then we have number 7. I think he is the most difficult character to understand. His morality is lost at times but in the end he is a person who knows that he cannot change this rotten society. I don't know if he feels happy, but rather guilty. That is why he gives a large sum of money to number 1's family so that they can live comfortably for the rest of their lives. He somehow tries to find redemption, but in the end he gives up because she knows that he can't change this rotten world.

The characters who kept their morality intact are the protagonist, number 5, number 2 and the other girl who I don't remember which floor she belongs to.

The protagonist cannot return to his normal life for several months, they have destroyed him so much psychologically that he tries to commit suicide several times. He feels guilty and disgusted but can't let himself forget. That's why he spends a lot of money to give number 1 a funeral. He cannot forget why an innocent person has died, because he cannot forget the torture that he and his companions suffered by a disgusting and morbid public.

Sociologically and psychologically it is a drama that must be studied. To be able to try to understand the great decadence of human beings who have become so twisted and enjoy seeing other people suffer on a screen.

Everyone does anything for a like or to become famous or an influencer. And the public is eager to follow their life and their problems or what they are capable of doing to have followers.

Social networks and these types of reality shows, which are still in force, have atrophied our brain and have revealed how dark and morbid human beings can be. That crosses any boundary of morality or empathy.

Violence has become part of our lives and we have normalized it. As if it were nothing serious, just a morbid enjoyment of human beings.

I sincerely believe that at this point society has no redemption and the drama completely shows this, sadly. And we are going to continue getting worse, which worries me the most.

I have nothing to complain about this drama. The performances have exceeded my expectations, the soundtrack is incredible, as is the cinematography, and the message has been consistent and clear.

I'm just not expecting a second season. I think there is nothing more to prove, everything has been demonstrated perfectly and the message has been consistent, harsh but realistic.

I sincerely believe that this drama is a cult work. Which should overcome the phenomenon that caused The Squid Game. I think it is at a much higher level.

I recommend it? Of course yes, even if you don't like this type of genre, you should see it at least once in your life.

Would I see her again? Yes, but not at the moment. She has worn me out a lot psychologically.

I really think that it is the best drama of 2024 and I think that no drama can surpass it.

Even if you are sensitive, you should see it. To realize in the society we are living in, the great human decadence and what really happens in reality.

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A thought provoking drama that is not a Squid Game clone.

My first disclaimer is I fully embrace my bias toward Ryu Jun Yeol so of course I was going to watch this (I know nothing of his dating scandal life because he is my Bae in my head and that's all that matters lol). I also love "Squid Game" and while anxiously awaiting the sequel I was excited to see anything even remotely similar. I never heard of the webtoon so I started watching knowing nothing besides assuming it was another twisted game scenario, so I will try to continue this review with as little spoilers as possible. I think this drama works best if you go into watching this with as little info as the participants. Just know that no, this is not just a "Squid Game" clone, even though the outfits are just as iconic, and the characters are just as "yell at the screen" worthy. This is a very small cast who did a great job of keeping me engaged and invested even when the story seemed to drag a little. If you like stories that explore human nature this is an intriguing, infuriating, and hilarious one.

Ryu Jun Yeol as Bae (appropriate name lol) Jin Soo doesn't disappoint. His adorkable awkwardness makes him the perfect lead to balance out the intensity of the plot. I think every single actor nailed their role, and I will be vague about the specifics because of how much their relationships and personalities drive the story, but the definite stand out in the cast to me is Chun Woo Hee as Song Se Ra... If you watch enough K Dramas you learn to feel a certain way about "Se Ras" and she is definitely on brand. The show focuses a lot on relationship dynamics more than deep connections so to some the characters may seem 2 dimensional, but I think that's what makes the story work so well. The characters don't even go by their names which makes them feel more like archetypes you can easily root for or against. This isn't about their individual stories as much as it's about society reflected and that may be a turn-off for some, but I found it super interesting and even fun to watch until the end.

I agree with many reviews that said the story starts to drag in the last 2 episodes. There is definitely a shift and things get a bit more abstract and surreal but I still think the story is well done as a whole. Maybe the ending could have been stronger if more questions were answered but some of the open-ended things just made me keep thinking about this show long after it was done. They definitely wrote this with the possibility of a sequel in mind so I am curious if it's the same ending as the webtoon or not.

Would I watch this again? Definitely! I'm curious to see if there are any details I missed initially. I was able to binge-watch the whole show in one day so it's the perfect length for a second watch. The performances are also entertaining enough to keep me engaged even knowing what will happen, especially Ryu Jun Yeol's cute antics.

Overall, I am surprised this show isn't more popular. I think it would be unrealistic to think it would match the appeal of "Squid Game", but it is certainly a show worthy of massive viewer numbers and discussion. If you like thought-provoking yet disturbing stories like "Parasite" I would definitely recommend watching "The 8 Show". If you are more of a romcom or light-hearted family-friendly Kdrama watcher then this is not the drama for you. There's no real shocking gore or explicit sex shown but the story is very dark. I look forward to hearing more reactions to this drama as time goes on. I think the brilliance of this drama, and others like it, is that it makes you wonder what you would do in a similar situation, and I finished this drama not quite sure, to be honest. There is also a guilt you start to feel as a viewer that may be the key to why the last episodes aren't as fun, but I feel like even that is saying too much. There is so much I want to comment on but the less you know watching the better.

Want a drama that's conversation-inspiring? "The 8 show" delivers. It may not be 100% unique as far as the premise but it is certainly a memorable stand out in its execution. As much as part of me would love a season 2 if the concept was right I feel like this show was the perfect length for what it was.

And on that note, I should end this review before I am tempted to say too much about what I think, how I feel, and why it works so well... and to me, that's the sign of a great drama!

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want something like squid game or Alice in borderland? then this is definitely your cup of tea

to be honest I did not expect this to be this much good ..I don't even know where should I start from ..first of all this drama definitely highlights human nature ..greed ...and jealously...also it's a bit different than squid game and Alice in borderland because in those dramas the people were killed ,forced to kill each other and forced to play to ....this one started off as a simple one. .everyone had to stay there. .increase the time and well get rich ...until they learned about hierarchy ..everyone was satisfied with what they were getting until they learned there was someone above them and will always be ... jealousy arose between them ..the greed sparked ..and most important the sense of pride and power appeared for the number eight ..when those things arose ..they started violence even though there was no need for that...hunger for more made them hurt each other..the psychopath lady who loved to spent money ..she was crazy from the start ..the intelligent man ..he was good at heart but had to join hands with the mafia for his survival ..the poor nurse who had an immense soft heart .. everything was perfect to be honest ..the 5 floor who was constantly changing her sides all due to fear and of course for her own benefit too ..this was a very good drama conveying true human emotions and behaviors ..

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STORY LINE GREAT BUT ENDING...

It started off so good!! like it had everything, from amazing characters to toe- curling plot, it had all of it. also had brilliant casting and build-up. I bing watched the first 5 -6 episodes. And honestly it should have just ended there only. It felt like a drag. The show could have been a 9 if it ended around 5-6 episode.
it is similar to big boss if you really think about it
It is a one time watch.
pretty interesting...
should give a try

PROS
Acting
Storyline
triller

CONS
Ending execution
Not for someone looking for rom

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Everyone who didn't like the show clearly didn't understand it AMAZING SHOW

This show is a much better version of squid game with amazing social class elements like that from the movie "The Platform".
The 8 Show clearly illustrates the struggle of those from low social classes and how despite moving to a completely different environment people are still impacted by their habits and social constructs from society as a whole. The revolves around the social dynamics of 8 people living in a communal building and clearly show the terrible effects of wealth based caste system in a social environment. Despite having strong mental skills and some physical skills the lower level players are constantly at a disadvantage due to the power trips the floors above them are able to hold against them. Their only hope is gaining aid from someone in a high position than themselves to escape their living hell. While money is the things that brought all of these people together it also is the reason for their division. Money plays a huge role in the social standing of individuals but in reality money plays an almost insignificant role in the most basic needs of the players such as food, water, excretion and waste removal.
There are some cinematography choices also to note. The show starts out focused on the ML and the screen is blocked off into a square viewing space. Then once he enters the game its widens trying to depict the dynamics between when the ML felt trapped due to his financial situation compared to when he is in the game and is financially free, but physically trapped. At the end he returns to the square film set up.

I think a good comparison would be to movies like The Platform which plays with floor levels and food as a social class system. Also Parasite because of the depictions of how hard it is for low social classes to escape their position in society without the help of those in higher social classes. Social class is almost like a habit.

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off the wall unconventional and i couldnt stop watching

aspects I enjoyed:
- directing/editing (especially the ratio change and even the theme intro bit changing every episode)
- acting (5th floor heolll so good)
- characters (mostly) (8th floor is just so evil which shocked me)
- storyline (similar but not too similar to squirt game, though i'm not sure when the webtoon came out)
- ending (mostly)
- cliffhangers
- intensity (plus didn't follow standard kdrama tropes mostly)
- length (of series and each episode, i'm known for not finishing kdramas more than 8 eps)
- lee jooyoung (i need you)
- the ambiguity of who is watching all of this and how that's left open-ended

aspects I did not enjoy:
- some of the character tropes are just a bit overdone for me. 8th floor being annoying and ditzy (but her evil side was entertaining), 7th floor being the genius who thinks he knows everything the entire time and figures out the plot (idk, mostly didn't bother me because who the fuck would have thought of the fibonacci sequence but still), 4th floor being 6th and 8th floor's minion
- how rushed the last episode was as far as trying to include a piece of everyone's storylines... i feel like some of their motives weren't exactly clear. assuming that everyone was suicidal when they were given the 8 show opportunity, 4th floor was really going to kill herself because she ran into some girls from her hs? and she didn't become an idol? besides 1st floor, 3rd floor, and 5th floor, we really didn't get much context on everyone's lives and why they were drawn to the show (they were all down on their luck, sure, but idk). i get that this was just due to timing and webtoon adaptation issues im sure. but i wouldve liked more background in general, how did the producers find out these people needed money?
- i didn't love how they changed the intro pattern in the 7th ep, i will say it was an intense episode tho
- ending was peaceful, i appreciated it, felt like they got the happiest ending with their circumstances. enjoyed that the audience couldn't see 1st floor's last moments. 3rd floor was a well-rounded character and the last episode exemplified that
- but why couldn't they think of shooting the cameras earlier? is it because they all desperately wanted to continue the show??
- i feel like something more should have happened when 1st floor destroyed the projector in the ceiling

overall i am going to recommend it to people but those were my thoughts

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Unexpectedly Captivating

This drama is definitely something but it's not the genre I typically go for. It had its flaws, but one thing it nailed was the pace. Seriously, each episode left me wanting more, always curious about what was going to happen next. The story unfolded nicely, building up tension without dragging it out, which kept me hooked.

why you SHOULD watch this drama
1. What stood out most was how neatly they wrapped everything up in just eight episodes. They didn't leave loose ends or rush the ending. I wouldn't say I wasted my time watching this, especially since it was only 8 episodes.

2. People keep comparing it to Squid Game, but they're totally different. Sure, they're both thrillers, but this show stands on its own. It has its own vibe and story that's separate from Squid Game.

3. Extremally good acting , Props to the actress who played 8, she nailed the crazy role. Seeing her in a different role after this would be trippy.

Why you SHOULDN'T watch this drama:

1. It contains graphic scenes and themes that may not be suitable for all viewers, so consider the content rating before watching.

2. Some characters' morally ambiguous actions might not resonate with those who prefer straightforward/likeable protagonists.

3. Despite being a thriller, it has its own vibe and story, so don't expect it to be similar to other popular shows like Squid Game.

4. The series has received mixed reviews, so it might not vibe with your taste, depends on what you're into.

5. It's got some deep ideas, but it doesn't always dive super deep into 'em. More about the thrill than the think.

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