This review may contain spoilers
Squid Game yes, this? NOO.
We added this on a whim based on trailer and we got into episode 5, didn't finish the ep and closed it out and removed it. I could not handle seeing abuse especially to a disabled person with NO consequences. My partner was also not happy about it, I'm going to talk about things (spoilers) but I think its important to know if you dont want to see certain stuff.We didn't read the manwha, or whatever this is based from. Maybe its supposed to run off the Squid Game hype as a 'crude' game show type. (We like squid game, and we watched The Platform and also enjoyed that)
The first couple eps are promising, the way it's filmed with the smaller ratio screens when they're picking numbers. To how they handle camera movement and emotion is well done, but it can only carry this so far. The top 2 floors are the most rude and annoying sh-tty people to watch, and they basically turn the game into capitalism by ep 5. Where they just hurt and beat the other contestants to near death multiple times by this point and nothing is justified. Its stressful, its not about being fair but I am not down to watch abuse for abuse-sake with no relevant story plot or for actual compelling story points. Does the writer hate disabled people and women? The only strong outward woman for some reason grows meek and changes her personality by ep 4.
The contestants are shady backgrounds, so its not about the show being fair to win time for more money. I can see the vision but the story ain't there, the plot is not well done. It's a netflix show so maybe that's why, I did enjoy a couple of the actors so I think i'll check out other works they're in instead. Women deserve better, I don't think I'd recommend this to anyone unfortunately. Maybe it turns around right before it ends and justice is served but we're not going to hate-watch to get to that point or sit through what feels like not well-written characters to see it.
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This review may contain spoilers
Liked Squid Game? Then gotta WATCH THIS!!
I just randomly started this drama seeing the protagonist from Atypical family. BUT DAMNNNN Totally did not expect the transition of her acting. The plot was really unpredictable and New. It made me wondering if people with money can really achieve anything in this world just for their timepass.The drama made me hooked up, i literally watched all the 8 episodes continuously. I know i know but it made me really curious of whats goi g to happen next, or will the oppressed people be able to stand up in a society. The stairs typically symbolizes the rich, middle class and the poor. It gives kinda squid game and Alice in borderland vibes. I suggested this drama to my sis and she finished it in one whole night. The cruel depiction of abuse and blood is something that u have to endure, if you are planning to watch.
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The h8te show
I just finished watching this and It truly is only something a sadist can enjoy the only moral I got out of it was “if you are in poverty you will never get out of it and if you are rich you can do whatever you want with no consequences”. The characters made out-of-character choices, the writing was sloppy, the plot was repetitive and there was too much unnecessary suffering that could have been prevented. There was absolutely no justice and I regret watching it. I skipped so many of the torture scenes because I knew the perpetrators would not get hurt back. If you enjoy watching people who are already down, get hurt over and over again then this is your cup of tea. I love films that have social commentary but it feels like this was written by some rich ignorant that has never met a poor person before. If you think all poor people have hearts of gold and would never hurt someone despite them being ruthlessly tortured by said person, u are soooooo wrong. This was an unpleasant watch to say the least I have seen and watched many dark or real shows/movies and I’m not bothered easily but this was so annoying at some point I stopped caring for the characters because they stopped using their heads and I didn’t care about what happened to them cause I thought everything was deserved. The plot was interesting but was carried out so poorly, lots of lost potential. Very unsatisfying.Was this review helpful to you?
Good Enough
Korean Drama '' The 8 Show '' is a survival thriller in the form of a game.First of all, because a lot of people compare this to Squid Game, The 8 Show does fall into the same category storywise, but it was better than Squid Game, mainly because it was more invested in the characters and less in creating scenes that would shock the viewer. Actually, there were a lot of shocking scenes, but those were the result of human cruelty rather than scenes specifically designed to result in a bloodbath.
That said, the drama has some merits, yes, but fails to have a smooth development, even giving a proper conclusion and explanation to the whole ordeal. Also, the impressive cinematography got tiring after a while.
Still, the performances were all great by everyone in the cast.
So, overall, six out of ten.
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This review may contain spoilers
They took everything that made the webtoon a masterpiece, and threw it away.
Great casting, based on a very good story, this drama had everything to become one of the best... but no.The beginning was ok, but it started to get very messy in the middle. What made the story good was the fact that human beings are very weak in front of money, and they can do ANYTHING to gain more. There is no specific bad or good guy, only desperate people wanting to get rich. And that's what the show is missing. Here, they strictly threw the line between the good ones and the bad ones. They got rid of the biggest plot twist ever which made the main point of the story (won't spoil it to ppl who want to read the webtoon after watching the show). It's supposed to be a very complicated and psychological story, and I think that the show is not showing that AT ALL.
Biggest disappointment of the year so far.
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The 8 Show: A Spectacle of Disappointment
Rarely does a television program manage to deliver such an unrelenting assault on the senses as The 8 Show. Marketed as a groundbreaking series promising innovation and thrilling entertainment, it instead reveals itself to be an insufferable amalgamation of lazy writing, uninspired performances, and downright baffling production choices. By the end of its interminable runtime, one is left questioning not only the judgment of those who greenlit this disaster but also their own decision to endure it.The most glaring flaw of The 8 Show is its sheer lack of identity. What does it want to be? A drama? A comedy? A surreal experiment in avant-garde storytelling? It attempts all of these without mastering any, resulting in a tonal Frankenstein’s monster that lumbers aimlessly from scene to scene. The plot – or what one generously calls a plot – is an incoherent mess riddled with gaping holes and unresolved threads. Characters are introduced only to be discarded moments later, and any semblance of a central narrative is buried under layers of needless subplots that go nowhere. Watching it feels less like following a story and more like wandering through a labyrinth designed by someone actively trying to get you lost.
Adding insult to injury, the acting is uniformly atrocious. It’s as if the casting team deliberately sought out performers with the least charisma and emotional range. Lead actor - whatever his name was - delivers his lines with the enthusiasm of someone reading a grocery list, while the supporting cast alternates between overacting and looking visibly confused about what they’re supposed to be doing. Chemistry between characters is nonexistent, which is especially damning in a show that tries (and fails) to rely on relationships and interpersonal drama as its core.
The show’s visual and auditory design does nothing to salvage the experience. The cinematography oscillates between pretentious slow-motion shots and amateurishly framed scenes that look as if they were filmed on a whim. Lighting choices are often inexplicably harsh, lending everything a cheap, soap-opera aesthetic.
Perhaps the most infuriating aspect of The 8 Show is its pretension. It struts around as though it’s the pinnacle of artistic achievement, but beneath its flashy exterior lies a hollow core. The dialogue is riddled with pseudo-intellectual drivel that attempts profundity but only achieves self-parody. Its "bold risks" are less daring leaps and more missteps into creative quicksand, dragging the entire production down with them.
The 8 Show is not just bad – it’s offensively bad. It’s the kind of entertainment black hole that sucks time, energy, and goodwill from anyone unfortunate enough to encounter it. There’s nothing redeemable here, no silver lining to be found. For the sake of your sanity, avoid this calamity at all costs. Just do yourself a favour and skip this garbage.
Final score: 1/10. Even that feels generous.
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Off to a great start
After 2 episodes, I'm really enjoying this one.. It has an interesting premise that doesn't get too heavy-handed in its messaging, creating a pretty tight and tense ride. The characters range from likable to hateable, but they all react realistically to events and are interesting to watch. I've read that this is similar to "Squid Game," which I strangely haven't seen, but if you like that show, this one might work for you. I don't want to get too much into it because there is a lot of mystery here, but this one is solid so far. I hope it sticks the landing.Was this review helpful to you?
ummm well
I just finished this show and I have some things to say.I found the beginning of the series intriguing and it managed to catch my attention, however, as the series progressed I felt that I lost connection with the story and the characters, which didn't seem to have a major development within the plot. In the end, everything was just cruelty and sadism leaving aside other aspects that would make us as viewers feel something more than just disturbance. I don't think the show did everything wrong as it somehow made me want to finish the episodes but I do feel, and I agree with other reviews, that it lacked something more. Also, there were a lot of plotholes and things that didn’t make sense (like they could just buy a toilet in the common room). anyway I give it a 7.
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Squid Game's less interesting sister
I'm mixed about this one…Intriguing start but it gets slow and even a little gimmicky at times.Shit got real in ep 4. I think it's safe to say this show did the capitalism/hierarchy commentary better than Squid game. No matter what advantage you think you have, there will always be others in better predicaments or those who manipulate the system to work in their favor. Since comparisons are running wild I’ll go ahead and say the shock factor here wasn't nearly as engaging as Squid Game. Another thing SG did better was getting me invested in most of the main characters. Also fyi, this isn’t nearly as violent as people are making it out to be.The acting was good but it was difficult to care about anyone, even the main guy. Tbf no one person was super likable but by the end I wasn’t rooting for anyone. 8 was pretty obnoxious but she had all the personality. The music choices were nice. I really dug the intro song.
The concept is interesting enough to justify finishing this but half the show is waiting for something to happen. This was an ok watch but it's missing something to make it next level.
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Started off good then went off on a rough tangent
Well that happened…The show starts off relatively good and promising.
Then as realistic depictions go… it’s gets insane.
It’s like it dived into the greed, sadism, and crazy.
The acting was top tier.. but I don’t think that would make me rewatch it… at least not the later half…
I don’t know what they were trying to truly depict in the show. Like what was the reasoning? What was the point of multiple Goliath’s? Felt tough to watch because I didn’t see any true justice dealt. I also felt most of the characters weren’t developed the best… a tad tough to watch.. and some people just got harder and harder to watch…
Wow I’ve said tough to watch a lot..
The action sequences were quite well done though. Music was also well selected…
Wouldn’t super recommend but if you want something with lots of voice over and almost an abstract concept.. have at it.
June 11, 2024
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Belum pernah nonton drakor sejorok ini. Ngebayangin semua pemain games berhari-hari ngga mandi, keringetan, kena darah, pupita cuma dilap tisu. NEMBUS baunya sampe ke layar🤢🤢 Tapi akting semua castnya bikin betah nonton sampe akhir. Rasanya ngga apple to apple mau comparing sama Squid Games tapi kalau ngacu sama poin yang sama (read: power of money). This one is better for me.
Drakor ini nyindir realita kehidupan yang dianalogi sama 8 lantai. Si kaya makin kaya dan si miskin yaudah makin terhimpit miskin.
Drakor sinting. Pemain sinting, sutradaranya sinting, yang nonton ikutan sinting🤡🤡
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Achei um drama muito interessante, trouxe muitas nuances de criticas sociais e de manipulação social, mas que para mim não foram abordadas de formas tão inovadoras e que me chamaram tanta atenção. Gostei muito da fotografia do drama e a forma como o cenário da "praça" foi construído, tentando sempre voltar remeter a vida dos jogadores antes de entrarem no show.
Não gostei de forma alguma o plot-twist do final, não acho que foi tão impactante e que mudasse as coisas, apenas era deduzível que eles so sairiam daquela forma e o objetivo do 1 não seria concluído, por inúmeros motivos mas que não vou comentar para não dar spoiler.
Pra quem vai assistir ainda, acho legal ressaltar que os 4 primeiros episódios fluem muito bem, tem elementos que te fazem quere resolver o programa junto deles. Porém os 4 últimos episódios são arrastados e não são criveis de acontecer de forma alguma. Não levei em momento algum a serio o final, apenas parece que são duas series no lugar de uma bem estruturada.
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