Netflix is releasing a new series, and people can’t help but compare it to Squid Game.
The new South Korean series, titled The 8 Show, tells the story of eight people in desperate need of money who are invited to join a television reality show. Does that sound familiar?
Even the characters share some similarities. The protagonist, Jin-su, is deep in debt, working for minimum wage, and fears he will be paying off his debts for the rest of his life. He’s even contemplating suicide.
One day, money starts appearing in his bank account, and a mysterious limousine drops him off at a theater. Jin-su has two choices: take the money and go home, or step behind the curtain and start playing the game.
Along with the other contestants, he finds himself in an eight-story building in Seoul. The longer they stay, the more money they can earn. But what’s the catch? Everything except food and water costs about a thousand times more than normal.
“To win the huge sum, they must stay in the competition for as many days as possible and follow a few basic rules. For example, they can’t take any items out of their rooms, and no one is allowed to die. The clock is always ticking, and every minute, all contestants become thousands of won richer. However, nothing is as simple as it seems.“
Contestants are forced to fight for their lives, with the stipulation that if one of them dies, they all lose. This show has disturbed viewers quite a bit, with one noting, “It feels like Squid Game, but this is psychologically twisted.” Another commented, “While it is much more intelligently written than Squid Game (and overall more creative), it ultimately doesn’t impact people the same way.” Yet another viewer called it one of the best series ever and said they watched it in one day. What do you think?
