“The 8 Show” is a reality TV set up with eight players who are either in debt or are willing to kill themselves because of financial problems. As each player is about to take a drastic step, an invitation arrives, enticing those into joining a show that can help them make easy money. Desperate for the cash, eight players enter the game. The rules of the game seem simple but vague. As the players spend time in the space, they learn more about the unspoken rules and try to buy time and money. With each passing day, the lives of the eight players start to get violent and turn dark.
This article contains spoilers.
The 8 Show (Season 1) Review:
“The 8 Show” attempts to focus on the reality of our society through a game show. The show has much more potential to be unique and lead to more discussion, but it fails because of the unnecessary sadistic take on the whole idea. The show could have been taut with fewer episodes and a reduction of constant barbaric actions. Moreover, the problem is that we already have brilliant shows on similar themes, like “Squid Game,” with a great plot and grandeur in terms of set design and cinematography. “The 8 Show” also shares parallels with “The Platform” and “The Snowpiercer,” which have successfully showcased the disparity in the class structure in a beautiful way. However, “The 8 Show” is more direct and blunt in its approach.
The show explicitly showcases the structure of human society through the game by the floors representing the class order and the job differentiation through the floors. The wealth that the top floor accumulates is higher than that of the lower floors. All is well until now, but the problem arises when the top floor players treat lower floor players like slaves. Even if we discard the element of reality that the lower strata of humans work under challenging conditions and situations, the real issue is the sadistic approach. The players try different methods to buy time, but there is an expiry to each idea.
However, a significant amount of time is spent earning time by being violent, torturing each other, and sadistic to the extremes. I don’t know what the idea was behind prolonging such behaviour in the show. Was it to say we humans (in the show, the hosts) have sunken so deep and dark, and that is the only thing we crave, or does it mean we are going in that direction? The show did start with a great idea but ruined it for the most part.
The characters themselves were pretty defined from the beginning, and the only change we saw was in Participant 1 when he got violent. The show could have shown the participants’ backstories, in the beginning, to help the viewers understand the decisions the players make in the show. Showing a 10-minute or less backstory in the last episode felt rushed.
The 8 Show (Season 1) Episode 1 Recap:
The series starts with Jin-su wanting to jump into the Han River to end his life. But just before he takes the plunge, we’re taken back to see how he ended up there. Loan sharks are knocking on his door, demanding repayment, sending Jin-su to flee into the streets. The chase ends as fast as it starts. Amidst the chaos, Jin-su reflects on being conned by a friend who promised profitable returns on investment, leaving him drowning in debt. Despite Jin-su’s constant messages, his friend didn’t reach out, but when he did, he apologized, saying he wouldn’t be able to pay him the money.
Feeling worthless despite his education and multiple odd jobs, Jin-su decides to end it all. But as he stands on the brink, he receives unexpected messages: a large sum deposited into his bank account and an invitation. A limousine arrives, and after a moment’s hesitation, Jin-su enters the car. The car drops Jin-su off at a theatre. Upon entering, he finds money, a red envelope, and some numbers.
Jin-su enters the show
Jin-su picks up the red envelope and reads the message. Inside the envelope, Jin-su learns about a unique show where participants exchange the time they were willing to waste for potential wealth. Food and other necessities will be provided for the participants, and prize money will accumulate as time passes. The show will end once the time duration is done or if a participant dies. At the end, a choice is given whether the participant joins the show or exits immediately.
If the participant chooses to exit, they can take the money for a cab, and if they decide to stay back, they can pick an available number and enter through the drapes on the stage. Jin-su realizes that no matter how many odd jobs he does, he won’t be able to repay the loan, and since Jin-su was willing to kill himself, he might as well give the show a chance. Jin-su chooses the number 3 and enters through the drapes.
There are eight floors, and Jin-su realizes he needs to enter the third floor. He gets in, only to be disappointed to see an empty room with cameras and a shaft. The shaft opens, and there is a uniform and rule book. Jin-su reads the vague rules. The participants must deposit their belongings inside the shaft and change into uniforms. There is a scoreboard on which the participants can see how much money they have made, and food and shelter will be provided.
Any other items they require can be bought from the intercom at a special rate, which will be deducted from their money. Still, any item purchased in the room must remain. If there is anything else they need that can be bought in the common area, participants are not allowed to block the camera, and violation of any rules will deduct their money from half. The show will begin at midnight and end at 8 a.m. During this time, the participants cannot leave their rooms.
Jin-su sees the time and changes into his uniform quickly. After a while, Jin-su starts to feel cold and orders blankets, but the prices are exceedingly high. Hence, he calculates and orders cardboard and newspaper to keep himself warm. Jin-su’s troubles are far from over; he needs to use the washroom and orders a bottle to pee in. However, Jin-su is pleased to see the numbers on the scoreboard increase every minute. Jin-su sleeps through the night and wakes up in the morning to see a lot of money on his scoreboard.
The participants understand the unspoken rules of the show
Participant number 5 calls everyone down, and Jin-su realizes that everything in the common area is fake. On the other hand, the participants recognize that the previous day was 24 hours, and now it has gone up to 35 hours. The participants wonder about the weird timing and the fake surroundings while getting to know each other. Participant number 7 takes the lead and reminds everyone that some necessities can be bought in the common area, but they still determine if their prize money will be deducted. Before the group decides what to do, Participant Number 6 orders a pack of cigarettes and a lighter, and the only change is that it reduces their time in the show. Participant number 4, who is already worried about losing money, checks her scoreboard and tells everyone that the money is the same.
The group then discuss the essentials to buy, and agree to purchase makeshift washrooms using essential buckets, plastic covers, and toilet paper. The participants are now hungry, but participant number 8 receives 12 packets of food and water, and the rest of the group is surprised. Participant number 7 realizes they are meant to share meals and must be brought down from the top floor. Participant 8 agrees to let the group inside her room to figure out how to send food to the other floors. Upon reaching room 8, the participants are shocked to see the massive room with a bathtub, and the upsetting situation is when they realize the money received by the top floors in a minute is exponentially high compared to the bottom floors.
The 8 Show (Season 1) Episode 2 Recap:
The second episode starts with a flashback showcasing how Participant Number 8 joined the show. She arrives in a limousine, with blaring music through her headphones, displaying excitement as she explores her new surroundings. Indifferent to expenses, she splurges on room decor until her funds hit zero. However, since the top floors make much more money, Participant 8 continues to make money.
Fast forward to the present, participants sulk about their choice of lower floors due to limited earnings. Yet, they unite in the common goal of increasing time. Participant 7, with the brains, explains that since they have 12 boxes of food, each participant only takes one box each day, and if they continue to feel hungry, the participants come down to the first floor and share food from the remaining boxes. As Jin-Su and Participant 7 discuss the purpose of the show, Participant 8 buys many clothes in the common area. The participants are furious as they are losing time. However, participant 8 reveals that there is a way to add time, and it involves stairs. The participants start running up and down the stairs without knowing how, but the clock hits 0. To their relief, time resets to 24 hours, thanks to their physical exertion.
Division of work
Jin-su struggles with the washroom situation and orders a portable potty, not caring about how much he spends. Participant 7 reveals that the show wants them to work as a community and not fight, and so far, they have succeeded, but the momentum should be kept. The participants start to run but hit a hurdle as they all seem more hungry than usual, and there is only a little food. Amidst diminishing food supplies, they devise a strategy, splitting into two teams to alternate stair climbing for extra food and increased time.
The trouble begins when Participant 1 cannot climb the stairs as quickly as the rest because of his bad leg. Participant 6 hurts his hand and pushes him to do his work. However, Participant 2 helps Participant 1 by subbing in for him. The same thing happens the next day, and Jin-su decides to help. Participant 1 feels guilty for not being able to contribute and decides to be the sanitary worker and store everybody’s garbage in his room.
What is a show without entertainment?
Amidst the chaos, participant 7 detects irregularities in time extension. Despite their actions, time remains stagnant. Participant 8 decides to nap since the time extension is not working, which infuriates Participant 2. Participant 8 expresses that the people on the bottom floors need to work harder to make bank, and they need the extra time. Still, the participants on the top floor lose a lot more time than those on the bottom floors since everyone is in the common area to buy necessities. After running for over 6 hours, they notice the time slowly increasing.
The following day comes with trouble as time runs out, and the participants start running again. However, participant 4 starts having seizures, and luckily, participant 5 is a nurse and can help, but she needs phenytoin. Participant 2 rushes towards the common area’s shaft to get medicine, but Participant 6 stops her, saying Participant 4 won’t die and they can’t waste their time. Infuriated, Participant 2 fights Participant 6 while Participant 7 and Jin-su stop them. Amidst the chaos, Jin-su seizes the opportunity to order the medicine, resulting in a significant time increase. Participant 7 realizes that a show needs entertainment, and their fight has led to the rise in time. The episode ends with phenytoin arriving in the shaft.
The 8 Show (Season 1) Episode 3 Recap:
The third episode starts with a flashback showing how Participant Number 7 joined the show. The thinker that he is from the moment he arrives, Participant 7 is busy calculating every move and orders a desk, pen, and paper to understand the show. The group now understands they must entertain the hosts to get more time. Jin-su decides to do something on his own in his room by having a Mukbang and ASMR show when he is interrupted by Participant 7. Jin-Su and Participant 7 team up to come up with a comedy show to entertain the hosts.
The talent show
Each participant has a different idea of how to entertain, but eventually, they vote on having a talent show. Taking charge, Participant 7 dazzles with a performance on the recorder, giving them an additional 20 hours. With the night to ponder, Jin-su struggles with insecurity, feeling inadequate with his talent. The participants also discuss when they have to stop earning time to get out and allow Participant 1 to choose. Participant 1 wants a billion won before he tries to get out, which is approximately 2.5 months.
The following day, the talent showcase unfolds. Participant 5 starts earning 10 hours, followed by displays of strength from Participants 6 and 2, bagging 15 and 17 hours, respectively. Participant 4 yodels, adding 2 hours to the tally. Jin-su’s dance routine falls flat, earning a mere 18 minutes. Participant 1 steals and transforms into a clown, securing 30 hours. Participant 8 proposes showcasing her talent through sex, with Participant 6 volunteering as her partner, earning 69 hours. With props accounted for, they now have five extra days.
Will Participant 8 comply with the votes?
Participant 1 brings up the issue of storing trash since there isn’t any physical labor involved. In fact, his room is crammed and stinky. Participant 4 suggests that they play a game, but Participants 6 and 8 are asked to vote to decide. Participant 4 plays the politician and convinces people to try and vote for Participant 1 or 8. Jin-Su and Participant 7 make a deal not to vote for Jin-su. However, Participant 6 convinces Participant 7 to vote for Jin-su, and Participant 7 betrays Jin-su. Participant 8 gets the maximum votes on the voting day. However, she has a cunning plan, leaving Participant 4 locked out of the restroom. Tensions escalate when Participant 8 withholds food and water concerning the other participants.
The 8 Show (Season 1) Episode 4 Recap:
The fourth episode starts with a flashback showcasing how Participant Number 4 joined the show. As Participant 4 arrives, she is indecisive about which number to pick. She takes number 8, enters through the drapes, comes out, and then picks number 4. Participant 4 buys the cheapest bedding and motivates herself to keep going. At present, the participants are starving because of Participant 8. Participant 4 is trying to plead with her, but there hasn’t been a response from Participant 8 yet. Jin-su decides to store trash, and Participant 4 joins in. Participant 7 talks to Participant 8 about the situation, and she seems to be having a great time doing flying yoga. Participant 8 starts sending food and, as an apology, buys clothes from the shared space.
The King Game
Participant 8 has time to think of unique games to earn some extra time, and a particular one called the King Game is stuck with the participants. Participant 5 assumes the throne in the first round, leading to an awkward hand-holding dare between Participants 6 and 7. Next up, Participant 4 takes charge, sparking a kiss between Participants 1 and 5. In the third round, Participant 8 gets to be the King and wants to see French Kiss, but Participant 2 wants to do something more thrilling, and she agrees to fight Participant 6. Participant 2 is winning as she has been trained, but her sprain from the talent show slows her down.
Now, Participant 6 takes advantage of it and fights Participant 2. Participant 6 would have killed her. Fortunately, the other participants stop him. However, the time gets extended because of their game. Since all the participants are worried about their safety, Participant 4 proposes to use a Taser if someone wants to tap out of the dare. The game continues the following day, and Participant 8 gets to be the King again, and she wants to see some groping. However, Jin-su backs out and is tased. Jin-su pee’s in his pants because of the shock. The next King is Participant 4, who chooses to play a coin flip, and Participant 2 loses, gets tased, and faces the same consequences as Jin-su.
The foul play
The game gets intense, and Participant 8 becomes the King again. She chooses a slapping challenge between Participant 2 and Jin-su. Jin-su taps out and is tased again. Later that night, Participant 2 calls Jin-su to Participant 1’s room. Participant 1 realizes the King game is rigged and shows them the coin trick. They brace themselves for the next game, and Participant 7 catches Participant 4 rigging the game and warns her to play fair the next day so that Participants 1, 2, and 3 won’t catch them. The next day, the game continues, and Participant 1, the King, chooses to play the coin flip again. Participant 8 loses, and she needs to be tased. Participant 7 is ready to tase her when Participant 6 kicks him and says there needs to be a twist in the game and tases Participant 7 instead while Participant 8 rejoices.
The 8 Show (Season 1) Episode 5 Recap:
The fifth episode starts with a flashback showcasing how Participant Number 6 joined the show. Participant 6 walks inside the theatre in his thuggish way and enters his room. He does not care about CCTV cameras in the room and orders a pillow. Fast forward to the present, where Participant 7 awakens in the company of Participant 8 and companions 4 and 6. Participant 6 wastes no time laying down the law, urging Participant 7 to maintain the status quo and ensure submission from the lower floor participants. Participant 6 also locks the intercom in the shared space and breaks all the intercoms in the lower floor rooms.
The torture begins
Participant 7 has no choice but to change sides as he notices a Taser gun with a stronger voltage. Under the command of Participants 8, 7, 6, and 4, Participants 1, 2, 3, and 5 are subjected to orders and punishments. Participant 2 charges ahead to hit Participant 6, but she is shot with a Taser gun, and Participant 1 is kicked. The lower-floor participants have no other choice but to obey. The game will continue, but only Participants 1, 2, 3, and 5 will participate. They also need to earn coins to get food and water. In the first game, Jin-su wins, and he has to hit someone with a baseball bat while blindfolded as a part of the punishment. Days turn into a relentless cycle of submission and punishment until Participant 1 thinks of a daring plan of rebellion.
The revolt
The uprising commences with a signal from Participant 1, prompting Participant 2 and Jin-su to descend onto Participant 1’s floor using the shaft. However, Participant 7 finds an opportunity and tips off Jin-su that it makes a noise. Jin-su later realizes that the shaft will make a noise, alerting the upper-floor participants. During the game, Participant 1 gives a clue by asking for medicines for his stomach. This is the sign to start the uprising.
Participant 1 starts screaming in pain from his room, and everyone heads down. But Participant 6 is alert and realizes Jin-su and Participant 2 are waiting. Participant 6 fights them, and the Taser gun is ready. Participant 6 gets out and holds the Taser gun. Subsequently, Participant 7 yells at them to make a move. Participant 2 punches Participant 6, knocking him to the ground. Participant 7 removes the batteries in the Taser gun to help out the lower-floor participants.
The 8 Show (Season 1) Episode 6 Recap:
The sixth episode starts with a flashback showcasing how Participant Number 2 joined the show. Participant 2 was only left with room number two when she arrived, and as soon as she arrived, she started working out in her room. Currently, the lower floor participants tie up Participants 4, 6, 7, and 8. They then ensure that they put them in different rooms, and they are fascinated by everything in Participant 8’s room. After much deliberation, they let Participant 7 free, since he didn’t cause any trouble. The free participants make their soju and have a campfire of sorts.
Participant 2 offers to pay the remaining amount he needs to reach a billion if they can wait until the clock hits 0 and they all can leave. The participants agree and spend their time in bliss. It is their last day at the show, and they pack up and relax. At this point, Participant 1 will make 766 million, and Participant 2 will make 2.3 billion. However, the following day, they wake up and find the clock has 45 hours.
Participant 2 is in charge
Participant 2 calls out to the other participants who are not tied up and asks what happened. She is infuriated as she is sure someone has done something to entertain the hosts. Yet, no culprit steps forth, leaving the group with uncertainty. They visit each tied-up player, only to find them seemingly unharmed. However, the following day brings a new wave of terror. Player 4 wakes up screaming; a tooth is brutally pulled out during the night. Jin-su remembers something and calls everyone to Participant 6’s room. Jin-su removes his shoes and finds that all his toenails are missing. Participant 2 asks Participant 6 why he didn’t say anything. He asks Participant 2 to ask her comrades, and everything has gotten too real.
Paranoia grips Player 2. She suspects everyone. In a desperate attempt to control the situation, she locks everyone’s doors – except Player 5’s. Participant 5 is asked to look after the others. Unable to bear the sight of the others’ suffering, she pleads with Player 2 to release them, but her pleas are unheard. Driven to the brink, Player 5 hallucinates. Participant 5 assumes that Participant 2 has freed Participant 4 and 8 and rushes to give good news to Participant 6. Participant 6 begs Participant 5 to free him as he suspects Participant 2 will kill him, but Participant 5 asks him to wait for Participant 2. They hug it out while they wait.
The 8 Show (Season 1) Episode 7 Recap:
The seventh episode begins with Participant 5 dreaming about leaving the show with everyone as one unit. However, the harsh reality contrasts sharply as Participants 6 and 8 unleash torment upon the others. In a flashback, we see how Participant 5 came to the show. Upon entering the theatre, Participant 5 is unsure where or why she is there, but she plays along. Participant 5 frees Participant 6, succumbing to her hallucinations. Participant 6 then frees Participants 4 and 8. Now Participant 6 beats everyone up except for Participant 5, who he forcefully kisses as a thank you.
Yet, Participant 6’s wrath knows no bounds as he discovers his missing toenails, sparking a sadistic game of Russian roulette. Participant 2 escapes being shot, but Participant 7 is shot in his legs. Jin-su has an idea, and he asks Participant 6 to buy the CCTV footage to find out who the culprit is. Participants 6 and 8 watch the footage. Participant 1 pulled out Participant 6’s toenails, and he didn’t stop with that. He also peed on Participant 6’s face. Participant 6 is angry and wants to kill Participant 1. However, Participant 8 Tases Participant 6, making him fall from the stairs and cracking his bones.
The sleep deprivation
Participant 1 apologizes to the rest of them, saying he felt humiliated for being treated like trash and wanted revenge and a bit more money. Meanwhile, Participant 8 orders CCTV footage of all the rooms, and watching them being in pain arouses her. Participant 8 realizes that the hosts are bored with violence, so she has an idea. Participant 8 uses the sleep deprivation technique to torture the other participants. Participants 4 and 5 are to nurse the others. It reaches a breaking point for Jin-su as he hallucinates and finds it difficult to tell what is real. On the other hand, Participant 8 feels emotional watching the participants in torture and decides to paint to relieve her pain. The painting is not enough; hence, she buys a bag and a dog.
Participant 1’s secret
Participant 4 is tired of caring for the other participants and the dog. Participant 1 confides in her and tells Participant 4 that they can switch rooms for a billion won, helping them earn more money. In a flashback, we see Participant 1 come to the theatre in a clown costume and enter his room. Upon entering, he sees the space and wants to switch rooms, and that is when he realizes the price for switching rooms is a billion won.
The 8 Show (Season 1) Episode 8 Recap:
The last episode begins with a small story about Participant 1. Participant 1 is a clown, and his daughter has a rare disease, but the hospital bills are very high. Just as he contemplates a drastic decision, an unexpected invitation arrives. In the present, Participant 4 is bringing Jin-su back to reality and tells him about the plan to switch rooms. Participant 4 also informs Participants 2, 5, and 7 about the plan.
The strategy depends on a brief window of opportunity during Participant 8’s golfing session. However, Participant 5 has a condition before she agrees to the plan. Participant 5 shares her story with Participant 4. Participant 5 was wealthy, but her husband used to cheat on her, and she fell for the kind words of strangers and lost all the money. To add to the misery, her husband had already sued her, which is how she ended up in the show.
Attack on Participant 8
As the plan unfolds, tensions rise when Participant 8 grows suspicious of Participant 4’s clandestine conversation with Participant 5. Despite her doubts, Participant 8 is persuaded to proceed with the game. As Participant 8 is golfing, Participant 5 manages to free everybody, but Participant 8’s dog realizes some movements and starts running up the stairs. Participant 5 and Jin-su hide in Participant 6’s room. Participant 6 makes matters worse as he starts screaming, and Participant 8 enters the room and is about to shoot. However, Participant 4 whacks her in the head with a gold stick. We learn a little bit about Participant 4’s past. Participant 4 works as a valet girl and deals with rude customers. One of those customers is Participant 4’s former classmates. They make fun of Participant 4 as she wants to be a K-pop Idol, but now she works as a valet girl.
Tears stream down their faces as the confinement ends, replaced by the joy of newfound freedom. Yet, Participant 5’s thirst for revenge remains. Participant 5 orders medical equipment and supplies and castrates Participant 6. We see a flashback to the Participant 6’s life. Participant 6 was a great baseball player until he was kicked out of the team for illegal gambling. He is now a car salesman.
Participant 1’s hopes are shattered
Once Participant 5 completes her work, they all move to Participant 1’s room, who wants to spend the money he earns to purchase changing rooms. After making the order, Participant 1 receives an envelope, and it is the only way to change rooms. To change the room, they need to pay a hefty amount. Dejected, Participant 2 proposes a plan – pool their money to help Participant 1 escape with them. We now see Participant 7’s backstory. Participant 7, whose real name is Mr Yu, is a scriptwriter, and the producers reject his scripts because his writing is realistic, and what they want is something merely entertaining. The story of Participant 2 involves her working in construction, and her co-worker is injured on the job. Participant 2 has no money, but she offers to pay the medical bills to save her co-worker’s life.
Despite all the pain, Participant 1 is not ready to leave the show yet. Participant 1 takes the gun and ties everyone up as he performs once again for the participants and the hosts. Participant 1 walks on a tightrope and performs some tricks. In a tragic twist, his greed leads him to perform a dangerous tightrope stunt. A fiery accident leaves him with severe burns.
The 8 Show (Season 1) Episode 8 Ending, Explained:
Will Participant 1 survive The 8 Show?
Meanwhile, Jin-su reacts with fury. He destroys the cameras, desperately trying to break free from the show. Participant 1, however, apologizes for being greedy since he has always been on the lower spectrum of the class system, and he didn’t want to remain there. Participant 1 takes his last breath after the apology. The doors unlock, and Jin-su walks out and is met with the audience applauding. Everyone goes back to their everyday life, but the only thing to prove something like that happened to them is the money in their bank account.
Jin-su decides to hold a funeral for Participant 1 and uses hoardings to send the message. Participants 2, 4, and 5 show up, and Participant 6 sends a wreath with a condolence message. Participant 5 gives them the news about Participant 8. Participant 8’s real name is Song Se-ra, who used to be a performance artist. After leaving the show, Song Se-ra destroys an art gallery and is sent to prison. Jin-su has news as well. Jin-su found Participant 1’s family, and it turns out Participant 7 has already visited and given them money, saying Participant 1 is working overseas. After the funeral, the participants go their separate ways. In the mid-credits, Mr. Yu Philip comes up with a script for the 8 show, and the producer is thrilled with the idea. He also hints at having a second season for it.
The ending hints at a sequel to the show. Even until the end, only the lower floor participants attended the funeral, expressing the division of society’s top and bottom strata. The participants did make money except for Participant 1 because of his death. There is a closure on what happens to Participant 8 as she remains deranged outside the show and is sent to prison. However, we don’t know much about what happened to Participant 6. He is assumed to be doing well, seeing the size of the wreath he sent to the funeral. Philip’s discussion of the 8 Show may indicate that the participants may reappear in the sequel, especially since they have yet to learn each other’s names or whereabouts. Who the hosts are or why they created such a show remains a mystery.
