Common Sense Media Review
Survival costs are high in dark comedy; cursing and smoking.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The 8 Show
What's the Story?
In THE 8 SHOW, Bae Jin-su (Ryu Jun-yeol) is in debt. Even if he worked nonstop his entire life, he still wouldn't make a dent in his insurmountable debt. Just as he's about to end it all, huge amounts of money are deposited into his account. He's then given the choice to participate in a secret reality show set in an eight-story building to win billions, or take a little bit of money and go home. With nothing to lose, Bae Jin-su joins the show.
Giving up all his belongings, Bae Jin-su sees that every minute he's in the show, he makes money. But finding the studio to have no means of survival, he must buy items to live. Everything costs 1000 times more than usual, and that amount is subtracted from his prize money. Bae Jin-su just needs to survive for as long as possible while buying as little as possible. But when he meets the other contestants, it's revealed that everyone is making different amounts of money, and some people have access to resources.
Is It Any Good?
This series has intriguing characters and a unique premise. The 8 Show is clever, current, and complex, and the production is creative and sleek. The characters and their dynamics/interactions are dark, humorous, and thrilling to watch. The smoking, swearing, and violence makes this suitable for older teens.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what The 8 Show has to say about money, capitalism, and class. How does each contestant relate to the others? The longer they survive, how does this change?
Are any of the characters admirable? Can non-admirable characters still be interesting?
TV Details
- Premiere date : May 17, 2024
- Cast : Ryu Jun-Yeol , Yuuki Luna , Anzu Lawson
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Comedy
- TV rating :
- Last updated : February 21, 2026
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