According to many series critics, “The 8 Show” is poised to replicate the success of “Squid Game.” The series premiered today, and it’s highly likely that by tomorrow, it will be ranked #1 in every country where Netflix is available.
The plot is quite similar to the one created by Hwang Dong-hyuk. In this show, eight people facing money problems join the Money Game, a dangerous contest where they could split 44.8 billion if they endure 100 days in a studio with only concrete walls. But here’s the catch: everything they buy, like food and electricity, costs 1,000 times more than usual, and the expenses come out of their potential prize money.
This dark comedy series is based on two Naver webtoons, “Money Game” and “Pie Game” by Bae Jin-soo. Adapting productions from this platform is a common practice among streaming services, with the most popular cases being “Sweet Home” and “Hellbound”.
Will ‘The 8 Show’ have a second season?
Although the story depicted in the eight episodes has a conclusive ending, those who have already binge-watched the whole series know that there is a hint at the end strongly suggesting a second season of “The 8 Show”. And it’s quite explicit.
Moreover, another factor indicating a high likelihood of a continuation is that, while the series is based on the two previously mentioned works by Bae Jin-Soo, the author created a third piece set in the same universe, “Funny Game,” featuring the protagonist from the previous installments.
It’s worth noting that this webtoon comprises more than 70 episodes. Therefore, if a second season based on “Funny Game” were to exist, it would likely not arrive on Netflix until next year at the earliest, due to the hard work the production team would have to put in order to sum them up.
Given its similarity to “Squid Game,” one could expect “The 8 Show” to follow a similar trajectory and develop a second season, but also in the more distant future. The globally popular Korean series aired its first episode in 2021, and although a second season is confirmed, it has yet to premiere.
All things considered, it’s apparent that the production team behind “The 8 Show” not only intends to produce a second season but also has ample source material for inspiration. We’ll keep you updated on any news regarding a potential release date.