The 8 Show Ending Explained: What Happened To The Contestants

After finally being released on Netflix on Friday, The 8 Show‘s ending suggests that there is a lot more to come from this strange concept. This new Netflix dark comedy is based on the webtoons Money Game and Pie Game, written by Bae Jin-soo and directed by Han Jae-rim, who previously directed the movies The King and Emergency Declaration. The cast of The 8 Show is full of new faces and veterans in the K-drama industry, who give great performances in this exciting new Netflix K-drama.

The K-drama’s ensemble cast has excelled in portraying the ups and downs of life in The 8 Show, which acts as a replacement for Squid Game. Though initially starting off on a level playing field, the powerful players soon become established, and the fight for power between the contestants on the upper and lower floors is gripping to watch. However, the final moments of The 8 Show completely flipped everything that was known about the show and pose more questions as to what The 8 Show actually is.

How The Contestants Escaped The 8 Show

It Was Foreshadowed In The First Episode

In the first episode of The 8 Show, the game’s rules were simple but clear. As long as the hosts were entertained, the game could last an unlimited amount of time and, therefore, the prize money was infinite. Yet, if anyone died, the game would end immediately. This cryptic rule and the endless pursuit for money foreshadowed The 8 Show‘s conclusion through the character of “1”, whose greed ultimately ended the show. However, the contestants’ attitudes towards the game showed a significant change as they chose to end the show to prevent 1’s death, regardless of the consequences.

The contestants can only sit by and watch as 1 is seriously injured during his performance before risking their own lives to save him from the flames. “2” and “3” then take it upon themselves to destroy every camera in the facility to bore the hosts, who continually added time to the show due to the devastatingly entertaining result of 1’s performance. Though they succeed and end the show, 1 dies shortly after. 3 faces a penalty, with half his prize deducted for shooting the cameras. It is unclear if other contestants faced the same penalty, too.

What Happened To The Contestants After The 8 Show Ended?

The Contestants Are Still A Mystery

Except for 1, all the contestants of the K-drama thriller returned to reality. Flashbacks revealed a brief glimpse into their past lives and what kind of jobs each contestant had, but it is unclear whether the contestants’ lives remained the same as before the show. The only character known to have returned to his career is “7”, who works in the entertainment industry. However, the glimpse of life in the real world is focused mainly on 3 and his quest for a funeral for 1.

At the funeral for 1, only those who live on floors 2-5 attended. They still never exchange names or contact information, so their lives in the real world remain unknown to one another despite their re-connection. However, those who lived on the upper floors do not re-appear on-screen, which makes their return to the real world even more mysterious, as their lives are only recounted by those who came to 1’s funeral.

“5” reveals that the tyrannical “8” remained true to her artistic spirit and was arrested, and lost all of her prize money as a result. 3 describes how 7 was most likely the mysterious man who compensated 1’s family after his death with some of his prize money. However, the real intentions of the character “6′” appear through his actions. The usually violent 6 sends a floral wreath to 1’s funeral, suggesting that he has maintained some of his wealth. However, this sincere act also shows that 6 shows some remorse for his actions in The 8 Show.

The Real Meaning Behind 1’s Final Performance

It Perfectly Reflected The 8 Show’s Message

In The 8 Show episode 3’s talent show, excluding 8’s sexual talents, 1 earns the most time with his circus expertise. This, in theory, should make 1 the most valuable contestant, yet in the system that The 8 Show has designed, he is nothing but a pawn to be exploited. While 8 lives life in luxury, 1 lives surrounded by waste. It’s a stark commentary on social class and how the working classes may be more skilled than those above them, yet are at the mercy of those who hold the money and, therefore, the power.

1’s final performance perfectly encapsulates this. His tightrope performance provides more time than ever, making 1’s earning potential seem unlimited. However, even despite this, the contestants he has tied up and forced to watch him will always earn more than him, no matter how hard he tries. His desperation makes him more and more reckless, knowing that social mobility is possible if the right amount of time is there. However, his final act ends in disaster, with his death being the trigger that breaks the contestants out of the game.

Though the other contestants get to return to their lives with a life-saving amount of money, 1 remains the biggest victim of both the game and reality. He never got the money he worked so hard to earn back, and instead sacrificed his life chasing a dream that was made to be impossible to achieve. As a result, 1 represents a bleak reality. Even though everyone is born the same, those at the bottom of the ladder will always be disadvantaged and exploited by those above them, no matter how valuable their talents are.

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Why 4 Was The Most Pivotal Player in The 8 Show

She Played The Game Very Well

Despite her seemingly shy and innocent exterior, 4’s talent is reading people. She knows just how to talk to people to get them to do what she wants. If she can’t do that, 4 knows how to remain on their good side, so they turn a blind eye to her. In episode 7, she reveals to 1 that she does not consider herself human, but a player in a game. This mentality makes her a crucial member of The 8 Show, as she is involved in both its rise and fall.

As one of the middle floors, 4 can side with both the lower and upper floors. Therefore, she uses her people skills to convince the contestants to do things that benefit her game and is unafraid to switch sides to reap the greatest rewards. Her gameplay also acts as the catalyst for the end of The 8 Show, as she sets in motion the plan to revolt over 8’s rule. This plan to switch rooms would see her take the coveted 8th floor, but their plans are misguided and lead to the final climax of The 8 Show.

The Meaning Behind 5’s Crude Revenge On 6

Her Revenge Seems Very Out of Character

Even before The 8 Show, 5’s kind-hearted nature was exploited by others. In episode 8, 5 reveals to 4 that her relationship with a con artist had left her penniless and divorced, forcing her to participate in the show. This clearly scarred 5, yet history repeated itself as 6 used the deterioration of 5’s mental health and her desire for affection to convince her to remove his restraints in episode 7. Though it isn’t explicitly stated, it is suggested that 6 slept with 5 before discarding her just as the other men in her life had.

Though 5’s revenge seems very out of character for the soft-natured woman, her history with men makes it make sense. By castrating 6, she emasculates him and the traditional male values that had made existing in the game such a violent one. However, 6 also acts as a replacement for all the men who had taken advantage of her and her kindness throughout her life in one very calculated but gruesome act of revenge. ​​​​​​​

Is The 8 Show Real or Is It Fiction?

7 Wrote A Script About The 8 Show

The epilogue of The 8 Show took things in a meta direction which raised the question about what The 8 Show actually was, and whether it was reality or fiction. A post-credit scene appears featuring 7, who had since only appeared in the real world through mentions from the other contestants. However, the change in aspect ratio and the discussion with his colleague suggests that not only is there more to The 8 Show than there first seems, but that the lines between fiction and reality are not as clear as they seem.

Aspect ratio has played a big part in The 8 Show, with a 1:1 ratio representing the real world and a 16:9 ratio representing the world of the game. 1:1 ratios are generally used on social media. This perhaps acts as a critique on perception vs reality on social media, while also paying homage to old silent movies. On the other hand, 16:9 aspect ratios are the worldwide standard for TV and film broadcasting, making the switch between the real world and The 8 Show very clear.

However, in the final moments of The 8 Show, the lower floor contestants leave 1’s funeral and the aspect ratio switches from 1:1 to 16:9. This could suggest that the game never ended as CCTV will always be watching them in a Big Brother-style fashion. It could also suggest that this ending is a part of 7’s script, and that perhaps what happened in the arena is 7’s view of the game, or even a fictionalized story about the game that is vastly different from the reality.

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How The 8 Show Sets Up Season 2

Is The 8 Show Really Over?

The most direct hint towards The 8 Show‘s season 2 came during its post-credit scene where 7 and his colleague discuss a script he had written about his experience in the game. However, compared to the rest of the content in the real world, this scene takes place in a 16:9 aspect ratio. This could suggest that The 8 Show is still being broadcast and watched by someone who has taken the game out of the area and into the real world. It could also suggest that this scene is a part of 7’s script.

These theories are further backed up by 7’s colleague, who jokes about there being more versions of the show. Even if 7’s game was real, it could suggest that either the version he had written about in his script was a different game, or that there really are other versions of the game out there. 7’s colleague then says, “There might even be a season 2.” As the last words spoken on screen, The 8 Show clearly states its wishes for a second season and the expansion of its world, which has only just begun.

The 8 Show (2024)

Cast

Anzu Lawson , Rich Ting , Ryu Jun-yeol , Chun Woo-hee , Min-Jung Park , Park Hae-joon , Bae Sung-woo , Moon Jeong-hee

Release Date

May 17, 2024

Seasons

1