Netflix’s new dark-comedy thriller K-drama The 8 Show is based on a highly popular survival Naver webtoon titled Money Game and also its sequel, Pie Game, as per Netflix. Bae Jin Soo has served as the writer of both webtoons. Both the Korean and English versions of Money Game have 60 episodes, while the original Korean version of Pie Game has 75 episodes.
In The 8 Show, the audience sees eight participants playing a game where they have to “earn money as time accumulates” inside a secret and unique building. The game may seem sweet and simple, but it turns out to be quite dangerous.
The main concept of both webtoons revolves around a group of participants and a money-winning game. Thus, it’s safe to say that the Netflix K-drama has closely followed the main storyline of these two webtoons and also borrowed elements from both.
What are Netflix’s The 8 Show webtoons Money Game & Pie Game about?
As mentioned earlier, The 8 Show on Netflix is an adaptation of two webtoons by Bae Jin Soo: Money Game and its sequel, Pie Game. The original Korean version of Money Game debuted on Naver on November 22, 2018, and concluded on January 9, 2020. Meanwhile, the English version premiered on Naver on August 23, 2021, and concluded on September 26, 2022.
Pie Game’s original Korean version first aired on Naver on July 4, 2020. It concluded on December 4, 2021, with 75 episodes in total. In the meantime, the English version of Pie Game debuted on Naver on August 28, 2023, and is ongoing, as per Webtoon Wiki.
Money Game centers around a reality TV show of the same name. In it, a group of eight individuals compete to win a huge sum of money. They have a shared pot of $44.8 billion won, which is more or less 38 million USD. They also have 100 days on their hands. According to the game’s rules, the contestants must try their best to spend as little money as possible and walk out with a massive amount of money.
However, they are trapped inside a uniquely designed building where they only have a rule book and a pair of clothes. They have to purchase things to survive inside the building. Whatever they purchase there costs 1000 times more than the item’s original price. Thus, the game is to see how much money the participants can save till the very end.
Meanwhile, Money Game’s sequel webtoon, Pie Game, revolves around a reality TV show of the same title. In it, seven individuals participate to win money. In the beginning, they all have individual pots of money and 24 hours in their hands. As per the rules of the game, the money in their individual pots grows with time.
It also grows when there is bloodshed. The participants are stuck inside a secret building with seven floors, each designed specially. The contestants get a pair of clothes and daily rations. If they need anything else, they have to purchase it. However, their time reduces every time they purchase something. The main purpose of the game is to witness how much money the participants can earn before they leave the game.
It is evident that The 8 Show has taken plotlines and different rules from both webtoons. Viewers can stream the thriller K-drama on Netflix.
