Beast Games Review: Tasteless Imitation and Controversy Combine for Grim Spectacle
YouTuber MrBeast’s latest venture, Beast Games, has drawn harsh criticism for its blatant mimicry of Squid Game and the surrounding controversies. Premiering under the shadow of a class-action lawsuit, this Amazon-produced show has been called one of the most undignified spectacles ever to hit TV screens.
At 26, MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, is a digital juggernaut. With more YouTube subscribers than anyone alive and a massive TikTok following, his brand spans everything from restaurants to Nerf guns. But his leap to television seems more about TV needing him than the other way around.
A Troubled Debut
The show’s launch has been mired in legal troubles. Five contestants recently filed a lawsuit against MrBeast’s production company and Amazon, alleging mistreatment, inadequate compensation, and emotional distress. Despite these accusations, the real test for Beast Games is whether its content can rise above the controversy.
A Hollow Spectacle
For fans of MrBeast’s YouTube content, Beast Games offers a familiar formula amplified to an absurd degree. The competition features 1,000 contestants battling outlandish challenges like pulling monster trucks or answering trivia questions, all for a $5 million prize. However, the show may appear as little more than a loud, tasteless imitation of Squid Game for newcomers.
The similarities to Squid Game are glaring. Contestants vie for a massive cash prize while living in numbered uniforms under constant scrutiny. Unlike the original dystopian satire, which critiqued societal inequality, Beast Games seems oblivious to such nuances, focusing instead on flashy stunts and sensationalism.
Unrelenting Cruelty
The show’s challenges often force contestants into self-sacrificial decisions, creating a spectacle of desperation. Pleading, crying, and emotional breakdowns dominate the screen as participants fight for an improbable jackpot. These moments reveal a ruthless undertone that feels exploitative and deeply uncomfortable to watch.
To make matters worse, the contestants frequently share melodramatic backstories, hoping to win sympathy. From aspirations to help the homeless to dreams of escaping poverty, the narratives often verge on overindulgence, detracting from the competition’s intended excitement.
Grimly Compelling, but at What Cost?
While there’s an undeniable morbid curiosity in watching Beast Games, it’s akin to picking at a scab—a grotesque compulsion that leaves you feeling worse for indulging. Instead of offering innovative or meaningful content, the show highlights the worst aspects of human behaviour, all under the gleeful eye of MrBeast shouting, “Everybody has a price!”
Ultimately, Beast Games is a gaudy, tasteless affair capitalising on humiliation and desperation for entertainment. Whatever fleeting attention it garners, it may not be enough to justify the legal and reputational fallout it has already faced.
