Beast Games Season Two Review: A Mindless, Vibeless Reality Show That Feels Like Squid Game Meets Love Island
Amazon's latest reality series, Beast Games, has become a surprise hit after its first season prompted a lawsuit from five anonymous contestants. Despite the controversy, the show has managed to capture the attention of 50 million viewers in its first month, with its $5m grand prize luring contestants into a world of "generational wealth" that feels more like a cruel joke.
As I watched the contestants navigate their way through physically demanding challenges and emotionally charged drama, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. The show's format is reminiscent of Squid Game, with its deadly games and sinister host (MrBeast), but it also borrows heavily from the formula of Love Island, with its emphasis on coupling up, crash-outs, and backstabbing.
One of the most striking aspects of Beast Games is its complete lack of subtlety. Contestants are milked for their personal struggles, with storylines that feel like they were ripped straight from a soap opera. But instead of being cloying or manipulative, the show feels strangely immature – like a never-ending high school drama fest.
The set design only adds to this perception, with its bright lights and sterile atmosphere making Beast City feel more like a prison than a competitive arena. The contestants' behavior is similarly juvenile, with alliances forming and breaking at the drop of a hat, and players resorting to petty sabotage to get ahead.
Throughout the series, MrBeast's hosting duties are on full display, with his trademark grin and blazer-clad appearance making him look like a smug kid trying too hard to be taken seriously. The show's attempts at moral messaging feel forced and heavy-handed, with contestants being lectured about trust and loyalty as if they're children.
Ultimately, Beast Games feels like a sad attempt to manufacture drama and excitement without any real substance or heart. While it may have its moments of tension and suspense, the show is ultimately a mindless, vibeless exercise in competition that fails to elevate its participants beyond their basic human nature.
In short, if you're looking for a reality series with some substance, look elsewhere. Beast Games is content to wallow in its own superficiality, reveling in its own cruelty and chaos without any real regard for the well-being of its contestants.
Amazon's latest reality series, Beast Games, has become a surprise hit after its first season prompted a lawsuit from five anonymous contestants. Despite the controversy, the show has managed to capture the attention of 50 million viewers in its first month, with its $5m grand prize luring contestants into a world of "generational wealth" that feels more like a cruel joke.
As I watched the contestants navigate their way through physically demanding challenges and emotionally charged drama, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. The show's format is reminiscent of Squid Game, with its deadly games and sinister host (MrBeast), but it also borrows heavily from the formula of Love Island, with its emphasis on coupling up, crash-outs, and backstabbing.
One of the most striking aspects of Beast Games is its complete lack of subtlety. Contestants are milked for their personal struggles, with storylines that feel like they were ripped straight from a soap opera. But instead of being cloying or manipulative, the show feels strangely immature – like a never-ending high school drama fest.
The set design only adds to this perception, with its bright lights and sterile atmosphere making Beast City feel more like a prison than a competitive arena. The contestants' behavior is similarly juvenile, with alliances forming and breaking at the drop of a hat, and players resorting to petty sabotage to get ahead.
Throughout the series, MrBeast's hosting duties are on full display, with his trademark grin and blazer-clad appearance making him look like a smug kid trying too hard to be taken seriously. The show's attempts at moral messaging feel forced and heavy-handed, with contestants being lectured about trust and loyalty as if they're children.
Ultimately, Beast Games feels like a sad attempt to manufacture drama and excitement without any real substance or heart. While it may have its moments of tension and suspense, the show is ultimately a mindless, vibeless exercise in competition that fails to elevate its participants beyond their basic human nature.
In short, if you're looking for a reality series with some substance, look elsewhere. Beast Games is content to wallow in its own superficiality, reveling in its own cruelty and chaos without any real regard for the well-being of its contestants.