Elliot Hilden, managing editor

Game shows like “Wheel of Fortune” and “Let’s Make A Deal” have been staples of entertainment for years, giving people a chance to play fun games and “win big.” What used to be a lighthearted pursuit of prizes has since evolved into a high-stakes battleground where the desperation for money overshadows the joys of competition. 

The difference between the game shows of my childhood and the modern adaptations is that the motivation for participating has shifted. In the past, going on a game show was a way to fulfill simple dreams, such as taking the kids on a trip to Disneyland or buying a new car. The shows gave a chance to escape the mundane and revel in the excitement of friendly competition. Now, winning a game show is often not about getting a luxury vacation but rather a lifeline to financial stability. The idea of substantial cash prizes has turned these shows into a last resort for individuals struggling with medical debts, bills and even the basic necessities to survive. 

The release of Netflix’s “Squid Game: The Challenge” serves as a stark example of this shift. While the 2021 original hit series, “Squid Game,” aimed to make an anti-capitalist statement and shed light on the exploitation inherent in capitalist societies, the spin-off takes a different route entirely. “Squid Game: The Challenge” appears to exploit the very issues the original addresses, turning the hardships faced by contestants into a spectacle for viewers. It begs the question if the creators of this new game show even watched the original “Squid Game” and understood its societal critique of financial exploitation of the lower class.

Contestants have since come out about the treatment they faced while competing on the show. Most notably, the “red light, green light” challenge took longer than the competitors were told, forcing them to remain completely still for hours at any given time. Furthermore, it was conducted in a freezing room, leaving contestants, who were only allowed thin tracksuits and encouraged not to wear the jackets, with hypothermia and frostbite. The blatant disregard for the wellbeing of contestants emphasizes the extent to which the desperation for views and ratings has overridden basic ethical considerations. 

While most game shows don’t leave their contestants with lasting damage, this still isn’t okay. People should not have to participate in grueling competitions to survive. Game shows no longer exist to give winners a net positive, they are to correct a monetary deficit. 

While it is true that most game shows do not subject contestants to lasting physical harm, the normalization of grueling competitions as a means of survival is concerning. Game shows, once seen as a source of entertainment, should not become battle arenas where individuals are forced into extreme situations for financial gain. In a world where financial struggles are increasingly prevalent, it is essential to reevaluate the values that underpin the modern game show and ensure that entertainment does not come at the expense of human dignity and wellbeing.