Gen Z Was Not Built for Amazon’s Brutal ‘Beast Games’

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Amazon’s Beast Games, a massive television competition, has been met with significant criticism from experts. With an average rating of just 13% on Rotten Tomatoes, professional TV reviewers have described it as “a disheartening mirror of our contemporary society,” “one of the most undignified spectacles ever broadcast on television,” and “an ear-splitting, joyless money grab” that “solely exists to expose the worst aspects of human nature.

The series is exceptionally captivating, reminiscent of a less innocent version of “Squid Game”. The excessive money involved adds to its intrigue, making it hard to look away. In the second installment, when the show’s mascot, Mr. Beast, roars and gesticulates when none of four competitors succumb to a $1 million offer to eliminate their teammates, it becomes riveting television. Interestingly, viewers seem to have differing opinions from critics about this program – the audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes for “Beast Games” stands at an impressive 89% positive. Moreover, if Amazon’s claimed viewership statistics are accurate (which is often questionable), it would position “Beast Games” as the most-watched unscripted show ever, with a global audience of 50 million viewers.

The aspect that stands out in this show isn’t just Mr. Beast, who has often been scrutinized by critics (despite his fame on YouTube, he is frequently criticized for actions like donating large sums of money to fans and organizing grand stunts such as curing 1,000 cases of blindness — can you believe it?). Instead, what’s captivating is the significant generational gap that’s evident between the older Gen X participants and the younger Millennial / Gen Z competitors. This divide feels quite unusual and at times unsettling.

Initially, have you watched Survivor? It’s somewhat similar to Beast Games, the Amazon series. In fact, several episodes of Beast Games were filmed on a tropical island. However, unlike Survivor, where the prize is typically $1 million, in Beast Games, the contestants could win ownership of the island itself – which isn’t even the main prize, as the show’s top prize is a whopping $5 million. Winning a private island worth $1.8 million was merely an additional challenge. (Interestingly, Survivor’s prize money of $1 million has remained unchanged for 25 years, while inflation has affected the value of almost everything else on Earth, except for the reward for enduring 39 days of hunger on a broadcast TV island).

First off, do you recall watching Survivor? It shares some similarities with Beast Games, the Amazon series. Notably, several episodes of Beast Games were produced on a tropical island. Unlike Survivor, where the grand prize is usually $1 million, in Beast Games, the contestants had the chance to win the actual island itself – but this was just a minor reward compared to the show’s top prize, which was an impressive $5 million. Winning a private island valued at $1.8 million was merely an extra challenge. (It’s worth noting that Survivor’s prize money of $1 million has stayed constant for 25 years, while inflation has affected almost everything else on Earth, except the reward for surviving 39 days of hunger on a broadcast TV island).

In essence, if you’ve been a fan of Survivor, you’d notice that numerous contestants have been eliminated over the past few decades. Some react with anger, some remain composed, some show tears. However, it’s quite rare to witness a complete emotional collapse on live national television among them.

As a devoted viewer of “Beast Games”, I can’t help but feel a deep sense of empathy for the contestants when they are eliminated. It’s not just a simple setback; it feels like an overwhelming shock that leaves them reeling, especially among the younger players who form the majority of the show’s 1,000 contestants. In the early episodes, we see this emotional turmoil unfold in various ways – from tears and wails to dramatic collapses on the floor, curled into a protective ball.

One young woman was pushed to the brink of despair when two other players convinced her to quit the game. She was reduced to inconsolable hysterics. The raw emotions displayed by so many contestants make it seem like they are either naive or unhinged. However, I want to clarify that I’m not making a generalization about Gen Z as a generation. Instead, “Beast Games” presents a vivid portrayal of these traits, which may not necessarily be representative of all Gen Z individuals.

occasions where Mr. Beast, it must be said, is not at his best either. The Beastman and his lively group of immature co-hosts (one commentator joked they look like “soy boys”) frequently fail to communicate effectively with their audience and show genuine concern. Unlike Survivor‘s Jeff Probst, who may not have healed the blind, it’s clear that the man has compassion. And as you progress through a show with 1,000 contestants, watching people react to being eliminated becomes the main source of entertainment, which can be quite harsh.

In the later episodes, there’s a shift in the age-related disagreements, as a tension develops between the practical (or arguably self-centered) Generation X individuals and the more idealistic and group-oriented younger generations consisting of Millennials and Gen Z, who are often seen as naive.

Among the older contestants, one who declined a million dollars early in the competition was sent home without any winnings. As he left, he was criticized harshly for choosing a fellow well-liked contestant to possibly be eliminated together with him in a desperate bid to increase his chances of survival. This man, who had chosen to forgo $1 million (some might say imprudently), opted to keep 50 strangers on the show longer, but was harshly judged for having the nerve to try and prolong his stay (“Nobody will respect your actions here, nobody!”).

Previously, another senior competitor opted to keep $650,000 for himself in a dilemma situation involving shared funds. The remaining amount was left for the other contestants to divide. He justified this by stating that he needed to prioritize his family, as he has children to feed (“I value and esteem each of you… but none of you can feed my children,” he asserted emphatically). Despite no one being eliminated from the competition, the younger competitors were taken aback and enraged, seemingly struggling to understand why he didn’t settle for his “fair portion.

One person claims, “You’re providing for your family by taking food from the community,” which is quite extraordinary: No one is taking food. The so-called “community” on this show is just a temporary and fabricated television production. And, wasn’t the purpose of appearing on this show to win money, isn’t that correct?

One individual asserts, “You’re feeding your family by obtaining food from the community, but that statement is far-fetched: No one is actually taking food. The term ‘community’ on this program is merely a temporary and artificial TV creation. And, wasn’t the goal of participating in the show to win money, isn’t that so?

In a competition series like Beast Games, it’s unusual for contestants to face pressure for accepting large sums of money or being pressured into refusing it – usually, the prize is the main focus. However, in this show, many young competitors seem more concerned with supporting one another and ensuring fairness among all participants, which goes against the typical winner-takes-all format often seen in similar shows. This is quite a departure from the usual cutthroat competition we’re used to seeing on such programs, as one might find in Squid Game.

In some aspects, it’s surprisingly selfless. If you manage to keep your everyone-should-share-the-cupcakes mentality from fifth grade as you grow up, that could be considered commendable. However, when a game show like Beast Games arrives and contestants are lured into abandoning these ideals, it’s disheartening for many Gen Z viewers to witness the ruthless display of real-world quasi-capitalistic greed. It’s not hard to imagine an occasional Boomer finding this show puzzling.

Regarding Beast Games, it’s troubling to consider its implications about contemporary America, although I must admit that as an ex-latchkey kid from Gen X, a tiny bit of bias might creep in. It’s common knowledge that each generation has its own distinct characteristics, but the social experiments depicted in Beast Games seem to hint at substantial ideological rifts between those who were historically neglected (older generations) and those who were more sheltered (younger generations). This divide, though often overshadowed by the political Left vs. Right debate, is worth contemplating as it shapes our society’s dynamics.

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2025-02-04 16:25