Squid Game: The Challenge – Season 1 Episode 8 Recap & Review

One Step Closer 

Squid Game: The Challenge episode 8 opens with Trey’s interview. Trey comes from an athletic family and feels like he failed his parents because he is not athletic.

The scene cuts to Player 278 refusing to overtake as agreed and leaving Trey to decide the next step. Trey takes a leap of faith and gets eliminated. Mai notes this and adds her to her target list.

With Trey gone, all eyes are on Player 278, Ashley, who finally jumps and lands successfully. The game is as intense as it gets. Thankfully, they play as a team, allowing everyone to have a 50/50 chance to make it. Some players pray, others cry and say their goodbyes before jumping into the oblivion below, never to be seen again (on the show not in real life!) Finally, after tears, prayers and sacrifices, 12 players return to the dorm. 

Player 278 worries that her hesitation to jump, forcing Trey to do more than his share, will negatively impact her. She is right because Mai is officially out to get her. 

The players return to the dorm and find only 12 beds. This makes it real that the money is getting closer. The piggy bank is almost full, and the tension is high at the dorm. Most people have lost their friends and are quickly trying to form new alliances. 

Mai and Chad continue to get close, but Mai plays it close to her chest. They are, however, worried about Amanda’s group. Ashley tries to convince Sam they must be careful about Amanda’s group. 

The next morning, the players are given another elimination test. This time, Mai volunteers herself to be the captain. They are asked to play a game of dice, and if a player rolls six, then they can eliminate themselves or nominate another player. Before the game, the players decide to nominate themselves, but Mai goes first and nominates Player 278, Ashley. 

Everyone is shocked because they didn’t expect this. Even though Mai briefly explains her decision, the other players feel betrayed. Mai rolls a four, and Ashley is safe. The other players nominate themselves, but Ashley nominates Mai. She ends up rolling a five, and Mai secures her spot in the next game.

Unfortunately, by the end of the test, Chad, Bee, and Roland are eliminated. Mai is shaken to lose Chad, her last true remaining friend. On the other hand, Ashley reckons it is karma’s fast-working hands.

The Episode Review

It is ironic to see Ashley feel so betrayed, given what she did to Trey. She is acting like Mai came after her out of the blue. It is a pity Ashley survived. That said, Mai should have waited for another opportunity to attack Ashley or make it known before the game started that she disagreed with the team’s game plan.

With Chad gone, Mai has to watch her back now more than ever. It was sad to see Bee go; it felt like she didn’t get a chance to show us more. Chad and Roland’s exits hurt, too, because they came off as likeable guys.

Let us jump into the next episode and find out how Mai and Ashley fair in the next game.