1,000 people, $5 million, and endless opportunities to stab your teammates in the back. How far do you think you'd make it in Beast City? We're breaking down every game in the first four episodes of "Beast Games" – but check back each week as we recap the whole show.
Category
😹
FunTranscript
00:001,000 people, $5 million, and endless opportunities to stab your teammates in the back.
00:06How far do you think you'd make it in Beast City?
00:09We're breaking down every game in the first four episodes of Beast Games, but check back
00:13each week as we recap the whole show.
00:16Beast Games begins with a ton of people talking about what they plan on doing with the $5
00:20million prize.
00:21But before the first official challenge even begins, Mr. Beast gives everyone a chance
00:25to walk home with some money by bringing out $1 million and offering people the chance
00:29to self-eliminate right then and there.
00:32The caveat is that the $1 million would be split amongst everyone who gets out of the
00:36game, meaning the more people who choose to leave, the smaller the jackpot becomes.
00:41Right now, you're a millionaire!
00:43Oh!
00:44Someone else hit it!
00:45Right now, you're only a 500,000aire!
00:47When all is said and done, 52 decide to split the prize, meaning they each go away with
00:51about $19,230.
00:54It's not a bad payday, but it's a far cry from the $5 million prize.
00:58As it turns out, they may have been the lucky ones, because things take a turn for the cutthroat
01:02pretty soon.
01:04For the next game, Mr. Beast divides the contestants into their respective rows.
01:07The challenge is that one person has to voluntarily eliminate themselves from the competition
01:12to go home with nothing.
01:13By eliminating themselves, everyone else in the row can keep playing.
01:17The decision has to be made quickly, as the final three rows without a volunteer will
01:20see everyone in those rows go home.
01:23It's an emotional test, but sort of an honorable showcase of people getting rid of themselves
01:27for the greater good.
01:28In the end, 243 people get eliminated in this game, leaving only 705 to keep striving for
01:34those millions of dollars.
01:36By the second challenge, Beast Games starts looking a whole lot more like Squid Game when
01:40it turns to a scaled-up toddlers' game.
01:43Every contestant starts with a narrow red block on their podium and an assortment of
01:47other blocks in various shapes.
01:48The goal is to stack the blocks onto the starting piece without it tipping over.
01:52The first 100 players to lose control of their towers will exit the game.
01:56This one's a bit odd.
01:57There's a time limit, and only the first 100 players to have their towers full go home.
02:02That means, theoretically, you could just not do the game.
02:05If you sat there not even risking stacking the blocks, you could, in theory, make your
02:09way to the next game.
02:10At the very least, it makes sense to wait until there are only a couple of minutes left
02:14before stacking to hedge your bets.
02:15No matter what your strategy is, though, it's not the right time to show off.
02:19"...Mine's done, but I can do…"
02:24"...No, no, no, no!"
02:27In the heat of the moment, many players probably aren't thinking logically.
02:31More than 100 contestants wind up with fallen towers, so even some individuals who lost
02:35theirs end up advancing.
02:38From the first episode, it's clear Beast Games is more about psychology than physical strength.
02:42The final challenge for this episode is essentially the opposite of the first challenge.
02:46Instead of sacrificing themselves for their group, everyone has the chance to accept a
02:50cash bribe in exchange for their group getting eliminated.
02:53No one takes the initial $10,000 offer, but once that increases to $20,000, someone takes
02:58it to the dismay of their teammates.
03:00The bribe then increases to $50,000 and then $80,000, with more and more people taking
03:06the offer as it keeps getting higher.
03:07The final offer is $100,000, and by the end of it all, 112 people leave, bringing the
03:13total number of remaining players to 493.
03:16Over half of the players who were there at the start of the episode are now gone.
03:20It's an interesting social experiment, especially with the final row to get eliminated.
03:25These people probably didn't know each other before the game started, and at the end of
03:28the day, folks only look out for their own self-interest.
03:32Episode 2 opens with the remaining players moving into Beast City, a custom-built neighborhood
03:36specifically designed to house people and play games.
03:39"...with a bunch of crazy lunatics who have all turned down $100,000 to be in a city that
03:44was built for us to have fun, like, ridiculous."
03:48And things get brutal quickly.
03:50To set up the episode's challenges, the players randomly choose tokens that dictate what kind
03:54of game they'll play.
03:55The first one involves everyone with that particular token getting divided into two
03:59groups.
04:00Each group goes into a room where a ball is dropped through the ceiling.
04:02If the ball hits the floor, that entire group gets eliminated.
04:06It goes by quickly, and the fourth ball that comes down ends the game.
04:09But in this challenge, there was a surprise twist.
04:11When Mr. Beast and the guards review the footage, they discover that the team they
04:15thought had won the matchup actually allowed a ball to drop the very first try.
04:19Whoops!
04:20It was just a quick drop, but with cameras everywhere, nothing escapes Mr. Beast's watchful
04:24eye.
04:25The joy from the initial winning team quickly changes to despair, and they all go home empty-handed.
04:29"...and with that, 62 people have been eliminated.
04:34Next game."
04:35The next game follows a contestant who had the token with the phrase, "'Less is more.'"
04:40Surprise!
04:41It's another self-elimination challenge, something Mr. Beast seems particularly fond of.
04:44Players get divided into two teams, the green team and the white team, and the group with
04:48the fewest people remaining through others eliminating themselves gets to move on.
04:52The team that ends up with the most players sees everyone go home.
04:55The two teams can't see each other, so neither team knows how many players the other side
04:59has eliminated.
05:00Each group gets a phone, so they can call each other to talk things over, or get in
05:04one another's heads.
05:05Both teams reach a tentative agreement to end in a tie, and bring it to a tiebreaker
05:09match.
05:10But manipulation is the name of the game here, and both sides still try to sabotage that
05:14agreement by secretly eliminating a few of their players.
05:17Once the dust settles, the white team has four people leave, as opposed to three leaving
05:21the green team.
05:22That means 65 people exit the game, leaving only 366.
05:28The next token reads, "'Get ready to throw down!'
05:30And this challenge turns out to be a giant version of Beer Pong, though without the beer.
05:35Each individual player gets a huge ball to throw into a giant red cup.
05:38Each successful throw results in one point for the team, and the team with the most points
05:42by the end advances to the next round.
05:44It sounds easy enough, but Mr. Beast brings another social experiment into the mix.
05:49After a few tosses, he rolls out a gold cup.
05:52Players can now either aim for the red cup to score a point for their team, or try to
05:55get it into the gold cup, which won't give them a point, but will give them a personal
05:59$250,000.
06:01We're gonna find out if you're a team player, or if you just want some money."
06:07Although nobody comes out and admits it, it appears that a few contestants take aim for
06:11the gold cup.
06:12The pink team emerges victorious, and the 61 players on the white team go home, bringing
06:16their remaining count to 305.
06:19The challenges so far in Beast Games Episode 2 have dealt with luck and physical strength,
06:23but the final group has to use their brains, as this challenge involves trivia.
06:27What's more, people with the specific token get divided into two groups, and are further
06:31segmented into groups of four that go down to Mr. Beast to answer a trivia question.
06:36A correct answer nabs the entire team a point, and the team with the most points by the end
06:40wins.
06:41Both teams are pretty smart, and there are numerous rounds where they each get the correct
06:45answer.
06:46What did you write down?
06:47Pluto and Neptune.
06:48Is Pluto a planet anymore?
06:49I don't think Pluto's a planet.
06:52A couple more mistakes like that, and all 63 members of the white team wind up going
06:56home.
06:58Beast Games is left with 242 contestants remaining, less than a quarter of what it started with.
07:02And while four intense games may have been enough for one episode, Mr. Beast has one
07:06more surprise for everyone.
07:09By the finale of Episode 2, there are four teams who have already survived one matchup.
07:13Next, Mr. Beast asks each of those four teams to select a captain.
07:16Each captain gets the opportunity to accept the bribe in exchange for sending their teams
07:20home.
07:21But there's a further twist.
07:22If a captain does eliminate their team, only the other teammates leave the games.
07:26The captain gets the money and gets to stay.
07:29Again, it's an exercise in trust, especially since the teams decide who the captain is,
07:34meaning they have to select the stranger they find trustworthy.
07:36The episode ends before reaching the conclusion of the challenge, but no one ends up taking
07:40the bribe, which reaches $1 million.
07:42It's an admirable demonstration of integrity, and no players get eliminated.
07:47Putting your fate into someone else's hands is undoubtedly stressful, so Mr. Beast offers
07:52a reprieve for the first challenge of Beast Games, Episode 3.
07:55Everyone divides up into groups of three for a sack race, and…
07:58"...to switch things up a bit, we're gonna play a game that won't eliminate anybody!"
08:04The winning team gets some perks, namely a chance to stay in the much nicer T-Mobile
08:08VIP house, as well as a secret gift that would only be revealed after the race.
08:13It seems like a lot of people just kind of goofed around with the potato sack race, since
08:17there was no risk of elimination.
08:18Player 351, 435, and 514 end up winning, and while staying in a VIP house is nice, the
08:24real joy is the reveal that they'd have immunity in the next challenge.
08:27The idea of immunity should be old news to any Survivor fans out there.
08:31The hammer comes down after the race when the players learn they'll have to say goodbye
08:34to at least some of the friends they've made.
08:36The potato sack race was just a ploy to get people to form teams with whoever they liked
08:41most, and that makes the next challenge one of the most painful of the series so far.
08:46Immediately following the sack race, the guards escort the teams to a room filled with red
08:50cubes.
08:51The players are then led into a cube with a phone inside, where they must decide who
08:54from their group of three has to go home.
08:56In the event they can't determine which person will go home in five hours, then all three
09:00are eliminated.
09:01You can use that phone to request literally any item in the world!
09:06It seems like if the players could request anything, they could ask for the $5 million,
09:10but nobody did that.
09:12There's also a pair of handcuffs for the eliminated player to chain themselves to the inside.
09:16This is when Beast Games becomes almost unbearable to watch.
09:19Some contestants start crying right away, forced to choose between themselves and the
09:23people they've grown close to over the course of the competition.
09:26For most, it's an impossible decision.
09:28So many resort to requesting games like Monopoly, cards, and Jenga to make the decision for
09:33them, with the loser staying behind.
09:34For others, they decide to have a bit of fun before saying goodbye to their buddies.
09:38Some of the more outrageous requests include a horse, puppies, a tattoo artist, and princess
09:43dresses.
09:44But the fun could only last so long.
09:45Some groups resort to cheating and manipulation, and even one of the captains who turned down
09:49$1 million in Episode 2's challenge ends up getting handcuffed.
09:53Ninety-four people go home.
09:54That means just 148 are left trying to win that $5 million prize.
10:00After the heartbreaking cube challenge, Mr. Beast brings out a gold gift box.
10:04Whatever's inside will go to whomever touches it first.
10:07Player 406 runs up to touch the box immediately.
10:10Many of the other players believe it will be something bad, but it turns out to be a
10:13ticket to go to the private island to compete further for the $5 million prize.
10:17The lucky winner also gets to take five other people with him, including his brother and
10:21a captain who had turned down $1 million.
10:24There are 54 more spots on the island.
10:26Mr. Beast announces that the next ticket is hidden somewhere in Beast City, and whoever
10:30finds it will also go to the island with five more people of their choosing.
10:34Everyone starts scattering, but the episode ends before there's any resolution.
10:38Episode 4 picks up right where Episode 3 leaves off.
10:41The race for the golden ticket to Beast Island is a fast-paced game that has an abrupt conclusion.
10:46Contestants search high and low for the ticket, with some even climbing the tower.
10:50People turn over anything that isn't nailed down to find the ticket, with the game mostly
10:54coming down to luck and being in the right place at the right time.
10:57Ultimately, Player 413 finds the ticket underneath the ping pong table.
11:01He then selects five other men to go with him, much to the dismay of some of the women,
11:05who have barely had a chance to get on a helicopter at this point.
11:08"...trying to turn Beast Island into Sausage Island, and I don't like it."
11:12The next game requires a bit of skill, and there's actually a threat of elimination.
11:16Mr. Beast gives everyone a red ball, and there's a ten-minute timer ticking down to zero.
11:20The six people who throw their ball to the ground closest to the timer hitting zero get
11:24on the next helicopter.
11:26Anyone who's still holding their ball once the countdown ends is gone.
11:29It's a test of patience that reveals a lot about some of the players.
11:32Many throw their balls down immediately.
11:34They may not get on the next helicopter, but they will live on to fight in another game.
11:38Others hedge their bets a bit more closely.
11:40By the end, 20 folks are still holding balls, bringing the total count of remaining players
11:45to 128.
11:47When a bunch of people are isolated together, it's only natural for factions to break out.
11:52Beast Games sees a bit of that come to the surface with Episode 4's third challenge.
11:56With 110 people still competing for a spot on a helicopter, Mr. Beast gives everyone
12:00a coin.
12:01The challenge is for one person to acquire at least 100 of them.
12:04If they can amass a full 100, then they'll get a spot on the helicopter and can choose
12:08five more to go with them.
12:10In the event no one can acquire the necessary 100 coins, then the helicopter leaves empty.
12:15Almost immediately, people start chanting for Jeremy, aka The Preacher.
12:19Jeremy!
12:20Jeremy!
12:21Jeremy!
12:22Jeremy!
12:23Jeremy!
12:24Jeremy was one of the four captains who gave up $1 million to keep going.
12:28Some contestants want to reward him for his integrity, but not everyone is convinced.
12:32There's a concern that Jeremy won't take any women with him, and others simply don't like
12:36the cult-like following he has, especially after some of these people hint at reprisals
12:40for anyone who doesn't hand over their coin.
12:42Jeremy tells the others that he'll pray to determine which five players will go with
12:46him.
12:47In the end, Jeremy gets over 100 coins, and after praying, takes four men and only one
12:51woman.
12:53For the next challenge, Mr. Beast brings in three helicopters that can take 18 more people
12:56to go to the Beast Island.
12:59It's a real make-or-break moment, and the game is exceptionally tough.
13:02The remaining contestants in Beast City divide into groups of six and are told to form lines.
13:06The person at the front of that line gets a red glass ball and a pedestal to balance
13:10it on.
13:11The objective is to pass the stand and the ball to each of the players, with the three
13:14teams who get the ball to the end of the line fastest getting a helicopter ticket.
13:18However, some teams realize there's another winning strategy.
13:21Rather than trying to get the ball to the end, they realize they can just hold it, rather
13:25than try to pass it and let the other teams break their balls first.
13:28The lateral thinking pays off.
13:31The fifth challenge in Episode 4 is another psychological test.
13:34Contestants are told to wear blindfolds and to stand around the helicopter landing pad.
13:38With 60 seconds on the clock, players must decide whether to step forward into the inner
13:42circle.
13:43If more than one person steps in, then everyone within that inner circle gets eliminated.
13:47However, if only one person steps forward, they and five friends get a ticket to Beast
13:51Island.
13:52People immediately start playing mind games, shouting out that they have stepped forward
13:55even though they're hanging back.
13:57I'm just gonna lie.
13:58I'm on it!"
14:00Two women actually do step forward, which means they get eliminated.
14:04It only takes until the second round for just one person to get into the inner circle, and
14:08they advance to the island along with five others.
14:10With the two players gone from the first round, the total remaining stands at 126, with 78
14:15of those still trying to get to the island.
14:18The next game isn't for a spot on Beast Island.
14:20It's yet another bribe, with Mr. Beast offering players the chance to walk away with up to
14:25$250,000.
14:27Players can either climb up one tower to continue going after the $5 million grand prize, or
14:32the other, and split the $250,000 with however many other players decide to call it quits.
14:38A lot of people have already gone home with nothing to show for it, so it's understandable
14:42that at this stage, some would want to take the easy way out.
14:4518 people choose to split the $250,000 bribe, which means they each go home with just under
14:50$14,000.
14:52Considering they spent a few days playing minigames, it's not a bad payout, but that
14:56just means there are 60 people left trying to get a ticket, while 48 have already advanced.
15:01At the top of the tower with everyone left trying for a helicopter seat, the new goal
15:05is to throw a red ball toward a golden briefcase on the ground.
15:08Whoever gets their ball closest to the briefcase will get a ticket for themselves and five
15:12pals.
15:13Many people overthrow their balls, and after some time, contestants start to realize that
15:17deflating their balls a little bit decreases the chance of it bouncing away.
15:20This isn't a foolproof method, as some deflated balls still aren't anywhere near the target.
15:26"...did not seem to work out for her."
15:28However, the strategy works out very well for player 696, who wins and selects five
15:32friends to go with her.
15:34With that, there's only one six-seat helicopter left.
15:37The final challenge of Episode 4 brings back some psychological manipulation.
15:41Mr. Beast has everyone break off into groups of six and stand on platforms.
15:45Just like with the potato sack race, friends assemble into groups, but that once again
15:49proves to be a mistake.
15:51"...these are the people you want to go on the helicopter with."
15:53"...yes, yes."
15:54Mr. Beast once again gives everyone a coin.
15:57The objective is for one person on each platform to get the coins from everyone else, meaning
16:01only one person per platform can make it to Beast Island.
16:05While some know immediately who's most deserving to keep playing, others resort to minigames.
16:09Not every platform's winner gets to go, with the ones taking the longest missing out on
16:13a seat.
16:14Everyone remaining gets sent home, while Beast Island now has its 60 inhabitants who will
16:18keep trying to win $5 million.