TV Review: MOST DANGEROUS GAME: Season 1, Episode 2: The Motivation [Quibi]

Most Dangerous Game The Motivation Review 

Quibi’s Most Dangerous Game: Season 1, Episode 2: The Motivation is, like the title states, Dodge (Liam Hemsworth)’s motivation to do whatever it takes to save his family.

This episode of Most Dangerous Game is much needed for background information, making episode one a little more understandable on why Dodge would even consider being hunted by humans in exchange for money. There isn’t much action, like the first episode, but the insight it gives on his life and his current situation is needed in order to connect with his crisis.

I really liked the opening seen where the audience learns that Dodge was a track star and record breaker at the University of Michigan. The voice-over of the broadcast call of him breaking the record while he is going for a casual run on the city streets is well done and unique. What really caught my attention is when the broadcaster says that Dodge is “nothing but a winner”, showing that he had success and promise earlier in his life. That was a really neat way for the viewer to realize that Dodge was once looked at as having a bright future, and now he is in what seems to be a mid-life crisis where he nothing is going his way.

Another change that is refreshing compared to the first episode is the change of scenery. The colorful, vibrant views of the city is appealing to the eye, unlike the basic and boring room that the entirety of the first episode takes place in. After episode one, I questioned whether the scene work would be good, and this episode relieves me of that thought. The sunlight shining down on Dodge running and the over the top view of the city adds some pop to episode one.

Whatever Dodge is sick with is serious and disrupts simple tasks such as making eggs, as he drops them in his kitchen. The point of this episode is to convince the viewer that the decision he makes in episode one is the right one given his current condition. This point continuously shows up in this episode. In the same scene, he notices late bills that have yet to be paid for his medications, adding to his stress.

When we meet his wife (Sarah Gadon) it further proves the fact that Dodge is not well. Something as simple as a broken brick on his walkway is dragging him down, along with important things like preparing for his baby that all rely on his job that is falling through. Dodge tells his wife that he is focused, but it is obvious to the watcher that he is not indeed focused, and everything in his life is falling apart around him. How is wife explains to him how he has never given up in his entire life makes me excited for the coming episodes where Dodge is being hunted. This man has put up a fight in the past, and I cannot wait to see the fight he puts up when everything is on the line.

The entirety of the episode is how his life is falling apart in front of him, and the scene of him talking to his friend (who also lost money in his investment with Dodge) is uplifting, and it is really the only positive scene in the short eight minute episode. It is clear Dodge has the support around him through this time in his life, which is important to note. Not all that is going on is negative, which can make his decision ultimately harder to take the challenge he is offered in season one.

Overall, this episode offered so much in what little time was given. The final scene illustrates what looks to be the last straw in Dodge’s head, where he almost dies after collapsing into the city street. His condition, physically and mentally, is not where it should be, and it seems as though he is willing to do anything it takes to safe his family, but not himself. This episode is easy to watch, well written, and provides the detail and backstory we need to move forward in the series.

Leave your thoughts on this Most Dangerous Game The Motivation review and this episode of Most Dangerous Game below in the comments section. Readers seeking to support this type of content can visit our Patreon Page and become one of FilmBook’s patrons. Readers seeking more Most Dangerous Game can visit our Most Dangerous Game Page, our Quibi Page, and our Quibi Twitter Page. Readers seeking more TV show reviews can visit our TV Show Review Page and our TV Show Review Twitter Page. Want up-to-the-minute notification? FilmBook staff members publish articles by Email, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and Flipboard.