This Giant Beast That Is the Global Economy Season 1, Episode 6 review: It’s all about death

The problems of money don’t stop when we die. That’s something Kal Penn looks into in This Giant Beast That Is the Global Economy Season 1, Episode 6.

It’s all about death in This Giant Beast That Is the Giant Economy Season 1, Episode 6. Money problems don’t go away when we die. And various cultures have different expectations of families and societies at the time of death. Kal Penn explores all, including the truth behind the expensive funeral homes.

This was the episode that really made me think about Adam Ruins Everything. Watching that episode about death made me decide on what I wanted to happen with my body once I’m gone. However, one thing that episode lacked was a focus on international practices, which is where This Giant Beast looked.

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Kal Penn doesn’t just look at America’s fascination with embalming, viewings, and the money that funeral homes gain. He takes a look at practices around the world, particularly in China. Did you know that the Chinese will burn paper version of luxuries, favorite items, and even pets? That’s something we look at during “The Death Episode.”

Not only does he look at the culture, but the economy behind this culture. It’s a look at just how much the Chinese are willing to pay for their items — and yes, they are willing to sell their house to make sure their loved ones have their luxuries in the afterlife. It’s part of the expected culture!

However, a lot of the focus is on the practices in the Western World, especially the history of embalming. For those who don’t know the history, this could be interesting. For me, there wasn’t much in this part that I didn’t know because of the Adam Ruins Everything episode, but that’s okay. Not everyone had seen Adam Conover’s episode about the topic.

One thing that I’m glad This Giant Beast That Is the Global Economy did focus on is the fact that people have a choice. There may be social expectations, but there are no rights or wrongs about death and funerals. You don’t need to get the fanciest casket or be buried in burial grounds dedicated to your sports team.

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There’s a small look at natural burials. This isn’t as big as I would have liked and there isn’t the huge focus on the financial benefits of this, but it’s a way to put that idea in the mind of viewers. It’s something you’ll want to research after the episode.

Up until this point, I’d found the even numbered episodes the most disappointing. Episode 6 changed that, as it’s full of fascinating facts, a look at cultures around death, and the truth that you do have a choice. There’s clearly been plenty of research put into this.

What did you think of “The Death Episode?” Which episode has been your favorite so far? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

This Giant Beast That Is the Global Economy is currently available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.