Watching 'Kakegurui' Season 2 Episode 1

Last month, the second season of the live action adaptation of Kakegurui dropped on Netflix. As such, we come to another instance where I have positive and negative feelings towards Netflix's modus operandi. While I was aware a second season was on the horizon, unless I had the release date bookmarked after checking the actual Netflix page daily to even find said release date, I decided to not worry about it and get on with things 'til I happened to check the page on a whim and found the new season has dropped. It is understandable that they would not be able to afford marketing for everything that is on the platform, but it is an inconvenience that I am less than pleased to keep up with when the rest of the anime I watched has a good advanced schedule. At the same time, I am grateful for Netflix for actually putting this show on their platform at all.

Watching this first episode reminded me of what an absolute delight this show actually is. It knows exactly what it is and does not hold back in the ridiculousness of what is going on in the show itself. In fact the way that this show is reminds me a lot of how the Fast and the Furious franchise treats its films, self aware and reveling in it. What's more, because this second season is only five episodes long, and combining that with the fact that I have caught up with the anime, I predict that this entire season would revolve around the idol gamble. Which, as is usually the case with Kakegurui, is a wild ride of ludicrous proportions.

Narratively the first episode carries on where the previous left off, and immediately seeing the sets, locations, characters, and listening to the soundtrack made me smile as I love each of these aspects in one way or another. The episode starts off wasting no time in introducing us to the head of the student council who was teased throughout the first season, Kirari Momobami. Straight from the off we see her eyes glow blue as we saw so many times with Yumeko's red eyes through season one. I am always surprised at how well this effect works in live action. Within this introduction we get a taste of the type of dialogue that I love to listen to, fast paced and snarky.

Moving on to the opening of the show, it is different, yet the movement on screen has retained the energy that matches the song so well that the opening alone is a treat. The colour palette, the sets, the editing, all of it works in just the right way.

The acting is beyond over the top, and considering the over the top situations the characters find themselves in, it matches perfectly and becomes incredibly entertaining to watch. Naturally, because of this, the viewer needs to have a high suspension of disbelief.

While each episode is only twenty five minutes long, I am surprised by how much they managed to cram into an episode without it feeling rushed. The characters are re-established, we have a recap of the previous season, the new characters are introduced along with their personalities and desires, and the next gamble is set up and even makes a start on things. While much of what we see and hear is outlandish because of these technical proficiencies, I must admit there is a lot of skill behind this show.

The sets and locations at times feel as if it is a stage, and this is by no means a detriment, as I find it quite charming, and being back in this over the top world does put a smile on my face. My favourite part of this episode was when the Yumeko's three friends are in the crowd, and she walks on stage with the idol. The hard cut to their collective reactions and the three very different expressions that they had made me laugh hard.

Now that the idol gamble arch has begun, I can't wait to watch the rest of this season and enjoy the ride ahead.