Kakegurui

I'm by no means the target audience for this series; I don't like manga particularly and I'm 40 years old. I was simply bored and looking for a fun watch. And mostly, this was a fun watch. I liked how Yumeko was portrayed and I think she, and all the other characters, could have been way more over the top.

I didn't care much about the plot to be fair. And the sentimental bits I could have done without.

Sometimes it's just nice to watch something that requires zero thought. Plenty of serious stuff around to watch if I'm in the mood for it.

I went in expecting nothing. I left it having had some good laughs and sorta wondering what a second season could bring. Won't hold my breath for it but I'd watch it if I had a couple days off work.

By the way, just look at the writers' names to know it's Americanized. Not necessarily a bad thing. Ymmv.

At one end of the critical spectrum I bet we have the anime faithful who feel betrayed in whatever capacity, and at the other I'll wager we have friends and families of the live action adaptation. I'm putting my money on Yumeko, since Ms. Martineau is clearly having a field day playing an unhinged gambler with a hidden feudal Japanese clan agenda. The rest of the cast is acting like they have an actual stake in this game, and the overall vibe is I daresay, delightfully mischievous, with a sprinkle of Sex Education (minus the good vibes). Plus, how can you go wrong with the message that the world is controlled by soulless cheats who run it like a roulette table with a hidden switch. Of course our true overlords are the tech idiot savants who are ruining the planet, but their avatars on this remake of Kakegurui will do.

Kakegurui didn't need this. The anime was stylish, chaotic brilliance, and the original live action adaptation already captured that well enough. This remake is a total insult. It reeks of lazy Americanization, stripping out everything unique and replacing it with bland, safe garbage. The actors look like they were pulled from a casting call for toothpaste commercials hawkweed, unattractive, and completely lacking the unhinged magnetism the roles demand. The cinematography is flat, the energy is gone, and every creative choice feels sanitized by clueless execs chasing trends. It's not just bad. It's embarrassing. Don't watch this.

Truly do not understand the terrible reviews. If you go into this expecting some sort of cinematic masterpiece then yeah, you're going to be disappointed and hate yourself. But that's on you.

I found the show oddly compelling and totally binged it, as evidenced by my writing a review on the whole thing, what, a day or two after it was released? Don't judge me, I have no life. 😂

The acting is touch and go - Yumeko is great, Ryan is good, Michael is freaking terrible. The plot is thin, because it spends too much time laser-focused on a singular aspect before blowing it wide open on the penultimate episode - this was a miscalculation that may cost the series a second season, though I find myself hoping not.

All in all, I'd watch a second season and -do- recommend the series...but you HAVE to go into it with zero expectations and just enjoy it for it what it is. Let yourself have some fun - it ain't gonna kill ya. ;)

Was gonna give it a 7, but subtracted a star for the Japanese RickRoll at the end of the finale.

Japanese version was way better!

Costume : Not attractive at all. Just look at how Japanese could remake a real-life one. Just look at how the Japanese managed to create a realistic and captivating design.

Characters selection : Yumeko is a good one. Others are just really "inspiring". A drama for _ _ _ _ _ ++++++

Gambling : Games just can't show the excitement, which supposed to be the main point. Fails to capture the thrill and excitement.

Anime vibes : None, except for Yumeko. (Might be this is foreign style of anime remake that not suits me at all.)

Plot : Not bad overall, at least manage to steer the drama forward.

All personal feelings, it's okay to disagree on it.