This is one of the most baffling things I have experienced, for a quote unquote gambling anime it could not have been more boring. This review will be examining the biggest problems in this anime its plot, characters, stakes and intensity.
This review contains spoilers
The Plot
Brief Summary: This anime is set in an elitist school where the children seem to get away with gambling and nearly every character getting off on the thrill of it especially the new transfer student Yumeko.
Problems: Where are the teachers in this so called school? Why are they not supervising the students? These questions are left unanswered, as the rich children gamble away money with hardly any consequences. It is also another anime where they picture the student council as these 'Gods' but thanks to luck, Yumeko has literally no problems winning the gambles against these so called smart characters.
The Characters
Yumeko: A character only popular because "OMG! She is like so crazyyy and oh yeah hot waifu!!!!!", she is clever for no apparent reason, somehow knows the weights of a loaded pistol (which is never explained as to how she knows this) and always wins except when there are no stakes. The anime makes the fact that she will always win obvious for example there is no way she is losing the gamble where her life is on the line (e.g. with the pistol this scene literally happens midway through the anime) and when she is gambling against that pathetic weird rapist kid.
The other characters: There is really not that much to say all of them have no redeeming qualities and can be described in simple terms; crazy girl who masturbates in the toilets, rapist guy, 'smart' guy with glasses, idol, male who goes all shy when around Yumeko and the evil student council leader. Wow! What an interesting bunch!
The Stakes
This is one of the biggest problems I have with this anime, the stakes are so stupid. For example when Yumeko takes on the idol and shockingly wins, the idol's leaked recordings are exposed and what are the consequences? Nothing, the incel simps which are in attendance blurt out that they still love her even though she hates them and then the idol and Yumeko sing. Also, for example when Yumeko loses, it could have not been more obvious as the only consequence was that she would become a housepet which happens to those that lose all their money. However, Yumeko is not treated harshly by her classmates as seen with other housepets rather she acts like a cat for some of that fan service. A further problem I have with this anime is when the students gamble for example 5 million yen and get upset when they lose, this school is quite clearly betrayed as elitist and upper class. How is it possible that these rich snobs can't afford 5 million yen? Did their parents offshore accounts get hacked?
The Intensity
To show why the intensity of Kakegurui is an issue of mine, I want to use another gambling anime such as Kaiji as an example. In Kaiji, the intensity is gripping due to its iconic music such as the 'Zawa' sound effect, the close up looks of the characters faces and the amazing charismatic voice of the narrator. Kakegurui fails to do this, instead on relying on miserable fan service and Yumeko's eyes turning red because she is crazy!!! The intensity, is also ruined as in basically every single gamble Yumeko's opponent is cheating (shock horror!) and she then explains how they are cheating making her opponent's breakdown. This is clearly supposed to show Yumeko as being smart, in my opinion it just makes her opponents seem dumb especially when it is made so obvious to the audience what Yumeko will do.
Conclusion
Kakegurui is quite simply put a failure of a gambling anime although I will give its props when it comes to its opening which is quite catchy. It failed to make me interested in any of its characters or its plot and I doubt I will ever bring myself to watch its second season.
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