Cyberpunk: Edgerunners

Warning - Contains Spoilers
This is just a note that got too long to fit the 6000-character word count so constructive criticism is pretty much already outa the window. Everything's an opinion all the way through.

Ever since I laid eyes on the first trailer for Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, I knew I was going to love it. Though I haven't played the game, something about the neon-drenched, tech-driven world of corporate malevolence just spoke to me. Much like how Akudama Drive introduced me to cyberpunk themes, Edgerunners solidified my love for the genre.

However, despite its incredible visuals, I couldn't help but feel that Akudama Drive was flawed in its story - it lacked coherence and, at times, seemed downright absurd. Though I was enamoured by the aesthetic and the world it presented, I couldn't call it perfect.

And let's not forget Psycho-Pass. A show that I started, stopped, and restarted twice, only to eventually abandon it. Even now, it taunts me from my dropped list. Why you might ask? Simply put, it was unbearably dull. To be fair, the world-building in Psycho-Pass was top-notch and truly a treasure in its own right. The Sybil System is one hell of a marvel. However, the characters left much to be desired, feeling like hollow shells rather than fleshed-out individuals. Like a patch of oil in an ocean full of water that is the world the show created. Coming off as mere vessels serving the purpose of moving the plot forward, lacking any true depth.

Now, we have Edgerunners. The mere thought of its ED brings tears to my eyes, and I found myself crying for nearly 10 minutes straight during the finale. In my opinion, this is the epitome of the Cyberpunk genre. A perfect incarnation. It's been a long time since I've been this confident in my declaration of love for a show. The last time I felt this way was after watching Gintama, but it took me nearly 300 episodes to build a connection and become emotional about not only the main trio but everyone else as well. Edgerunners, on the other hand, managed to grab hold of my heart and never let go within just 10 episodes.

The OP and ED of Edgerunners are not only visually stunning, but their thematic presence is undeniable. Plus the songs are bangers. The opening captures David's determination, while the ending reflects Lucy's struggles and regrets. The OP and ED are such standout pieces that I never once felt the need to skip them. This is one of the rare shows where I didn't skip anything. Only one show before managed that and it was The Millionaire Detective. The lyrics, in particular, are perfectly intertwined with the story and worldbuilding of Edgerunners.

With each episode I watched, the emotions I felt during the ED grew stronger and stronger, until I found myself shedding a tear when Episode 9 ended. In that light, you might've already guessed what it was like during the finale. It was a rollercoaster of emotions, and I was an emotional wreck. Honestly, I appreciate that the show didn't drag on for too long and ended at the perfect moment. It hit me like a truck, and it was a bittersweet experience. One filled with lingering pain and satisfaction.

I'm really glad I spent the time to grab an incredibly high-quality release of this, something I do not usually do. The visuals sure did pay off. Though it did not go into the highly experimental and CGI-ish route Akudama did to show off. I loved how everything looked. More than the looks, Edgerunners seems to have focused on making the world feel more alive. I'm glad they chose to go down that path because they absolutely nailed it. The world feels lived in, and events are always happening, not just centred around the main characters. This is a testament to the effort put into writing and animation. Every frame tells a story, and every background feels real. The world is bustling with activity, and there is never a dull moment.

I once heard someone describe this show with a single word. At the time, I thought they were wholly overstating it. But now, I understand how accurate it was. Edgerunners is pain. The show masterfully portrays this tragedy in such a subtle way. It doesn't hit you over the head with psychological horror, instead, it serves it up in small doses until it creeps into your mind. I spent a large portion of the show feeling melancholic, pondering the reality that no matter how I looked at it, everyone was truly fucked. And this is reflected in the character of David. He embraced the pain, even if it meant sacrificing his life. He kept running, first after his mother's dreams and then later in the show, after Maine's.

This is one of the reasons why it became increasingly difficult to continue watching each episode after the sixth. This episode marked a turning point and gave us an unfiltered view of what Night City truly is - a corporate dystopia. Even if you're an edgerunner, to make a living, you have to work for some heartless executive higher up in the corporate hierarchy. Despite the difficulties, stopping would have been even harder. The truth is, we all knew where the show was headed. If the opening credits weren't a giveaway, I don't know what was. Except for the entirety of Episode 6 itself, I suppose. It gave us a first-hand experience of Maine's descent into cyber psychosis. Yet, I never imagined the show would be as impactful as it was.

As I sit and reflect, I realize that the ache in my heart that I feel after watching this is not just for the characters. While I do empathize with their loss, it's the larger picture that really gets to me. The root of this pain is the world, the system, and the city. Night City, with all its power, is controlled by mega-corporations that do not have a shred of humanity in them. All they care about is the bottom line. This is a tragedy for all those who are not part of the elite class, and even then, it's not a bed of roses. The higher one rises, the more they are groomed to be morally bankrupt. It's this cyclical system that truly made me melancholic. Episode 6 only solidified this ideology, which was first established with the death of David's mother. The system, or Night City itself, is the true villain of the story. It's not Faraday or MaxTac, but the perpetuity that allows their existence.

Hahaha, it's hilarious how I watched this whole fucking journey in one sitting. I think the minutes I spent just staring into nothing after the ED rolled were symptoms of how much depth the Edgerunners packed. I think I'm going to need to take a little break to process this. I mean what can I say, this is one of those shows that leave a gaping hole in your heart.