Great Pretender
a review by Umepho
a review by Umepho
If you're telling a story and you insert the words 'plot twist' in it, and you're friend asks you 'what does that mean?' just direct them to this anime.
It is actually insane how well-built this anime is.
I first got hooked by learning about
My favorite character and I mean this after watching the entire 2 seasons
It is definitely my boy Salazar.
we only got to see him in that arc/case but I actually like that better. Let him live a good life with his son, away from anymore schemes.
However something I didn't like and I totally need to address is,
THE RACISM IN THIS SHOW.
And no I'm not the sensitive type who finds a complaint in the small things, for one, I use the word nigga/nigger as an Arab.(this is normal in the middle east) and I'm homophobic.
Yet even with such relax mindset, I wasn't able to rule out the stereotyping on two people: Sam Ibrahim, and Dororthy.starting of with Sam Ibrahim, the older son of the two ibrahim brothers.
Excluding the outfit and facial hair they gave him, which clears out his race through one glaze,
Sam Ibrahim was portrayed as a SEXIST who believes woman cannot race or compete, and then to top it off THEY MADE HIM INTO YOUNG WOMAN. I'm not sure exactly what that was suppose to mean, but it hints into pedophilia quite obviously, especially when he said 'They're only muses until they turn 20' when talking about woman.
And of course his backstory is being the prince of a country that's rich because of its OIL. Moreover, he basically bombed the airplane of the competitor, making him a TERRORIST.
And yet with all those stereotypical characteristics they put for Sam, somehow he can DRINK ALCHOHOL. and somehow his last name is IBRAHIM when that is mainly used for Christian arabs (he is Muslim, the outfit gave it away)
Moving on to the second person, Dorothy
You noticed it right away, am I right?
The big lips that even lipstick can't fully cover
The back palms being a different color
The frog eyelashes.
I was quite excited for Dorothy's arc since it is what got me interested, but once she was on the screen I couldn't bare looking at her
They ruined what could be a beautiful woman for some stereotypical characteristics.
Moving on from this topic, let's talk about the main character: Edamura Makoto
Everytime he tried to restart his life as an honest worker, and someone with a normal life
Trying to atone for his sins, and working to please his dead mother
LAURENT FUCKS IT UP.
Don't get me wrong I love Laurent, his confidence in his acting, his flirtatious attitude, and his inner worries that thicken his character, such as his love for Dorothy.
It's all very well built, and they mix together to make this messed up refreshing character Laurent.
But can he just leave my man Makoto alone FOR GOD'S SAKE.
In the last arc(case 4) When Makoto came up with the ending of the plan
IT WAS SO SATISFYING SEEING HIM EXPRESS HIS FEELINGS.
I FELT SO RELIEVED.
like yes, thankyou! tell me!
Tell me how hard it is seeing everyone act selfish, and then plan all this for some former partner(Dorothy) after all that talk about being lone wolves, and no such thing as partners.
His dad, the way he left them, the way he gave himself in for Dorothy's sake
Laurent, who needs him for his schemes, as if taking his dad wasn't enough
HE HAD EVERY RIGHT DESPISING LAURENT. EVERY SINGLE FIBER OF THAT BODY HAD EVERY RIGHT.
Later on, Abby mentions that their was reality in his acting, and he Makoto goes 'who knows, i had other reasons too' however I fully believe those were his true feelings being expressed
And I'm glad they listened to them with full attention, as he DESERVES SO.
This is what I mainly wanted to express, I think the score is on point
The 76 looks beautiful, ahahah
Obviously you do not have to agree to this
P.S: English is not my first language so please excuse any mistakes
As for the movie, I actually haven't checked it out yet, but I'm not very interested in doing so either
Considering it does not contain any of the original cast, and not even Laurent?! That's a crime.
I'd love for it to get a sequel, a proper one. A third season with the original cast
Where Dorothy finds Laurent, they do a case where both Makoto and his dad scheme it
And then they execute it perfectly.
thank-You for reading, hope this shifts your perspective on 'Great Pretender'
I didn't include much, just 3 main points
I think the best way to know your opinion is to watch it yourself12.5 out of 14 users liked this review
