It was really awkward to type my comment in the episode 1 discussion on my phone since it kept deleting stuff, so I've waited until I'm on a computer for episode 4.
I don't really like where the show went in terms of direction after the second episode. The whole random game let's make up the rules as we go is such a dumb way of story telling that it really bothers me. Way to remove any form of tension and any sort of viewer knowledge by pulling shit out of your ass every show.
The whole speech thing, why were humans ever on top? Doesn't really make much sense, as great as a "we are inferior" speech is it holds absolutely no basis in reality. Weak people stay weak pretty much constantly, aristocrats and nobles stay at the top bar a select few events and even these days with a much higher social mobility the top tend to remain high up.
As well, the race piece is pretty dumb, 1) the rule isn't even clear on designated representatives, that is, the previous King designated this representative but how does that mean he speaks for literally every human out there? Are there no humans who identify more with elves? Why is there even a race piece doesn't that ingrain racism? What if I stand for half of the elves and half of the humans do I not get a piece? If me and my five mates delegate me for the pub quiz do I get a fancy magic piece?
Also the whole designated conflict was really dumb since obviously there will have been historical couples since they call people King and Queen not just Emperor or Ruler or another non-gender title for the person who controls everything.
Now I want to go through the rules in further depth:
1. All murder, war, and robbery is forbidden in this world.
Right, well he declared war on everyone so that's a good functioning rule. First comment is that it seems the rules are enforced automatically so that you don't actually need a judge, court or anything like that. How else would you stop murder and robbery?
Second is that murder is explicitly defined as unlawful killing, that is I can run you over and it's not murder it'll be manslaughter or just an accident or whatever. However the way you define it in our reality tends to be either via a court of law or via apophasis. Robbery is obviously taking something that you do not own without permission, this leads to a lot of things not being possible in this world that are in ours. Particularly if someone is injured and you want to help them there's no kind of recourse for these situations unless you own it or have prior permission.
2 All conflict in this world will be resolved through games.'
There's less to say about this rule but, why couldn't my game just be murder, war or whatever? Isn't life a game with the highest stakes? Anyway, there are clearly non-sapient animals about, do they play games? A lion and another lion can clearly experience conflict so yeah.
3. In games, each player will bet something that they agree is of equal value.
This is a dumb rule. In that I don't understand the agreeing of equal value part. it doesn't make things be equal, it doesn't change what is bet. I can bet 1 gold coin against your 100 as long as we both agree it is of equal value so what's the point? If I don't want to play against you I'll just never say they are of equal value.
Since you obviously can lie about it this rule isn't enforced as we've seen already, bag of gold for 2 lives, Blank obviously value themselves a lot more than that but the expected value is really high because he wins.
Also it was really dumb to play one hand of poker a largely luck based game, especially since magic exists and they could have been cheated out right there.
Also, why the people playing for Kingship losing their clothes? Surely they are only betting their chance to be King? I think fanservice because the other girl doesn't lose her clothes when she loses.
4.
As long as it doesn't violate pledge three, anything may be bet, and any game may be played.
This seems to suggest you can violate rule 1 though, otherwise why point it out? Surely all rules are inviolable or at least in precedence of order. As I said I would just play the game of life, make up random rules about having the most progeny in 1 million years time or something.
5. The challenged party has the right to decide the rules of the game.
As I said this is so easily abused it is unreal. "I decide that the first rule is I will win".
Also that really fucking stupid scene where he did the rock paper scissors and said "if I don't play paper I'll lose" then they tied because she lost the actual game, then he asked for a "little favour" which apparently is equivalent to falling in love is really dumb and makes no sense. Surely there has to be a meeting of the minds over what is said otherwise the entire society of all the world would devolve into stupid word plays and contracts.
Also, since he tied he didn't lose and therefore cheated by breaking the rules of the game meaning he lost, etc, etc. Either way that's not how ties work.
6. Any bets made in accordance with the pledges must be upheld.
Must be upheld instead of are upheld suggests there is some sort of choice but I don't really know how someone would be punished for not upholding it so again I assume it's enforced. This is fine, super easily abused. Why isn't everyone in the world a slave? You can start a Von Neumann device by chaining demands that people obey you, or people who are already obeying you, and then order them to go play with as many people as they can. Play something stupidly gameable and you exponentially grow.
7. Conflicts between groups will be conducted by designated representatives with absolute authority.
This is a weird rule, what defines groups, why isn't them taking land not just a conflict with the people in the land but with the whole race, etc, etc, who decides who gets to represent, how is it decided, etc, etc. Again, easily abused by getting a representative elected who is already obeying you, once they have absolute authority you make them lose, repeat ad naseausm.
8. Being caught cheating during a game is grounds for an instant loss.
Fine rule, caught cheating is vague, do I have to prove their cheating? How does it work? Who is the arbiter of this?
9. In the name of god, the previous rules may never be changed.
This is a weird rule, you are the ruler maker, you don't need to say this.
10. Let's all have fun and play together!
This is clearly not a rule since I watched this show and people weren't constantly playing and having fun. |