Kakegurui is what I’d call the epitome of expecting the unexpected. Well, that phrase itself contradicts its own meaning of course and Kakegurui perfectly fits the phrase.
Why does the phrase contradict? Well simply because expecting the unexpected would make the unexpected expected and basically the phrase itself throws you into a loop until the outcome is revealed.
Such is with Kakegurui. In the elite school, gambling is everything and losing a gamble can mean losing your life. Nothing matters anymore if you lose a large bet. What defines ‘large’?
Large can mean putting your entire life on the line.. and one single game could mean your life is no longer yours.
So with such large risks, the students of the school tend to cheat. It’s quite the most obvious and logical thing to do. With such large stakes, losing is not an option.
However, the main character as well as some major supporting characters are true to the word gambling. They are gambling addicts.
They do not cheat nor do they tolerate cheating.
Students of the elite school tend to choose their words very wisely and take advantage of even the slightest loophole in the rules of any game.
So, expecting the unexpected.
Our main character really throws us through a roller coaster of emotions.
Anticipation, excitement, pity, envy and many more.
How? Simply by gambling.
Our main character is a true gambler. She loves the adrenaline and the unexpected.
As viewers we experience what the character experiences because even though we have the feeling that everything will play out well in the end, there is also a chance things might not. We as viewers are also taking a gamble on whether things will turn out as we expect.
I’m also getting excited because of the fact that the outcome is really unpredictable. I as a viewer and I’m sure the spectators as well would be anticipating how our main character, Jabami Yumeko can turn the odds to her favour.
The games Jabami gambles in or even other characters gambling usually have the odds against the person invited to gamble and the odds are normally in favour of those that host the game.
But it is always very exciting to see how the odds turn against the hosts or the loopholes in game rules getting exploited back against them.
Some games aren’t even poker cards etc.
Anything goes, from spinning gun barrels and firing, that too counts as gambling.
Gambling is taken to the next level in this anime. Taken to the extreme.
And that’s what I love about Kakegurui.
Orgasms, Gambling, Torture, Drugs, Poison, Weapons and Money
The Essence of Kakegurui. And Kakegurui x x is literally the same thing.
But with much much more interesting characters, gambling games and intense -
Well, everything. Everything is intense. That is the essence of gambling
And well, Kakegurui takes it to a new level
Our voice actors did a great job. They performed the sadistic sides of all our characters perfectly. The sound and chosen music fit in just right.
The art remains decent. Nothing really changed as with the characters. Except that new characters were introduced. New dangerous characters that further reveal some untold truths.
The art is perfect at displaying all sides of the characters. Be it the sadistic side, the fearful side, the anger side and the many other sides.
Like seeing Yumeko turn from the cute harmless girl to a sadistic demonic witch that doesn’t care nor think about others suffering when she’s in a gambling match.
Dreadful but flawless.
This review was written on 03-04-19 and may be outdated. I may have changed my rating due to various reasons.
