Season 1 set the bar; Season 2 took the same bar and hauled ass in the opposite direction
High-Stakes Games Meet High-Level Decline
✨ THE GOOD:
Still thrilling when it works – Emotionally heavy bouts and standout games kept the adrenaline high. Some episodes still slap.
Ensemble expansion – Chishiya, Kuina, Ann, Aguni, and Heiya got more breathing room. Some side arcs hit hard emotionally.
Cinematic scale – Tokyo’s voided streets, game arenas, VFX and score deliver big-budget energy.
🧠 THE “BRO, WHERE’S THE LOGIC?” MOMENTS:
Plot armor put on steroids – Characters survive explosions, shootings, and 3-on-1 knife fights like they’re in slow-mo. Armenians worth more than bullets.
Dialogue and pacing drag – Endless emo speeches during crap games and lingering shots of random NOTHING. It’s like reading feels bullet points in fast motion.
Unnecessary monologues on survival — Every episode someone retells the “power of will” narrative like we didn’t hear it already.
Ending that gaslights you — Dramatic reveals turned into plot swirl and left viewers asking “Wait did this even mean anything?”
💔 THE “WHEN IT WORKS, IT’S PURE” MOMENT(S):
Games like the King of Clubs and Heart games still pack emotional punches. They shine... briefly.
Development for Arisu and Usagi deepens during solo struggles and flashbacks. Some emotional growth lands—but not enough.
Nostalgia kick: the final sequence tying Borderland to the meteor strike + Joker teaser gives hope for Season 3.
🎯 VERDICT:
"Like getting handed the sequel to your favorite book—and then the author tells you the pens broke halfway through."
Watch if: You crave flashy games, trauma theater, and plot holes big enough for the Joker to stroll through.
Skip if: you need logical stakes, emotional consistency, or characters who don’t act like NPCs in a glitchy game.
Best paired with: 🎮 A highlight reel of early games, scratch paper for plot-hole bingo, and the soundtrack on repeat.
✨ THE GOOD:
Still thrilling when it works – Emotionally heavy bouts and standout games kept the adrenaline high. Some episodes still slap.
Ensemble expansion – Chishiya, Kuina, Ann, Aguni, and Heiya got more breathing room. Some side arcs hit hard emotionally.
Cinematic scale – Tokyo’s voided streets, game arenas, VFX and score deliver big-budget energy.
🧠 THE “BRO, WHERE’S THE LOGIC?” MOMENTS:
Plot armor put on steroids – Characters survive explosions, shootings, and 3-on-1 knife fights like they’re in slow-mo. Armenians worth more than bullets.
Dialogue and pacing drag – Endless emo speeches during crap games and lingering shots of random NOTHING. It’s like reading feels bullet points in fast motion.
Unnecessary monologues on survival — Every episode someone retells the “power of will” narrative like we didn’t hear it already.
Ending that gaslights you — Dramatic reveals turned into plot swirl and left viewers asking “Wait did this even mean anything?”
💔 THE “WHEN IT WORKS, IT’S PURE” MOMENT(S):
Games like the King of Clubs and Heart games still pack emotional punches. They shine... briefly.
Development for Arisu and Usagi deepens during solo struggles and flashbacks. Some emotional growth lands—but not enough.
Nostalgia kick: the final sequence tying Borderland to the meteor strike + Joker teaser gives hope for Season 3.
🎯 VERDICT:
"Like getting handed the sequel to your favorite book—and then the author tells you the pens broke halfway through."
Watch if: You crave flashy games, trauma theater, and plot holes big enough for the Joker to stroll through.
Skip if: you need logical stakes, emotional consistency, or characters who don’t act like NPCs in a glitchy game.
Best paired with: 🎮 A highlight reel of early games, scratch paper for plot-hole bingo, and the soundtrack on repeat.
Was this review helpful to you?
