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EP. REVIEW: Joker Game


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Stark700



Joined: 30 Jan 2012
Posts: 11762
Location: Earth
PostPosted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 6:48 pm Reply with quote
Took me a little while to get used to this show at first but I think it's good so far in particular with its characters like Sakuma and the time setting.

And Production I.G. helms this show..so I think the animation is fairly well done as well. I hope it can stay consistent with the story as it's a 1-cour though.
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JacobC
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Joined: 15 Jan 2008
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Location: SoCal
PostPosted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 6:53 pm Reply with quote
Jacob here, just wanted to say: I am not a history buff, and I'm basically researching this time period with fresh eyes while watching the show, so if you have a more historical perspective on this setting or characters that could help me out, feel free to share what you know! And if I get anything wrong, like I probably will, feel free to let me know about that too and I'll do my best to correct any big historical gaffes. Thanks!
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Yogshi



Joined: 05 Jul 2015
Posts: 21
PostPosted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 7:02 pm Reply with quote
As much as I enjoyed this 2-part introduction, I find myself lost as to how this show will move going forward.

This isn't a plot complaint, but a character one. Setting aside Col. Yuuki and Sakuma we have 8 presumably important characters that are basically a blob of "cool spy dude" I hope ep3-5 give us something to connect with these jokers as people.
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Themaster20000



Joined: 05 Aug 2014
Posts: 863
PostPosted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 7:06 pm Reply with quote
My fears about the show are put to rest with this episode. Am little iffy on the handling of the exposition but am starting to warm up to Sukuma as a character. The art direction so far is fantastic and the shot composition is great(that wide shot at the end was beautiful). Really looking forward to seeing where it goes.
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killjoy_the



Joined: 30 May 2015
Posts: 2457
PostPosted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 7:13 pm Reply with quote
Quote:
Joker Game is already offering viewers a world with rich and varied perspectives, even if the way they express those views is not remotely subtle


Unfortunately, this kind of killed the second episode for me. Not on a message level (I don't really care too much on that front) but more on how on-your-face the entire show is being towards the simplest things.
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AiddonValentine



Joined: 07 Aug 2006
Posts: 2201
PostPosted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 7:19 pm Reply with quote
Yeah, Imperial Japan is one hell of a hot topic to take on from any perspective. During my own research into postwar Japan for a class, there were and still are a plethora of different interpretations of just how much power Hirohito had during the war. MacArthur's own memoirs painted the man as more of a figurehead who was pressured by severely right-wing, ultra nationalists like Tojo and was rightfully horrified when he learned of the Death Marches. Of course talking about the man in a negative was also taboo during his lifetime but when he passed in the late 80s the discussion got so heated that a right wing groups shot the then-mayor of Nagasaki for asserting Hirohito's implications in the war.

Anyway, Joker Game is panning out to be a pretty tense and interesting thriller with commentary on the "good ol' days" mentality gone wrong we've seen in so many other shows.
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Shay Guy



Joined: 03 Jul 2009
Posts: 2092
PostPosted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 7:25 pm Reply with quote
I take it we can expect the creators to be getting some angry emails and social media posts, then!
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FilthyCasual



Joined: 01 Jun 2015
Posts: 2165
PostPosted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 7:27 pm Reply with quote
Jacob wrote:
As the final cherry on this betrayal sundae, Sakuma's own reckless sense of duty impelled him to promise everyone a consequence of hara-kiri for his failure.

Miyoshi forced him into that one while acting as his interpreter. He told Gordon in English that Sakuma would kill himself if there wasn't anything, and Gordon acquiesced.

As for the show itself, I've been really enjoying it. Tomokazu Seki's been doing a great job; it's always interesting to hear him do other voices besides Gilgamesh. Now that we've seen Sakuma's introduction, I'm excited to see focus on the other characters, who aside from Miyoshi I can't even remember the names of.
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Themaster20000



Joined: 05 Aug 2014
Posts: 863
PostPosted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 7:34 pm Reply with quote
Am sure the other characters will get some development in the coming. The focus was all on Sakuma considering this was prologue (this really would've worked better as a 48 min episode).
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zrnzle500



Joined: 04 Oct 2014
Posts: 3767
PostPosted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 7:35 pm Reply with quote
I had a feeling that it would not be right wing propaganda (and also one commenter in the preview guide mentioned how the source was very much not). Not to say that fears that it would be are unfounded, what with a recent adapted work that was such (though less so in the anime than the source) and some outspoken revisionist nationalists.

Also @AiddonValentine it was 1989 when Hirohito died to be specific.
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crosswithyou



Joined: 15 Dec 2007
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PostPosted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 8:18 pm Reply with quote
Quote:
Sakuma's own reckless sense of duty impelled him to promise everyone a consequence of hara-kiri for his failure.

Actually it was Miyoshi who trapped Sakuma with that, so I think this sentence is rather misrepresentative of Sakuma's character. Miyoshi told Gordon that Sakuma would slit his belly if nothing was found, and Sakuma panicked when he found out what Miyoshi had said.

Since I generally don't read synopses before watching a series, this was not the type of series I was expecting when I started watching Joker Game. I'm pleasantly surprised though and it's nice to see Seki Tomokazu in another lead role so soon after Rakugo Shinjuu. Shimono's deeper tone for Miyoshi is pretty refreshing too.
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Animechic420



Joined: 25 Sep 2012
Posts: 1724
Location: A Cave Filled With Riches
PostPosted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 8:21 pm Reply with quote
Themaster20000 wrote:
Am sure the other characters will get some development in the coming. The focus was all on Sakuma considering this was prologue (this really would've worked better as a 48 min episode).

That's what I'm hoping for, too. I'd really like to see more background from those 8 guys. They interest me greatly. Wink
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JacobC
ANN Contributor


Joined: 15 Jan 2008
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PostPosted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 8:33 pm Reply with quote
crosswithyou wrote:
Quote:
Sakuma's own reckless sense of duty impelled him to promise everyone a consequence of hara-kiri for his failure.

Actually it was Miyoshi who trapped Sakuma with that, so I think this sentence is rather misrepresentative of Sakuma's character. Miyoshi told Gordon that Sakuma would slit his belly if nothing was found, and Sakuma panicked when he found out what Miyoshi had said.


Ah right, there was a week (and lots of other anime premieres) in between these episodes so I forgot that detail. In any case, Sakuma did seem pretty prepared to do it until he snapped out of it!
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crosswithyou



Joined: 15 Dec 2007
Posts: 2892
Location: California
PostPosted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 9:05 pm Reply with quote
JesuOtaku wrote:
In any case, Sakuma did seem pretty prepared to do it until he snapped out of it!

But I think it could be argued that it was more out of pride rather than duty.
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Gina Szanboti



Joined: 03 Aug 2008
Posts: 11306
PostPosted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 9:07 pm Reply with quote
About the only thing I have to add to the sentiments in the review was that I really liked how they segued from Mutou's office to the exterior shot that followed by bleeding over the sounds of him breaking everything in the room into the metallic broken-glass sounds of the streetcar on the tracks. That was very nicely done! Very Happy
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