Great Pretender

Yes, the Japanese Ocean’s Eleven has a lot of style, and there is no question about that. I have to say this was a very satisfying and enjoyable show. The characters were, in my opinion, both very endearing and well-drawn, and I could easily empathize with their motivations even when not based on their pasts. I also liked Edamura. I liked his inner moral dilemmas, choosing between what is right and perhaps what is more right, and I could relate to him quite well most of the time. I did not start to find Cynthia interesting until I really got to know her, although I certainly do not understand the criticisms that she is an irritating character. On the one hand, Abigail is a little bit crazy, and on the other hand, I like her personality which is closed and complicated. I also liked Laurent who is a charismatic, likable guy, and his backstory was probably my favorite. I really enjoyed the whole show and I did not find a single story-arc boring (Los Angeles Connection 9/10, Singapore Sky 7/10, Snow of London 8/10, Wizard of Far East 8/10), they were all decently paced, with good ideas and twists. The animation and soundtrack (who does not like Freddie?) were excellent. I am a happy boy. 8/10. (17/11/2023)

The creators could not have come up with a more confusing Great Pretender sequel. Is it a movie? A series? A sequel, spin-off, or just a loose continuation? And what about Dorothy's story? Will it continue, or are we left hanging? There are so many new questions without answers yet. From what I've seen, I was hoping for something much better – more intriguing, funnier, and better planned out. I was especially looking forward to the original group having a significant impact on the plot, but they're basically just there as a cameo. Instead, we're primarily following Dorothy's romantic and life struggles with amnesia, which will end as ambiguously as they started. The plot revolving around the mafia, constant chasing, betrayals, and more left me feeling confused and underwhelmed. It just didn't capture the same excitement as the previous season. I didn't get that thrill of everything being intertwined, nor the satisfaction of it all unraveling. Even the new characters like Dorothy, Jei, and his buddy didn't quite click with me. However, it wasn't all for naught. The animation and music in Razbliuto are nothing to scoff at. Despite the weaker story, it was still easy to watch and enjoy the mafia environment they created. For me, it's slightly above average. 5.5/10 (23/02/2024)