King’s Game Episodes 3 + 4: These Kids Will Need So Much Therapy – Assuming They Live

Review Episode 3:

This show continues to be plagued with various problems but by far the worst aspect of it is we are watching round two of the King’s Game for Nobuaki but they keep sending us back for extended periods of time to the first game. The first game being far more interesting with a far more likeable cast. It just kind of makes the problems of the current group of students more apparent and episode 3 actually spends so much time back in the past when we jump again to the current timeline it took me a moment to remember what was even going on.

That said, this week gave the audience some really cold moments and kind of nailed the horror of this situation. The popularity poll, various characters’ despair, the fake out with the punishment not being death and then a truly horrible punishment being specified in the conditions of the next task… It all just worked really well at making this situation seem utterly and completely horrific. With better execution this could be a truly fantastic horror story and yet it comes up wanting.

Still, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t enjoying it. This is a great example of popcorn fiction where if you don’t think too hard and aren’t after quality you can have quite a bit of fun with the viewing experience (provided of course girls splattering out of windows and images of self-immolation – not actually followed through in the reality – fit within your definition of fun viewing).

Review Episode 4:

And I remain convinced that if they had just told the story of Nobuaki’s first encounter with the King this would be a much better show. The flash back this week focused on the time a girl tried to find the King by issuing an order to herself to touch the King under the assumption that the King was in her class. That ended pretty badly but it is the kind of situation where the audience knowing how bad an idea it is makes the whole thing kind of thrilling to watch.

Unfortunately, the present day story isn’t faring so well with Nobuaki clearly having learned nothing from his first round. He’s still making baseless assumptions and while there is nothing new about stupid characters in horror, the fact that a number of people seem to think he is a good thinker and trust his ideas really concerns me.

The line above really bothered me. Just because a King’s Game may have been held in the village (no idea what evidence Nobuaki has for that one but hopefully we’ll find out later) doesn’t mean there is any clue as to how to stop the game. The story Nobuaki told seemed to indicate everyone died so clearly they didn’t actually find a way to stop the game so assuming there are any clues of use there is kind of insane. Not to mention, Nobuaki’s comment that it was probably the first game, indicates he has no idea. He’s just assuming because it is the oldest one he knows about.

Still, for all the idiotic decision making and assumptions, one thing remains clear. Nobuaki is desperate not to admit he is going to fail and that people are going to die. He would rather dish out false hope and cling to any possibility than accept despair.  He’s also surrounded by characters who are so desperate for hope they will cling to his empty words though it has been interesting to see their reactions at crunch times with some thanking him for trying while others become disgusted by the hollowness of the entire situation.

So yeah, this show is still full of problems but intriguing enough and maybe when they finally get to the village they’ll start advancing the present day plot more than the previous game.

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Thanks,

Karandi James.