Liar Game Reborn Special - Fukunaga VS Yokoya (2012)

Plot: The special “Fukunaga VS Yokoya” transmits the same surrealistic and mysterious vibes as its prequels due to the use of the original OST and setting.
The game itself is sufficient to mildly entertain you for an hour but it’s not up to Liar Game standards.

The main problem revolves around the question who’s going to take the lead now that Akiyama’s gone. In the first third of the special close attention is paid to Fukunaga, but later both protagonists are depicted the same, distant way, which let’s the question arise:
Why would I care?
With nobody to sympathise with left the tension drops quickly.

Actors/Characters: Yokoya doesn’t appear as mystical and especially reserved a character as in previous episodes as the entire special spotlights only upon him and Fukunaga.
Suzuki Kazuma acts well but keeps up a surreal feeling thanks to his unnatural white hair, x-ray eyes and choice of clothes.

Mushroom/Fukunaga is as crazy and cunning as ever and Kitamura Soichiro’s performance is satisfying.

Music: ¡Estupendo! The original Liar Game tracks are outstanding and magnetising as ever.

Rewatch value: None. Unless you are either having troubles following the story’s progress or enjoy watching the special from a different perspective.

To make it short: It’s an agreeable but unnecessary supplement that’s mildly entertaining but lacks the originality and cleverness of the original series starring Matsuda Shota.

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The Battle of Antagonists

This is one of the specials that accompany the 2012 movie. (Watch this before Alice in Liar Game).

It's a battle between the opportunistic ally, Fukunaga, and the manga's antagonist, Yokoya.

Fukunaga carries this episode, and his flamboyance keeps it entertaining, but Akiyama's charisma is sorely missed. Due to how the actor, as well as the earlier writing of jdorama's Yokoya, he doesn't reach the exciting antagonistic vibe of Katsuragi Ryou. His behaviour here is better, but it feels inconsistent with the earlier series.

As far as the Taboo Game is concerned, it's good enough as far as the battle of intelligence is concerned. If I have to describe it, it's like having you transfixed on the given options and their respective probabilities and not noticing the hidden option.

With the absence of Nao and other players, it lacks the dramatick tension made by 1) winning then losing or vice versa, and 2) the frustrations expressed by other people.

If you're unable to tolerate Nao, you might like this one better.

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