speculative mysterious horrifyingly thrilling goodness !!

YOOO this show is intense. I have zero complaints about pacing. It jumps straight into the inciting incident within the first half-hour of the first episode. Our main character, Arisu ends up in an alternate Tokyo with his two best friends Karube and Chota where they must play games in which a game over actually means the end of their life. Tragic, right? From there we're on a wild ride of watching Arisu and friends attempting to survive and find the game master so that they can return back to the real world.

First off, what I found interesting was how the games were based on a playing card system. Before each game commences, the players are notified which card will be their "prize" if they clear the game. Each of the four suits represents a different purpose of the game. This later becomes something monumental in the plot - a huge turning point - that had me screaming at the audacity and betrayal it led to.

The games themselves are CRAZY too. Like, think of something straight out of Saw because that's essentially what they were. Nothing but pure psychological torture and the pressure to survive by any means necessary. This makes for very very gruesome deaths so beware.

What else I liked:
-Arisu's character development. He starts out as a directionless gaming addict but eventually is forced to become a stronger man with a purpose. His character arc is as heartbreaking as it is triumphant.
-USAGI. What a phenomenal and inspiring woman that we have no choice but to stan. As our female lead, she's a well-written character played by an amazing actress who brought her strength and kick-ass mentality to life. I was living for her.
-The exploration of the darker side of human nature.
-THE CINEMATOGRAPHY. So many artfully composed scenes. I loved it.

What I didn't like:
-The fact that I have to wait for season 2 ಠ_ಠ

IN CONCLUSION, I literally can't wait for season 2.

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