Kakegurui Episode 8 Review: Love-Dancing Woman

In Episode 8 of Kakegurui, the next Student Council member to challenge Yumeko is also the most tied to our otaku reality. Yumemite is a generic idol who hides her true self from the world. Yumemi is so dream-drunk, she would do anything to achieve her goals, even pretend a person she is not to fool those who prefer the façade from the real Yumemi.

Japanese Title: 愛踊る女

Plot

Kakegurui is not just about gambling. Its versatile nature was confirmed this week, as Yumeko deals with council member Yumemi Yumemite, head of PR for the academy and a YouTube indie idol that is slowly carving her way to fame. After the president departs to take care of some business (related to Yumeko) the council is in disarray. They are unsure how to deal with Yumeko and they are trying to find a way that will humiliate her enough to thwart her plan to keep her pet status and use it as a trump card. That’s why her life plan changes to include a really peculiar clause.

The concept of disrespect doesn’t exist in this school

Yumemi’s gamble is an idol contest. If Yumemi wins, Yumeko will have to form an idol group with her. Being an idol means that she will lose everything real-life idols risk for a chance to money and fame: meaningful relationships and a proper social life. Yumeko makes the bet a little more interesting by recording a monologue by Yumemi after she breaks down her role. Yumemi is a great idol and even a greater actor. She despises her fans. She thinks that they are all disgusting pigs and she is using their disregard for their own selves to proper herself to her only dream: to win an Oscar award. If Yumeko wins, she will release the tape and destroy her only dream.

I remember the names and faces of all my fans!

I’m not sure how an idol gamble is going to play out, but judging from the twin ponytails, this is going to be the cutest.

Episode Highlights

Headphones: The background soundtrack of Kakegurui is amazing. There is an attention to detail that I have never noticed before. This was the first time I watched an episode with my stereo headphones and I was impressed. While the quality of sound will, of course, depend in the quality of your headphones, by isolating the sound you will notice subtle differences that will enhance your experience. I will never watch another episode without my headphones on.

Runa: Was the bunnygirl behind the letter? It stands to reason that the council members have their own agenda, but we still don’t know much about the clearly disturbed gamer. Maybe she just wanted to force the president in returning to the Academy, but from the tone of her voice it seemed like she just wants to watch the school descend into chaos.

New Allies: Yumeko is gaining more allies. The crazy nail-loving bitch knows which crown to serve. There can be only one Council President, and Sumeragi wants to be on the winning side. Her father sent her to the Academy to make the necessary connections to expand their toy-making business. She needs that council seat and by joining Yumeko she gambles her way to it. I don’t think that Sumeraki is a spy for the council. She could be, but I don’t want her to be. I prefer that the people who have dueled Yumeko are just changing in some way.

Please, make me an ally!

Stealing: Did Mary steal Suzui’s caramel-chocolate-whatwasthathing at the cafeteria?

Dreaming Creaming Sisters: This is a weird name for an idol group. Since the group is part of Yumeko’s life plan, I guess that the name has something to do with the roles they will have in the group. If the gamble is to force Yumeko to become an idol, then maybe she will be used as a stepping stone to advance Yumemi’s career! They both have the kanji for ‘dream’ (yume) in their names, but one is going to have her dreams crushed.

Voice acting: Say what you will about the voice acting, but I think that it needs a certain level of skill and versatility to play these characters. Serizawa Yuu (Yumemite Yumemi) showcased her voice-acting skills when she went from cute idol to disgusted bitch.

Themes & Trivia

Faces: Someone must make a compilation of the faces in Kakegurui. The focus the series places in the eyes and the facial expressions is in itself a study of human psyche. Our distorted soul usually translates into a plasticized face. It’s only when we are true to ourselves that our eyes and face betray our true emotions.

Variety Show: Japanese variety shows are very popular to this day. A variety show is an entertainment TV show that is made of various segments, usually comedy skits, quizzes, and musical performances. They are a major part of the entertainment business. Many music artists make their debut through shows like Music Station. Actors are often called as guests and take part in quizzes and talk segments.

Real Idol: Serizawa Yuu is an idol in real life! She is in a group called i☆Ris. It must have been interesting to play such a character who is probably voicing the thoughts of everyone who distrusts the idol industry. I’m sure that not every idol employs a similar façade, but I wonder if she addressed her fans after playing the role to assure them that she is not sharing the thoughts of the character she played. Not that she is obliged to tell the truth…

Yumeko and Her Harem

It’s not exactly a harem but she is slowly building a loyal (?) following. They are not sharing a vision, but what Yumeko is slowly trying to achieve (intentionally or not) is in the best interest of many people in the academy. And these students are always drifting towards the favorable winds.

Did you like Episode 8 of Kakegurui? Let us know in the comments below by using either the forum or the Facebook tab! Join us in our new forum and let’s talk about our favorite series!

NEXT TIME: Dreaming Woman (夢見る女)