Kakegurui XX Episode 2 Review: The Women of Momobami Clan

Welcome back to this week’s episode of Kakegurui where fingers fall instead of heads, entire families emotionally abuse their children for money, and floating boobs are a sign of extreme motivation.

Japanese Title: 百喰一族の女たち

Plot

The members of the Momobami clan have gathered in the academy to bet their lives away after the president has given up her position and offered them the potential of acquiring it. They are planning to get Yumeko out of the way as soon as possible, as she may interfere with the result of the ‘elections’ (lol) according to her strange personality. Yumeko in the meantime receives a huge amount of money from Mayuda’s family, money she could of course use to bet her ass off but, nope, this is a ‘tournament arc’ and it uses a different currency so that Yumeko can be at the same level and gambling capacity as she was before. Over a conversation with Mary, Yumeko reveals that yes, she is indeed somehow connected to the Momobami clam, which does explain a lot; she and the president are basically the same person. No, really. Think about it. One of the Momobami clan members, Erimi, wastes no time at all and immediately challenges Yumeko and Midari to a gamble, and that’s how we’re thrown back into the finger guillotine game; it’s Erimi’s turn, she cuts another thread, there’s only two left. Midari cuts them both at the same time. Erimi removes her finger but everyone else’s remains intact (for reasons I honestly do not understand and that leave me sad, confused, and disappointed). Midari is mad at Erimi for still having all her fingers. Yumeko is mad at Midari for being an idiot. The Vice-President is looking for Mary. The end.

Episode Highlights

An important twist: In the previous review, I mentioned how I found Yumeko’s character compelling as she lacks motivation for her gambling. I am going to take that back in light of the recent revelation that she’s part of the Momobami clan, because there’s an important variable that changes by knowing that Yumeko comes from a very wealthy family (which we had hints for in Season 1 but now it’s kind of certified). Yumeko is a bored rich kid. She’s not putting her life on the line; she’s not worried of losing her status or disappointing her family who tried so hard to get her into this school of going in debt; she’s so rich she’s way past all that crap. She’s not power hungry – but she doesn’t need to be; she’s just aware of the fact that she needs to make no effort to survive or achieve anything and she only finds satisfaction in taking risks. It’s a little bit like what Midari is doing, but her single motivation is putting her physical integrity on the line. Maybe that’s why she hates Midari so much? She sees her as a different version of herself.

Animal outfits: Why are the people running the elections wearing animal outfits, why are they all acting cute, I don’t understand… Aren’t dealers supposed to be a little bit more like Rei? Also how is this tournament an election in any possible way? There is no opinion to be counted for; it’s literally a competition for the crown.

Ryota needs to go: I am not really sure why we need him to be waving his sad flaccid penis around anyway. He has no personality or actual part to play in the show – he feels to me like the uninteresting average man viewers need in the show to identify with. I can just picture it: ‘Oh I wish I were Ryota, hanging around all these massive floating tits… I could you know, it’s not like he has any sort of talent or needs to make effort anyway’.

Ikishima needs to go: Yeah I had enough of her, I see you, Yumeko. She’s incredibly irritating. Every time she speaks I wish I could fast forward the episode.

Okay

I think the first season was much better (so far! We’re still on the second episode). Things were much more unclear and there was a lot of shock value to be capitalized on; now I feel like I’m like expecting Yumeko and co. to do all these messed up faces and act like complete maniacs… It feels like there’s not enough walls to be broken down right now. I don’t like tournament arcs anyway. But we’ll see.

How did you find this Kakegurui XX episode? Let us know in the comment section. And don’t forget to check the rest of the Winter 2019 anime reviews on MANGA.TOKYO!