Well, the same complaints as usual. We’re one episode further, and exactly two and a half rounds have taken place. Considering how one round just consists of putting up to five cards on the table (in this case two or less), you can’t deny that Kaiji is slow. Still, unlike the beam-arc and the ship-arc, I found myself not distracted by this at all. This episode is really what I’ve been waiting for with this series: mind-games, between two people who aren’t just a bunch of idiots, plucked off the streets.
I’m no Tonegawa, but this episode did a terrific job in showing Kaiji’s thought-patterns to the viewer, and I was actually able to predict some of his moves, just as Tonegawa did this with Kaiji. Like expected, in this episode Kaiji tried to use very basic knowledge to try and outsmart Tonegawa, which didn’t really work. I expect that every time Kaiji and Tonegawa change sides, the game will get more intense. After all, after the sixth round, Tonegawa really has the chance to prove how much he sees through Kaiji, and after the ninth round, it’s Kaiji’s turn to outsmart him, when everything depends on him, winning as much on the slave-side.
I’m just a bit worried about the role of the guys who fell off the beam earlier. Their significance in this series stopped entirely ever since Kaiji rose above them (which was quite early). The fact that they got through the door, and into the room that Kaiji and Tonegawa have been playing in (these guys have healed quite fast, by the way) must mean that they’ll have some kind of role later on. I really hope it’s something better than being idiots, like they usually are.
excellent mind games, intriguing explanations, battle of inner souls, one room one game but insanely epic episode! instantly reminded me of akagi – wonder what it would be like to watch akagi vs tonegawa…akagi’s a pure badass 10x greater than tonegawa can handle
Well, the thing with Akagi is, he’d be betting 25-30 mm right off the bat. Ironically, Tonegawa probably wouldn’t be able to handle someone like that, because his mind works in ways that you couldn’t understand. For instance, you’d expect someone to fold under pressure with a bet like that and play it safe, but Akagi would only take advantage of that expectation. Kaiji doesn’t work in the same way, but it looks like he got an idea at the end of this episode.
I already have a prediction of what role those beam-falling idiots will play. Things are either going to turn around or continue to get worse for Kaiji next episode.