English Dub Review: Pretty Boy Detective Club “The Pretty Boy on D. Hill (Part 3)”

Overview: 

After nearly being killed Manabu suggests that Mayumi quit the club. She refuses and replies “I am not a damsel, I’m a pretty boy too!”. She emphatically states that she will see this case through to the end. Yokuya, the boy she sits next to and her opponent in the election is the culprit. How will the election turn out with all the cards on the table?

Our Take:

I have only watched three episodes of this series but I feel I have to boast about the animation each time. During Yokuya’s confession to Mayumi, so many different animation techniques are used. It makes Yokuya seem like a twisted monster in one shot while making him appear normal in the next. All the while the tension and fear from Mayumi are palpable. She actually fears for her life and it’s apparent in this scene.

Manabu and the club really come through in the clutch for Mayumi. Nagahiro was supposed to give her endorsement speech. Which according to Yokuya, would have played right into his hands. How lucky for her then when a crossdressing Manabu gives the speech instead. He spends the whole thing building up Mayumi in the way only a good friend can. He touches on her self-confidence and how that is her biggest weakness. Even if the people don’t vote for her he implores them to reach out and get to know her and they will get to befriend an amazing girl. This was a beautiful moment, we could all use a friend like Manabu.

Mayumi does in fact win the election and to me, it was pretty anti-climactic. The candidates are supposed to give a speech as well but we never get to see it. We just skip to her being the new student council president and everything is okay now. What happened to Yokuya? I think attempted murder would be a bigger deal but I guess not. Love it or hate it that is one thing that is tough about Nisio Isin’s writing. It can be very abstract and open to interpretation. Maybe Yokuya never existed? I could just be looking for more depth where there is none though.

One thing I really wanted to mention was the opening. It is “Shake & Shake” by Sumika who has done a few anime openings I really like. The animation for the opening is amazing, once the chorus hits and all the pretty boys show off their dance moves is impressive. I really enjoyed it and enjoyed this arc, ending notwithstanding. For what it’s worth there was a post-credits “to be continued” scene so we might get more of the pretty boys in the future.