English Dub Review: Liar Game “Provocation”

Overview (Spoilers Below):
After the smuggling game ends, it is time to see how much money each player has earned.

Our Take:
It bears repeating that it’s been one hell of a competition over the past few episodes.  Not only did Nao and Akiyama succeed in winning the Contraband Game and saving everyone from debt, but they also outsmarted the control freak, Yokoya, at his own game.  However, he got the last laugh by depositing his team’s cash into his own account, leaving everyone else further in debt.  If you want another reason why Yokoya is a sore-winning piece of crap, there you go.  But to the actor’s credit, he still did a nice job conveying the character’s maniacal persona.  However, we may not have seen the last of this formidable “dictator”, as he’ll be returning for the tournament’s fourth round and we’re moving on to the next Loser’s Revival Round.
Considering my experience with the Contraband Game, I can’t help but wonder how this tournament will match the stakes of the previous round.  Despite the length, that competition certainly left me at the edge of my seat, and it’s not just due to the game itself.  Well, we got our answer in the form of a 3v3 match, where Nao, Akiyama, and Fuji will compete against the other team in a series of “games” based on each role.  The first, in particular, is something that shouldn’t have been invented in the first place: Russian Roulette with 24 chambers.  If they started things off with one of the world’s most deadly games, you’ll know that this tournament is taking it up a notch for the remaining episodes.  Amid this troubling predicament, “Provocation” still delivers compelling character development that may play a role in the final episodes, including Nao’s growth and Akiyama’s doubts about his backfired plan.