English Dub Review: Gamers! “Gamers and Next Stage”

A whole new day for the Gamers and it’s progressing in a way that is so natural and flowing. The show early on had an issue with its miscommunication writing. The idea of misinforming the characters was written like it walled off each character from conversing which hindered the anime’s ability to flesh out their characters. A miscommunication is a good small risk barrier in writing to allow characters to show their reaction thus laying out a new aspect to their personality. It’s here on episode 10 where I feel that the miscommunication has finally balanced between natural and dramatic to reach a funny and endearing equilibrium.

OVERVIEW

And this domino effect of miscommunications starts with Keita, Chiaki and Konoha as they are freaking out over Uehara calling Chiaki and seemingly confessing his love. Keita, convinced that Uehara is cheating on Aguri, uncharacteristically takes charge and makes plans to have all the Gamers, Uehara, Karen, Chiaki, himself plus Karen, convene at their gamers meet-up to confront him on cheating on Aguri. Thus, ensues a series of further awkward communication and true feelings actually spoken.

OUR TAKE

In the grand scheme of the episode, I don’t feel there is much worth to dissect. This is in part as this episode is like a blueprint to what Gamers should be each episode. The characters’ interactions were both subdued and emotional. The comedy is light-hearted and charismatic. Keita comes in with his pure gamer logic and makes an overwritten speech on why games are awesome. Plus, the slice of life miscommunications are hidden from character to character but now the characters can act upon and choose to reveal them which opens up the writing to feel more natural in a slice of life show like this.

I will mention though, the scene of Aguri meeting up with her old middle school friends showed up, that was very on the nose blunt. Having the middle school friends cackling nastily at her gamer friends, calling them every stereotypical gamer insult in the book, does wonder to make the audience hate these new pricks but when the show has felt so natural, adding them feels oddly enough cartoonish. Like adding a mustache-twirling Bond villain into the mix. I can understand if the characters didn’t care for games and considered the gamers wasting their time and such. But when Aguri says they are her friends and they laugh calling them all fat, gross and living in their mom’s basement, how else is Aguri supposed to react then walk away?

Apart from that bit of cartoonish characterization, this episode was a refreshing delight to watch. For the characters, comedy, and the oddly blunt speeches and jerk characters, Gamers is a very relaxing and fun anime to view. It’s still very awkward at moments, but just like its main character Keita, the awkwardness lends itself to its own likability.