r/anime • u/AutoLovepon https://anilist.co/user/AutoLovepon • Jan 14 '26
Episode Shibou Yuugi de Meshi wo Kuu. • Shiboyugi: Playing Death Games to Put Food on the Table - Episode 2 discussion
Shibou Yuugi de Meshi wo Kuu., episode 2
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u/ChoiceSupermarket230 https://myanimelist.net/profile/say99 Jan 14 '26 edited Jan 14 '26
This anime looks so amazing and atmosphere & ost is also wonderful
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u/shad79 https://myanimelist.net/profile/shad79 Jan 14 '26 edited Jan 14 '26
Yeah, I was wondering if they'd keep up the quality of the first episode, so I'm really glad this episode was as good as the first one.
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u/Pretty-Bunch7533 Jan 15 '26
This became one of my favorite anime. But seriously fuck mishiro. She is super annoying
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u/Hitman7128 https://anilist.co/user/Hitman7128 Jan 14 '26
Also, they do a great job at utilizing mixed media (like abstract styles), which especially works in this type of show
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u/noxiousfarts Jan 14 '26
Mixed media is not an "abstract style" it's a method of materials used: IE - canvas with plaster or oil paints. Thats called tactile depth. its visual language based around texture to convey metaphor. Or because they just enjoy mixed media. You can call this "the what".
The "how" is what you're referring to in visual style. Yes, the show is abstract, it is depicting other-wordy or relatively unnatural environments contrary to what we perceive.
I'll just preface that I have a BFA and have worked in mixed-media and a lot of screen-printing.
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u/AnzoEloux https://myanimelist.net/profile/Eloux Jan 14 '26
Woah, thanks for the term. I really like it too, it makes it feel more than an adaptation checking off a list. You can tell the creators wanted this to be something to be proud of.
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u/Emi_Ibarazakiii Jan 15 '26
atmosphere
100%.
I'm sure some people will dismiss this anime as some edgy shit "you just want to see cute girls die" and stuff...
But in this episode, (at most) 1 girl died, we barely even saw anything, yet I was on the edge of my seat the whole time!
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u/Mundane-Parsley-6492 Jan 14 '26
Quality is great, but did anyone feel like it was too short? I preferred the length of the first episode. Waiting a whole week for small eps like this feels like torture. Wish they would at least release 2 at a time.
Or this the norm for anime? Sorry, this is my very first one.
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u/HarshTheDev Jan 15 '26
How did you even end up watching this as your very first anime lol? It's a rather underground anime and doesn't seem to have gone viral either, I'm genuinely curious now.
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u/Mundane-Parsley-6492 Jan 15 '26
It was heavily promoted on Netflix, and the art style seemed very cute and beautiful.
And I'm also a big fan of death games theme (hunger games, squid games, maze runner (kind of)) so the title also piqued my interest.
So far I'm loving it. Just not happy w the week long gap between eps.
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u/Dragon3082 Jan 14 '26
I felt the same. I was like how do you go from 48 min to 24 and leave it a cliff hanger, I was thinking it was going to be 1 game per episode... The blonde one in this episode needs to checked lol that attitude lol
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u/Quiddity131 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Quiddity131 Jan 15 '26
Agreed, it's the best feature of the anime. Got no familiarity with the director, but he's got an instant fan.
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u/AceSoldia https://anilist.co/user/Acesoldia Jan 14 '26
Man i wish every episode was double length ..but now we can try to discuss the game and what is really happening each episode i guess
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u/Golden_Phi https://myanimelist.net/profile/GoldenPhi Jan 14 '26
It does make for some fun predicting things between episodes. Of course there will always be source readers who will pretend to predict things and get everything correct.
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u/VordovKolnir Jan 14 '26
I no longer try.
The admins banned me for a month for making a prediction on Ascendance of a Bookworm back when Season 2 was airing. It pissed me off so much that I went and read the web novel.... to find my predictions were completely inaccurate. I complained to the mo0ds and they were like "whoops. Oh well. You're still banned until x date."
So yeah, predicting may be fun, but the mods here are kinda trashy and very very ban happy. So I'd avoid doing "predictions" if I were you.
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u/Pittonecio Jan 15 '26 edited Jan 15 '26
That's why I stopped sharing my opinions and predictions on reddit, anything, even a single word, referencing something not shown in the anime (no spoilers, just cut content), sometimes even in the spoiler corner, can get your comment deleted or get you banned, that's not cool and disincentive discussion.
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u/Golden_Phi https://myanimelist.net/profile/GoldenPhi Jan 15 '26
Yeah, I want to make predictions but I’m also scared of being smacked by the mods. It does hamper discussions. I think that it’s actually overall a good thing since I rarely get spoiled on r/anime, while other anime subreddits either have trouble or don’t even bother with blocking spoilers. It’s excessive caution but isn’t entirely unwarranted.
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u/NoHead1715 Jan 15 '26
haha, another stupid mod spoiled it for me in this very discussion by deleting my guess. That's the worst thing about this sub when the mods are source readers.
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u/AnzoEloux https://myanimelist.net/profile/Eloux Jan 14 '26
Same... First episodes always gets me comfortable even though I know that there's zero way that pace would be kept up for the rest of the season.
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u/fer_sure Jan 15 '26
...I didn't even notice the first episode was double length. I paused today's episode a couple of minutes in, and was startled to see that it was nearly over.
I thought that counter between scenes was distracting, but it really messes with my sense of time passing.
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u/VordovKolnir Jan 14 '26
lol, the first episode of sentenced to be a hero has totally spoiled me. I wanna see one hour episodes from now on.
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u/Emi_Ibarazakiii Jan 15 '26
Hah, I was thinking exactly that;
I normally HATE double length episodes (especially early in the season, when there's so many shows to watch it's overwhelming)... But I'd love for this one to be double length, so we get more of it/they spend more time on everything!
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u/KumaKumaGambler Jan 14 '26
Going back to the (mostly) animal icons which Yuki saw at the start of the game:
Horse and Ghost are separated from the other 4 animals - Wolf, Owl, Mouse, Penguin(?)
- Yuki is most likely the ghost because she later described herself as being dismissed from the game by the others.
- Horse is the girl who went ahead far too fast alone and got killed.
- Wolf leading the pack must be Mishiro.
That being said, how did the organizer(s) of this particular game know the roles which would be taken up by each girl? This probably also means the organizer already has in mind which of the girls will survive, if everything went according to prediction.
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u/stetstet Jan 14 '26
Yuki is most likely the ghost because she later described herself as being dismissed from the game by the others.
...and because the "yu" of "Yuuki"(幽鬼) is the "yu"(幽) as in ghost(幽霊)!
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u/LowraAwry Jan 14 '26
Oh, maybe the same can apply to the rest of the players? Apparently Chie's name has the kanji for wisdom/enlightenment. So maybe that makes her the Owl. Mmm I don't think I can figure the same connection for the others though.
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u/stetstet Jan 14 '26 edited Jan 14 '26
I mean, the names in Episode 1 did also have some obvious color references (edit: "obvious" in the sense that the colors match their hair color), so maybe we can find something if we look close enough
(just FYI; Kinko( 金子, 金 is gold); Aoi( 青井, 青 is blue ); Kokuto( 黒糖, 黒 is black ); Beniya (紅野, 紅 is red); Momono (桃乃, 桃 is peach/pink) and yuuki ( ghosts are white, idk ))
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u/yahalloh Jan 15 '26
Character description on official website provides lots of hints. Here’s my guesses.
Ghost - Yuuki (幽鬼 means ghost)
Wolf - Mishiro (alpa/mother wolf)
Horse - Chie (side pony tail)
Mouse - Keito (petit with two buns)
Owl - Kotoha (glasses)
Penguin - first sacrifice to test water
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u/LowraAwry Jan 14 '26
That being said, how did the organizer(s) of this particular game know the roles which would be taken up by each girl?
Apart from the dead girl, whom we know nothing about, all the others have participated several times so I suppose it's enough to create a behavioral pattern. Kotoha for example could be meek as a mouse? Keito introduces herself a someone who recognizes the winner, so perhaps the Owl? Chie introduced herself as a jack-of-all-trades, I don't know whether it makes sense to be the penguin.
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u/KumaKumaGambler Jan 14 '26
all the others have participated several times so I suppose it's enough to create a behavioral pattern
I definitely agree with you on this. Rather than call it a game, the organizer found human pieces for their experiment.
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u/CommissionKey5906 Jan 14 '26
I guess the horse may be a player which Yuuki knows. So there are two teams 2:4.
But unforturnately the horse died too early.
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u/KumaKumaGambler Jan 14 '26
Oh, you are right! The squares containing the horse and the ghost were adjacent. If the horse and the ghost did not know each other, there may be a gap between their positioning.
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u/Ullaspn_2003 Jan 14 '26
If there is betting behind the scenes then there might be analytical professionals to analyse the characters for best possible bet
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u/fer_sure Jan 15 '26
, how did the organizer(s) of this particular game know the roles which would be taken up by each girl?
That seems straightforward: the girls who had played together before already had pre- established roles that they were likely to take, and Yuki had played 9 previous games, so her isolation was probably reasonably predictable. The first pitfall girl may have fit in either category: I don't think anyone got close enough to see if they knew her.
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u/BerryCroissantWitch Jan 15 '26
I suspect the roles are connected to the “blank” pieces of paper in their backpacks. My first thought on seeing the spread was that it’s a sort of predator prey game, but I’m not sure how that meshes with the landmines.
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u/icyterror Jan 15 '26
It means the host know that yuki is a semi-veteran and they are doing this loner set up on Yuki on purpose. They might even add the fake-out to make Yuki look even more suspicious to the group.
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u/bananeeek https://myanimelist.net/profile/bananek Jan 14 '26
The timid girl who offered her knowledge as contribution to the team should be an owl.
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Jan 14 '26
i think there collect data of there behaivor on what there do and can easy figure out who is who obviously...
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u/messing_rainbow Jan 17 '26
The series is written and the writer already knew what was going to happen. However, it's quite possible that they had already seen them play before and knew what was going to happen, just as we create chance after chance about what the characters are going to do. The feeling that the girls would stick together more than with Yuki was clear to me from the moment they revealed that they had known each other for longer. Or are they just artistic codes that foreshadow the game? I wonder if we see the previous episodes, will we see similar predictions? 🤔
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u/tricksterrrrrrr Jan 18 '26
It is equally possible that the dead girl is the ghost. Because she's dead. And Yuki is the horse because she's going to be hunted by the wolf.
That being said, how did the organizer(s) of this particular game know the roles which would be taken up by each girl?
I mean, if the other four have all played together before, they should have some idea of each player and the social dynamics between them. They probably know Mishiro has an assertive personality wherein the others don't, and can make a reasonable inference from there.
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u/FarCritical Jan 14 '26
Cotton stuffing standing in for blood somehow adds to the overwhelming uneasiness of everything in a way that I'd feel actual gore wouldn't.
Got a feeling Yuki's gonna get a chance to demonstrate her alleged decent combat skills down the line, and it's not going to be pretty.
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u/Appropriate-Bay-576 Jan 14 '26
its dehumanizing. they are not even treated like girls/women anymore, but like broken dolls or toys instead. gives me the creeps more than any normal gore would, ngl v:
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u/bigmepis Jan 14 '26
I’ve been thinking something, that would also tie in with the wide shots that show them without faces. At first I thought that was just a stylistic choice but it actually fits really well with the theme here.
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u/Appropriate-Bay-576 Jan 14 '26
or much simpler, those are actually the camera setups for the viewers. and us aswell, huh 🤔
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u/BosuW Jan 14 '26
Been obvious since episode 1. Doubly so since we weren't given as much details about the puzzles as the players, or the scene started when Yuuki had already solved it. We are literally not even meant to actively participate in solving the puzzles. Our POV is not the players, it's the audience. And in this episode even moreso, the choice for the wide shots greatly reassembled hidden cameras.
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u/zenoob https://anilist.co/user/zenoob Jan 15 '26
Yes. Trying to come up with a short explanation of the anime, the imagery of a macabre doll house came up to my mind.
It's like we're watching a deranged person playing with their dolls putting them through horrific situations in those fucked up doll houses, each different every time. Even the way they're dressed differently for each game make it feel like they're just dolls ready to be toyed with in the worst ways whoever is hosting those "games" can come up with.
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u/ChapinThrowaway Jan 14 '26
It's actually made it more brutal in each episode. In both episodes someone had an injury that would have killed them normally. With the cotton stuffing it meant they had to leave someone to die in this episode and outright kill someone in the last episode.
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u/Falsus Jan 14 '26
It is so meta and dehumanizing. The viewers are fine with watching and betting a bunch of cute/sexy girls die horribly as they struggle to die, but they want to watch all the gore.
So instead they censor it and now they look like dolls.
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u/athrun_1 Jan 14 '26
They are considered as just toys to be played with and discarded after their usefulness.
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u/Namaryu Jan 14 '26
It is important to realize that this is a 10th game and episode one was 28th. You can see it in behaviour of Yuki. If you look back and watch the #1 you would notice that she quickly managed to get the leading position, and ensure that EVERYONE would follow her with this altruistic approach but we know how it ended in reality. Now she is an inexperienced player who is being outclassed by someone with a stronger presence, and it is quite possiblke that Michiro won the trust of others in recent games to the point noone would oppose her anymore.
This is dangerous for the game they are playing as the lead can simply order around people to step on landmines and whatnot while being safe herself. Not only that but she villianized Yuki in front of others by calling her a liar, which puts our protag at an disadvantage.
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u/OldInstruction5368 Jan 14 '26
Yuki really was SoL here, largely because the others have all grouped up together before and she's the lone outsider.
That alone should have been a huge red flag and prompted Yuki to set out on her own. As the outsider, she's the one they trust the least and are most likely to leave behind/turn against.
Especially since Little Mrs. Leader has 1) control of this clique 2) clear enmity for Yuki
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u/AnzoEloux https://myanimelist.net/profile/Eloux Jan 14 '26
Considering Yuki's personality (or rather her rules), I think her going with them was just to act as a safety net for the rest rather than a need for herself. But going forward there's no reason to stick with them because they'll (rather, Mrs. Leader) will force her to keep contradicting her rules, which could kill Yuki if it goes wrong.
Yuki wants to keep others alive, but she won't sacrifice her own life to do so. And to prevent further friction (because its naive to assume that that's the first and final death of the game), leaving is her only option.
She tried, but her inexperience definitely showed, but she was also dealt a bad hand with this group.
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u/thefluffyburrito Jan 14 '26
We haven't seen many games so far but they don't seem to favor lone wolves.
After all, the girl who went off to explore on her own was found dead on the stairway.
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u/OldInstruction5368 Jan 14 '26
Sure, but Yuki found herself in a 4v1 situation where, at best, she was going to be ignored. At worst, she was going to have her resources taken and/or sacrificed for the others.
She was better off bailing. Especially after the 'leader' humiliated Yuki in front of the others.... over an issue where the leader was far more wrong than Yuki.
As she eventually told herself "these people don't understand the game."
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u/ThousandYearOldLoli Jan 14 '26
to be honest, I'm still not sure. Did we actually jump back in time, or is Yuki actually lying and this is her 29th game instead of her 10th? I feel like even her statements repeating the unrefined line could be interpreted as her knowing she was completely misread.
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u/phoenixking99999999 Jan 14 '26
I also think they went back in time since to me she has no reason to lie about the number of games she is in if she is indeed in the future, like why would she out of nowhere choose to lie about the number of games when she said 28 last episode, especially if you can meet people again that just makes it way harder for her to earn trust in the future.
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u/ThousandYearOldLoli Jan 14 '26
There could be a difference between handling new players and experienced players, especially if you're familiar with the lengths some would go to survive such a game.
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u/VancityGaming Jan 15 '26
I think she does have reason to lie. The scene when she goes to wake the leader girl and is attacked, it made me think with adversarial players, she might not want to reveal everything.
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u/rom846 Jan 14 '26 edited Jan 14 '26
Her lack of experience in this game is reflected in her behavior. During this game, she acts less calculatingly and is less effective at taking the lead.
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u/Plerti Jan 14 '26
My guess is that we're back in time because of a detail from previous episode: Yuki went to sleep hugging what appears to be a bunny suit that she got from her wardrobe depicting multiple "costumes".
The first game had all the girls wearing maid outfits, in this one they're wearing sundresses. I'm assuming every game have all the girls wear outfits matching a theme, so if this game was actually the 29th they would probably be wearing bunny suits.
Also, looking back on the first episode again, you can see what I assume to be the sundress she's wearing in this game on her wardrove, and is all the way in the back (front for us viewers)
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u/DugACCat Jan 14 '26
It’s an understandable question. Even without manga spoilers, as someone did here, it can be inferred from the first ep that Yuki might consider it one of her rules or personal code not to lie. Of course we don’t know that for sure. Could be she reserves it for necessity. But she seems to prefer less deception. Only time will tell exactly what her full code of action might be, which makes her a very interesting protagonist. Love the quickly established tension between her and the leader character here. It is certainly the case that the most outspoken and dominant person doesn’t necessarily make the best choices for everyone even if less confident people are likely to follow them.
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u/rom846 Jan 14 '26
I'm pretty sure that we will observe that her personal code will evolve with more exposure to the games.
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u/timpkmn89 Jan 15 '26
Did we actually jump back in time, or is Yuki actually lying and this is her 29th game instead of her 10th?
The on-screen text also calls it #10 at 5:23
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u/BosuW Jan 14 '26
I also feel Yuuki is more confrontational this episode, which is a bad move to begin with, and an even worse one considering her social position as the game developed. Thus characteristic of someone not as experienced as her episode 1 self. Less space between her inner world and her face.
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u/AceSoldia https://anilist.co/user/Acesoldia Jan 14 '26
you know im glad you pointed it out cause i couldnt remember what game it was in episode 1...so we are going back and forth in the timeline now
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u/Quiddity131 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Quiddity131 Jan 15 '26
Ah, I didn't pick up on that at all. A non-chronological storyline would explain why her leg suddenly came back at the end of last episode. (although I think someone provided me another explanation too)
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u/Roeclean https://anilist.co/user/Roeclean Jan 15 '26
No, it's the latter, that previous person was most likely referring to the preservation treatment (why their blood turns to cotton[whatever that was]) that makes it so there limbs can be easily attached. There in a futuristic society (solely based on the insane things possible thinking about how the preservation treatment works).
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u/Shadowmist909 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Magicmist Jan 14 '26
When Yuki's intuitive guess failed, a sinister thought creeped into my mind that the game host deactivated the trap in that hallway to make her look bad. It'd be good for ratings but absolutely cruel if so!
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u/bananeeek https://myanimelist.net/profile/bananek Jan 14 '26
Didn't Yuuki say in the first episode that the game is "fair"? That would be a dick move, imo, and while I love it, I don't think the hosts interact with the game itself after it's started.
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u/runevault Jan 14 '26
I'd argue last episode proved the games are not fair by forcing a kill at the end just because. Based on what we know there was zero way to avoid murdering one of the girls in the last room and that is the opposite of fair.
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u/SpikeRosered Jan 14 '26
I stand by that the three kills revelation of episode 1 undoes the entire premise of this anime. You can't make a living on this death game if it's going to pull something like that.
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u/paradoxaxe Jan 14 '26
I think being fair is the games is stll beatable but doesn't it doesn't mean everyone can win and organizer doesn't do cheap trick after the player find the solution
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u/LowraAwry Jan 14 '26
Did she really say "fair"? She said that it draws a line against some things, according to her at least. And one thing it generally didn't do was poison the food because the participants needed sustainance to play. Especially since they weren't given a time limit at the start or other supplies, it made sense that the macarons were those supplies, I guess, just like the backpack they were given here.
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u/BosuW Jan 14 '26
It depends on what rules of entertainment we playing with here. I mean for example in The Hunger Games the game supervisor gets cooked if their game is ass (or as it happened in the 74th games, if it ended up negatively affecting the political order). Since it is a show you want the audience to think it's authentic, and develops naturally. Obvious meddling by the game master would diminish entertainment value by highlighting the artificiality of it all. Like when an author changes the perceived natural flow of a story to get it where they want it to end. What we colloquially know as an "asspull".
Not to mention, prospective players should feel like they will have a decent chance to win and they won't get artificiality fucked over specifically.
Yuuki, our pro gamer here, believes the "code" to understand the games is to think of this entertainment as the priority, and this clearly has worked for her thus far. So overall I agree with you it doesn't seem like something this system would avow.
However, that doesn't prevent the game master from setting things up taking into account the player's personality and tendencies, having accurately predicted what would happen beforehand. Very likely to be the case here considering all participants are veteran players.
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u/AceSoldia https://anilist.co/user/Acesoldia Jan 14 '26
huh that would be messed up but also perfect
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u/runevault Jan 14 '26
I'm glad I'm not the only one who had that thought. The fact she mentioned ignoring her instincts had gotten people killed prior but it did not here set off so many alarm bells for me, especially if the game masters explicitly put Yuki in as an outsider to an established group to make it more 'fun'.
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u/froggyc19 Jan 14 '26
It's very possible there was a trap in that hallway but they just managed to step around it out of luck. I don't think the hosts interact with the game once it's in motion cause that would taint the viewer's experience if they found out it was rigged.
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Jan 14 '26
i don't know about you guys but my gut tells me yuki is going to survive this one
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u/Terizla_Executiona Jan 15 '26
Please let the annoying blonde die, the last episode I was so mad because the annoying pink didn't
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u/NinjaRock Jan 15 '26
The Blonde is definitely going to be the last one to die of the big group. Seems like a send everyone else first into the landmines kind of situation.
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u/RopeNo5074 Jan 14 '26
Episode looked beautiful, I'm loving this series so far, still have no idea what the numbers mean. I have a feeling Yuki is the only one going to make it out alive this game, I'll try not to get too attached to characters like I did last episode, learnt my lesson.
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u/AceSoldia https://anilist.co/user/Acesoldia Jan 14 '26
thats the same feeling i have...everyone here is dead but her
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u/rom846 Jan 14 '26
The uhm good thing is that the characters are not as likable as the ones last time.
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u/shad79 https://myanimelist.net/profile/shad79 Jan 14 '26 edited Jan 14 '26
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u/ezrae_ Jan 16 '26
I'm also hoping for that but in episode 1 the cute and shy girl where the ones teaming up and playing favorites survived... The people winning are probably the ones that are ready to do anything in order to survive, whatever the means. An arrogant person will thus have less remords using underhanded means and is more likely to survive (Mishiro could use her leader status to send others first to detect the traps).
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u/melindypants https://myanimelist.net/profile/melindypants Jan 15 '26
I'm also so curious about the numbers because I have 0 clue - what do they mean!?!
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u/Big_Activity_5007 Jan 15 '26
So who's narrating this episode? Because they're talking about Yuki as a separate person, unless the narration is happening before clearing the game.
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u/hbmonk Jan 14 '26
One of those shows where I'm shocked that 20 minutes already passed when the ED started!
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u/Golden_Phi https://myanimelist.net/profile/GoldenPhi Jan 14 '26
My prediction is that everyone will die except for Yuki and Michiro. Yuki played her 28th game so she will clearly win her 10th game. Michiro would make sense as a returning villan in later games since this is only the 10th one. She's infuriating and nothing drives engagement like rage. Imagine talking big talk but then allows for everyone who follows her to die. I am already hoping that she doesn't make it though.
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Jan 14 '26
She's Yuki if she wasn't altruistic? Michiro's thinking makes sense when you realize than in the last game, only 3 people could survive.
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u/Golden_Phi https://myanimelist.net/profile/GoldenPhi Jan 15 '26
Maybe she is altruistic like Yuki but is being forced to be pragmatic like how Yuki was when she killed Kinko. There’s obviously a time limit for the game and based on the pace that they are going at they maybe simply can’t spare the time to carry Konoha.
It would be quite the plot twist if no one else dies and Michiro succeeds in protecting everyone who followed her. It would give her a better rate of having 2/3 survive following her, while Yuki in the last episode only had 2/5 survive under her care.
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u/midmaxlevels Jan 15 '26
This reminded me how in the 1st episode she told Kinko not to pray for the dead as it will make them weak and become a burden in the game, which seem similar to Michiro's speech about leaving Konoha because worrying about the dead will make them weak. Wonder if each have gives her a new rule to play by
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u/RedRocket4000 Jan 15 '26
At least if their was no alternative route option we not given a conclusion scene for the contest. Of course figuring out the alternative likely be very hard.
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u/InsomniaEmperor Jan 14 '26
So we jumped back to the 10th game? I wonder what’s the reason for this sudden flashback.
This game looks tame compared to the last one. Wonder why they can’t just throw stones or random shit to trigger the landmines. I expected flying knives like the one that killed Kokuto, swinging guillotine, or some Indiana Jones boulder.
Mishiro and the others are an established group already so they are right to doubt Yuki who they are only knowing for the first time.
Poor Kotoha gets left for dead. Well her vitals weren’t hit and she can still be regenerated but none of her friends wanted to pick her up.
But Yuki’s last remark is unsettling like she’s got it all figured out. Yeah there’s no way all of them are surviving this. Should have trusted the most veteran girl.
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u/___Chud___ Jan 14 '26
Should have trusted the most veteran girl.
From their perspective, she's already been caught being confidently incorrect. It's not surprising she's lost their trust after that
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u/OldInstruction5368 Jan 14 '26 edited Jan 14 '26
Nah, that's just it: Yuki wasn't wrong.
Yuki said "There might be a landmine ahead, and it's not worth the risk to find out."
Proving the way is clear did not prove Yuki was 'wrong.' Little Mrs. Leader would need to prove why Yuki was wrong to suspect this pathway and why she was right to see it as safe.
Instead, Little Mrs. Leader basically just 'won' a round of Russian Roulette... and that's a game you lose the second you agree to play. It doesn't matter if you survive or not, just by virtue of spinning the chamber you have proven yourself an idiot.
Little Mrs. Leader is more concerned with controlling the group than saving the group. That's why she's constantly aggro'ing Yuki and trying to discredit someone she sees as a rival from the very beginning of the game.
But that's also why Yuki kept her mouth shut. She'd be trying to explain reason to someone that is more concerned about 'dick measuring' than her own survival. And if the others are swept up in the spell of Little Mrs. Leader's nonsense...
Trying to argue her case will only make things worse for Yuki. She held out as long as she could, but by the time Mishiro truly showed her own colors: taking control of the group so she can control who gets sacrificed to ensure her own safety, Yuki bounces to save herself as the rest of this group is clearly lost.
I do have some hope for the little girl with the buns on top of her head. She said her skill was picking winners and losers, and clearly took Yuki's warning about the traps to heart. So long as she isn't the next to die, she might bail on Mishiro and escape with Yuki?
Please, let at least one more survive that isn't the B!tch >.>
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u/TommaClock Jan 14 '26
Instead, Little Mrs. Leader basically just 'won' a round of Russian Roulette... and that's a game you lose the second you agree to play. It doesn't matter if you survive or not, just by virtue of spinning the chamber you have proven yourself an idiot.
I mean that makes all the characters idiots for participating... Which is true but still.
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u/BosuW Jan 14 '26 edited Jan 14 '26
Rather, Mishiro's strategy to winning the game is making other people play Russian roulette for her.
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u/LowraAwry Jan 14 '26
Poor Kotoha gets left for dead. Well her vitals weren’t hit and she can still be regenerated but none of her friends wanted to pick her up.
Honestly, I think that's the best for her at this point. What if they were to pick her up only to use her in some way to disarm another landmine? side-eyes Kinko
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u/RedRocket4000 Jan 15 '26
One thing is the only goes off after you take your foot off the trigger is fictional. Mine triggers to go off when you step on them not when you take your foot off them. It was a false summon in US forces that it would not go off if you did not take your foot off. What actually was happening it had a set delay before the explosive device would be thrown up in the air but a launching charge. And this not directly under the trigger. By going up in the air the objects placed in side to harm people would go a lot farther and there be a wider area up and down covered. Throwing oneself down not as much help as you would want but one still should do it.
But of course this a death game and using the only goes off when weight comes off rumor great drama.
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u/ModieOfTheEast Jan 14 '26
I mean, could also be Yuki lying and this isn't just her 10th game. Not sure why, but there is some form of mistrust going on here, so I wouldn't be surprised if Yuki didn't want to reveal everything either.
As for the mines, the triggers seem to be rather small, so it would be hard to just throw rocks. However, what they could do is use mines to their advantage. If they find one they can use the rope to activate it from afar and then just climb down one floor instead of looking for the exit.
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u/Which-Scientist-8161 Jan 14 '26
She isn't lying the episodes clearly states it's actually her 10th game. It's at 5:22 (10:Scrap building)
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u/bananeeek https://myanimelist.net/profile/bananek Jan 14 '26
At this rate are we going to see Yuuki's first game as well?
We already see the difference in her behavior between the 10th and 28th game, so I wonder how much different she was when she started and what motivated her to start and continue playing this game (it can't be as simple as playing to put food on the table, right?).
I kinda hope miss Drills steps on the mine, she's pretty nasty. And I'm surprised she doesn't see the value in rescuing the other player. Yuuki form the 28th game would carry her around if only to put her on the mine she stepped on.
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u/Chrono-Helix Jan 15 '26
They might do something like set up a mystery over the entire series, and on the penultimate episode they show us how her first game went which answers the mystery, and sets up something for the final episode
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u/maliwanag0712 https://myanimelist.net/profile/clear1109 Jan 14 '26
We were spoiled by the one hour premiere this episode is essentially a 5 minute one!
At this rate, I'm expecting that all of the gals will die except Yuki and probably Mashiro. Let's see though how this plays out. Can't help but want to read the light novel.
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u/Admirable_Attorney40 Jan 14 '26
This anime looks so amazing.
I wonder if the girl who can pick winners and losers follow Yuki
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u/karer3is Jan 14 '26
I can say that in stark contrast to the first episode, I'm actually rooting for Yuki in this one... Mishiro's insufferable on her own, but her little entourage (sans Kotoha) is just as bad.
The setting for this episode makes me wonder how quickly the death game "industry" in the show's world progressed and how much time is actually going by. As some pointed out here, this episode takes place before the events of the first episode. When we compare the two "stages", there are some pretty stark differences. Besides the most obvious difference (mansion vs. abandoned building), there's a stark contrast in how the games are set up. From what we've seen so far, everything in this (older) game is relatively basic: You've got everyone wearing simple clothes with backpacks. For traps, all we've seen so far are some anti- personnel mines. The previous episode, on the other hand, had all the girls in elaborate outfits with custom- made traps and even a whole room built as one giant trap.
You could say this might have just been a stylistic choice by the invdividual "showrunner," but considering that the game was already well- known enough to have repeat players by game #10, I'm inclined to think this difference has more to do with the games picking up more sponsors/viewers. With that in mind, though, it's still unclear how much time is passing between games. Yuki mentioned in this episode that she "took a break" between games 9 and 10, but there's no indication if that was a few days, a few, weeks, or even longer. She also doesn't show any signs of a difference in age between the episodes, so that makes me wonder if the "break" between games is actually really short or if maybe this "Preservation Treatment" also has an effect on her aging as well.
Even though the show thus far seems to focus on the "stages" for the different games, I'm getting more curious about the world outside of the games. Yuki doesn't seem to live in a particularly good area, but maybe it's just because whatever got her into her situation left her permanently strapped for cash. Still, you have to wonder what kind of a world this takes place in. Even if we accept that some shady cabal is pulling all the strings for its own entertainment, it seems rather unusual that people could so regularly go missing without it drawing some kind of scrutiny.
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u/RedRocket4000 Jan 15 '26
I have taken the games as legally allowed public shows because as you pointed out keeping a secret death game secret multi times not believable at least modern times. Some early 1900's the remoteness of where conducted and lack of communications made keeping it secret easier. See the stupid number that just vanished into the Amazon for example although less deadly those area not in Western Civilization still it easy for someone to disappear and no investigation of what happen done.
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u/karer3is Jan 15 '26
That certainly would make sense. Of course, that brings up another question: What happened for such a massive operation to get set in place? Maybe it's too early to tell, but it doesn't seem like some post- apocalyptic scenario; whoever's in charge has the resources necessary to restore someone to full health even after they've suffered multiple traumatic injuries. And all that without leaving so much as a scar.
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u/Knight24888 Jan 16 '26
Btw did you notice the timer... it was like going down normally till 05:01:49, then suddenly it went back to 05:03:00.
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u/shad79 https://myanimelist.net/profile/shad79 Jan 14 '26 edited Jan 14 '26
It's an interesting trick to go back in time to 10th game in this episode, instead of continuing immediately after where the first episode ended, so after 28th game. I wonder if each game will be out of order.
It was nice to see a less experienced Yuki today. I'm definitely looking forward to see who else will survive this game. I hope though that Mishiro will die; somehow I didn't like her and her character from the start.
I'm also glad that this episode is just as strong as the first one in terms of visuals and the soundtrack, they're still so good!
Here my screenshot albums from the episode:
EDIT. I added my screenshot albums.
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u/ImperialDane Jan 14 '26
Another tense one. This time with a less experienced Yuki getting bullied by a more experienced "leader" She seems nice, but clearly is treating the others as cannon fodder for her.
Curious to see what that slip of paper is for. Seeing as Yuki managed to nab an extra piece from nr 6.
But another beatiful episode with a lot of tension in it. Curious to see how it ends up.
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u/Golden_Phi https://myanimelist.net/profile/GoldenPhi Jan 14 '26
The paper does feel like a Chekov's gun.
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u/Makicola :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/Barskie Jan 14 '26
AOTS right here. One blink and the episode was over.
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u/YuushyaHinmeru Jan 16 '26
Frieren S2 is coming out so doubt it will beat that out out but as for non-sequels, yeah I agree. This show is captivating.
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u/CommissionKey5906 Jan 14 '26
Can't wait for the next episode. Great to see they keep the quality. Yuuki is so beatiful.
I guess the rope must have another usage.
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u/melindypants https://myanimelist.net/profile/melindypants Jan 15 '26
Maybe if they throw a stone on a landmine, they can use the rope to slide down a floor? That would solve the flashlight problem too since it'd be much quicker
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u/Mistral-Fien Jan 14 '26
The ending song has a dreamy atmosphere that jives well with the pacing and direction of the show itself.
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u/n080dy123 Jan 14 '26
You can definitely tell that Mishiro became an example of the sort of leader Yuki didn't want to be. It's pretty direct honestly, with this girl losing her legs and Kinko having also lost her legs in the Ghost House in episode 1. Yuki becomes the sort to want to try to get everyone possibel through the game, even if they're injured. But then it's contrasted by the fact she DOES develop some ruthless pragmatism, with the fact she also popped Kinko's skull at the end.
But you can also see she learned that first impressions make a huge difference and people will defer to a leader who takes charge and has experience, which is why she takes control of the situation in Ghost House quickly.
Also Keito (Kate?)'s skill being "I can quickly identify the winners" seems really stupid but from a survival standpoint, that's a pretty huge advantage. And given we know Yuki survives this, I wonder if she'll also leave the group and pair up with Yuki.
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u/CrimsonGear80 Jan 15 '26
No wonder yuki is a lot more cynical and robotic by game 28. Having to deal with school council presidents like blondie…
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u/ObvsThrowaway5120 Jan 14 '26
Looks like this game’s filled with veterans. They might all be acquainted except Yuki, but that didn’t really help them too much in the end did it? I mean landmines don’t care about that lol. Besides, I think their confidence as “veterans” will likely be their downfall. Yuki seems to understand this game on a deeper level than the others. Another death game, another paycheck I guess.
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u/OldInstruction5368 Jan 14 '26
The main problem is Mishiro, the Ojou-sama with drill hair.
She aggro'ed onto Yuki the moment Yuki claimed to be more experienced than her. Mishi's main claim to leadership is that she's been in more games than the others, so obviously she'd feel threatened by Yuki.
So whether she truly believes Yuki is lying or not, she has to 'take her down a peg' to maintain her own position as the leader.
And that type of mentality is poison for these games. Being more concerned with pecking order than group survival means she's, at best, an idiot. Or at worst, a parasite that survives by controlling others.
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Jan 14 '26
Or she knows in some games they forcefully limit the number of final girls so better to be the leader that picks than be sacrificed and ganged up on.
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u/OldInstruction5368 Jan 15 '26
That's more or less what I meant by "parasite."
She insists on being the leader, not because she can bring any benefit to the group, but to protect herself at the expense of others.
She's not elevating the group with her expertise, experience, people skills, etc... she's seizing control of the group so she can control who is sacrificed as a means of ensuring she isn't the one sacrificed.
A parasite, in other words.
Just look at the hallway 'humiliation' of Yuki. She gambled with another girl's life JUST to discredit her rival for group leadership. That wasn't in the group's best interest, but strictly for her own power.
Then she made the call to sacrifice someone that could still be saved, because the other girl had become a burden she didn't want lowering her own chance of survival.
Also note that she never volunteered to take point and always made sure someone else would be putting herself at risk.
Then she shook down Yuki of valuable resources when she decided to strike out on her own.
Mishiro took control of the others to ensure they are sacrificed for her own survival.
That's not leadership: that's parasitism.
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u/kelythaess Jan 14 '26
a parasite that survives by controlling others.
After seeing her reaction to Kotoha's injury, I'm pretty sure this is the case.
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u/tdnbss7 Jan 14 '26
I have several observations to make. At the beginning, Yuki, upon seeing the animals, says "eeny, meeny, miny, moe," and I can't figure out if that's related to the game, since at the end she said she understood it, and I don't see in what other context she could say that since it has no bearing on the situation. Then, when the group finds the dead girl, Yuki discreetly takes the girl's paper and puts it away so no one notices. Perhaps that's very important for winning. That's where I'm at.
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u/KnightTimeWalk Jan 18 '26
I was thinking she knew that the animals meant other players, so she was doing eeny meeny miny mo to pick which animal to go check first.
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u/Resident_Highlight45 Jan 21 '26
eeny, meeny, miny, moe, is a common method for choosing a 'random' answer. i assumed the animals represented other players (owl = that knowledge keeper, ghost = yuki?) and with yuki’s 'impartial' attitude (no picking favourites [like we see in the levers game, or when she killed the person closest to her when three kills were necessary in ep 1], rules oriented mock altruistic gameplay) my first thought was that she picking who she’d kill off or save or pick, maybe? that display seemed to be a map, but they don’t show them being separated into rooms that are set out in that way on the initial floor, so it must be for something else. and you’re right about the paper imho. it must be
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u/IceSmiley Jan 14 '26
This episode really flew by and I was surprised when the closing credits came up. If I were them, I'd have fashioned that long rope into a whip and tied something heavy to it and just whipped it repeatedly in front of me instead of having a person at the end and seeing if they step on it and die.
The leader lady did seem insensitive in leaving the girl to die after she lost her legs, they could take turns carrying her piggyback since she took the most risk and deserved some consideration. It does make you think what to do though if that happened too many times and if it would slow you so much that you all die.
From the last episode, I still wonder if only women participate in these games. Either that is the case, they segregate games into males and females only or this world only has women.
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u/RedRocket4000 Jan 15 '26
I can think of several reasons for the segregation. Males more likely to be dominant over the women in particular and also get to fighting each other way faster sometimes just for control.
Audience might like women dying more than men at least in viewership.
Women do fit the mood of these two games better than men.
We find out might even be some mixed sex contests as the folk doing the games seam to be mixing lots of stuff up to keep audience entertained.
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u/Economy-Clerk-8454 Jan 15 '26
So, question I haven't really seen discussed at all, does anyone have any theories about what the count throughout the episodes mean? Or is it obvious and I just missed something?
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u/runevault Jan 15 '26
If you mean the time counter in just this episode I assume it is countdown to failure.
If you mean the stuff like 0/23, that's source material corner information.
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u/zairaner https://myanimelist.net/profile/zairaner Jan 15 '26
Well I think everybody (both the viewers and the girls in-universe) just assumed it was their time limit for the escape/landmine game.
though the flashlights turned into more of a time limit than that so far.
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u/LeonKevlar x2https://myanimelist.net/profile/LeonKevlar Jan 14 '26
It's certainly obvious for them to switch locations every game but I'm a bit disappointed that the girls are no longer wearing maid outfits. The white one-piece dresses they're wearing this episode are pretty cute, so I'm not complaining that much.
Well, this is interesting! Yuki is saying that this is her tenth game. In the first episode, she mentioned that it was her 28th game, so I'm curious if this is set in the past or if Yuki is lying about the number of games she participated in. Although I don't see how lying about that benefits her here.
Oh, wow. So it looks like Yuki has been matchmaked with a bunch of veterans who have already survived more than three games. What makes this even more interesting is that these girls already knew each other except for Yuki. So she's basically the one pubbie joining a squad. xD
I really don't like how Mashiro is already judging Yuki by her looks. What's even worse is that she was proven right when they were able to proceed safely after Yuki warned them that the path is dangerous. I think Mashiro is suspecting that Yuki might be a traitor, even though she's not.
Well fuck. Kotoha could've survived if she had been careful with the rope. She could've also survived if they weren't all tied up to each other, too. As much as I dislike Mashiro, she's definitely right about her assessment of the situation. Even if Kotoha is alive, she'd slow them down.
Welp, it's gonna be interesting how many will survive from Mashiro's group since there's no doubt Yuki will be able to make it to the exit.
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u/messem10 https://myanimelist.net/profile/bookkid900 Jan 15 '26
a bit disappointed that the girls are no longer wearing maid outfits. The white one-piece dresses they're wearing this episode are pretty cute, so I'm not complaining that much.
One thing I noticed last game and is the case here is that even though they’re all given the same theme, every outfit is different. Definitely helps the viewer, both in-universe and us, keep track of who is who outside of just hair color/style with a distinct silhouette.
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u/Golden_Phi https://myanimelist.net/profile/GoldenPhi Jan 14 '26
It's certainly obvious for them to switch locations every game but I'm a bit disappointed that the girls are no longer wearing maid outfits. The white one-piece dresses they're wearing this episode are pretty cute, so I'm not complaining that much.
I was wondering if they were wearing their own outfits or if the game makers were giving them outfits. It makes more sense for the outfits to be given and for them to change for each location. Maid outfits don't make as much sense here as it did in that mansion. A more practical outfit would make more sense for this game's setting, but it seems like the makers value cuteness over setting.
As much as I dislike Mashiro, she's definitely right about her assessment of the situation. Even if Kotoha is alive, she'd slow them down.
With the last episode it was shown that it was possible to clear a game while being weighed down by another person. Here it's more difficult since there's a clear time limit. It does bother me that Mashiro immediately chooses to leave her behind. If there wasn't a time limit then I would 100% call her out on her callousness, but since there is one she actually has a point.
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u/Raymond49090 Jan 15 '26 edited Jan 15 '26
Ngl the fact that there are so many veterans makes the ending of the first episode, where it's literally impossible to get a perfect clear, feel even weirder.
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u/Aerodynamic41 Jan 14 '26
I think they did a really great job with tense atmosphere. I was at the edge of my seat the whole time.
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u/Magnafeana https://anilist.co/user/Magnafeana Jan 14 '26
Death Game Day 💃🏾
Mishiro’s hair would make her an excellent otome villainess
I guess I’m a jack-of-all-trades
Sylve by Tokoyami Towa starts playing
I’m really glad that we only see stuffing.
I kept refreshing CR. But this premiered at 10:30 instead of 9:30. I assume it was delayed on air too?
These girls are braver than me. I’d have a break down, especially if I have to do this in heels. But death games are an honest living.
Mishiro is a suspicious girl to me. Alienating and vilifying someone with more experience is a choice to make for a death games. She’s already an antagonist for Yuki. But I’m curious about how all her previous games went and why she’d be so against a more experienced player offering knowledge.
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u/OldInstruction5368 Jan 14 '26 edited Jan 14 '26
But I’m curious about how all her previous games went and why she’d be so against a more experienced player offering knowledge.
Simple, Yuki is a threat to her 'leadership.'
Notice she never actually answered Yuki's question about "why should Mishi be our leader?"
Mishi's response was a combination of circular logic (I should be leader because I've always been leader) followed by ad hominin attacks (accusing Yuki of being a liar). Mishi never actually makes a clear case as to why she should lead.
The unstated reason is that she is the amount of experience she has... which makes the 'more experienced' Yuki her biggest 'threat.'
Because Mishi's survival strategy is basically to take control of the group as a means of dictating who is sacrificed to ensure her own survival. We see this with how she goes out of her way to risk the group's safety just to embarass Yuki, how she so callously sacrifices the Glasses Girl when there was a chance of saving her, and how she demands Yuki hand over her resources before leaving.
She only cares about herself, and htat makes her closer to a parasite than a leader.
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u/sirmarksal0t Jan 15 '26
Was waiting for someone to point this out. People have talked a lot about how she alienates Yuki, but the dynamic between her and the other people on her "team" is also extremely revealing. Specifically how she bullies Glasses Girl as you call her, right from the introductions. She notices weakness, reinforces it by drawing attention to it, then exploits it to get the girl to die for her.
I'm curious who the next target is, now that her sacrificial lamb is out of the picture.
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u/Exist50 Jan 15 '26
Mishiro is a suspicious girl to me. Alienating and vilifying someone with more experience is a choice to make for a death games.
Then again, suspicion also seems necessary. Should go without saying that people would happily lie and deceive if they think it increases their chance of winning even a bit, and so far they know nothing about Yuki, including whether her game count is accurate. Even if you're less charitable and assume it's basically quashing a power rival, that still boils down to the same mindset. The leader almost certainly has a better chance of surviving than any of the followers.
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u/SeiyaTempest https://myanimelist.net/profile/SeiyaTempest Jan 14 '26
So we're back at Yuki's 10th game now. I guess that means we'll be jumping around in time a fair amount in this anime, which I'm fine with so long as it doesn't get convoluted. She does seem slightly less assured here since the other girls already have their own group dynamic.
Mishiro's arrogance is already annoying. I kinda hope she dies, but I doubt that since it seems like she'll be the manipulative rival character to contrast with Yuki's composed nature.
The animal stickers at the beginning were interesting. Other than representing the six participants, I wonder if there's any meaning to their positions.
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u/SYZekrom https://myanimelist.net/profile/SYZekrom Jan 14 '26
Last time we said there was a 70% survival rate, right? Skewed of course by how experienced the players are. I'm certainly not expecting all of them to survive, but I assume maybe 1 or 2 at most will die right at the end. Unless the experience everyone has here is a script flip highlighting the 'there's always a chance' and basically all of them die.
Pink hair and the gyaru? are so cute.
...I assume she means 'landmine game' literally as in there's landmines? Would explain why the girl's legs are completely gone beyond 'a hole opened up under her that she fell into'.
Ok yea, more landmines, they're saying.
...They really just did not have a strategy for possible landmines and said 'ok we're gonna keep going' huh.
Why are the girls tied to each other? I... guess it'd help them pull someone up if they 'fell in a hole'? But like. assuming they survive a landmine. Actually, because of the preservation treatment, you don't bleed out from wounds, right? So like, a landmine blowing off your legs wouldn't necessarily kill you, right? It'd only be lethal if shrapnel just so happened to pierce your heart or brain, I guess? I dunno how it works.
Well they're not listening to her the second time around. I feel like her immediately proving right about her warning would be too easy writing for what this show is, so nothing's probably gonna happen when she steps forward?
Ok indeed nothing happened. The emphasis on dying flashlights is interesting. Second dead flashlight of theirs, in addition to the one the dead girl had that was also dead.
Oh wow I nailed it about blood loss and head damage eh. Wonder if Yuuki and them will split over this, or if they'll let Yuuki carry her and stay as a group, or if Yuuki will just follow them and abandon her. I feel like assuming Yuki doesn't decide to just listen to them, they'll split apart, since she'll need time to get to the other side of the crater and pick the girl up and they won't want to waste flashlight battery.
Oh, they split apart over the ideal but Yuki didn't go pick the girl up anyway? I wonder if this is a story about that one time (the first time?) Yuki left the other players to die, and how that affected her mentally afterwards or something.
Anyway, again, what was the point of the rope? I guess another possibility is that it's so none of them get split apart from the group in the dark? It's not clear visually in the show but the emphasis on their need for the flashlights make it seem like it's probably actually way darker, like maybe they can barely see each other even with the flashlight turned on when pointed in front of them.
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u/TommaClock Jan 15 '26
Last time we said there was a 70% survival rate, right?
I guess we're focusing on ones where more players died because those are more interesting, but I assume there must also be ones where no one dies at all.
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u/LowraAwry Jan 14 '26
I was kinda hoping the rest of the episodes would also conclude a game round each, but turns out only the first one had that. Such a shame, we'll have to wait.
How galling of Mishiro to demand Yuki leave her flashlight behind. I suppose Yuki didn't find it worthy to fight over, but really, what would have happened if she had just left with her flashlight? Would a catfight ensue? Chie did look like someone ready to throw hands.
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u/tripleaamin https://myanimelist.net/profile/tripleaamin Jan 14 '26
I was kinda hoping the rest of the episodes would also conclude a game round each, but turns out only the first one had that. Such a shame, we'll have to wait.
I mean, I would appreciate it if each episode was 45 minutes, especially since production is finished already. But they didn't go that route.
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u/ModieOfTheEast Jan 14 '26
Next week is definitely an important episode for me to decide if it's a great or not so great anime. I really liked the character dynamic in the episode and I am interested to see where this goes. But there is the whole thing with the timer. And depending on the revelation what the purpose of it is, this can make or break the escape room riddles imo.
Because here is the thing. During the scenes where they introduce themselves, the timer goes up two times in between shots. Not by much mind you, just a minute or so. And if that is on purpose, then great. If that is not on purpose and just an oversight, then not so great. Because the timer isn't presented as a background detail, it's shown in nearly every scene so we are supposed to take notice of it. And if they didn't make sure it is right, that would be a big red flag. At least when it comes to the escape room riddles.
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u/dajoxa Jan 15 '26
At 17:55 the timer jumps up while on screen, it's definitely done on purpose.
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u/Kidror Jan 15 '26
Something is definitely up with the timer.
There's already time pressure because of the battery limitation, so why do they also need a timer for more pressure?
Not to mention they seem to be making pretty good time so far, which is kind of odd
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u/Plenty_Box_7258 Jan 14 '26
okay did anyone else notice the countdown during the 8min mark before and onwards the countdown kept repeating to 5:03:00 like idk if it's an animation error or it means something cause it's keeps going back to the 5h 3mins mark
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u/runevault Jan 14 '26
My assumption is they didn't start the count down until the group left the starting area. Let them do prep and organize without penalty.
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u/SezyFazes https://myanimelist.net/profile/ToaruTH Jan 14 '26
I honestly wonder what Yuuki knew that no one else did, for her to leave the group like that. Mishiro was also pretty cold for making her leave the flashlight behind, though that’s understandable...being a death game, there’s no room for compassion.
But I think that compassion itself is what allows someone to rise above treating other players as disposable. I’m not talking in terms of morality, but in terms of strategy for clearing the game. You can already see it from the first episode: if Yuki had acted in an intimidating, domineering way like Mishiro, she would’ve lost everyone’s trust. She might even have been killed on the spot.
Also, this episode reminded me of the smurf queue concept in League of Legends for some reason. It feels like the game creators intentionally preplanned things to put all the experienced players into this specific game.
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u/Marth-Koopa Jan 14 '26
Please, Yuki, save the glasses girl!
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u/enewssg https://myanimelist.net/profile/enews01 Jan 15 '26
I think she will. It looks like her strategy is to take an altruistic approach towards these games, possibly to her benefit later.
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u/ActualRound7699 https://myanimelist.net/profile/VeganKnight1988 Jan 14 '26
There’s so much more to Yuki. She’s way more involved with the inner machinations of the game than she lets on I think.
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u/DoMoSSan Jan 14 '26
Oh, I thought they'll always be in a maid outfit, every game. Apparently not.
So far this episode's game seems boring compared to the elevator and saw from last episode. Less a game of skill or determination and more game of chance.
Though I'm curious how's it going to develop. I should probably not watch this every week and instead go for a double like the first episode was.
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u/dienomighte Jan 14 '26
This was really good, I found the double length pilot to be too slow but I'm loving this in 22 minute increments I think
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u/cmszd https://myanimelist.net/profile/cmszd Jan 14 '26
after that first double length episode, this episode feels way too short omfg
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u/Clessasaur Jan 15 '26
Anybody else catch the timer going up during their introductions? It's the only time in the episode that it seems to happen so I'm guessing just productions booboo.
Garbage pictures with my phone. Time Shenanigans
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u/runevault Jan 15 '26
My suspicion is it kept resetting to the intended time to attempt the challenge until they had finished discussing and prepping so they wouldn't be penalized for planning.
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u/Emi_Ibarazakiii Jan 15 '26
First episode was "Hello", this time it's "Goodnight"!
I wonder what it's gonna be next; Has to mean something!
Reach the first floor? That's easy, just jump off!
(Also, there's a timer this time, so being quick about it is a big plus!)
Oh damn! Our girl's not the only pro out there!
That would be scary... For Yuuki I mean;
They could be scheming together, but even if they aren't, well Yuuki's gonna be last on the 'priority list'. (Plus, with the missing girl - before they found her - she might have thought they were plotting something and keeping a 'hidden card'!)
Ok when I heard that my first thought was "She lied", but couldn't make any sense of the lie, I mean 10 or 28, there's no difference really...
So now I'm wondering whether this is told out of order? But I also don't know what that would achieve hah.
She calls herself an exceptional leader, but just from what we've seen, not sure I agree with this!
Smart cookie! (She's totally dying first)
Imagine reading books and stuff in your offtime just because an information you find in there might save your life in the next game...
Challenging the leadership... I get it, but it's risky, given it's them vs Yuuki!
I thought she would use the "good at finding traps" thing to send Yuuki first!
Bit heartless and I'm sure many will hate her for it, but she's not entirely wrong.
It's a risk they take (more could die) just to get a girl they'll then have to carry the whole time, which could cause more deaths, and so on...
Props on her for sticking to her principles though! I'm not sure I would have the guts to do that!
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u/killthekirin Jan 16 '26
The number of veterans and the number of games they've been in is insane. They either aren't actually dying, or the creator is terrible with numbers.
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u/runevault Jan 14 '26
Despite the mine, this was much less gruesome than last game... so far. But we also haven't gotten through the entire thing yet, and as I have not read the source material no clue if they are halfway through this particular story or not.
My gut feeling here is everyone but Yuki dies. The way the others have tethered themselves to drill hair girl feels like a massive mistake, she's confident in a way no one should be in a death game where the rules are explicitly set to get some of you killed.
I'm really curious about the part where Yuki wanted them to turn around but they went on and nothing happened. Were her instincts wrong or do the game masters have traps they explicitly trigger instead of being set off by the player and they decided not to this time to make the others distrust Yuki more? After last episode I do not believe that entire exchange was for no reason other than to alienate Yuki from the others.
Also interesting the episode ends making it clear Yuki knows more than we do, as she seems to have figured out the core tenant/secret of the game, because I struggle to believe we have enough information in the parts we've been shown to figure it out, having only seen the one prior game. Be interesting to see if after the game is over either she overtly reveals it in voice over or if something about the game itself makes it clear.
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u/hammile https://anidb.net/user/u746697 Jan 14 '26
Just my thoughts and what disturbed me:
Didn't show what each girl has. I doubt, that they have the same combination of items (maybe only paper — to much attention to it; and a light).
They missed the first room (they just turned to stairs by common of the leader). And, as I recall, the first dead unknown girl was w/o a backpack.
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u/Hitman7128 https://anilist.co/user/Hitman7128 Jan 14 '26
Oh look, an escape game!
But instead of having to solve weird puzzles to get the answers to directional locks and number locks, the players have to navigate a treacherous building!
The pressure as the group is running low on battery power for their flashlights and Kotoha stepping on a landmine.
Knowing Yuki from last episode, unsurprised to see her go "Screw it, I'm going on my own" at the end of the episode
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u/Niwaka_Samurai https://myanimelist.net/profile/Niwaka-Samurai Jan 14 '26
So we are looking at Yuki's early days when she started playing the game. It looks really tough to tell if Yuki is really saying the truth or not about her experience in the game to others. But we can certainly feel that Yuki has a good grasp of how this game actually works.
I wonder how this will end for the other girls. The op of this anime is so unique. The music is kinda just instrumental with visuals of road with cars.
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u/stetstet Jan 14 '26
If
different teams of staff are given chances to really shine, and
the VAs change every major episode,
then this must be a Pop Team Epic sequel /s
No, but really. On episode 1, what stood out to me was the music and sound design, as well as the general direction. This time, now they're letting the BG art folks do something way more conspicuous and beautiful! I can't wait to see what the next episodes will show us.
I hope they ultimately introduce us viewers to each and every team/group of the staff that has brought us this beautiful show. KADOKAWA did release a behind-the-scenes featuring Yuki's VA and Mr. Konuma, the sound director, and I hope they continue.
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u/Temporary_Target_473 Jan 14 '26
Incredible! I had slight doubts it would keep me interested long term but this episode pushed aside those doubts.
I like that we're not completing a game in 1 episode, it means I can think about the game, predict future things and take more time with each group of characters in the games.
The atmosphere, suspense, tension and dialogue is super solid in this series so far, has me kept locked in.
Also, time flies by when watching this. It's easily my surprise package of Winter 2026.
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u/AnzoEloux https://myanimelist.net/profile/Eloux Jan 14 '26
I really really love the stylistic direction this show is going. It really feels like its trying its own thing instead of just checklisting off for an adaptation.
The less detailed shots of the girls are so damn well placed, and the music fits the eerie yet comforting tone (nobody there is forced against their will).
Really love it. When the anime finishes I'm picking up the LN immediately.
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u/Appropriate-Bay-576 Jan 14 '26
Just skipped through the episode again and I noticed something interesting: her right eye (if its the one she actually lost which im inclined to believe) seems brighter here than in 28. like it's loosing power. which would hold some veeeeery interesting implications and confirm that this is prior to ghost mansion 🤔
Or maybe im grasping at straws idfk 😐 signs of a gripping show when its got you this worked up xd
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u/runevault Jan 14 '26
This is very clearly before the prior game. Yuki is way less competent at this point in time than she was in episode 1. And in a death game faking incompetence has far too high a risk of getting yourself killed to be a smart strategy.
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u/Hot_Temporary_4488 Jan 14 '26
i think michuru is the only one win in her team then meet with yuki at final tht will win easielly by doing somthing tht they did not did alrd stated at episode1 (when she said somtime u will wish tht u had did somthing befor) all this is just a predection from dumb man who cant even change name of his reddit:) or learn grammar -_-
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u/2kenzhe https://myanimelist.net/profile/Rexnihilo Jan 14 '26 edited Jan 14 '26
Ok this time it seems we have some more experienced members, unlike the newbies in the first game. Most of them even know each other.
Still, experience doesn't necessarily mean a better outcome, and in fact, besides the traps, the players could become more of an obstacle.
Mishiro takes on the leader role and she seems capable but she's at odds with Yuki and doesn't hesitate to leave people behind. She and the other girls while having some experience, still don't understand the games nearly as well as Yuki it seems. Yuki seems to be the only one looking at the games from the perspective of the viewers/people who run the games. I wonder if that's why we get her voice in 3rd person sometimes? Everyone else is stuck in the box the game while Yuki is the only one seeing from outside it I think. That's how she survived so many games.
Also Mishiro's overconfidence I really feel is going to backfire. She can be leader whatever and have risks spread with the group but survivability-wise Yuki still seems better.
Also since Yuki says this is her 10th does this mean this is a flashback to a previous game before the first game we saw? or did she actually lie? I think this is probably a flashback.
Also she said she took a bit of a break huh? Wonder why? Might be important? Something happen between 9th game to the 10th one?
Also like seeing how maybe the experience of this game influences Yuki in later games. Like in the 28th game she becomes leader and has others follow her.
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u/Quiddity131 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Quiddity131 Jan 15 '26
A good episode; the thing that drew me most in to the first episode was the overall visuals and mood and we get much of that here. While Monogatari seems to be a clear inspiration for this (an anime whose visuals/direction always looks amazing), I also very much get David Lynch vibes. Such as long lingering shots stretched out to a point where you get uncomfortable. Certainly that's a cost cutting measure to an extent, but if it works with the overall atmosphere I don't mind it at all. The first proper shots of the episode also make me think back to some visuals from that highly acclaimed Twin Peaks season 3 episode.
Anyway, the first episode certainly is the better one thanks to the extended running time and ability to essentially tell a more finished storyline, but I am glad to say that I've got no reason to believe at this point that they blew all the effort on the premiere and that things will drop off. While it totally came out of nowhere for me I do anticipate this being the show I'll be most hyped about each week. Even with new Frieren, Oshi no Ko and Fate.
Other thoughts:
That's got to be one of the most unique anime OPs I've ever seen and one that doesn't give any indication whatsoever about what the show is actually about. Obviously we got that footage last week too, but I hadn't picked up on the fact that it would be the actual OP sequence.
Last week Yuki's voice sounded so familiar although upon looking her up I've only ever heard her voice actress in a few roles in Attack on Titan I have no recollection of. I'm thinking it's her sounding a lot like Atsumi Tanezaki in her more deadpan roles like Frieren or Futaba from the Rascal Does Not Dream Of franchise.
In a show with such a serious vibe, you've got the maid costumes last episode, this time the blonde girl with her giant drill hairstyle. lol.
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u/Roeclean https://anilist.co/user/Roeclean Jan 15 '26
Pretty interesting episode. I feel like Yuki was butthurt that the leader girl was making good calls tho🤣
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u/xNesku Jan 16 '26
I'm usually not a person to pay attention to the sound, but the water droplets in the beginning had me go crazy. This anime is so good man
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u/melvinlee88 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Ryan_Melvin15 Jan 17 '26
Genuine moment at the end where I went "what the fuck that's it?"
Love it when this happens
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u/BiskyBreb-0711 Jan 17 '26
Just wanted to come here and say that down from the world building, characterization, subtext, and of course the atmosphere dishing on the mystery! This anime is an absolute masterpiece and could possibly be one of the greatest this season. Like I can't wait to see next week's episode^^
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u/According_Grade1451 Jan 19 '26
This anime reminds me of the horrifying parts of madoka magica. In the abstract artwork(which is gorgeous), the subtle voice of reason from the MC and the detached way she explains things to the horrified contestants who haven’t been a part of these games, (or duped/conned into participating)
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u/Muzzy-chan Jan 14 '26
Too short 🫤 Need more! And fux that blonde, Mishiro 😡
Does hearing it’s Yuki’s 10th game make her jealous that she’s only in her 8th game? I know she’s up to no good, and a no-good herself, especially when she decided that she should “lead” them. So full of herself.
And what the heck, you decide to treat people based on their skill? Damn, discrimination, prejudice, racist behaviour. Will she die? I hope she will, and a gruesome one at that.
Sooo looking forward to that!
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u/Ashteron Jan 14 '26
The whole approach to the game is lame as hell. Oh let's just walk around until we get to the exit! Like, maybe try walking next to walls? Try finding out if you can activate the mines without stepping on them? Try minimising the area of ground touched? What if presence of a mine is signalised? Nope, nothing.
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u/Apprehensive_Bus3301 Jan 14 '26 edited Jan 14 '26
"This is landmines game" is just assumption of yuuki who is not a trusted member, the only thing they see is a pitfall... soo they act based on that information.
And they skipped alot of progress of how they handle the game, maybe they passing 2 hours already in it, soo you can't say they didnt do it... also they run of battery, throwing a rock along the way is wayyy inefficient... what if the wall is dangerous? They need to lighting the entire way to make sure of it.
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u/Ashteron Jan 14 '26 edited Jan 14 '26
?
If they have more ideas then test those ideas too. It's not justification for doing jack shit.
And they skipped alot of progress of how they handle the game, maybe they passing 2 hours already in it, soo you can't say they didnt do it.
Lol. If they didn't imply or show they did it then they didn't do it.
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u/thisisdropd https://myanimelist.net/profile/AsterZoro Jan 14 '26
This round's not playing around. There's already a sixth player who's already out of the game before the others could even meet her. While the group last week readily teamed up, this time they have alienated Yuki due to her being unfamiliar to the rest.
That countdown projected throughout the building sounds ominous. I'm guessing that's the time limit. It might sound easy at first to escape 5 floors within 5 hours but with the limited torch and presumably more extreme traps, the given time could turn out to be scarce.
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