Episode 1: First Game
Review: Darwin’s Game Episode 1 Best In Show
In Darwin’s Game episode 1, “First Game,” Kaname Sudou’s routine high school life came to an abrupt end the instant he clicked on a link sent by his now missing friend. In perhaps the best example of why we need to be cautious about clicking on spam, a virtual snake with very real venom lunged from Kaname’s phone and planted its fangs in his neck. Though it knocked him unconscious, the event was so far outside his experience that he dismissed it as a hallucination brought on by exhaustion. That theory was severely tested that night as he was riding home on the train. A baseball mascot, armed with a huge carving knife, attacked him. Can Kaname stay alive long enough to realize he’s in deep trouble? Just what is that game he clicked on? And what’s it have to do with his missing friend?
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
Episode 2: Gemstone Mine
Review: Darwin’s Game Episode 2 Best In Show
In Darwin’s Game episode 2, “Gemstone Mine,” Shuka Karino gave Kaname Sudou some much-needed context about why she had asked him to start a family with her. Kaname, not wanting to be hunted down and killed before he can understand even the Darwin Game’s fundamental rules, teamed up with Shuka, and they went on their first mission: shopping for clothes. Or is that Shuka’s real intent? Why is Inukai so interested in tracking down Kaname? How does Inukai’s information broker know so much? And what’s this about a treasure hunt?
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
Episode 3: Ignition
Review: Darwin’s Game Episode 3 Best In Show
In Darwin’s Game episode 3, “Ignition,” Kaname Sudou found himself alone in a hotel room when the scavenger hunt began. He still didn’t know how to use his Sigil well and he needed to find three rings before the timer expired. Or he’d be dead. Shuka Karino was no where to be seen. He was completely on his own. It didn’t help that as soon as he opened the door to the hallway, he saw not one, but two outlines left by dying players. It further didn’t help that the first person he met carried a heavy machine gun. Deciding discretion was in fact the better part of valor, he tried to run down the stairs — only to find that they were blocked by thick jungle growth, of all things! Can he find a way to evade the heavy machine gun? Or has his luck finally run out?
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
Episode 4: Fireworks
Review: Darwin’s Game Episode 4 Best In Show
In Darwin’s Game episode 4, “Fireworks,” Kaname Sudou and Rein Kashiwagi were trapped on the hotel’s upper floors by the Florist’s plants, which both blocked their escape routes and enslaved other defeated players. Kaname’s quick thinking helped him shoot out the cameras, but the Florist countered by sending his minions searching for them floor by floor. Can Kaname and Rein stay ahead of them long enough to come up with a plan? Will they be able to stay alive long enough to collect enough rings — to stay alive longer? And what about the other players outside of the hotel who are also after the rings?
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
Episode 5: Aquarium
Review: Darwin’s Game Episode 5 Best In Show
In Darwin’s Game episode 5, “Aquarium,” Kaname Sudou, Rein Kashiwagi, and Ichirou Hiiragi prepared the hotel for Wang and his Eighth Clan’s upcoming attack. Before the battle began, though, they recruit one more member for their own clan. Ryuuji, the Machine Gun Guy, was at first completely uninterested in joining them. Then he heard Wang was coming, and he was all in. Just as they were about to deploy their defenses, Kaname received an SOS text from Shuka Karino, which he at first thought was a joke. How could the A-Ranked Shuka be in trouble? But as it became clear she was seriously in danger, Kaname ran to her aid. Can his clan mates get him to slow down enough to come up with a plan? Can Rein figure out what’s really going on? And is the true goal of this event gathering rings — or something more mysterious?
Episode 6: Hardness
Review: Darwin’s Game Episode 6 Best In Show
In Darwin’s Game episode 6, “Hardness,” Kaname Sudou ran into a wall of ice as he tried to find Shuka Karino. He had to manifest a pistol to shoot it enough times to break through, and every second reduces his chances of finding Shuka alive. The cold water was starting to have an effect on him, too. Will he be able to hold out to find her — and if he does, will she be okay? Meanwhile, Ryuuji tried to track down Sui. He suspected that she had useful information. However, she now seems much more capable than she first appeared, and he thought he could sense she was luring him into a trap. Could such a timid and terrified little girl actually have that much guile? Should he be more careful?
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
Episode 7: Eighth
Review: Darwin’s Game Episode 7 Best In Show
In Darwin’s Game episode 7, “Eighth,” Ichirou Hiiragi decided to take on two of the most powerful members of the Eighth clan — but he didn’t intend to take them on at the same time. Can he survive either encounter? Does he even intend to? Meanwhile, Rein Kashiwagi continued to search for an answer to the question: What is this event really about? Because it’s not just about the rings. As she was searching the train station, Wang captured her, as he was invisible to her Sigil. Is there Kaname Sudou, Shuka Karino, and Ryuuji can do to track down Rein? Or will she simply become Wang’s latest victim?
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
Episode 8: Fragile
Review: Darwin’s Game Episode 8 Best In Show
In Darwin’s Game episode 8, “Fragile,” Wang was about to butcher Ryuuji, who was already missing one arm because of the Eighth clan’s leader. Kaname Sudou arrived just in time to intervene — but all he had was a key. A key to a locker he said contained this event’s treasure. He asked if Wang would like to negotiate for it, but Wang said that “Give and Take” wasn’t his clan’s motto. It was “Take and Take.” Still calm, Kaname manifested a pistol and pointed it right at the key. Now would Wang like to negotiate? Was Kaname bluffing? Would Wang believe him? And will Ryuuji pull the pins on the grenades he’s hiding — realizing his hope for revenge but killing everyone who’s nearby — including Kaname?
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
Episode 9: Heads Up
Review: Darwin’s Game Episode 9 Best In Show
In Darwin’s Game episode 9, “Heads Up,” Kaname Sudou found himself in a duel with the stupidly powerful Alexei Bergenikov to prove that their two clans should be allies. But even as Kaname proved victorious, a new player arrived: the mysterious Xue Lan Liu, the number one player in Darwin’s Game. She was number one for good reason. Exerting seemingly little effort, she kidnapped Kaname. Can Shuka Karino, Ryuuji Maesaka, Rein Kashiwagi, and Sui hope to find where Xue Lan has taken him? And even if they do, what can all of them (even combined) do against the number one ranked player in all of Darwin’s Game?
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
Episode 10: Old One
Review: Darwin’s Game Episode 10 Best In Show
In Darwin’s Game episode 10, “Old One,” Ryuuji Maesaka had to physically restrain Kaname Sudou, who was so furious he was pounding the wall in a rage. The reason? The leader of the Eighth Clan, Wang, had kidnapped Kaname’s school friend Youta Ahinozuka. Wang had sent the video of Ahinozuka’s torture — including the removal of all of his fingers — to Kaname. Can Maesaka get Kaname to calm down and think, even with Shuka Karino’s help? And why won’t Xue Lan Liu answer her phone? Her help would come in handy right about now…
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
Episode 11: Sunset Ravens
Review: Darwin’s Game Episode 11 Best In Show
In Darwin’s Game episode 11, “Sunset Ravens,” Kaname Sudou and Ryuuji Maesaka had been cornered by Wang’s clan. Even with Kaname’s unleashed inhibitions, how much of a chance do they really stand? They began to improve the odds a bit because Kaname tricked Wang into using an expected attack, which Shuka Karino parried. With Wang in pursuit, she outran him until he cornered her in the back of the warehouse. Wang’s minions were closing in on Kaname and Ryuuji. Wang had Shuka within his teleportation range. How will our heroes get out of this?
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
