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MANGA ActionGREAT PRETENDER
ONA ActionGREAT PRETENDER: razbliuto

REVIEWS

• 

  AnimeDweeb

  90/100
  What A Ride, Well Played.

  

  Ever ran into the problem of sharing anime with people who don’t watch anime? I did too.

  If you can’t tell by my stupid username, I’m a pretty big fan of these cartoons. However, there are some localized quirks and tropes that would turn potential weeblets from giving anime a shot. How do I introduce friends to this cool catalogue of shows without them getting too big of a shock to their system and distancing themselves from me? Unless you grew up watching Pokémon or a “Big 3” show, I wouldn’t know many titles that would make for a good entry point into the medium. But ask me that same question today and there will be one name, right on the tip of my tongue. Spoiler-free coverage of both halves of the show, skip ahead to my Tl;Dr if you prefer to go in blind.

  ---

  

  Great Pretender (GP) begins in medias res with our main character’s world literally turned upside down

  as he dangles off the Hollywood Sign, tethered by his feet. Such an opening is probably one of the more memorable ones I’ve seen recently, yet that’s not even the most ambitious of this story’s intentions. Director Hiro Kaburagi previously demonstrated his Western sensibilities with 91 Days. But with GP, he trades that grimy noir tale for a homage to heist films. He’s playing a wildly different ball game, like a traveling team playing Away at the home of a foreign sport. There’s no falling back on familiar shounen tropes or localized references; the show is decidedly a Western, and an underdog at that. Yet, GP punches far above its weight and proves itself more-than-capable to sit right up there with the very best in the genre. Against insurmountable odds, not unlike those Laurent and his crew face, GP cooks a perfect plan for success rooted in style and confidence.

  

  The series’ structure mirrors the tightly-wound cons themselves – there’s more to this show than meets the eye.

  As to be expected with your caper story, the show has tricks and twists aplenty. Laurent’s Band of Merry Men (and Laughing Ladies) take money from the rich by turning their own weapons against them. With millions of dollars on the line, there is no room for error;

  One mistake and you’re gone.

  

  Anticipate ingenious ideas, enigmatic escapes and gambits galore on this wild journey.

  I’ll leave to your imagination the wacky plays our misfits come up with, as it’s an absolute joy to discover the many ways GP pulls the rug out from under you. Really respectable is how the show actually explains the secrets behind the many illusions, while adhering to the tropes it commits itself to and common sense. Shows along a similar vein, like No Game No Life for example, do this only when its convenient (still liked it quite a lot, DW.) GP plays by the rules but still carries a plethora of tricks up its sleeve. What’s fun is that on the off-chance you see the outcome a mile away, putting two-and-two together is still an engaging exercise likely to leave you with a goofy grin on your face.

  

  Controlled chaos is GP’s MO.

  The show teeters on a tight-rope walk between the improvised and the calculated. A frantic energy dominates adrenaline-pumping action, ranging from car chases to dogfights. But the show never gets distracted with insane antics, instead meticulously building towards cathartic climaxes that cumulate in further excitement. There’s hardly a dull moment throughout the show, with a measured momentum that few stories can effectively match. Each episode provides a substantial sense of progression that I’d be hard-pressed to find anywhere else. GP achieves this with its brilliant use of parallels, foreshadowing and motifs. Elements throughout the show can both hint at how the various cons will work, while depicting a deeper picture of our characters – a story nested within a story. Be it the small capsule toys Makoto picks up or the fiendish criminals Laurent’s Merry Men (and Laughing Ladies) encounter, every detail in the plot says something about the direction our story is headed. As such almost all the scenes feel weighty and purposeful in a way, as if every step is going according to keikaku.

  

  Set dressing is also a strength, akin to the many “fronts” set-up.

  The music is memorable stuff. Its OP is the second coming of TANK!, and few shows can brag about the great Freddy-frickin’-Mercury name-dropping the series title as their ending theme. Also notable are the specific music choices for each arc, which fit nicely^ as the story progresses. GP art style is easy on the eyes while showing more love for the genres it emulates. The show doesn’t shoot for hyper-realistic composition or lighting effects, choosing instead to derive its distinct look from clear straight lines and a diverse color palette. Neon-like backgrounds hammer home the vibrant pulp aesthetic its going for, and it makes sense. GP isn’t the most grounded of shows, with its globe-trotting escapades and zany twists. Such an off-kilter atmosphere revels in that playful tone and looks fantastic. GP maintains its creative liberties while being flexible in its approach;

  

  Much like the costume changes our cast pull on a regular basis, GP puts on a new skin with each of its arcs.

  "L.A. Connection" introduces Makato Edamura, the self-proclaimed best conman in all of Japan, as he steps into the City of Dreams – and the world of crime. In "Singapore Sky" Abby, the de facto muscle of the crew, risks everything the clouds and is asked why she welcomes danger with open arms. "Snow of London" sees the sophisticated Cynthia return to the titular town and the love she left behind. GP’s episodic storytelling is takes on different appearances as a crafty chameleon would, with each arc as tightly-constructed as the cons themselves. It’s not dissimilar to the “Watanabe” approach, with the key difference being that Bebop and Champloo prefer to go all-in with its stylistic influences. GP may not display that level of versatility but balances that out by giving its themes and characters just enough room to grow. The series places a great deal of narrative confidence in its confidence men/women, compounding the stakes of their elaborate high-wire acts.

  

  All these components – thrills, style, twists and shock – come crashing together in a jaw-dropping final act.

  “Wizard of Far East” was both the strongest arc in some aspects and the weakest in others. The few "cons" (pardon the pun) throughout the series rear their head in its last leg. It’s the story arc that stretches believability the most and is built around the uncomfortable recurring gag of Makoto getting manipulated by his friends. But although GP looks the closest its ever been to falling completely off the rails, it’s in these same conditions where the series performs its best. One might say the show takes on a “fake it ‘till you make it” attitude, but isn’t that exactly how cons are meant to work? The series as a whole is the master plan, and we’re its dumbfounded marks. GP’s ambition lies not just in scamming rich crooks, but in playing tricks on the audience as well. Every arc strives to surprise, and this last arc is more of the shocking same. The schemes, more intricate than we’ve ever seen; the stakes, as high as ever; the buildup, deliberately paying off thematic threads introduced within the arc and revisiting story beats from prior cases; the presentation, well-handled, the central conflict; dark and compelling – all culminating in an explosive conclusion, an Abby-esque middle finger to anybody expecting any less.

  

  Tl;Dr:

  Great Pretender is masterful in execution. With the chips stacked against it, GP effortlessly translates Western story conventions over to anime in convincing fashion. A pastiche of the caper pulled off with panache, GP pays faithful homage to Hollywood. The team behind the project make their love for these Westerns known, while creating a fantastic piece of fiction of their own. Expect countless surprises and much more in store; effective storytelling, themes and pacing make this 2020 offering a must-watch. GP, my hands are up. You got me. Oh yes… 9/10~

  STRAY RAMBLINGS (SPOILERS):

  • ^Exception being the rap track reused for Case 1. WIT just couldn’t get the rap right, it was just cringe that I was sad to revisit when they replayed it in Case 4.
  • I expected something more complex for the final act, like pitting Makoto against Laurent. I think the show had time to get to that point, given that Laurent went a step too far by forcing Makoto to literally fall in his father’s footsteps. The direction they went with instead doesn’t ask too many questions about its morality, again speaking to the “fake it ‘till you make it” writing. It sure worked on me though, heh.

  

  • I can attest that no event as the “Pathfinder Air-race” will ever take place in a place as conservative as Singapore. I’d be surprised to find anyone crazy enough to sign off on the idea of having planes zooming so low above the ground and dangerously close to tourist attractions and infrastructure. Also, there were like 20 more “Supertrees” in the show than in real life, that scene with the planes weaving around that fake forest had me laughing the first time I saw it. Other than that, props for nailing the look of the city, cool stuff!

  

  • In “Snow of London,” Cynthia’s tin box is labelled “Farrah’s Toffee.” James Coleman, the art appraiser, manipulates a wealthy lady named Farrah Brown into building up his private art collection. In short, it is reasonable to infer that our boi James literally had a sugar mommy.
  • Let’s talk about the English: I know y’all found it pretty grating in the pilot episode, but I thought it was a rather neat concept. It got overbearing in “Wizards” though, all the linguistic switch-ups were embarrassing at times. I will say they got the Chinese VAs spot-on, really captured that “Hong Kong police show” vibe.

  

  • BEST GIRL: Cynthia. Cyn-thee-UH. Plenty of idiots in the show give her flak for being an “old hag” but she’s SMOKIN’. Also, her role in “Snow of London” made the Case closely edge out the other arcs as my favorite throughout GP (cheesy pick, I know.)

  
  
  ***
  
  </center> <img width='100%' src='https://i.ibb.co/V9q1DkW/Great-Pretender-S01-E23-Case-4-9-Wizard-of-Far-East-1080p-WEB-DL-AAC2-0-H-264-a-Kraa-mkv-2020-10-02.jpg'> *Well played.* ~~~
  
  And that's a wrap! Calling this a little early, but I'm pretty confident we have a *great contender* for AOTY in *Great Pretender.* Here's a fun idea: take a shot for every time I used alliteration in this article. I'll send you two cups of coffee and a hug once your hangover's over. If you happen to like my verbose rants, feel free to check out my other [reviews](https://anilist.co/user/AnimeDweeb/reviews) for seasons past and present, peace~

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• 

  flirtmance

  80/100
  Could have been a perfect anime if not for poor choices that favoured a zany plot at the expense of great characters.

  Great Pretender could have easily been a 10/10 anime for me if it weren't for the fact that at it's worst it was so frustrating I wanted to rip my hair out. Unfortunately, the very last arc and conclusion of this anime really let down what was in the running to be an all-time favourite show.

  Story
  This anime is divided into four arcs and unfortunately, the story for the very last arc -- which takes up 9 episodes -- was an absolute shit show that did wrong by the characters and threw away the moral compass guiding most of the cons just for some unearned grand finale. The last arc had some characters doing things for the plot that just soured me completely on them, and it really felt like the anime had lost all consideration it had for consistency and development just so it could throw zany flat plot twists at us. It was so disappointing because when Great Pretender was good it was GREAT!!

  The show explores some extremely heavy themes like war and human trafficking, yet it also does not seem to realise the implications these horrendous acts actually have. That when people commit them they're not just being regular B-Side bad guys. It's meant to be a fun heist story so I don't expect an in-depth study into the horrors of these crimes, but if you're going to use it then show some respect for the seriousness of the subject matter.

  Art
  Absolute outstanding. A visual feast. Gorgeous to look at.

  Sound
  Even with some corny OST choices, I loved it, honestly.

  Character
  Looking back the only thing I'm sure of is that despite my frustrations for the last arc, for the large majority of the show, the vibrancy of the ensemble cast served as the beating heart of the show. Makoto, the main character, is wholesome and someone you always want to root for. Abby is tragic and brave and so compelling! Cynthia is fun and flirty! Laurent... is Complicated lol. The relationship between all of them is fizzy and delightful and they have wonderful chemistry. IT'S TOO BAD THEY SAID, "FUCK ALL" TO ALL THAT IN THE LAST ARC!!

  Enjoyment
  I was counting down the days until the last case was released, because I enjoyed so much of this anime when it didn't let me down. I had a great time with the characters and I wanted to know more about them and I cared about them! And the cons were ridiculous but it was just fun seeing this gang we ended up caring so much about executing them.

  Overall
  Despite my bitter feelings for how it ended I really don't think I can discount how much I enjoyed the majority of my viewing, which is why I'd give it an 8/10 overall. What this anime gets right it really gets right. It's fast-paced, enjoyable, with great chemistry between the characters. It's a shame about some of the extremely poor choices it made.

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• 

  ChillLaChill

  85/100
  Great Pretender is the year's biggest anime surprise, on the brink of achieving greatness.

  What happens when you take a little bit of Ocean's 11, Catch Me If You Can ,and a huge dose of The Brothers Bloom? Well to put it bluntly you get Great Pretender. I had almost settled on the show being perfect but there are some glaringly minor nitpicks that bring this shown down a notch. However, Great Pretender was the biggest and best anime surprise this year besides Dorohedoro.

  It's a straightforward premise of the con-man, or in this case a group of con artists that's made exceptionally well with plenty of style and satisfaction within each character arc. These story arcs might be disguised as side adventures, but they really explore the backstory of each character of the team while also making it exceptionally entertaining in the process. It's as if each arc takes upon a series of "cons" a kin to what you'd get to watch in a heist movie. One may be favourable over the other, but that's what makes each arc so entertaining and accessible for everyone of varying tastes. The entire cast including the protagonist Edamura is just a breath of fresh air in a sea of generic, stoic main characters found in recent modern shows that pride themselves as viewer self-inserts more than anything. The amount of care establishing each personality, and how they form closer bonds makes each episode feel like it counts. I've never seen an animated cast with so much chemistry, every one just plays off each other so well making for some great faux-sophisticated double crosses. Even the stories themselves give each character a chance to shine in their actions and their backstory. Although each arc is usually limited to 4-6 episodes and it does so much with the time its given to feel like a complete journey that makes you think its part of a separate season itself. More importantly dividing each storyline into these smaller focused arcs means that they don't overstay their welcome, and can move on to the next part of the plot with ease. Even the visuals take on a character of their own as the plot hops from place to place to explore different cultures and sceneries that get their chance to shine.

  Great Pretender just oozes style, flare, and gravitas that almost dances around with how passionate it is about itself. Even the soundtrack is absolutely fantastic, from the opening credits that really feel like the Catch me if you can sequence, to the spot-on use of Freddy Mercury's Great Pretender; loved the hidden reference to his cats. Even some of the vocal tracks really hit hard at the right time, and although certain music (such as the theme) can sometimes feel overused, it all comes together to create something truly fun to watch. Even many of the "cons" work out perfectly most of the time, even when they don't at first, and those who have seen movies like The Brothers Bloom will understand the bait-and-switch style of pacing. This is a show where you'll have to suspend your feelings of disbelief as you witness the failed con devolve into a con of cons. The whole idea of the show is to go along for the ride and just enjoy it, and although it can seem "clever", it's best not to think too hard about its plausibility because we're served the (almost) perfect anime on a silver platter.

  The amount effort put into the show's visuals is stunning and desktop-material. The bold shot composition just screams perfection and a huge understanding of artistic composure that feels fully realized. Studio WIT still manages to find ways to impress me with their attention to detail as seen in high octane hits like Attack on Titan, Vinland Saga or Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress. Although they dropped their usual grittier art style of action shows like the ones mentioned above, don't let that fool you because there is some hard hitting emotional moments and a much darker side that you are guaranteed to choke up on as you learn more about the story. It's hard to find a show like this that feels so genuine about its presentation, and it absolutely knows when to laugh and when to take itself seriously.

  HOWEVER we need to talk about something I mentioned earlier. Call it thematic theatrics for a show that double crosses your expectations at the last moment. Remember when I said you should suspend you're disbelief? Well do I have news for you who might've got frustrated with Great Pretenders lack of stakes. Sure, it's easy to accept each "con" as part of something that moves the plot along, and without getting into heavy spoilers, the latter half of the final arc blows it with some heavy emotional dissonance. I know the show prides itself as being sophisticated, but there is a huge difference between that and self-entitled arrogance that tries so hard to "fool" the viewer. Let's just say on the record that it absolutely fails to capture any meaningful emotion because the plot gets way too ahead of itself for its own good. I felt cheated of deserved emotional payoff, no wait, I was conned. It was the kind of expectational subversion that would make any Rian Johnson fan giddy with bewilderment. Great Pretender builds up a heap of emotions that then fall through the cracks because they can't commit to something legitimate in its finale that gave me a reason to keep caring. The emotional disconnect and suspension of disbelief kills the weightiness of the story as it tries its best to wrap up in a neat little box with just enough threads to be left open. The last two episode tried so hard to have its cake and eat it as it dances around with over-the-top theatrics that become more animeme than anime. If there was one thing Great Pretender did exceedingly well it was taking advantage of its setting to impress its viewer, but I was neither impressed nor satisfied with what they did for the final con or its resolution because they strayed so far from that. It's as if the writers said "look ma' no logic", and expected you to swallow this massive pill to forget its leaps in believability. At this point the story stock market just crashed and I lost all my emotional investments right then and there. The show could've forgot a lot of the previous cons in favour of pursuing a cohesive finish, but I'd be lying in saying I didn't feel robbed of an explanation that didn't feel pretentious. Every little plot detail doesn't have to connect with Edamura's life to be conclusive, in fact shoehorning every minor detail at the last moment kills a lot of my nostalgic goodwill towards the ending. The show isn't perfect even as is, however it doesn't detract from the enjoyment I had despite becoming an emotionally battered viewer. I love it, but I really don't know if I want a second season because of its consistent use of a plot-driven safety net for its characters. This is a one-and-done plot in the best possible way that almost could've been perfection had they stuck to it being one series.

  Great Pretender is not talked about enough, and it's available right now on Netflix. I'm surprised a show of this caliber is getting so little attention, and I'd say it's safe to say its sorely underrated. This might have been anime of the year for me if it hadn't jumped the shark. With shallow low-brow shows like Uzaki-chan wants to hang out (ugh we see these kinds of show every year, don't get me started), it's nice to know that the industry still has enough passion and originality to really knock it out of the park with a charming show such as this. Besides the ending being a cop-out, Great Pretender was such a fun ride all the way through. This is a show that deserves all the praise and enjoyment it can muster, and it will most certainly be re-watched in the years to come.

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