As a start, Let’s Play Episode 1 has promise despite dull heroine, but it’s too soon to tell if it squanders that.
Let’s Play Episode 1 begins a reverse harem anime that leans into comedy and the usual over-the-top dramatics in such series. Still, thanks to its premise, it has the potential to build upon the humor in the first episode. What detracts from it at its start is how the characters all feel interchangeable with those in other series within the shoujo genre.
Adding to this dilemma is the animation, resembling the appearance of 90s and early aughts anime. Now, there are series that make an impact thanks to their story and characters. Even without the stellar visuals many anime fans come to expect from newer series. As a start, Let’s Play Episode 1 has promise despite dull heroine, but it’s too soon to tell if it squanders that.
Directed by Daiki Tomiyasu (Pokémon), the story follows Sam Young, voiced by Kana Hanazawa (Kaiju No. 8, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie – Infinity Castle), a young lady who works in data entry in her father’s company, while longing to enter the world of game development. The game she created in college, Ruminate, has a rising score online among gamers. The series is basically about her, her passion for games, and the guys revolving around her. However, Let’s Play Episode 1 tries to expand a bit. But her appearance and reactions feel much too similar to every other anime with a shy, soft-spoken heroine.
Let’s Play Episode 1 Struggles to Stand Out
Although it’s not required to hook viewers immediately, it helps with a series. While Let’s Play Episode 1 has potential because of one or two characters, it’s also occasionally dull. Seeing Sam trudge around the job with the implication that her boss, Charles Jones, voiced by Yûichi Nakamura (Wind Breaker, Jujutsu Kaisen), mistreats her because she’s a woman, only to learn that this is far from the case, and her father is the CEO and adores her, feels disingenuous. It’s as though they did not know what to do with her character and story. So they mashed multiple things together. Sawako from Kimi Ni Todoke was also soft-spoken, yet she made a distinct impression within the first episode.
At Least Two Memorable Characters
Within the first episode, the most fascinating character is CEO Young, voiced by Kenta Miyake (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Kaiju No. 8). It’s during these family interactions that the hint of a personality peeks through with Sam. Plus, Charles Jones, because of how he feels about Sam, has a memorable personality, too. These two, and their interactions with Sam, create room for hilarious misunderstandings between an overprotective dad and a boss with a crush. Thanks to them and the conflict with the Vtuber that’s brewing, Let’s Play Episode 1 builds curiosity for the next episode.
Let’s Play Episode 1, despite a dull heroine, manages to capture some interest. It’s frustrating seeing a forgettable heroine. However, there is still the possibility for growth in future episodes. The animation with stilted, stiff movement does not help the anime. Still, a gamer girl who loves making games and winds up neighbors with the Vtuber who eviscerated her game could be amazing. Even with the name “Life is S-Rank,” Let’s Play Episode 1 teeters but thanks to some of the characters and the possibilities, it’s worth holding on.
