Death Parade Episode #3 Review: A Sweet Change of Events

Sorry to the people waiting for this review. I had a ton of exams and had to get those done. I will get this review done today and hopefully catch up with episode #4 tomorrow. Anyways, onto the review.

The Show:

This week, we start off with a brand new couple. The male's name is Shigeru, and the female can't actually remember her's. Although at first they struggle to fathom what is going, eventually the girl decides you can't "live" without knowing her name. The game of the week is Rolling Ballade, essentially bowling. The players are to bowl like normal; however, this time the will be able to feel each other's heartbeats in their respective bowling balls. What ensues is not a bloodbath, an all out war, or even the pain train; instead, both players are playing happily along and cheering each other on. Eventually, the 2 start getting their memories back, and we learn that they were actually childhood friends. Her name is Chisato and she was always secretly in love with him. It seems that when they were kids, Chisato, Shigeru, and another girl, Mai, used to play together. When they were still young, Mai moved away and the protagonists were left alone. Although, it seemed as though Chisato liked him, he didn't really seem interested in her. Chisato's solution was to get plastic surgery to look just like Mai and get Shigeru to notice her. Well...It worked!!! The problem is that the first time he decided to approach her in real life, they died in a bus crash. In the world of the dead, he learns to appreciate her and they enjoy every last moment of their time together. The end result is that they are both sent to be reincarnated.

The Good:

• I decided that the OP is seriously amazing and it has already leap-frogged itself into my top 10 anime OP. I will be making a top 10 Anime OP's of shows I've watched soon.

• This episode was really a change in pace. It was much more relaxing and there wasn't any tense drama. I liked how it managed to still keep the mood gloomy and sulky. One of the most important things introduced is the possibility of both "contestants" going to Heaven or both players going to the Void.

• Dequim. He is showing more of a human side. In the previous episode, he proved he wasn't a robot by making a mistake. This time he showed that he has a sense of humour (albeit barely, but it's still a work in progress). 

• It was a real slow build up that led to a strong and unexpected finish. Although, the whole episode was about the two childhood friends getting together, I was just waiting for them to pull something crazy and turn them against each other.

• The background music was once again great.

• An overall strong story that is surely a change of pace for what is to come in Episode #4.

The Bad:

• It certainly wasn't as good as the first episode, but that isn't to say it was bad by any means. It was slower-paced and there was far less drama. For me, the first episode set the bar really high.

• The story seemed slightly too dramatic. I mean how could Shigeru seriously ignore Chisato, for that many years. They lived in the same town and I assume they went to the same school. Ignoring her for that many years and only noticing her after she looked like Mai, is kind of a dick move if you ask me. The short time frame, 

• Overall, just a slow and different episode compared to the fast-paced previous episodes.

The Answers:

• Will we learn more about Nona? - No, not in this episode

• What is Maria's real name? - Interestingly enough, she does seem to have her name revealed, though I'll just pretend like I never read it.

• How does one become an Arbiter? Are Arbiters immortal?  - I don't know, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM

• What happens if nothing exciting happens in the game? - Why did I even ask this question?

• Can both players go through the same gate? - Yes, Yes, and YES!

• Will all the story arcs be 2-parters? -With the preview, showing a new game, most likely not. Also, I suspect that throughout the next 9 episodes, there will be 7 more games. There are 9 tiles on the roulette and they will most likely all be rolled once during the season.

• Did this game live up to the hype of the first one? -Not really, though it still was good in its own way.

• Is Dequim the only arbiter that can start games?- Still not sure, but in the intro they show Nona presenting a game.

• Can a Person Stuck in the Void Come Back? - I'm going to avoid this question for now.

The Questions:

The Old:

• Will we learn more about Nona?
• What is Maria's real name? 
• How does one become an Arbiter? Are Arbiters immortal?
• Is Dequim the only arbiter that can start games?

The New:

• Will Death Arcade involve a Hikikomori or Otaku?
• How will Dequim's character continue to evolve?
• What is the lowest relationship level for players to meet up? (Ex: Episode 1 involved a married couple. Episode 3 involved close friends. Could an otaku who has a crush on another girl work?)

The Conclusion:

A good episode that really stretches the imagination and provides a unique spin on the Death of Death Parade. I'd give this episode an 8.01/10. It delivered most of what I was expecting and managed to clear up a few things. As always, don't forget to Follow, +1, Comment, and CYA!