Spoiler Warning For Netflix’s Bet Conclusion and Kakegurui’s Later Story
Only a few months after its debut,Netflix’sBethasofficially been renewed for a second seasonand is already teasing audiences about what’s in store. Originally, the show had a rough time reasoning with viewers as the adaptation was split between anime and teen crime drama fans since it failed to follow the source material by Homura Kawamoto.
Based on the gambling series,Kakegurui,Betmanaged to find its footing by distinguishing itself from the original source material with its differences and alternate storyline. Netflix viewers raved over the plot twists and campy schematics that paid homage to shows likeRiverdaleandWednesday. But if season two wants to succeed, it needs to learn from the past iterations.
What Happened Last on Netflix Bet’s Season One?
What Did Bet Actually Adapt From Kakegurui and What Did it Change
Before getting into what showrunner Simon Barry could adapt fromKakegurui’slater chapters, what parts of Kawamoto’s work did Netflix’sBetfollow through on, that would land us in the same area of the manga and anime? Although the show starts out similar,Betquickly becomes its own story midway through the series.
Miku Martineau’s Yumeko Kawamoto had different motives, but she did fight her way against the student council of St. Dominic’s Prep until she finally challenged the president.This would landBetaround the end of season one inKakegurui’sanime and around chapter #27 in the manga, shortly after Kaede Manyuda lost his challenge against Yumeko.
BetandKakegurui’sseason one roughly concluded with the final confrontation between Yumeko and Kirari’s game. However, it was discovered in Netflix’s live-action adaptation that one of her parents may still be alive and wrapped up with Yumeko leaving the villa, wishing to uncover more of the corrupt individuals who targeted her parents, similar toA Series of Unfortunate Events.
After becoming orphans and bouncing around from home to home, the Baudelaire children learn of a conspiracy and a cover-up for their parents' murders, only to one day hear that one of them may have survived.
This left the story up for interpretation that there could be a second season on the horizon ifBetwas greenlit, and like a self-fulfilling prophecy, they got their wish. As the show gears up for Yumeko’s extended journey,this would theoretically set season two up just before the Election Arcin the anime and manga.
Kakegurui’s Season Two Anime and Manga Recap
How Did the Anime and Japanese Drama Adapt Kawamoto’s Work
Despite the anime’s popularity, it doesn’t strictly adhere to the manga either, especially going forward with the Election arc.Kakeguruiswitches around a lot of the games while inserting the Tarot card challenge between Yumeko and Kirari to wrap up season one. An occurrence that doesn’t happen in the manga, and is a completely original game made for the anime.
InKakegurui’smanga and Japanese drama, Yumeko’s challenges issued to the president are often thwarted by outside circumstances or one of the other Student Council members. Kirari, as one of the most highly anticipated characters inKakegurui, is seen gambling with others before finally being able to accept one of Yumeko’s challenges.
Season two kicks off the Election Arc with Kirari disbanding the student council and putting up the position of president as one that must be decided by vote. In turn, other factions within the Momobami family step forward for the chance at ruling Hyakkaou Academy. This starts off a new slew of games between Yumeko, Mary, and Kirari against new competition.
Votes are passed around as winnings with each student starting out with one; whoever has the most votes becomes Hyakkou’s new president.Kakegurui’sanime stops about halfway through the election’s games with an auction run by an anime-exclusive character named Rei Batsubami. She loses both the auction and a coin flip decided by Yumeko with her name as collateral.
It is revealed in season two of the Kakegurui anime that Yumeko Jabami is actually in the line of prominent families that are interconnected with the Momobami family.
The manga would continue the election arc with Yumeko falling behind after losing to a bunch of other students. This would allow Kirari to take the president’s seat back and establish a new student council after realizing that Yumeko used her winnings to get everyone who is a housepet out of their current status, eliminating the rule and Kirari’s former control.
How Might Netflix’s Bet Adapt Kakegurui’s Next Arc
Bet Has Strayed Far From Kakegurui; Matching Story Beats is Now Much Harder
Now thatBethas concluded its first season with Yumeko finding out about the conspiracy against her family for their Bitcoin plans, many fans believe that she would tackle larger targets in the next season. While there were talks of Yumeko expanding past the school, Netflix’s showrunners could still work in an election arc to shake up the rules.
Betworks off parody rules by establishing its differencesfrom the original source material, but many of the story beats still resembleKakegurui. After shaking up the student council and getting her revenge, Yumeko is still a student, now with a new mystery afoot involving one of her mother’s survival.
With the school’s control now being handed to Riri,Betisn’t likely to set up an election for the seat as much as they will set up a stronger alliance between Kira, Yumeko, and the friends she’s made in her journey thus far. Michael and Riri will likely be future antagonists, but the show may include some surprise faces.
Kira and Yumeko’s alliance will likely serve as the ongoing plot to gain back control over the school, while the B plot to uncover what happened to Yumeko’s mother serves as the new motivation. With new games and now more allies,Bet’snext season will likely have many more surprises, even beyond these two unresolved narratives.
Going Forward, Netflix’s Bet Has to Sell Itself Differently
Bet’s Biggest Marketing Mistake Relied Too Heavily on the Kakegurui Name
Betwas a hard-won successthat managed to resonate with most of its audience, but faced turbulent waters to get proper credit. Netflix was almost afraid to sell it as a unique property separate from the originalKakegurui, and many pre-established fans went in expecting a proper adaptation.
If Netflix can distance itself further from the gambling anime,Betwill have a greater chance of continuing its unique storyline.
But that was never whatBetaimed to be. Simon Barry’s live-action adaptation is so far removed from Kawamoto’s work that any reference toKakeguruiis an homage in the grand scheme of his directing. To keep its fans and not further inflame the controversy the show has brought about, Netflix should lean intoBet’sparody gimmick.
By showcasing the wonder of a ‘what-if’ scenario inKakegurui,Bethas sold itself to its audience with all of its changesby making a completely different story. If Netflix can distance itself further from the gambling anime,Betwill have a greater chance of continuing its unique storyline, maybe long enough to uncover the rest of Yumeko’s background.
Bet
Cast
Bet is a series set in a private school where social status is determined by gambling prowess. A new student with a mysterious past enters the scene, using their skills to disrupt the established hierarchy while pursuing personal vendettas.
Kakegurui
Kakegurui is a Japanese drama series set in an elite high school where student hierarchy is determined by gambling prowess. The plot follows a new transfer student, Yumeko Jabami, whose extreme risk-taking disrupts the established order and challenges the school’s rigid social caste system.
