Netflix’s Kakegurui Live-Action: 7 Shocking Changes That Alter the Anime Forever

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HEADS UP! This article reveals spoilers from the season 1 finale of Bet on Netflix. For those who have been eagerly anticipating it, here comes the return of Bet to our screens, transporting us back into the luxurious environs of an elite academy where young prodigies vie for power through high-stakes gambling. The series introduces fresh elements that enrich the narrative and deepen the characters. Netflix’s adaptation of Bet is a live-action take on the 2017 anime version of Kakegurui, which brought to life the manga created by Homura Kawamoto and Toru Naomura. In contrast to its original setting, Bet reimagines the universe of Kakegurui in a Western context, with St. Dominic’s serving as a boarding school for the affluent youth.

In a manner similar to the anime and earlier Japanese live-action versions of “Kakegurui”, the show “Bet” features Yumeko (Miku Marineau), a new student with a love for gambling. As she assembles a group of companions, she aims to shake up the school’s hierarchy by engaging in risky underground games and strategic maneuvers. The first season primarily focused on Yumeko’s introduction to the school environment and her initial clashes with the student council, but introduced several alterations that could significantly influence where the series might head next.

7. Yumeko’s Motivations Are Shaped By Tragedy

Yumeko Is On A Quest For Revenge

In the original “Kakegurui” manga and its adaptations, Yumeko is a character fueled by her passion for gambling, even at great risks. But in the series “Bet,” Yumeko has an additional motivation: seeking revenge for her parents’ deaths. This makes her a more complex and strategic figure who bears the burden of her past experiences, contrasting with previous portrayals that focused on her reckless risk-taking.

6. Yumeko’s Family Has A Greater Impact

Yumeko’s Family Haunts The Narrative

In addition, at the conclusion of season 1 of “Bet,” there’s a significant departure from the original source as Yumeko’s parents, Keiko and Jo, meet an untimely end. This event sets the stage for potential new directions in the story. In the manga and anime, the identities and motives of their killers remain obscure, whereas the Netflix version depicts the Kakegurui Club as the culprits due to a plan to redistribute their wealth. Interestingly, a surprising revelation hints that Keiko might not actually be dead, which could cause Yumeko to reconsider her future goals.

In the series “Kakegurui”, Yumeko has an older sister named Souko. In “Kakegurui”, Souko loses a bet that results in her losing her position as head of the Jabami family to their aunt, Tsukigo, and further misfortune follows when another wager leads to Yumeko being adopted by the Tsuibami family. This means that there is no sister character like Souko in “Bet”, as the focus of the tragedy within the family shifts towards Yumeko’s parents’ deaths instead.

5. Yumeko’s Friend Group Has Expanded Stories

Each Ally Has Their Own Struggles

As Yumeko’s history undergoes a transformation, Bet also alters the dynamics of her friends at St. Dominic’s. Ryan (Ayo Solanke), modeled after Ryota from the original work, doesn’t merely serve as a stand-in for the audience; instead, he is assigned his own narrative thread that revolves around him striving to free himself from the grip of his parents’ influence and forge his own destiny. In the final scene of episode 1, the duo is joined by Mary (Eve Edwards), a former Student Council member who, following her defeat against Yumeko, becomes Ryan’s confidante, or “Housepet.” Mary aims to reclaim her status in season 1 and embarks on a fresh romantic journey.

In addition to them, a clever and tech-adept individual named Michael (Hunter Cardinal) joins the group. He takes on the role of managing clandestine wagers happening at St Dominic’s as a bookie, developing an alliance with Yumeko during her initial conflicts with the Student Council. However, his family’s intricate past with Yumeko’s creates ambiguity over his ultimate loyalties. Notably, Michael is a fresh character for this Netflix adaptation, absent in the original series, and it seems he may assume greater importance in upcoming episodes.

4. The Housepet System Has Different Rules

Kakegurui’s Terrifying Hierarchy Is Made Simpler For Bet

In the anime titled “Kakegurui“, the Student Council has created a system known as Housepet, designed to subjugate even those with great power, by accruing debts they can hardly repay. This traps these individuals in servitude long after their school days are over. Conversely, Bet’s Housepet system is a less complex hierarchy that assigns council positions. If one loses, it appears they must serve the winner, which at present, reduces much of the overall conflict and tension.

3. Kira’s Character Has A Complicated Backstory

Kira Is A Far More Empathetic Villain

At the pinnacle of St. Dominic’s leadership resides Kira (Clara Alexandrova), the Student Council head and inheritor of the Timurov family, with her father Arkadi holding a high position in the school’s board. Kira is a strategic and unyielding ruler, striving to preserve her authority and honor her family’s tradition. Therefore, her primary worry regarding Yumeko and her companions revolves around their ability to upset the order she has established within St. Dominic’s.

Instead, we could say: Unlike Kira in the original work, Kirari from the anime and manga is portrayed as a character who lacks compassion and prioritizes her own enjoyment above all else. While both characters share a love for gambling and risk-taking, Kirari derives pleasure from witnessing others’ misfortune, believing she will ultimately emerge victorious. In comparison, Kira in this adaptation appears to be more relatable or compassionate than her anime counterpart.

2. The Student Council Has Been Reshuffled

Several Council Members Are Folded Into New Characters

In addition to Kira, St. Dominic’s School is managed by the Student Council, which includes Riri (Anwen O’Driscoll), Vice President; Dori (Aviva Mongillo); Suki (Ryan Sutherland); Chad (Dorian Giordano); and Runa (Lara Afelskie) in season 1. While Riri, Dori, and Runa are direct adaptations of characters named Ririka, Midari, and Runa, Suki is a gender-swapped combination of two original characters, Itsuki and Yumeni. Chad appears to be an original character introduced in Bet’s season 1, as the other four characters do not receive significant focus within the series.

1. Bet’s Ending Leaves Threads For A Potential Second Season To Pick Up

The Conclusion Allows Netflix To Take Its Own Path

As a devoted cinema enthusiast, I must say that the changes made in Bet have steered its conclusion quite far from where the initial season of the anime left its primary characters. In the climactic finale of Kakegurui season 1, tension reaches its peak as Yumeko and Kirari engage in a high-stakes gambling match. The loser would be expelled, but surprisingly, they end their game in a tie. Yet, rather than resolving their differences, they both depart with a deeper comprehension of each other. Intriguingly, Kirari disbands the council, and Yumeko persists in her wagers within the school’s premises.

Following my victory over the man I believed was responsible for my father’s death, Bet’s intricate objectives lead me towards dismantling the Kakegurui club while uncovering the mysteries surrounding my mother’s fate. Meanwhile, Kira is determined to dethrone Riri as student council president, reclaiming her family’s standing. Consequently, Bet’s final chapter presents a more ambiguous resolution, paving the way for a potential second season and allowing Netflix’s adaptation to explore its unique trajectory even further.

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2025-05-31 19:48