Beneath the dazzling lights and spectacles are character choices that leave you wondering, why?
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is an animated series based on the video game, Cyberpunk 2077 by CD Projekt Red. The theme is primarily about a futuristic dystopia with rampant crime, cybernetic implants, and gore (plus NSFW elements).
This post contains some spoilers, so be warned.
The Visuals, Man
First, let's talk about what I enjoyed the most. There is no doubt that the production value is the show's strong point. The art style for this series is simply eye-catching and even breathtaking at times. Couple that with riveting action scenes plus a top-tier level of animation, and you're in for a visual treat.
Unfortunately, it is rare to have creative leads that are good in both visual design and storytelling. Here in lies my major gripe with the show. The main plot is pointless, and some character decisions are downright foolish if you watch the show critically.
What's Wrong with the Plot?
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners follows David, a spiky-haired teenage boy who, by good fortune, has the potential for greatness due to some attributes he uniquely possesses. He eventually meets Lucy, a 'foreign' and 'magical' girl who breaks his normality threshold and thrusts him into the exciting world of Edgerunning.
If this all sounds familiar, it's because this is the cookie-cutter formulae for various unexceptional shounen anime. That's right. Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is a shounen anime.
As a disclaimer, I should mention that I am not a fan of most shounen anime for many reasons. However, with the production quality of the show and the themes it possessed, I couldn't help but be disappointed with the actual outcome and ponder all the possibilities of what the show could have been.
Let's examine the character motivations, starting with the protagonist, David. Well, actually, he doesn't have much except for I <3 Lucy, so let's start with her. Lucy wants to go to the literal moon, presumably with David, and after acquiring a large sum of eddies (money) at the end of the series, she does precisely that.
So the barrier to achieving their objectives is only monetary. Given David's exceptional condition and Lucy's equally impressive netrunning (hacking) skills, they would have eventually gotten enough money for the trip. They already managed to afford a fancy apartment together in a seemingly short amount of time, so they were more than scraping by. So why did David die again?
Why is Everyone so dumb?
David - No personality, generally clueless and directionless. A blank slate with hidden anime powers, perfect for young boys to self-insert. Despite being exposed to the dangers of cyberpsychosis, he would increase his risk for it by installing more chrome (augments). It's not like he was being actively hunted or wanted to be the greatest Hokage to warrant that gamble.
Lucy - She's too cool and mysterious for you to understand, but falls in love with Mr Boring, and her only dream is a fancy vacation. Eventually finds something crucial in David's data and is protective of its secret even from the man himself. To do this, she hunts down enemy netrunners alone and eventually gets caught. If only she had someone she could trust and who can more than handle himself in a fight to cover her back. But who???
Maine & Dorio - Meat heads that didn't put any points in Intelligence when levelling up. Despite Maine displaying symptoms of cyberpsychosis (out of the blue), they decided to brush it off like he's just in a bad mood or something. Spoilers, they die because of cyberpsychosis.
Kiwi - I was going to give her credit for having some balls. She initially betrays David but then changes her mind by telling the villain, in person, that she's switching sides instead of just not saying anything and running away. Spoilers, she gets shot.
Rebecca - She's cool.
The Takeaway
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners possesses superb production quality and can be a fascinating series to watch IF you don't think too critically.
When I saw the iconic jacket being worn by David's mother in the first episode, I was hopeful that she'd be the protagonist. Now, imagine if David was the one to die in the accident. A dedicated mother loses her reason for living and goes on an unhinged quest into Edgerunning for vengeance and/or peace.
That's a show I'd like to see.
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