Cyberpunk: Edgerunners Uses its Tragic Ending to Overcome an Overused Romance Anime Trope
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners premiered in September 2022 to high praise from fans and critics. The show even sparked a resurgence in Cyberpunk 2077 that saw upwards of one million players jumping in each day. Created in collaboration between CD Projekt Red and Studio Trigger, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners follows the story of young mercenary David Martinez.
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is an original anime series inspired by the video game, Cyberpunk 2077. The series explores a world that has fallen into dystopian conditions, filled with nothing but crime, danger, and fighting. While Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is praised for its world-building and character development, its epilogue falls into a clichéd rom-com anime trope, that fans often overlook.
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners‘ Heartbreaking End Mirrors a Worn-Out Anime Trope
Over the years, Japanese animation has created several romantic stories. Some romance anime are emotional dramas filled with tears and angst, while others are lighthearted rom-coms that show fans how enjoyable love can be.
Though Edgerunners falls into a sci-fi genre, it is well-known for its romance, as a love story blossoms throughout its 10 episodes. A relationship between David and the crew’s netrunner, Lucyna Kushinada, becomes the focal point of the show, easily becoming the highlight of the entire experience.
Edgerunners do a great job building a grim dystopia and showcasing the high-stakes battles the characters are faced with in order to survive in a world with seemingly no hope.
HOLY FUCK CYBERPUNK: EDGERUNNERS LOOKS INSANE pic.twitter.com/1rX1MtQPmK
— dre (@v2TokyoGhost) August 30, 2022
The heartfelt moments between David and Lucyna captivated fans, adding depth and emotion to their adorable love story.
Despite the show’s immense success, CD Projekt’s Japanese community manager Satoru Honma has numerous times confirmed that there are no plans to continue the show, saying Edgerunners was intended to be a standalone work.
This explains the anime’s epilogue being intensely tragic and unsettling for fans, as the production studio had no plans for a sequel and aimed to deliver a definitive conclusion, even if it’s a heartbreaking one.
Anime fans are all too familiar with the common trope in rom-com series where fan-favorite couples are given either a sad ending or are left apart, opting for an easy yet more emotional conclusion.
Although it is a tragic show at its core, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is also visually stunning in its bold character designs and bright animation. Despite a tragic ending, Edgerunners perfectly captures the unique “cyberpunk” aesthetic and is a must-watch for any Cyberpunk 2077 video-game enthusiast.
Netflix’s Most Beloved Rom-Com Returns for Season 2
Arguably, the most popular Netflix rom-com anime series has recently confirmed its return window, taking everyone by surprise. With its beautiful setting, incredible cast, and stellar character designs, My Happy Marriage received massive appreciation from the worldwide audience.
Finally, My Happy Marriage Season 2, which was green-lit before the first season’s finale, has unveiled a thrilling first trailer and a release window. The story beautifully follows a woman overcoming the trauma of her abusive family, offering a unique take on the classic Cinderella tale set.
Love and supernatural things come together in My Happy Marriage, making it a standout romantic anime. Despite the series’ immense popularity, the anime director was a bit skeptical of the anime’s success following its dark story.
My Happy Marriage anime is based on a light novel series written by Akumi Agitogi. It offers a unique take on the classic Cinderella tale set in a time period reminiscent of the 19th-century Meiji Restoration era. Owing to the novel’s immense popularity, the anime had huge shoes to fill and successfully exceeded fans’ expectations.
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners and My Happy Marriage are available to watch on Netflix.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
