Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
WARNING! Spoilers ahead!
This article may reveal major plot points, especially considering the episode, season, or series has either been released recently or not in specific countries yet. Suppose you do not wish to know vital information on media elements in a story. In that case, you may not wish to read beyond this warning: We hold no responsibility for any negative effects these facts may have on your enjoyment of said media should you continue. |
Warning! Mature Content!
This following work contains material and themes that may include coarse language (albeit censored due to New Qualitipedia rules), sexual references, and/or graphic violent images that may be disturbing to some viewers. |
|
| Cyberpunk: Edgerunners | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Wake up, Netflix! This is how you do an adaptation of a video game.
| ||||||||||||||||||||
|
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is an anime series and spin-off of Cyberpunk 2077 produced by Studio Trigger under the supervision of CD Projekt RED. It contained 10 episodes and premiered on Netflix on September 13, 2022.
Plot
In the year 2076, David Martinez is trying to survive in a technology and body modification-obsessed city of the future, Night City. Having everything to lose, he chooses to stay alive by becoming an edgerunner—a mercenary outlaw also known as a cyberpunk.
Why It Runs On the Edge
- Spectacular, gorgeous, and fantastic animation courtesy of Studio Trigger who also animated BNA: Brand New Animal, Little Witch Academia, and Kill La Kill. The scenes, atmosphere, and credits are phenomenal.
- Absolutely amazing soundtrack that fits its futuristic vibe. The opening and ending credits theme fits the theme as well. Special mentions goes to I Really Want To Stay At Your House by Rosa Walton & Hallie Coggins as it is nothing short of emotional.
- Excellent character designs that not only fit the futuristic vibe and are very detailed, but also establishes the character.
- Speaking of characters, a lot of them are likeable and go through great development.
- David Martinez is a street smart kid who doesn't take authority to heart, but does care for the people around him, including Lucy.
- Lucy is mysterious netrunner from Night City. She is quite introverted and doesn't like to talk much about her past. But she doesn't hesitate into killing her enemies who wronged her in the past and dreams about going to the moon.
- Rebecca is a short, spunky, trigger-happy solo who is always fighting with her brother Pilar and serves as great comic relief.
- Kiwi is an enigmatic and snarky netrunner who also serves as Lucy's mentor.
- Maine dreams of "making it big", although he values his friendships with his crew more than his own glory.
- Gloria is a caring mother to David and her death, which makes David become a mercenary, is very well-written.
- Faraday is calm, cunning, manipulative, and cruel antagonist who doesn't seem to be the kind of person who screams if things aren't going his way.
- On top of the animation, the action is over the top, exciting, violent, and very trigger-happy (pun intended).
- Great pacing and worldbuilding. The show doesn't treat newcomers to Cyberpunk as if they are idiots and shows instead of tells.
- David and Lucy's relationship is set up with great chemistry.
- Superb voice-acting in both the English and Japanese dubs.
- Memorable quotes like "I am just built different.", "David you're fucking adorable.".
- Despite its overly serious and dark tone, it still has hilarious moments such as Rebecca's quips during shootouts.
- It stays faithful to the source material it was based on. You don't need to play Cyberpunk 2077 to know everything, but it is recommended to play the game after watching the series as you grow attached to the characters in Edgerunners that you wish to avenge these characters fates as discussed below.
- The ending is absolutely tragic. David sacrifices himself to Adam Smasher to let Lucy and Falco escape. Most of David's crew is dead, but Lucy fulfills her dream of going to the moon. If you played Cyberpunk 2077 after this, you can successfully avenge Rebecca's, David's, and Johnny's deaths at the hands of Adam Smasher.
- Meta Example: This show, along update 1.6 of Cyberpunk 2077, ultimately saved the game and CD Projekt's reputation that players are waiting to play the Phantom Liberty expansion set to release for 2023 on PC and next-gen consoles.
Bad Qualities
- Some characters aren't developed well like Falco, Adam Smasher, and Pilar.
- The overuse of flashing images can be distorting to some viewers along with the overuse of violence and sexual imagery which may not sit well for some people.