Who is a liar
(Spoilers ahead!)

Packed with action, Episode 4 busts out the battles between pretty much everyone to build up some intense action.  Kirigiri/Kazuo/Ryota VS Juzo,  Munakata VS Kazuo, Seiko VS Ruruka/Izayoi, Juzo VS Gekkogahara.

We find out that Seiko, Ruruka, and Yoi were all suspended from Hope’s Peak Academy because of a certain incident. We still have no clue as to what that incident was but their story feels like it’s veering off in it’s own direction.

Munakata has captured Naegi to use him as bait to lure those who will save him. He breaks down the killing game to Naegi.  The killer can stop at any time they want and survive with hope.  Surviving with hope only to bring despair would just be the most despair inducing thing ever! This episode has really put me on the Munakata band wagon.  Stubborn, fanatacist, and so on -his goals are pure.

Kazuo Tengan, the head of the Future Foundation, proves to be a real badass! I wonder if he also has an Ultimate Talent, or if he’s just good with battling?

We all should have trusted Kizakura from the beginning.  He strikes me as a character that knows more than he shows.  Remember when everyone points to who they think the killer is, and he points at Gekkogahara because it’s “just a hunch”. Well! Someone from a certain Ultra Despair Girls makes her reappearance.  But you know, the wheel chair and appearance was a slight giveaway. I just didn’t want to believe it.

I’m disappointed that they’ve given away so much on only the fourth episode.  But let’s hope this plays out in a way that will keep us on our toes.  I think Kazuo Tengan has an interesting plan up his sleeve and Munakata will deliver. Do you think Gekkogahara will be able to keep her secret? Who do you think the next victim will be? I think Juzo. Let me know what you think in the comments!

Cruel Violence and Hollow Words
(I do not recommend reading further until you have watched the episode)

While I feel utterly cheated out of a dramatic death, I am happy to see one of my favorite characters survive. However, why did the attacker go so far as to create the elaborate set up? I’m slightly bothered that the characters never address it or try to figure out why the attacker would create the distraction from the real death.  It was completely brushed off.

I am sensing a theme, however. I want to see if it holds true for the next attack. Both bodies were found suspended in the air.  Do you think it has any meaning?

At this point in the series, characters are trying to deduce Monokuma’s motives.  It’s hinted that Monokuma does not want everyone to die. Munakata suggests that if their goal was to destroy the Future Foundation he should have been the next victim; Monokuma does not want to kill everyone.  Kirigiri furthers this hypothesis saying that Monokuma does not want to win; the less people there are, the easier it would be to figure out who the attacker is. There is definitely another atrocious despair inducing motive behind the final game!

More mysteries start to unfold.  What is the relationship between Ruruka/Izayoi and Seiko? Who is “that girl” Kizakura must find?

Here is also a list of everyone’s forbidden actions (that have been revealed so far):
Daisaku Bandai-Witnessing violence against a participant
Makoto Naegi– Run in the Hallway
Miaya Gekkogahara– Turn right
Aoi Asahina- Be hit with a punch of kick

While some have not been revealed, I believe that Izayoi’s involves consuming food or being fed, and Munakata’s has to do with opening doors.  Do you have any guesses on other forbidden actions? Do you have your own suspect? Any other last words about the episode? Let me know in the comments!

Upupupuuu!
I couldn’t be more excited to see Danganronpa finally return!  After playing all three games, I’m still revved up to know, “What happens next?!”

Danganronpa 3: Future Arc premiered yesterday, July 11th, on Funimation.  So far, the series is taking on a much darker tone compared to other seasons and games.  Danganronpa is known for its eye-catching, psycho-pop theme that contrasted the content of the story.  Future Arc, however, is very grim and muted. To further the theme Future Arc blood and violence is no longer toned down by bright pink blood – a staple of the Danganronpa series. This is only the first episode, however.

We are introduced to 12 new characters, all former Ultimates and leaders of the Future Foundation, on top of the four we know (Hagakure, Kirigiri, Asahina, Naegi).  It doesn’t seem like Hagakure will play a major role in this series, and Toko and Byakuya are visibly absent.

New Characters 
Kazuo Tengan – Former Director of Hope’s Peak High School – Future Foundation Chair Branch 1
Great Gozu – Former Super High School Level Wrestler – Branch 12 Officer
Kohichi Kizakura – Former Super High School Level Scout – Office 3 Director
Miaya Gekkogahara – Former Super High School Level Thrapist – Branch Office 7 Director
Juzo Sakakura – Former Super High School Level Boxer – Branch Office 6 Director
Seiko Kimura – Former Super High School Level Pharmacist – Branch Office 4 Director
Ruruka Andoh – Former Super High School Level Confectioner – Branch Office 8 Director
Daisaku Bandai – Former Super High School Level Farmer – Branch Office 11 Director
Sohnosuke Izayoi – Former Super High School Level Blacksmith – Branch Office 9 Director
Chisa Yukizome – Former Super High School Level Housekeeper – Branch Office 5 Director
Kyosuke Munakata – Fomer Super High School Level Student Council President – Vice Chairman Branch Office 2 Director
Ryota Mitarai – Former Super High School Level Animator – Branch office 10 Director

On top of the dark colors and new character introductions, we also get to see the characters from Goodbye Despair in their Ultimate Despair forms and just a small taste of them in action.  Goodbye Despair is my favorite of the series, so far, so I had a lot of feels during their screen time.

The biggest change is Monokuma’s voice.  While it might just be the original voice actor didn’t want to continue voice acting Monokuma (contracts or whatever **note: I don’t know why the change was made**)  I think a new voice actor taking on the role of Monokuma works well in that the original Monokuma (Junko Enoshima) died and someone else has taken her place. It gives a sense of a new monster and final battle.

I won’t let out any spoilers, but I think Future Arc (though changed and dismal) will make a compelling end to the series.

Are you a Danganronpa fan? What do you think of Future Arc so far? Did you notice anything? Let us know in the comments!