“The Corpse God, a formidable necromancer, was relentlessly pursued by a legendary hero until he found himself cornered. In a desperate bid to escape, he harnessed the power of reincarnation magic, hoping to discover solace in a new world. Reawakening in the recently departed body of a young man named Polka, he now faces the challenge of adapting to life in our realm, as depicted in the production by Geek Toys, ‘Dead Mount Death Play.’
From the moment The Corpse God stepped through the portal and merged with Polka, the series continuously unfolds with one delightful surprise after another. While the isekai premise is integral to the plot, ‘Dead Mount Death Play’ offers much more than just a cross-world adventure.
The standout feature of this series is its narrative. What initially appears as a straightforward escape from one world to another gradually evolves into a far more captivating story over the course of its 12 episodes this season. Polka’s arrival in our world may seem random, but as the series progresses, questions arise about whether others have undertaken the same journey, and the various groups he encounters in our world add depth to the evolving plotlines. The more the story unveils, the deeper the enigmas become, teasing potential major revelations in the upcoming second season.
Another strength of ‘Dead Mount Death Play’ lies in its diverse and vibrant cast. Each character Polka encounters while adjusting to our world injects their unique energy into the narrative. From Misaki, a spirited teenage assassin, to Tsubaki, an officer specializing in unexplained crimes drawn into Polka’s world due to a sighting of the necromancer’s skeletal creation, each character has standout moments that solidify their place in the story, and they interact splendidly with one another.
However, at the core of the narrative stands Polka, a character as enigmatic and pivotal as any. From the very introduction of the Corpse God, the show presents a version of Polka that doesn’t reflect the truth. As episodes progress, ‘Dead Mount Death Play’ unveils key aspects of the character for the audience to witness. Despite the revelations pointing the viewer in a new direction, a lingering suspicion remains that Polka is something more complex and less straightforward than initially portrayed.
Despite the brilliance of the story and characters in ‘Dead Mount Death Play,’ the series stumbles on a few occasions, particularly when trying to incorporate sexual and nude elements into the narrative. While such elements can be employed effectively in storytelling, this series awkwardly shoehorns them in, causing them to disrupt the narrative flow rather than enhance it. The most egregious example occurs during a significant character moment midway through the season, where an emotional revelation takes place in a shower, with an unnecessary focus on breasts that detracts from the importance of the scene.
Although the adult themes are poorly executed, the visual aspects of the series are generally handled excellently. While not primarily an action-packed show, when action sequences do occur, the depiction of Polka’s power in combat is consistently impressive, especially when contrasted with his usual reserved demeanor.
‘Dead Mount Death Play’ introduces a memorable ensemble of characters and sets the stage for an intriguing fantasy tale. I eagerly anticipate the return of the series in October.”
