Chapter 203: RELIC
Chapter 203: RELIC
Banzi-kun continued his commentary on Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, praising its various aspects in the video.
"The setting and background of Edgerunners are exceptional," he began. "It portrays a dystopian future where unchecked capitalism dominates the world, controlled entirely by massive corporations."
"In this world, human rights are nonexistent. People are mere consumables—used and replaced without hesitation."
"Under the backdrop of advanced technology, the cyberpunk world thrives with powerful cybernetic augmentations," Banzi-kun explained, "to the extent that humans are modified at birth to integrate with the network, functioning like computers capable of sending and receiving information at will."
He continued, "While the story of Edgerunners may seem cliché—a boy meets a girl, they fall in love, and the boy gains strength through his companions—it is this classic structure that draws us in. The protagonist David meets Lucy after a tragedy, bonds with a group of companions, and embarks on a journey to challenge an oppressive world."
The barrage of comments on the screen disagreed hilariously:
"Oh sure, Edgerunners is totally a cheerful shounen story!"
"Lies! All lies!"
"It hurts! It's too painful!"
"Maine, my brother Maine!"
"Rebecca… sobs… Aoyama, you cruel genius!"
"Rebecca really became sauce, huh?"
Banzi-kun shifted the tone. "But in the worst of times, even such a shounen-esque narrative becomes a tragedy. David and Lucy, along with their companions, shine briefly as a beacon of hope before being swept away by the tides of a merciless era."
He added, "The title Edgerunners reflects this perfectly—these were individuals living on the edge, eventually falling into the abyss and shattering under the weight of the world."
Referencing the climax, Banzi-kun said, "David's final moments, holding Lucy as they fell from the top of the Arasaka Tower, were filled with despair and tragedy, yet it's hard to accept. We all wished for a different ending—David defeating Adam Smasher and escaping to the moon with Lucy."
"But the reality is that David perishes, and Lucy, burdened by the dream of reaching the moon—a dream that was once hers and later became David's—sets out to fulfill it alone."
The comment section erupted once again:
"Sobs… this cut me to pieces!"
"Adam Smasher, you deserve to die!"
"Alright, Adam Smasher, stay at Arasaka Tower—I'm bringing Johnny Silverhand to deal with you!"
"David lived for others, never for himself…"
"A toast to David, with vodka and cola!"
"Lived a legend, died a hero!"
Banzi-kun also praised the supporting cast.
"Maine's defining moment in episode 6 taught us about responsibility and sacrifice," he said. "Although he made mistakes leading to Dorio's death and the team's downfall, his errors made him a more relatable and human character."
"Dorio's gentle strength, Falco's reliability, Rebecca's fierce loyalty, and even Kiwi's betrayal followed by redemption—each character felt real, like friends or colleagues we might encounter in our lives," Banzi-kun noted.
"Cyberpunk: Edgerunners feels like a glimpse into a possible future for our world. As Aoyama-sensei once said, 'Cyberpunk is the worst possible outcome extrapolated from our reality.' The story warns us about what we might become."
Banzi-kun concluded, "For me, Edgerunners isn't just the best anime of March—it's already a contender for anime of the year, even though it's only April."
The video ended with Banzi-kun thanking viewers for their support, reminding them to like, comment, and share.
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Lin Qingshan finished the video, feeling both satisfied and nostalgic. This type of anime commentary is truly entertaining. Without hesitation, he gave the video a triple interaction: like, coin, and favorite.
He noticed that Banzi-kun had no other videos on his channel, but the success of this one suggested he'd likely create more.
Satisfied, Lin Qingshan continued browsing C-Station, discovering a young creator who had made impressive DIY replicas of props from Edgerunners and Cyberpunk 2077.
One particularly striking piece was a handcrafted "Relic" chip—a prop that even the official merchandise hadn't released. The craftsmanship was exceptional, and Lin Qingshan didn't hesitate to like and support the video with a coin.
(End of Chapter)