Webtoon Spotlight

Spotlight #31: Let's Play

February has always been a particular month for me. Between my birthday, black history, amethyst, and of course Valentine's day, it's one of my fav months. And with the month of love right around the corner, I can finally unload all of the romance webtoons I've been stockpiling for just this special occasion. 

The romance genre has always been a wishy-washy subject for me. But, as someone who has never been able to find that young puppy love that lasts a good three months but somehow ends up feeling way longer and more expensive, I understand the appeal. 

However I also relate even more to someone else going through that struggle. Which brings me to this webtoon. Are you ready to get your game on? If so, then let's dive into this Let's Play by Mongie!

Summary

Enter Sam, a young woman who has loved gaming ever since she was little. She loved it so much that she worked countless hours to create an intricate indie puzzle game called Ruminate. And as soon as she did, her idol, her god, her fav YouTuber THE Marshall Law, reviewed her game and completely hated it. 

However, due to his toxic fanbase, the game was bombed to hell and back, thus leaving Sam heartbroken. And depending on how you see it, Sam wasn't going to be escaping the tragedy anytime soon because Marshall was now right next door in her apartment building.

Characters

Sam: Growing up in a very sheltered environment and having numerous health issues, Sam is an introvert and wimp to the bitter core. Her confidence is about as fragile as glass, making conflict incredibly hard for her and her self-love even worse. 

However, she more than makes up for what she lacks in confidence in her compassion and ingenuity. She is a highly capable worker and has gotten known to make bonds with people from all over. And with Marshall right next door, for better or worse, she thinks that through his appearance, she will gain the confidence that she's always wanted.

Marshall Law: On the surface level, Marshall Law could be seen as another by the numbers game reviewer with a HYPERACTIVE VOICE. But throughout the series, we learn he hides a lot of sorrow behind that clown mask of his and strength as well. Once he learns of Sam, he tries his best to fix the problem as best he can. In many ways, he is even more insecure than Sam, but through his relationship with his girlfriend Monica and his youtube channel, he battles against them.

Overview

There is a lot to like in Let's Play. The series has one of the best overall casts on the site. Each character is lovably unique and interesting, giving a lot of different perspectives; you wouldn't think of normally. It, in many ways, is a story about moving on from loss and bouncing back and maneuvering through love while also facing the world head-on, which in many ways is a beautiful message. 

And yet, despite all these severe themes, this series fully acknowledges the world it lives in. I can't even count how many times the series has made a self-aware dig about classic romance and anime tropes. And if realistic portrayals of healthy relationships, love, abuse, depression and self-aware meta-humor aren't your deal, then maybe you'll enjoy the countless video game references.

Sam and Marshall's daily life gets constantly portrayed as a game (like a game of life?) from the 8-bit travel to their work or a range of emotive avatars to show how they feel inside. But what's probably even more prominent than all of that is the *ahem* "artstyle." While the art style for the environment isn't the best of the series, the fanservice is. 

The characters get drawn in a bold anime style that makes everybody sparkle. I find it so refreshing that a series has tasteful fanservice for both genders given the loads I've watched over the years. Depending on the scenario, it can be flipping hilarious, sweet, hot, and, for the most part, subtle, which is what a lot of shows seem to forget. And in speaking with said fanservice, Let's play can show off various kinks and sexualities with the utmost respect, which I can also appreciate. Of course, they can only go so far, but I think it gets around it okay.

Epilogue

Overall Let's Play is a series that I don't see leaving anytime soon. It has over 16.8 million subscribers and has maintained a loyal fanbase in the short time it's been here with no sign of stopping. It's a great read and a perfect way to begin my Valentine spotlights. So all of my singles out there, grab yourself a box of chocolates and let's see where the spotlight takes us next.