REVIEW: ‘Pretty Boy Detective Club,’ Episode 5 – “The Swindler, the Vanishing Man, and the Pretty Boys Part 2”

Last time with the Detective Club, we kicked off a new arc when Mayumi was given a fast stack of ten-thousand yen notes that were counterfeits. This led the Pretty Boys of the detective club to find a ticket to the Reasonable Doubt Casino, a dwelling for rich kids looking to be high rollers. Now, in Pretty Boy Detective Club Episode 5, we’re right back in the casino, and in the middle of some high-tension gambling action.

Episode 5, “The Swindler, the Vanishing Man, and the Pretty Boys Part 2” picks up right in the middle of “enemy territory” with Mayumi realizing that pretty silver-haired boy Nagahiro is being cheated out of his chips. Swindled, really. Of course, Mayumi’s eagle eyes are able to pick up on the hidden underlings helping the titular swindler. Yet not all is lost, at least not yet.

Post-OP, it’s pretty clear that things didn’t go to plan at the casino as the club members are back in their opulent club room. However, Nagahiro has a plan and quickly explains it in a dramatic, over-the-top scene filled with glitz and glam. You see, Nagahiro has been conducting an investigation of the middle school students, all of whom are tight-lipped. Loose lips sink ships in the casino, after all, but Nagahiro’s determined to figure out why. 

His connection? Fudatsuki, the student he was gambling against. It seems that Fudatsuki’s charismatic manner can be quite oppressive, enough that he’s forced students hands as his assistants, and ultimately, controls his school. For the students of Yubiwa Academy, that won’t go. Thankfully, the Detective Club is on the case.

However, the Detective Club alone can’t knock Fudatsuki down a peg. They’ll need a bit of help. Thankfully, Nagahiro reminds them of The Twenties, the group that pretty woman Rei belonged to. It’s also the same group of couriers that kidnapped Mayumi way back in episode 3. Due to The Twenties’ nature as a military group, they’re perfect for busting up Fudatsuki’s scheme. Double so, since he’s using some pretty high-grade disguises to hide his underhandedness.

Pretty Boy Detective Club Episode 5 remains just as over the top as the previous episodes. At times, it can be a bit confusing for all its opulence, grandiosity, and general flair. That being said, when this episode is on it, it’s on it. There are definitely some good tidbits that I’d love to see the show follow through on that don’t involve the arc’s title, but time will tell if the show circles back around to them. For now, I can soundly say Pretty Boy Detective Club Episode 5 was quite enjoyable, if not a bit too meaty at times. I’ll place the “blame” on Nisioisin, who’s known for being quite flowery with his writing. Then again, if there’s any place to be flowery, it’s a show like Pretty Boy Detective Club.

There are definitely still some caveats, especially when it comes to Hyouta’s legs and the general sexualization of his character that I don’t like. However, there’s a lot of fascinating design choices made in Pretty Boy Detective Episode 5. There’s also a lot of neat plot points in the show, overall, that make it worth engaging with. Come for the antics, stay for the gender play, beautiful animation, and general extravagance. But whatever you do, try not to miss out on this over-the-top series.

Pretty Boy Detective Club is now streaming on Funimation.

Cy Catwell

Mercedez Clewis is a Queer Blerd who wears many hats. In addition to being a writer, she’s also a freelance transcriptionis and a localization editor and QA. She’s also really into visual novels, iyashikei/healing anime, and anything with magical girls in it.

You can follow her work as a professional Blerd at Backlit Pixels or keep up with her day to day life on Twitter.