Netflix has unveiled its highly anticipated English-language series, “Bet,” a new adaptation of the popular Japanese manga “Kakegurui” created by Homura Kawamoto and Tōru Naomura. The 10-episode series plunges viewers into the high-pressure halls of St. Dominic’s Prep, an elite boarding school where social hierarchy isn’t determined by grades or athletic prowess, but by clandestine high-stakes gambling. Leading the cast is Miku Patricia Martineau as Yumeko, a mysterious newcomer from Japan whose prodigious gambling skills and hidden agenda are set to unravel the school’s established order.
Welcome to St. Dominic’s Prep: Where Every Wager is a Power Play
St. Dominic’s Prep isn’t your typical institution for the children of the world’s wealthiest. Here, the curriculum is secondary to the underground world of high-stakes gambling that dictates the entire social ecosystem, a place where clandestine bets determine the school’s hierarchy. This system isn’t just about bragging rights; it has severe consequences, with losers often facing humiliating subjugation—a concept central to the original manga’s “house pet” system where indebted students become slaves to the winners.
Into this viper’s nest steps Yumeko (Martineau), a transfer student from Japan. But she’s no ordinary newcomer. Armed with “a tragic past” and an insatiable “quest for revenge,” Yumeko’s “gambling prowess puts her in the crosshairs of the powerful Student Council.” This adaptation, notably, shifts Yumeko’s core motivation. The original manga and its various adaptations portray Yumeko Jabami as a “compulsive gambler who simply gambles for the thrill of it,” her actions driven by an almost pure, unsettling addiction to risk.
“Bet,” however, introduces a more conventional revenge narrative, with Yumeko aiming to “bring down the entire system,” ostensibly in response to her undisclosed tragic past. This alteration provides a clear, perhaps more traditionally relatable, impetus for her actions, which might make her journey more immediately understandable to a Western audience who might find the source material’s protagonist, driven solely by the ecstasy of the gamble, more enigmatic. This narrative twist also offers a distinct arc for the 10-episode season, focusing on Yumeko’s mission to uncover what happened to her parents, an incident she believes is connected to someone at St. Dominic’s Prep.
The elite boarding school setting, now an American institution, remains a potent vehicle for social commentary, allowing the series to potentially explore cultural critiques of wealth, privilege, and systemic corruption within Western elite circles.
Miku Martineau: Betting Big on Yumeko
At the heart of “Bet” is Miku Patricia Martineau, a rising Canadian actress tasked with embodying the enigmatic Yumeko. Martineau, born on September 13, 2004, brings a youthful intensity to this complex role. Viewers might recognize Martineau from her roles as Ani in the action thriller “Kate,” Christine in “Honor Society,” or for her voice work in series like “Finny the Shark.” Her upcoming appearance as young Georgiou in “Star Trek: Section 31” further solidifies her rising star status. The role of Yumeko in “Bet,” however, is arguably her most demanding to date, requiring a blend of outward charm, hidden cunning, and deep psychological depth.
The Supporting Cast: Players Around the Table
Surrounding Martineau is a diverse ensemble cast, each playing a crucial role in the treacherous social landscape of St. Dominic’s Prep. The series features Ayo Solanke as Ryan, Eve Edwards as Mary—a character likely to resonate with fans of the formidable Mary Saotome from the original manga—and Aviva Mongillo as the enigmatic, eye-patch-wearing Dori. Mongillo has described Dori as a character embodying “chaos, shame, power, and vulnerability,” a complex and visually distinct presence, further amplified by her involvement in stunt scenes and the challenges of acting with an eye patch.
Other key players include Clara Alexandrova as Kira, Hunter Cardinal as Michael, Anwen O’Driscoll as Riri, and Ryan Sutherland as Suki.
Behind the Scenes: Simon Barry’s Gamble
Helming “Bet” is creator Simon Barry, a name familiar to Netflix audiences for his work on the fantasy action series “Warrior Nun.” Barry, who also created series like the sci-fi drama “Continuum” and the crime series “Bad Blood,” is not only developing and showrunning “Bet” but also writing and directing multiple episodes, including four of the ten, indicating a strong authorial vision for this adaptation. Boat Rocker Media is producing the series.
Barry’s approach to adapting “Kakegurui” is ambitious. He aims to create a “new branch of this comic universe,” drawing inspiration from stylistically bold works like “Scott Pilgrim,” “Kill Bill,” and “Wednesday.” His stated goal is to “embrace the fun, edgy spirit of the original books, without simply remaking them.”
The Original Gamble: ‘Kakegurui’
To fully appreciate “Bet,” one must understand its origin: “Kakegurui – Compulsive Gambler,” the acclaimed manga by Homura Kawamoto and Tōru Naomura. Set in Hyakkaou Private Academy, the original story introduces Yumeko Jabami, a beautiful transfer student who is, at her core, a “compulsive gambler who simply gambles for the thrill of it.” The manga is renowned for its intense psychological duels, its sharp critique of social hierarchies through its brutal “pet” system for indebted students, and its exploration of themes like risk, morality, and the nature of value in a hyper-capitalistic micro-society. The gambling in “Kakegurui” often serves as a metaphor for life itself and the inherent risks individuals face within societal structures.
The “Kakegurui” universe is already well-explored, with two popular anime seasons from Studio MAPPA, a faithful Japanese live-action drama series (which also had two seasons and a movie sequel), and various spin-offs, including “Kakegurui Twin,” which also received anime and live-action adaptations. This rich history means “Bet” enters a field with high fan expectations and numerous points of comparison. The existence of these prior adaptations, particularly the well-regarded Japanese live-action version, puts additional pressure on “Bet” to justify its Anglophone reimagining and narrative alterations. It must offer something genuinely fresh and compelling to win over an established fanbase that already has a clear benchmark for what “Kakegurui” embodies.
First Impressions: Does ‘Bet’ Hit the Jackpot or Fold?
With “Bet” now streaming, the immediate question is whether this new adaptation successfully captures the electrifying essence of its source material while forging its own identity. Miku Martineau’s portrayal of a revenge-driven Yumeko will be central to its reception. Can she embody the “manga energy” and “addictive” quality she spoke of, even with this altered motivation? The success of Simon Barry’s stylistic vision, influenced by “Scott Pilgrim,” “Kill Bill,” and “Wednesday,” is also on the line. The promise of “heightened visual elements” could be a dazzling spectacle, but the tightrope walk of translating Kakegurui’s intensified reality to live-action without tipping into parody is a perilous one.
The shift in setting to an American school and the introduction of Yumeko’s revenge plot are the most significant departures. These changes will undoubtedly alter the story’s tone and thematic resonance compared to the original’s exploration of existential thrill and systemic critique. The revenge angle provides a clear narrative engine, which could make the series more accessible and offer a strong through-line for its ten episodes. However, it risks transforming Yumeko from a uniquely fascinating force of nature—a “compulsive gambler”—into a more conventional protagonist. The challenge will be to see if “Bet” can integrate Kakegurui’s iconic gambling scenes and their inherent psychological intensity when Yumeko’s primary goal isn’t the gamble itself, but what the gamble can achieve for her revenge. The series must balance appealing to existing “Kakegurui” fans, who may be wary of such changes, with attracting a new, broader audience unfamiliar with the property’s storied past.
“Bet” arrives as a high-stakes proposition for Netflix. It seeks to entice fans of the original “Kakegurui” with a familiar world of high-tension gambling, while also appealing to viewers who appreciate teen thrillers, psychological dramas, and visually stylized genre shows. Miku Martineau’s performance as the reimagined Yumeko, coupled with Simon Barry’s distinct directorial vision, are the series’ trump cards.
The 10-episode drop offers a binge-worthy dive into the treacherous halls of St. Dominic’s Prep. Whether this English-language adaptation hits the jackpot or folds will depend on its ability to deliver on its stylistic promises, make its narrative changes feel justified, and capture the addictive, unsettling thrill that made “Kakegurui” a global phenomenon.
The creators are clearly betting that fidelity to Kakegurui’s “spirit” and “wild energy” can resonate just as powerfully, even if the cards are dealt a little differently this time.
Where to Watch “Bet”
