Great Pretender Season 1 Episode 1 Case 1_1: Los Angeles Connection

Case 1_1: Los Angeles Connection marks the opening of the much-anticipated anime series, Great Pretender. The show revolves around Makoto Edamura, a con artist from Japan with a heart of gold, who gets entangled in an international scam in the most unexpected way. In this first episode, we see Makoto and his partner in crime, Kudo, pulling off a petty scam in Tokyo before they bump into a much bigger fish, Laurent Thierry.

Laurent catches Makoto red-handed while trying to swindle him and offers him a job instead of turning him in. Makoto refuses at first, but Laurent's charm and persuasive skills get the better of him, and he ends up being conscripted into Laurent's team of world-class grifters. Laurent's team includes Cynthia, Abby, and Ozaki, each with their own special set of skills, and they are a force to be reckoned with.

After recruiting Makoto, the team sets its sights on their next target, a Hollywood movie producer named Harold Delaney. The objective is to con Harold into investing millions of dollars into a movie that doesn't exist. In order to pull off the con, Cynthia poses as a French filmmaker, and through a series of cleverly orchestrated events, Harold is convinced to invest in a project that hasn't been made.

Makoto's job is to play the role of a fixer, creating illusions and smoke screens to keep Harold from suspecting anything while also helping to carry out the team's plans. The episode is a rollercoaster of events, with the stakes getting higher as the schemes get more intricate. The Great Pretender series is known for its unpredictable twists and turns, and this episode sets the tone for the rest of the season by taking us through some of the team's most outrageous and audacious cons.

The animation is top-notch, with colorful and vivid scenes that transport you to different locations around the world. The anime also has an excellent soundtrack that sets the mood for each scene, creating a perfect blend of suspense, tension, and humor. Great Pretender is not only a thrilling anime but also a master class in the art of the con.

Overall, the opening episode of Great Pretender sets the stage for a show filled with humor, adventure, and non-stop excitement. It's a must-watch for fans of the heist genre and anyone who loves a good mystery. At the heart of it all is Makoto, a lovable rogue who you can't help but root for, even though you know he's a con artist.