Monster

Dr. Kenzou Tenma, an elite neurosurgeon recently engaged to his hospital director's daughter, is well on his way to ascending the hospital hierarchy. That is until one night, a seemingly small event changes Dr. Tenma's life forever. While preparing to perform surgery on someone, he gets a call from the hospital director telling him to switch patients and instead perform life-saving brain surgery on a famous performer. His fellow doctors, fiancée, and the hospital director applaud his accomplishment; but because of the switch, a poor immigrant worker is dead, causing Dr. Tenma to have a crisis of conscience.

So when a similar situation arises, Dr. Tenma stands his ground and chooses to perform surgery on the young boy Johan Liebert instead of the town's mayor. Unfortunately, this choice leads to serious ramifications for Dr. Tenma—losing his social standing being one of them. However, with the mysterious death of the director and two other doctors, Dr. Tenma's position is restored. With no evidence to convict him, he is released and goes on to attain the position of hospital director.

Nine years later when Dr. Tenma saves the life of a criminal, his past comes back to haunt him—once again, he comes face to face with the monster he operated on. He must now embark on a quest of pursuit to make amends for the havoc spread by the one he saved.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Liebert, Johan Main

Sasaki, Nozomu Japanese

Tenma, Kenzou Main

Kiuchi, Hidenobu Japanese

Liebert, Anna Main

Noto, Mamiko Japanese

Grimmer, Wolfgang Supporting

Tanaka, Hideyuki Japanese

Lunge, Heinrich Supporting

Isobe, Tsutomu Japanese

Heinemann, Eva Supporting

Koyama, Mami Japanese

Dieter Supporting

Takeuchi, Junko Japanese

Reest, Martin Supporting

Ikeda, Shuuichi Japanese

Reichwein, Julius Supporting

Nagai, Ichiro Japanese

Roberto Supporting

Katsube, Nobuyuki Japanese

Maruyama, Masao Producer

Tamura, Manabu Producer

Nakamoto, Kenji Producer

Kobayashi, Mikiko Assistant Producer

Reviews

Nov 21, 2024

Ramen0809

Recommended

Easily a 10/10. I have to be honest, it gets a little boring in the middle, but if you push through a little bit, it can lead up into something pretty interesting. Despite that, this anime still sits in my top 10 anime because it is that good. I'm actually quiet surprised that an anime this good can stay this quiet for so long. I have never seen it made an appearence anywhere except on MAL's top tier. The story is so exciting. My jaw dropped almost in every episode, especially towards the end of the series. Honestly my jaw may as well be ... glued to the floor HAHA. There are so many twists and surpriseing things happening in the story. If you're love crime themed movies and not prone to gore and blood, I highly reccomend this one.

Reviewer’s Rating: 10

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Nov 15, 2024

TheEasternModie

Mixed Feelings

I have been recommended Monster for a while now, but I was always a bit hesistant to try it out, because it has 74 episodes and that is quite the commitment, but since I enjoyed Pluto (despite some issues here and there), another work from the same author last year, I decided to give it a shot finally. Because I thought, maybe having 74 episodes would fix some of the issues I had with Pluto. But the thing is, the opposite was the case (though as you can see, I still rated it fairly high).

But let's start with the good things. The first 10 episodes ... are really interestingly made, because it's not quite clear yet where the show wants to go and the stretch in between episode 25 and episode 38 are definitely some of the best thriller episodes you can watch. Furthermore, the anime plays in Germany (and Czech Republic for a bit) and the attention to detail is astounding. Not only are all the letters and newspapers in German, but the cities are very closely drawn to what they truly look like. It's been fun to see small details in the background and say "Oh yeah, that's this building" despite there being nearly 30 years in between when the anime plays and today. Lastly, I do like the general themes of the anime and some side characters like Grimmer are really well done.

But if this review is mixed, it means that there are also problems, big enough to make me dislike the show at certain parts. One of the biggest problems is the length. As mentioned above, this show has 74 episodes and if you think this would mean that there is a lot more depth to the characters, then you are sadly mistaken. Instead of using the time to create some really interesting, multi-layered characters, the anime likes to repeat itself over and over again. While Tenma has a really interesting arc in the first 10 episodes, he becomes a really boring character for the rest of the show and the most interesting part (episodes 25-38) has him absent for 90% of it which is not what you would like to have for your main character. And the problem is, this does not just go for Tenma, but also the side characters (with some exceptions) and most importantly the main antagonist of the show. The reasion why episodes 25-38 are working so well is because it uses completely new characters (so there isn't as much repetition), but it's also the only point in the entire show where the antagonist is actually present and the anime is SHOWING you what he is like rather than just telling you.

And that is the biggest problem for me, the show is telling you way more than it is showing you. It always tells you how evil the main antagonist is, but aside from this one period, you don't really see it. I guess this was done to make him more mysterious, but it just didn't help with the engagement for me when the show is this long. That isn't to say that the show isn't trying to show you something every now and then, but most of the time, it's failing, because things like with Nina are so dragged out that they don't leave much impression once you have all the information. The only time this was done well, was with Grimmer in my opinion, which is probably also why he is the best character in the show imo.

What is left at the end is a show that has some interesting ideas, a total of around 20-30 episodes that are really strong, but also more than 40 episodes that feel a bit dragged at best and completely pointless at worst as the show keeps introducing new side characters that only appear for around two episodes most of the time which would be fine if the main cast was more interesting. It's definitely a show you should try out I think, but you should be aware that it can really drag at points. Also, I feel the ending is kind of meh. I get what they were trying to go for there, but I don't think they really nailed that idea.

Reviewer’s Rating: 7

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Nov 17, 2024

finalegoist

Not Recommended

Funny

Title: "Monster: A Pacing Nightmare Misadvertised as a Mystery Masterpiece"

"Monster" is often recommended as a must-watch for fans of Death Note, but this comparison does a disservice to fans of tightly paced psychological thrillers. While Death Note engages viewers with its sharp, tension-filled battles of wits, Monster meanders through a bloated and sluggish storyline that fails to deliver any comparable intrigue.

The narrative centers on Dr. Kenzo Tenma, a protagonist whose moral dilemmas and supposed "deep" struggles lack the charisma and magnetism of Death Note’s Light and L. Similarly, Johan Liebert, the primary antagonist, is heralded as one of anime’s greatest villains, but his character feels ... hollow, relying more on mystique than genuine depth. His motives are presented as ambiguous, but they ultimately come across as underwhelming and predictable. The so-called "mystery" that drives the show is insultingly simplistic, with most of the revelations being telegraphed far in advance, robbing the series of any real suspense.

Pacing is the show’s Achilles' heel. Spanning 74 episodes, Monster stretches its thin plot to excruciating lengths. Subplots often feel irrelevant, and the series wastes time on repetitive scenarios that do little to develop characters or advance the story. The show repeatedly teases philosophical exploration but offers no substantive payoff, leaving the viewer disillusioned and fatigued.

The psychological battles that Death Note fans might expect are virtually nonexistent here. Where Light and L's intellectual duels keep audiences on edge, Monster opts for drawn-out conversations and overly telegraphed drama that fails to achieve the same impact. By the time the show attempts to pick up momentum, most viewers are likely too disengaged to care.

As a Death Note fan that was recommended this anime, I kept my patience reserved hoping for an incredible finale, but was greeted by a the generic "audience is stupid" ending. There is no intellectual battles, profound psychological elements, or gripping dramatic moments. After 74 episodes, I was left wondering why this was so highly regarded, and remembered these are the same people who think My Hero Academia is a masterpiece, let alone watchable.

In summary, Monster is a plodding, overhyped series that falters in nearly every aspect it claims to excel in. Its pacing issues, lack of intrigue, and uninspired characters render it an underwhelming experience. If you’re seeking a gripping psychological thriller, look elsewhere—this "Monster" is all bark and no bite. 1/10.

Reviewer’s Rating: 1

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