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Since this is a review for those wishing to see it or not, this will be Spoiler-Free

Ah, Zankyou No Terror, how I loved you from Episode one to the very last episode and adore this show to no end. Was much fun for this season.

However, this is a review and I will grade it from the average Anime watcher's perspective and detach myself from it. Despite my first Review, feel free to criticize me.

My review in a nutshell:

All in All, Terror in Resonance is an aesthetically pleasing show from the art, the animation, the way the camera shots are lined up and crafted combined ... with an interesting take on terrorism. However, certain aspects of the characters and the writing having major flaws will detract from how much you may enjoy the show and how far your suspension of disbelief will go.

Long Review: I do my ratings based off of five categories.

Direction(Cinematography): 10/10

If you wish to find my rating for the plot, go down, this is something that needs to be discussed.

Watanabe is at it again. You know when watching an Anime, you may find the bland or usual camera shot occupying the screen. Or never trying to break the norm. However, when you see shows like Bebop or Samurai Champloo, you notice special detail are placed in each shot for the characters and how every single shot leads to the next seamlessly and never feeling forced at all.

Another example as to why this got a ten is as a director, you choose the camera shots and HOW you tell a story. I'll get to the actual story in a moment but the matter of how Watanabe worked with the script and managed to make every shot count in eleven episodes was great work. I can't imagine someone else directing this anime and doing the kind of work he's done.

One key part to remember, Watanabe makes sure that not every scene needs to have an explosion and understand that these characters have life and their own special moments. Those who love directing and camera work would adore what techniques Watanabe did and when you see the story rating I gave, you'll understand exactly why.

Sound: 10/10:

Normally, sound is something that's considered an afterthought, never putting much emphasis on it. The original Sailor Moon played the opening theme but changed the composition in the episode and played it over and over again tot he point of redudancy. Or Code Geass having such a low variety of music to play during scenes.Sometimes when a good song plays up, it is EMPHASIZED HIGHLY and detracts from the scene. Normally they get rated lower since it doesn't add anything.

So why is this a ten? Cause of one person.

Yoko Kanno.

Originally when I heard the music, I was perplexed and didn't understand the very message. When I spent time to dedicate the body of work and listen for what it is, it put a smile on my face and brought me to a surreal atmosphere where I may sit down and play the album. From the first track starting with a heavily ridden guitar riff to a bass in the background providing this eerie mood, you sense dread. The next track, Von, plays and gives this frail, emotionally moving piece to the heart. The whole album sounds greatly pieced together but what about in context to the anime?

Ah, there's the fun in it. Watanabe and Kanno worked together on Bebop and Kids on the Slope, bringing Anime fans to rejoice at new music composed by her. In this anime, every musical piece is there for the viewer to notice and be astounded at the way it compliments the scene. Never does the music overpower the viewer or explicitly say, THIS IS SAD, CRY! Or what a happy mood. Each scene when placed with music matches the tension, atmosphere and feeling that very scene was meant to represent. There's no better way to explain this than watching the show and knowing how every scene plays out with the song there to add to the magic.

The voice acting was consistent and the sound effects were top notch for what it is.

Art: 10/10

I haven't seen something so graphically pleasing to the eyes since Garden of Words and this is an anime, not a movie. An eleven episode anime holding its quality from day one to the end without dropping deserves a praise. The characters are drawn properly and special detail went into the facial expressions. One thing as an artist that's hard, is to replicate human emotions or be sure the emotion can be felt. I would always know how a character would feel from their small nuance or body actions.

Then this show show us gorgeously crafted scenes of buildings falling down or a very touching scene in Episode four that also got recognition from fans and critics for being breathtaking. The Art is what I would expect for a show in 2014 and not something I feel anime studios try to short change directors and give them a 2007 budget.

So Aesthetically it is beautiful and well crafted from an artist point of view. However, I got two more ratings to give.

Characters: 5/10- Despite my love for the characters, I must detach myself from the show and see how they are. We have Sphinx, two males who create this group. Nine and Twelve. Then you have a female protagonist named Lisa Mishima and a detective called Shibazaki. I can describe each character in one sentence.

Nine: The intelligent, determined terrorist.

Twelve: An aloof, care free male who seems far more intrigued at his surroundings than the actual plan his partner in crime is.

Lisa Mishima: The shy, depressed school girl who gets tangled up in the mess.

Shibazaki: An ace detective who was placed in Archives only to be brought back onto this case regarding terrorism.

The rating is low in part to how this show creates these characters and you don't see much character progression or development from them.

AT ALL!

Even then, it's minimal.

Without development, one would argue that they are one dimensional and I would agree. They don't vary much from episode one to episode eleven, they stay the same. Another character comes into the mix later on and when you expect progress, it doesn't.

There might be moments you ask yourself why this is happening or this is out of character for them. While one may see things differently, as a regular viewer, one would be outright annoyed by the changes of events and the writings. Oh, and speaking of the writing.

Writing(Plot): 5/10

Now, the reason why the cinematography gets a praise here, was how damn elegant on HOW Watanabe TOLD the story. One may create a story about them walking up a flight of stairs but the PRESENTATION of it can captivate you. The way the director tells the story saves this from becoming a very bland and uninspiring show. Hence, if another director came to do this story, it would flop tremendously.

That is the reason why I didn't mix the two together, it has to be separated.

The plot itself has a clear message, a theme to everyone and specifically for Japan. Let's say this, the plot was evident but the way it is executed, handled and crafted to the viewer.....is wonderful. That does not excuse the fact that it is still a very sub par plot.

One needs to pay full attention to every bit of their surroundings or they might fall behind. Another problem can be the fact that this anime doesn't Spoon feed you information. That's fine.

And yet, I see others asking very trivial questions that are explained but no one was paying much attention. This is a fast paced directive anime. Combine this with a short eleven episodes and one thing will suffer. The plot, or the writing.

This show had 4, no not two not three... FOUR writers working on it. There'll be discrepancies on actions or details. Combine with some plot holes to why doesn't this happen or this happen. Why is this person acting nice all of a sudden, why did they blow up this area?

I might sound childish but you'll find some flaws and when you hit episode five and seven, your suspension of belief will be tested to the brink. This show has answers but one must peak and observe carefully but when one's trying to just watch the show for what it is without paying much attention, these details slip and take the viewer out of the experience. Combine this with suspension of belief getting tested and head scratching moments like, really, couldn't they have done this instead, brings this to such a lower score.

Adding these points up,
10
10
10
5
5 =
40/50

An Eight.

This Anime owned potential to be one of the best all time and owned great ambition. It suffered in time and gets demoted to an eight. If every Anime can strive to be like this show with ideas or the quality of its direction, I'll be a happy man and be worth watching Anime far more often. For now, it suffers from the script and it will show after episode four.

This score can also be subtracted by 1-3 judging by the characters and writing. I still stand that the direction, sound and art is worthy of a ten and makes me think we're in 2014. The writing and characters are the downfall and will affect each and every viewer differently.

Who this show IS MEANT for: Those wishing for a thriller or suspense in their hobbies. A Political theme running about. Those who loves to think deeply and find meanings in every scene by the director. Those who likes outside sources....cinematography analysis, plot analysis, shot analysis

Who's this show's NOT MEANT for: Nitpickers, short suspension of belief, those who despise terrorism. Those with very short attention spans or not paying closely to the scene. Those looking for a fun time. There's fun to be had but the show's color instantly brings a sense of dread and morbid atmosphere.

This is the end of the review, hoped you had fun reading this. Till another show pops up.

Bang!