I don't get the hate this show was getting after it's first episode - so it isn't normal take on Isekai genre. Big deal. I actually personally like it, when people are creative. I assume that a lot of people who rated it so low expected one thing and got another.
Anyway, to review:
Story is great (9). Or at least story potential is 10/10, but execution while good, does miss sometimes. f you can avoid watching OP - it basically spoils the whole Season and the next one. Yes - my only major complaint is that this series is too short and we're forced to wait
...
for another Season - if it will ever come. Though at least story ends in a decent place to stop for a while. Imperfect, but I wouldn't call it cliffhanger. We learn some things, we get a double twist in the last scene. Because it will act differently on people who haven't seen OP and those who had and thought they knew everything. Generally twists mostly got me. Except for one time, which we will discuss in Character section.
World building is fantastic, though because of the plot we don't get to explore it as much as one would like. Again great potential, but not wasted, rather not explored yet fully and at least partially it is on purpose.
Art gets a solid (7). It is good. However you can clearly see the difference between Sakuga and normal panels. What is worse from time to time we even get subpar quality panels or 1 minute montages of slides where music plays. That screams production issues, but honestly I only noticed it and it annoyed me when I re-watched the series. Then again this subpar thing happens only couple of times and mostly in places where visual quality is not the most needed. Sadly it also affects characters look.
Sound is very good (8). OP has a song that works for me. Though the music is non-intrusive. Which for BGM is actually good, unless there is some masterpiece. Sound design is actually decent and the wide range of setting we see allow the to flex a bit and show off. It's not exceptional, but it is exceptionally done "stock" sound design with couple gems.
Characters: Where do I begin? Goodish main character design, but quite simplistic. 1 Curvy Japanese girl, 1 blonde model, 1 pink haired girl that will be a model soon and 1 blonde model with some additional muscles and curves. They are all designed in a way to be basically as easy to draw as fast as possible - it's another compass pointing at production issues. Secondary/Tertiary characters aren't better design wise. Crowd is made of look-a-likes, so are a lot of Tertiary characters.
When it comes to their personalities they are for the most part 1 dimensional with exception of 1 blonde model. But all other main characters exhibit from time to time surprising amount of depth - making them 2 dimensional characters, who just happen to fit into 1 dimensional mold 90-95% of the time. At the beginning our MC seems the most bland of them all, but plot-twist that was on purpose. We get enough glimpses into our main 4 and secondary/tertiary characters back stories that it makes at least some of them interesting.
Interactions between characters are fun and initially I liked the Yuri aspect of it. Sadly the blonde model cannot catch a break and is fawned over by 2 very clingy characters who "can't live without her". Cute in a way, Creepy in a different way. Overall there is too much of it and the fact that a lot of it is for comedic effect doesn't help. If it wasn't for the fact that blonde model knows how to handle herself and dish out sarcasm it would be unbearable. Interactions between characters who don't "like, like" each other are far more interesting. Sadly there isn't as much of it to balance out the clingy moments. Background characters hide their personalities very well, since you can't observe them in any way ;)
Sadly while villains have motivations as well, they are either supposed to be twists, but are obvious or are cackling crazies from the start. It's just that their motivations are "twisty" enough that it salvages some of it. But honestly the surprise in that could come from the fact that you'd never believe people would actually write that stuff and think of it as good.
Enjoyment (9) - despite all of the flaws I listed above, I had an absolute blast watching each episode (only episode 1 doesn't have a good re-watch value). You don't notice most of the flaws, because they are just below the threshold for noticeability when you're invested in the story. Which I very much was. As soon as in episode 2 our blonde model realizes that this might be tougher than expected, there is a constant action or drama happening. Later it goes more into thriller/Horror territory, but that's fine.
Honestly if it wasn't for villains being basic and rare but noticeable drops in quality and the character design being simplistic (though quite interesting, main girls look really good, but that's not the point) where last 2 things, and maybe even all 3 can be attributed to production problems (plural on purpose. Some of it is financial, some of it is time, some of that might be lack of competent people) - I would give it in a review the same 10/10 that I gave it after watching 4 episodes.
But as it stands overall it is 8/10 anime. Worth watching if you have a spare time, like different worlds (this one is slightly more advanced than usual medieval setting, though disparity between places is great), but are little bored of standard "MC is transported to another world and though normally a loser now they have a harem" - this might be an anime for you. But only if you don't expect earth shattering philosophical questions etc. There are some philosophical questions sprinkled here and there, but it isn't a treatise on humanity - yet. I feel like Season 2, whenever and if it happens might be more of that. For now there are some personal problems and societal/hierarchical ones shown, but not yet explored. I hope they will be in the feature.
Apologies for using the name "blonde model", but that was to emphasize how simple character design is. And it really looks great, but it is still very simple and efficient.
And honestly I wanted more. The sad part was that if it wasn't an objectively good place to stop, second half of last episode would feel like a trailer for Season 2. And the story is not complete by any means. It's just that certain point has been reached and certain arcs had been finished. This seriously needed 24 episode Season. Though given the very obvious problems with production, it might have made thing even worse. And yes, this teasing - that almost feels like a cliffhanger at the end of last episode - that is an obvious production issue as well. They know they didn't utilize the possibilities that the adapted work has given them and that might make people ambivalent towards Season 2, so they want you to demand Season 2 from the company.
OK. I rambled for half of this review. Enough. Have a good day/night and I hope you all stay safe. If you decide to watch this anime after reading this - try contacting me if it's possible. You have my consent.
Jun 18, 2022
Shokei Shoujo no Virgin Road
(Anime)
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I don't get the hate this show was getting after it's first episode - so it isn't normal take on Isekai genre. Big deal. I actually personally like it, when people are creative. I assume that a lot of people who rated it so low expected one thing and got another.
Anyway, to review: Story is great (9). Or at least story potential is 10/10, but execution while good, does miss sometimes. f you can avoid watching OP - it basically spoils the whole Season and the next one. Yes - my only major complaint is that this series is too short and we're forced to wait ... |