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The first season of MUV-LUV Alternative gave me a lot of mixed feelings how it adapted it source material. I thought some elements were ok at best from its music and animation. When you watch this and the first season as a standalone mech anime its a very run of the mill human vs alien conflict. If you're familiar with the source material that being the visual novels then this season is gonna make you feel like a kick to the jaws.

Where do I even begin? To describe my disappoint would be like if it the Harry Potter books were getting a film adaptation but ... instead of adapting from Sorcerer's of Stone to Deathly Hallows. It would be just be adapting the first two books and end it right there rather then of the rest of the story. Skipping all potential story arcs, conflict and end results. Which what this second season feels like.

On a positive side of things, Sadogashima is the biggest highlight for me. All the action and drama that ensues is probably my favorite part of the whole thing. Everything else after that just sort of ends. You could argue that this potentially setting up for a third season and I'd be ok with that and I hope this is not the final season.

But if you're going to adapt the entirety of Alternative. What about Takeru going back to the other world? The BETA threat and the main HIVE? Sumika and the sudden revelations of why she's traumatized about Takeru? The prevention of ALTERNATIVE 5!?!?

Is all of this going to be resolved? No, then what's the point? That aside. While trimming down and changes to adaptations are very common place in these things it will either work out fine or it won't work at all. It feels like there's a lot of stuff that's missing that to those who're watching this will be pretty lost.

There's a ton of exposition in the VN and while it may seem like a drag it does however tell you important things on why this is a big deal. I didn't think 12 episodes could even convey all the important key plot points.

I dunno if I can really recommend this if you're not familiar with MUV-LUV at all. If you enjoyed this adaptation, more power for you I'm glad you got something good out of it. I won't judge you even if you don't know MUV-LUV at all.

Before I end, what's even the point of adding a new character to the story if they have little to contribute to the plot? Not the worst thing I've watched in my life but one of the more disappointing things I've watched in my life.

In conclusion spend your money in the name of love and buy yourself the VNs.

I forgot that a second season of this was in the making and then it came out. My initial feelings towards the first season were mixed. It had some great ideas and unique concepts to explore but it didn't deliver it as it promised. The artwork and music were some its stronger aspects. Though it couldn't be said about its storyline and new characters. I found some episodes average at best and some are just downright forgettable.

GITS is one of my all time favorite anime franchises to pre-phase something before going in a lil further. I was excited to see what S1 of SAC_2045 had ... to offer. At the end of it I found myself a lil disappointed by the end results.

S2 comes out, hoping that it would make things better but it felt like the same issues I had with S1. Throughout watching S2 I tried so hard to pay close attention to the plot I couldn't be engrossed into it either. The post-humans is an unique concept to explore and expanding upon the post-humans for what they're goals and purpose in life are is a great way to get my investment.

I dunno if its my attention span or its convoluted/disconnected plot. The plot tries to keep you invested into what's going on. Given how forgettable the first season was, I lost complete track to what was even going on half the time.

The new characters I still couldn't grow any attachment to. Esaki is the one that seems to have a more character arc going on in comparison to Clown and the main antagonists. Esaki was a character upon first viewing, I literally forgot her name because she was just sort of there in S1. She didn't really had a whole lot to her and she struck me as someone's fan-character who got into the show.

I wanted to like these new characters but they don't strike me as anything interesting nor worth grasping about. Clown I'll say is a character has been done so dirty. He doesn't comeback until the later episodes of the show which makes me think. Why the fuck bother with this guy if he has zero purpose to the storyline. Is he just there to be a burden?

Comic relief character's can have depth to them but this guy is such a footnote.

As for the main antagonist. I had absolutely no clue to what they wanted to do. Nothing felt fleshed out to me. I even forgot their names so I called the main one "P3 protagonist" and the other one "Hot milf assassin" (To be honest and fair with you she is real damn hot for a character with superhuman strength)

The old crew is always nice to see (including Paz and Borma) even if they don't have a whole lot to add. Even with the new and old, nothing seems characterized for both parties enough and gets to the more action/thrilling sequences that want you excited for then plot.

The animation in this is not half-bad compared to S1 but the criticism's feel the same. The backgrounds are great and the character designs by Illya Kuvshinov are very nice. But seeing the 2-D credits at the end makes me wish this was in traditional animation because I think their be more beauty to it. I've gotten quite used to the CGI animation while not super fluid but it does maintain a nice job within the action sequences of the show. One of the more stronger elements of this season would be its music.

The music in this show is incredible to hear with some nice synth tracks that reminded me a bit of Blade Runner 2049 at times. The voice-acting from the original cast is great to hear as per-usual.

I dunno if I have anything else to add given how lost I was. I don't wanna repeat myself but the criticism's I had with the first season remain the same with this one.

If you're a fan of GITS, I'd say watch S1 to see how you feel before jumping into this one (well duh its not only the first season but for more context though be warned you might get lost) If you're not a fan, my recommendation. Give SAC_2045 a pass. It's a very run of the mill experience to the end that'll have you moving onto something else and leaving with the feelings of 'meh'. While some action sequences might have you entertained but its not enough for its disjointed plotline and minimal character developments.

I'll stick Stand Alone Complex which I highly recommend over this.

I first got into the world of MUV-LUV when a friend of mines gifted me both MUV-LUV and Alternative on Steam with him quoting its memo "Save in the name of love". After finishing the KNK films I made a voting poll to see which VN I would tackle next this or CHAOS;HEAD. All votes went into MUV-LUV, MUV-LUV became one of my favorite VN franchises after reading its trilogy and branching off to its spin-off titles.

Hearing about an adaptation of Alternative had me a lot of mixed feelings and I wasn't expecting to be a perfect adaptation. But hopefully decent. The huge ... question in my mind was. "How could anyone watch Alternative first without understanding Extra/Unlimited?" That was the problem.

MUV-LUV Alternative is based on the third entry of the MUV-LUV trilogy. The VN itself has received acclaim for its character development and plot. Even reaching the number one spot on VNDB. Its also one of my all time favorite VNs I've read in the past years.

The anime adaptation only adapts chapters 1-6 of the VN. So a quarter of it. Focusing on Takeru revisiting events from the Unlimited TL and following a human war between a Japanese rebellion. When it first aired I was hooked onto the first episode as it was based on one of the important plot points of Alternative. The BETA's takeover of Sadogashima.

Even features Komaki Sayoko as a character. A character from MUV-LUV's spin-off series The Day After. A series of VNs set after the ending of Unlimited. She doesn't appear in Alternative's VN but this was nice to see. I thought it was a real nice way to set up newcomers (If there is any) to how the world of MUV-LUV's BETA-verse is like. Its brutal, horrifying and showcases the deadly threat that is the BETA.


Then we cut to Takeru waking up from his bed. Its where the rest of the anime turns into meh for me. I can see why "Western" MUV-LUV fans aren't a big fan of this adaptation and I can understand that. But for me honestly its a very run of the mill VN to anime adaptation.


Watching this without understanding Extra and Unlimited is something I need to address. Because of a lot of context needs to be clear towards the viewer.

How will they understand the previous events of Unlimited/Extra?
Why is Sumika so integral to Takeru?
The importance of the Alternative IV project.
The parallels between the BETA TL and the Extra TL.


And the list goes on. VN to anime adaptations are notorious for cutting out important elements of its storyline to trim it down for its audience. It doesn't do a good job of it conveying to the viewer on these said plotlines. It feels sloppily put together.

Alternative's VN is infamously known for a lot its exposition. At times its justified, while at times it can be grating which is one of my criticisms with the VN. However it all boils down to why this is so important.

I can get that they're trying to ensure it doesn't drag too long but with a span of 12 episodes really doesn't seem to justify that. If anything, watching this without prior knowledge of the series will make people assume its all a set up to its second season. Speaking of that. How does it fair up as a standalone anime?

Mech fans would probably pass this up as your typical alien invasion with teenagers piloting giant robots type plotline. Something for them to binge watch if they're bored. I don't see them having a favorite character in this show seeing is that I don't think they can grow attach these characters and they would find them real bland or need to be fleshed out more until its second season. They would be better off waiting for the giant robot fights if any then grow attached to them. Its passable as a standalone show if you ignore it from an adaptation stand point. Something to easily binge watch.


Despite some gripes I have. They're some ok things I liked about the show. The CGI with the mechs while janky at first does get real better over time and it looks real fantastic to watch. The action is super enjoyable and it keeps up the pace. The music has some nice tracks that pay homage to the VN's OST and some of the new ones aren't that half bad. The intro music is catchy too.

The character designs are also pretty good too even if I prefer the OG designs then the new. The absence of hair vents is saddening. But they transition well within the animation even if its very hit/miss at times. New voice cast is good and did fine with the material they were given.

Do I think this is the worst adaptation? No, they're far worse adaptations then this. I still refuse to watch CHAO;CHILD's and Umineko's after putting so much hours into them. I do have that sense they're not gonna be enjoyable.

If you're looking for an adaptation of a VN that can be enjoyed as both an adaptation and stand-alone. Go watch Steins;Gate. If you're looking for giant robot shows then their is plenty of fish out there to look into. If you want to get into the MUV-LUV series. To quote the average Fate fan "Read the VN."

In conclusion, if you're a fan of MUV-LUV you might as well pass this one up. If you're a mech fan or an anime fan looking for something to binge watch with very little care of the source material its from then go for it you'll find it mediocre or a waste of time.

I dunno if the second season will be better or worse. We'll just have to find out.

Honestly the title of this should be renamed to Ryo and Akira's Excellent Adventure. In contrast to the unapologetic nature and social-commentary of Devilman. This was one was pretty tame with the exception of the final chapter and I won't lie when I say the final pages had me melancholy if this sequel focused on that.

It's not a bad story by any means as it's your simple run of the mill time travel shenanigans. Sometimes I interpret this as some kind of buddy cop comedy adventure about two dudes fucking up time and killing demons. It didn't ruin the experience for me as I ... was fairly entertained I mean chapter 3 was a blast to read.

If you're looking for some more Devilman content this one is pretty passable by all means and very short it's only 5 chapters long. If you really loved Devilman then you'll be pretty disappointed with this one.