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Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica is one of the shows which have a lot going for itself on the surface and despite a few shortcomings, does a decent job in engaging the viewer with its plot which engages heavily in philosophy and morality.

The show's premise is of young girls forming a pact with a catlike entity, which promises to grant them any wish in return for them having to fight witches, which are often the main cause behind human tragedies such as natural calamities and crimes committed. If this feels too generic of a plot featuring magical girls and attributing every unfortunate event to fantastical ... phenomenons, it's because it is. While the series does not get an A for originality, it does manage to deliver on other fronts such as strong character development, especially the oft-mysterious Homura or its main character Madoka, who might seem like another run-of-the-mill magical girl at a first glance but develops into an intriguing focal point for exploring the moral dilemmas presented in the latter half of the show. Kyuubey is the show stealer but more on him later. The animation is another dimension which the show gets right; with the psychedelic visuals during fight scenes and the minimalist clean art style not only giving the show its own unique identity but complimenting the uneasy and sterile atmosphere.

Now for the negatives - The plot of the show is handled poorly and leaves a lot of explanation even by the end as to why the witches exist in the first place, where does evil originate from, why are there no magical boys and without giving any spoilers, the whole argument about energy creation and destruction is unconvincing a little unconvincing. The series' other characters are weak and their goals while being too naive for mature audiences to comprehend, leave to lot to be desired. We are presented with Mami, a typical do-gooder and an ally of justice and Sayaka, a cliched case study of hope turning into despair, who would do everything in her power to follow her heart instead of choosing what's rational. While these attributes don't necessarily make for a bad character, having no other qualities make them one dimensional.

Coming to Kyuubey, he is probably the most interesting aspect of this entire show and fans of Lovecraftian stories might appreciate his morality (or rather lack of) and reasoning. Without giving any spoilers, his motivations, goals and brand of rationality is what the show's foundation is built upon and because of this, he is THE standout character in the 12 episode story. The viewer would be left pondering a lot of questions about him long after the end credits roll and a few enthusiastic ones might even embark on a lore hunt.

Overall, while the series is far from perfect but it is not without its merits. While it may not appeal to the audience more accustomed to watching more mature and nuanced shows such as Paranoia Agent, Texholyze, Made in Abyss, etc., it does have its place as one of the better philosophical series in shounen category and its strong set of characters and and an engaging story with philosophical elements are enough to warrant it a watch.