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Feb 6, 2025
Melancholy hit me hard once I finished this one, and it only happens with series that really moved me.
BokuYaba has definitely been one of them, and cemented its place in my top 10 of all times. I can understand why it is so beloved by many viewers.
THE GOOD:
Most of the aspects that made S1 great can be found in S2 as well. Impressive character writing, simple but compelling plot developments, golden comedy alternating with deeply emotional moments.
The production value improved, with visuals becoming better and especially more consistent throughout the season. The direction stepped up with bolder choices.
Here I want to spend a bit more
...
time talking about aspects I glossed over in my S1 review.
First, voice acting. Credit due when it's due, this show is so good also because Horie (Ichikawa) and Youmiya (Yamada) nailed their characters perfectly. This is by far my favourite VA performance in a SoL, comedy or romance anime ever. The actors definitely got some help from good direction and well written scripts, but in the end it's their work which brought the protagonists to life. Kudos.
Second, soundtrack. Kensuke Ushio put together some of the best tracks I heard in a while. Most of the pieces with minimalistic arrangement used in the emotional scenes are able to set the mood perfectly. "Restless heart", the piano piece to highlight all of Ichikawa's deepest inner struggles, has become one of my favourite BGMs ever.
Finally, the relatabilty. I think I haven't been so invested in two fictional characters since I first watched A Silent Voice and, much earlier, Clannad. There might be shows that I rated higher than BokuYaba, because of production or writing aspects. There are also shows that made me more emotional than BokuYaba (e.g. Violet Evergarden). But it has been a long while since I last connected to any character like I did with Kyou and Anna. Thanks to a masterful writing, I felt I could really understand them, and that made them so much relatable: those two made all my teenager feelings resurface again.
THE MEH (not really):
New season, new fanservice choices.
To be fair, the fanservice scenes decreased drastically in number in S2, and weren't as in-your-face as in S1 (no bouncing boobs for 10 seconds straight, etc.), they stepped up a bit in brazenness. In some cases there is an "in-story" justification for them (i.e. it's what Ichikawa sees). There are just a few shots where Yamada's body is objectified for no apparent reason, e.g. the camera indulging on her legs when she's at the phone or on her body while she's having a bath: all things that Ichikawa, i.e. the audience POV, couldn't see. Not bad enough to ruin the experience for me, also because we're talking about just 3-4 short scenes throughout the season. But definitely unnecessary.
THE BAD (is there any?):
Look, the only thing I could criticise about S2 is ep. 11 (the sports festival). It felt a bit of a filler episode, but it furthers Ichikawa's friendship with Adachi, and it's thus a necessary buildup for ep. 13, plus it was nice and sweet to watch anyway.
It's a very little detail in an otherwise almost perfect journey.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
This series as a whole remains a masterful example of romance done right.
Currently 6th in my list of all times favourite series, with a score of 8.5 that MAL can't handle. I will definitely watch it again soon and will catch up with the manga (EDIT: I just watched it again, and that's why I rewrote part of this review).
Recommended to all the romantic souls around.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Feb 4, 2025
This the first and only yuri I have ever read. A friend recommended it to me, and I must say I've been impressed: while it's not perfect due to some minor issues here and there (more on those later), none of them really affected my enjoyment.
Let's start with the positives.
The art is great: clean, detailed, with neat backgrounds and very balanced panels. Character design is good, although it suffers from "same face"-itis from time to time.
The characters are also well written, with organic and consistent development which drives the plot forward. It's actually one of the selling point of the manga: there aren't many romance
...
series out there with such a consistent progression, not only for the two MCs but also for at least one side character.
Now, onto the problems I found. Nothing serious, but worth mentioning anyway.
The first and most obvious is the premise for the relationship between the MCs. Yuu is described as unable to love, which is uncommon but not unheard of in other romance series. Touko's hides her real self behind a facade for reasons that are explained later in the story, which is also pretty standard. However, in the first few chapters the dynamic between the two is somewhat unrealistic: Touko falls in love with Yuu exactly because Yuu won't be able to reciprocate, and this way she feels like she can drop her facade when they are together. While it kinda works somehow, it's puzzling and not very relatable nonetheless. Sure, sometimes you fall in love with someone who doesn't love you back. But you usually don't fall in love BECAUSE that someone can't love you back. It was the most head-scratching aspect of the manga, for me. It's not a deal breaker because the development of the two MCs proceeds naturally and with good pacing anyway, so it only feels like a contrived plot device to set things in motion, and doesn't hamper the overall progression.
Another aspect I didn't particularly like was the "payoff" in one of the very last chapters. It was in good taste and definitely not gratuitous, but it still felt out of tone in relation to the rest of the story.
The last aspect I found a bit unlikely was the number of girl+girl couples in the story, although I assume it's a normal trope for yuri. Not a big deal anyway.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Definitely a manga worth reading. Not only you'll enjoy a sweet story, you'll also find one of the best definitions of love I've ever read in any medium:
"Love doesn't mean 'I never want you to change,' but I don't think it means 'I don't care if you change' either. So I suppose it might mean 'I believe that you'll always be the person I adore.' A declaration of faith, perhaps."
Recommended to anyone who likes well written romance. Don't get turned off by its "yuri" label.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Feb 2, 2025
Reviewing this one is going to be really difficult for me. It used to be my favourite when I was in high school and just started reading manga. I re-read it recently after more than 10 years, and in hindsight I understand it's not the masterpiece I thought it was, but there are still chapters and scenes that deeply moved me, so from an emotional perspective I think I wasn't completely wrong. It's the main reason why it's still on my favourites list despite having a relatively low rating compared to other titles I have read.
THE GOOD:
The art is amazing. The first few chapters might
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still have a slightly "cartoonish" feel, but already from volume 2-3 it becomes incredibly realistic and detailed, almost photography-like. All the panels are simply gorgeous.
From a writing point of view, although the plot isn't exactly tight and characterization could be improved (more on that later), the manga delivers big time because the author manages to make the characters relatable. There are scenes that hit like a truck because you feel so invested in them.
THE MEH:
The manga leans HEAVILY on the ecchi side, so be prepared. It's already clear on page 2, where you are "welcomed" by an explicit panel of the MC's love interest wearing pantsu and nothing else. All the female characters (with only one exception) get this treatment at least once, the main ones a lot more. And almost all of those scenes contain strong erotic tension, i.e. they are not simply comedic situations. Considering that essentially all characters are teenagers... you see the issue. If you're an adult reader and you are there for the romance, those realistic panels will make you cringe and EXTREMELY uncomfortable. I honestly didn't remember it was SO ecchi when I re-read it some months ago, and I was taken aback.
In terms of writing, while characters are relatable thanks to extensive introspection, they are also somewhat frustrating to root for because of poor development. They definitely change throughout the series, but most of the times they experience progression only to undo it the very next chapter or arc, which feels like they are not growing at all. This is especially egregious in the MC, who "resets" his progression multiple times during the story, particularly during the central arcs.
THE BAD:
The plot is all over the place. It's obvious that the author didn't have a clear idea in mind about the direction the story would take, beside the first chapters and the finale. Masakazu Katsura is notorious for his poorly structured writing, and this is no exception. You can see it in the setting, with inconsistent worldbuilding which affects important elements like the Gokuraku Club. You can see it in the decisions taken by some characters, which might be illogical, lack motivation, and included just to create drama or move the plot forward: this happens with the MC but also with many other characters like Takashi, Moemi, Koji.
By some miracle the story can still be digested because it is well paced and has a surprising inner symmetry: the first chapters mirror the last ones, the 3 major turning points are perfectly placed and split the plot in cohesive arcs. However, this "artificial aesthetic harmony" isn't enough to overcome all the issues: if it's not aesthetics but good writing you're looking for, you won't find it here.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
A work that defined my teen years as a manga reader. I still understand why I loved it so much, back then: you won't find many other works as emotional as this one, out there.
Still, many would probably find it too explicitly sexualised, and exigent readers would cringe at the poorly written plot.
I'm keeping it as a favourite of mine because of what it means to me, even if there are objectively better manga out there. For the same reason I'm giving it a rating of 7 although it's probably closer to 6.5.
If you're an adult, recommended only if you are a desperate romantic craving for strong emotions, and you're willing to put up with the ecchi and the writing issues to get it.
If you're a teen, simply recommended. It's a must-read if you like romance, and you'll love it.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Jan 9, 2025
THE GOOD:
It's really difficult to find something good in this show... but if I squint my eyes really hard I can say that it's visually pleasing, slightly above the seasonal average. The character design is quite enjoyable, the coloring has personality, and the direction isn't bad. Voice acting is also decent, with Uchida (Naori) being by far the best of the cast.
In terms of writing, the only good aspect is related to the many references to otaku culture we get throughout the show, from Star Trek to Back To The Future, usually during the conversations between Naori and Jun.
THE BAD:
Yea, I will skip my usually
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"THE MEH" section for this review, because almost everything in this series is a dumpster fire.
The beginning was promising, with an incredibly fast pacing [spoilers for ep. 1]: there are dramas out there where the MCs get together relatively quickly, but I think I haven't watched a single show where two protagonists get together AND split up in a single episode [/spoilers].
I was expecting a rollercoaster of emotions after those first 24 minutes, and instead it was just like trying to get out of a cesspool with someone pulling you down for the rest of the season.
First pain point, the plot: not received. Someone please send a memo to the authors. The only significant plot advancement happens in ep. 1, and it's just the setup. At the end of episode 12 the situation for all the characters is exactly the same of the end of episode 1. Really. No change at all. In-between, a lot of "nothing" happened.
Second pain point, the characters: no arc, no progression, nothing. By the end of the series they haven't changed, haven't achieved any of their goals, haven't had any meaningful growth. If they at least were interesting it would have been somewhat tolerable, but their characterisation is so poor that they are hard to watch for so long. Rumi is overall likeable, but bland and unoriginal, and her decisions make no logical sense throughout the show. Naori is the quirkiest and funniest of the bunch, but she's a scheming b*tch, and probably the least relatable. Jun is the worst of the three, with very dull traits, no motivations, no agency, nothing at all. The fact that he is the most indecisive MC in the history of romance doesn't help.
Side characters don't even exist in terms of progression. Shiena is funny, but that's it.
And you know what's worst? Despite the dumpster fire this story is, the authors took themselves so seriously that there's not even a hint of fanservice in the whole show. And I'm telling this being notoriously NOT a fanservice enthusiast.
The (lack of) plot and character progression we see here would make sense in an ecchi show or an hentai. Certainly not in a romance drama.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
By far the worst show I watched in 2024. Production-wise it's OK, but whoever wrote the story and the scripts, and those who gave the go-ahead, were probably high on something to come up with a result like that.
Not recommended. Go watch an hentai instead.
Reviewer’s Rating: 2
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Jan 7, 2025
THE GOOD:
This show has a lot to offer, starting with the setting. A mistery drama taking place in a fictional country based on Tang Dynasty China isn't exactly something you see around very often.
Then we get to the story, which is structured as a mystery-of-the-day show with overarching narratives, all with intriguing premises and well written developments. This makes it engaging to watch both on a weekly basis or to binge it in a single run.
Finally let's talk about the protagonist. Maomao is one of the most interesting female leads in recent years (despite her being also the biggest flaw of the series, more on
...
that later). Strong, knowledgeable, quirky, she steals the show every time she is on the screen... which is 99% of the runtime, since we mostly see the story unfold from her point of view.
A lot of her charm comes from her VA, Aoi Yuuki. I'm a big fan of hers, and I can definitely say this is one of her best roles ever, if not the absolute best. She really managed to bring Maomao to life with well performed mannerisms and an incredibly expressive range.
Another good aspect of Maomao's writing is the chemistry between her and Jinshi. There's subtle romantic tension between the two, and their back-and-forth is usually fun to watch. They might end up together, but their development is absolutely unpredictable. It's a textbook example of "will they, won't they" done properly.
Let's move on and talk about the production value of the show, which is absolutely stellar. Yuuki's voice acting is only the most prominent aspect, but all the cast did a great job. The animation is spectacular, way above the average for seasonal anime. Visuals are stunning, especially the surprisingly detailed backgrounds (the Inner Palace pavilions are almost Studio Ghibli level). The sound department keeps up with this quality, providing a fitting soundtrack and extremely good effects. Props to Ryokuoushoku Shakai's "Hana ni natte", a great OP for the first cour. Together with the visuals, they make for one of the best OP movies of the last few years.
THE MEH:
The writing has all the pros and cons of your mistery-of-the-day show: unless there is an overarching narrative, many characters are throwaway and you can't really sympathise with them. It's not always like that, of course: in ep. 3 the writers managed to make a character that has almost no lines extremely relatable, pulling off a surprisingly emotional episode finale. But it's the exception, not the rule.
Another debatable decision is closing some threads off screen: when the solution to the mystery is provided, we are not always shown the closure, and instead we get told about it, either through Maomao's inner monologue or by another character in dialogue. This makes sense from the MC perspective: Maomao is our POV, and she is just an apothecary. She doesn't apprehend the culprits, she doesn't pass the judgment on them, so it's only normal that she doesn't see what happens once the mystery is solved. But for the audience this is underwhelming, because we cannot fully enjoy the payoffs, which is half of the fun for mystery-of-the-day series.
THE BAD:
The main defect of the series, and the only reason why I didn't give it a 9 in my rating, is that the protagonist is a textbook Mary Sue.
Don't get me wrong, a female Sherlock Holmes in an ancient China setting is interesting to watch, but Sherlock Holmes is a character written in the XIX century, and his traits are not acceptable for today's writing standards.
Maomao is only 17 and is already more knowledgeable than most of modern day's doctors, let alone apothecaries. She understands many modern medicine concepts. She shows modern chemistry prowess.
That would already be a stretch for a character that age in that setting, but it wouldn't be a deal breaker: after all she is extremely smart and curious, and her father is apparently one of the most knowledgeable apothecaries around.
However, Maomao knowledge is simply too vast to be believable: she knows about metallurgy, physics, biology, botanics, essentially any known scientific field. She is also a good character reader, and has remarkable social skills. She is even an expert in advanced erotic techniques, despite having zero experience... sure, her friends at the brothel could have taught her, but whoever has even minimal experience knows that, in that specific field, theory and practice are completely different beasts.
The authors managed to write an interesting and compelling protagonist, but without obvious flaws to overcome: the world changes around her, she doesn't have to change to fit into the world. This makes her ultimately unrelatable.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
A remarkable show, despite its blatant Mary Sue issue. Visuals, story and storytelling are among the best you could find around. And Yuuki's voice acting alone is worth your time.
Recommended if you like mystery, drama and pseudo-historical fiction.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Jan 6, 2025
THE GOOD:
The setting is very interesting: the sea level has risen so much that humanity has lost most of the inhabitable land. Technology is so advanced that humanoid AIs were developed, but people are forced to live in nearly deserted islands because of lack of resources, with little to no commodities. While it's not the most original idea, I'm a sucker for this kind of sci-fi premises.
The MC also has a deep background, with his disability and everything that comes with it. The first half of the show, based on his character development and the progression of his relationship with Atri, is the best in
...
terms of writing (despite the "loli issue", see below).
If we talk about production, character design is worth of mention, as well as the OP by Nogizaka46, which is catchy and has a lot of personality. Animation is most of the times above the seasonal anime average.
Unfortunately, there's not much else to praise.
THE MEH:
The cast is the first weak point of the series. All the supporting characters are defined by a single motivation (if they have any), and a single trait. This makes them one-dimensional and, in the end, boring and predictable.
And while this might be somewhat acceptable, although not ideal, it's unforgivable when it affects the FMC, Atri. In her case the problem partially lies in the plot: due to her amnesia, her true motivations are unknown to her and to the audience until pretty late in the show, but nonetheless she is "programmed" to act as if she knew them. This makes her the least relatable character of the bunch, since she does "things" but neither she nor we understand why. With amnesiac characters authors need to take extra care so that the audience can sympathise with them: here they failed egregiously. It's a pity because Atri's antics and quirks are fun to watch, but in the end she feels shallow and more of a comic relief (or a plot device) than a protagonist.
Moreover, her apparent age can be a bit problematic: a loli-robot acting like a pre-teen who is the love interest of a college student? It was not the main issue of the show for me, but I can understand if viewers are turned away by it.
THE BAD:
And here comes the real boogeyman: the plot itself.
It doesn't really develop the premise, which is a sin in and of itself. The worldbuilding is kept generic, with little to no explanation.
The story heavily relies on "stupid characters doing stupid things" in order to progress: see for example Catherine's act against Atri and Natsuki on the boat, or Yasuda half-assed attempt to recover Atri.
Plot points simply "happen" without being properly anticipated. With the exception of Yasuda's goals, which are hinted at from the beginning (and end up in a disappointing fashion despite all the hype), events occur out-of-the-blue, sometimes derailing the plot from its apparent path, they often feel like deus-ex-machina and are awfully written, heavily relying on infodumps. The last few episodes of the series are unwatchable because of them, and that's where this show's rating took a nosedive, for me (it was a solid 7 until ep. 8).
If the story only had Natsuki's and Atri's development as the main focus, instead of trying to pull off lacklustre sci-fi crap in the second half of the season, it would have been a lot better.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
One of the most disappointing shows of 2024 for me. As I said, I usually love premises like the one used here, and I tend to enjoy the end result regardless... the authors must have botched the writing quite miserably for me to give such a low score.
Recommended only if you are in withdrawal from sci-fi and no other shows are available.
Reviewer’s Rating: 4
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Jan 2, 2025
THE GOOD:
This series touches a number of interesting themes related to artificial intelligence. What are the rights of AIs? How should they be treated? When does a robot with complex behaviour stop being a mere electric appliance and start becoming a sentient being?
Most of these themes are already touched in a number of other series, Chobits being the closer one in terms of plot. But while there the focus was mostly on the "feelings" between man and machine, here it's wider and goes from bureaucracy to practical day-to-day living challenges (maintenance, etc.), which is definitely something new.
The show production value is just average, but OP
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and ED are catchy and nice to listen to, and voice acting by Toyonaga (Tokuma) stands out.
THE MEH:
As anticipated, production value isn't exactly stellar. It's your run-of-the-mill seasonal anime, with the usual average animation, visuals and direction. Sound production is on the same level, with voice actors beside Toyonaga doing a decent job but nothing worth mentioning.
In terms of writing, the show goes nowhere. There is no clear goal or arc, and in terms of character development Tokuma's and Mina's ones are underwhelming. It wouldn't be a problem if this was an episodic series, but that's not the case, here: the story progresses, the MCs not so much. Their personalities and relationship at the end of the show are almost the same they had at the beginning, with just minor/cosmetic changes.
THE BAD:
The series has 2 main defects in my opinion.
The first one is related to visuals: character design for the MCs falls into "uncanny valley" territory.
Mina's lack of expressiveness and robotic appearance with just her moe face make her hard to watch. And while this might have been the original intention, it's still a bit creepy.
Takuma's main design issue is related to his "snake face". It's a weird choice for a protagonist, and while it gives him a unique feel and sets him apart from your usual MCs, it's also a bit uncomfortable. There's a reason if that eye style is more common for villains and antagonists.
The second defect is the show's shallowness. As mentioned at the beginning, the series touches a great number of themes, but it almost never delves deeply into them. They are just used as plot devices for some minutes and then dropped. The story won't come back on them unless they are needed later for progression purposes, but even then they won't be investigated further.
The end result is that the show feels like nothing meaningful really happens most of the times.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
A wasted opportunity. This series had all the chances to become a milestone in its specific sci-fi subgenre, but it wasn't able to take advantage of the potential of its premise.
Not recommended, unless you feel nostalgic for Chobits... in which case you'd better watch Chobits instead.
Reviewer’s Rating: 4
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Dec 30, 2024
THE GOOD:
You watch the first 30 seconds and you're already hooked. Why? The visuals are so stunning that after you'll see a comet flying through the clouds and the MCs looking at the sky your jaw will drop in awe.
As of today, this might be the anime movie with the best visuals in terms of backgrounds and non-character animations. It's difficult to objectively compare different animated styles and different productions, but it's undeniable that the studio pulled off some kind of miracle, here: the setting feels more alive than the real world.
The story is also compelling, and contrary to the usual "Shinkai habit", most of
...
the plot threads get a proper closure at the end. Moreover, here he managed to develop a well balanced pacing, unlike other works like "5 centimeters per second".
The author is famous for his "impossible love" narratives, and this is no different. I think this is among his best ones, although in my opinion the simplicity and effectiveness of "Hoshi no koe" remains unrivalled. "Your name" is more complex and convoluted, but it manages to include many themes from Japanese folklore and traditions, which I'm sure will enrich the experience for many viewers. In the end, it's a matter of taste.
The soundtrack is very well produced and I'm pretty confident many will consider it a masterpiece. I'm not among them because it's not my piece of cake, but it's a good product and undeniably contributed to the movie's success.
Voice acting is also top notch. Special mention for Kamiki (Taki), who is able to realistically portray both the masculine and the feminine versions of the MC and bring him to life. Kamishiraishi (Mitsuha) does also a good job in that sense, but I prefer her male counterpart.
THE MEH:
It's Shinkai: some aspects of the story will never be explained. Magical things will happen because they need to happen, all logic be damned. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, since it creates a sense of wonder. However, the author is notorious for breaking the consistence of his worldbuilding, for making his characters act without any apparent reason, for setting up implausible scenarios.
This occurs many times here too. For example, why do Mitsuha's notes on Taki's phone suddenly disappear when he realises what happened to her, while her pen mark on his hand doesn't? How is it possible that Taki never ran across any news about the comet while investigating the region Mitsuha lives in? I'm pretty sure an occurrence like that would prompt a ton of reports and accounts. And so on.
In this movie, those "things-happen-because-anime-logic" incidents are bearable for two main reasons: they are smaller in scope and fewer in number than in any other work from the author (compare them with "Weathering with you", which is a royal mess instead). Still, they might break your immersion if you are a more rational viewer.
THE BAD:
Beside those incidents, the writing also suffers because some characters and some events are treated as mere plot devices. The main culprit here is Mitsuha's father, who shows little to no characterization and acts as an asshole without apparent motivation beside a single generic line heard in a flashback. But the story is littered with similar issues, although smaller. They won't spoil the overall experience, but they will contribute to making it feel coarse and unrefined.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Among the "high rated standalone movies trifecta" (A Silent Voice, I Want to Eat Your Pancreas and Your Name), this is definitely the most romantic but also the one I enjoyed the least.
This doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it: it's an incredible movie and will definitely pull your heart strings. It deserves all the praise it gets. Still, I would rate a good half of the movies from Studio Ghibli far higher than this one.
Recommended if you want to experience a magical, romantic story... and a little bit of head-scratching trying to understand WTF just happened.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Dec 28, 2024
THE GOOD:
Everyone loves the time travel shenanigans of this show, but to me Steins;Gate is the perfect exercise in characterisation.
Okabe Rintarou is one of the most compelling MCs you'll find in an anime. He has plenty of motivations and fears, a complex personality, and the writers managed to make them all emerge little by little from under the "mad scientist" delusional armour he wears. Moreover, his growth is one of the best I've watched in a series: if you compare ep.1 Okabe with ep. 21 Okabe, they are nothing alike. And this is why his return to the Hououin Kyouma persona during the climax of
...
the last 2 episodes hits so hard: he is not wearing that armour to hide his fears anymore, he's using it as a weapon to actively protect the ones he loves.
Of course I also like the whole time travel plot. It's what hooked me the first time and what pushed me to watch the show again. It's tight, well thought, masterfully written, and blends in the mix a cast of interesting characters which also get some time to shine and develop.
The visuals are captivating. The animation isn't anything special, just slightly above the average of your seasonal anime, but direction and lighting are otherworldly. The use of unconventional camera shots together with heavy white light and desaturated colors gives the show a unique feel that no other series can display.
From the sound production perspective, this is a masterpiece. The soundtrack is spectacular, with "Gate of steiner" (i.e. the main thematic BGM) being one of the most distinctive pieces I heard in an anime OST ever, and the OP also being quite catchy. Voice acting by all the cast is superlative, but of course it's Miyano (Okabe) who takes the lion's share: if the MC is so compelling it's also because he managed to bring him to life.
THE MEH:
Pacing balance is the only issue with the show's writing. The episodes from 3 to 9 might feel like filler during a first watch. They aren't, of course: it's the necessary buildup to get to the peak of tension in ep. 10-12 and the subsequent shift in gears; they also carry the seeds of all the side characters' development that will resolve in the second half of the season. But a first watcher doesn't know any of that.
There's very little that could have been done to avoid it, from a writing perspective: the show works well SPECIFICALLY thanks to that buildup. The only care can be taken by fans like us: if you're recommending this show, make sure you tell your friends that those episodes are slow paced but not filler.
THE BAD:
I love Mayuri's character. I really do. But she is the only side character that doesn't experience any personal growth. Everything she does, everything that happens to her, isn't for her sake: it's either necessary to progress the plot or to develop Okabe's character. In other words, she looks like a mere plot device. Which is sad, considering that she is probably the sweetest and most adorable character of the cast.
She gets some well deserved personal development in the sequel (S:G0), but here? Not so much.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
As of today, in my personal ranking for best anime series of all times, S;G shares 3rd-4th place with Madoka Magica. It's a series with a tight plot, filled with emotional moments and one of the best character development you'll experience.
Recommended if you like well-written time travel stories and you don't fear the Organization.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Dec 27, 2024
THE GOOD:
Pretty much everything in this show is absolutely top level. The animation is among the best you could find in a seasonal anime, as well as the direction. Everything related to visuals is absolutely stunning, from character design, to coloring, to lighting.
Then we get to the sound production. Voice acting is fantastic: not as bombastic as your usual shonen entry, but more realistic and definitely subtler, and for this reason I appreciated it so much more.
The soundtrack is among the best and most interesting I heard in the last 10 years, Evan Call really pulled off a miracle here. To the uninitiated it might
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sound unassuming, but it uses so many interconnected thematic elements in such a characteristic way that it could be used as a teaching device in composition courses. The 1st OP by YOASOBI is catchy and the ED by milet is melancholic and simply beautiful.
Also, the writing. This might look like your run-of-the-mill trope-y fantasy anime with the usual trope-y characters... nothing farther from the truth. All the characters, even the supporting cast, are well written with clear motivations and subtle quirks. The worldbuilding slowly goes from "generic high-fantasy with elves, dwarves and demons" to a detailed setting with interesting and original peculiarities.
Finally, the storytelling. This is probably what sets this show apart from the rest of the series out there. You might love it or hate it, but it will definitely leave a strong impression on you regardless. I personally loved the heavy use of subtext. You never have internal monologues giving you direct access to a character's thoughts and feelings: you either have natural dialogue with tons of nonverbal interactions, or flashbacks (quite a lot of them), but the deeper meaning of each scene is always left to the viewer's interpretation.
THE MEH:
The pacing might be too slow for some people. This isn't an action fantasy, it's more akin to slice-of-life, although you also have action-packed scenes in some arcs. For the same reason, the story might not be right up everyone's alley. There is only a very vague goal set after ep. 4, but no real plot as of now. You can "reconstruct" a semblance of a plot based on the many flashbacks we got this season, and that's part of the charm of the series, but if you are looking for a tighter story, you probably won't appreciate it.
THE BAD:
There is a certain reliance on shonen tropes in the second half of the season, but they are handled in an original way so it's not a big deal. In the same arc we also get introduced to a lot of new characters, meaning that we get less time for each, and this also affects the existing MCs (Stark appears only for a few minutes in total in the last 10 episodes or so).
To be fair I'm just nitpicking here. I would mention these things in the "meh" section for other shows, if I'd mention them at all. These are very minor issues and probably due to personal preference.
FINAL THOUGHTS: Frieren is currently ranked 5th in my personal top 10 for series, as of 2024. In my opinion, best anime series since Violet Evergarden (2018) and the best fantasy first season of all times. Its number 1 spot on MAL is well deserved.
Recommended if you like fantasy and slow-paced, contemplative shows.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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