Mar 26, 2018
Netflix has recently decided to draw their attention into making more Animes & this year we have been already blessed by the Arrival of Devilman Crybaby. & Recently B the Beginning has come out, which is a collaboration between Netflix & Production IG. Was it good? Let's check the synopsis.
The archipelago kingdom of Cremona is served and protected by the RIS (Royal Investigation Service Unit), a branch of the Royal Police that focuses on major crimes. They already have their hands full with a serial killer dubbed Killer B when Keith Flick, a brilliant but eccentric former investigator, returns to duty after several years of
...
absence. Killer B only slaughters criminals, leaving behind what looks like a stylized B, but the RIS is unsure of his true objective. Most of the RIS is also unaware that genetically-altered humans nicknamed Reggies are lurking amongst the populace, who plan to use their superpowers to resurrect a supposed god from Cremona's founding legends. Those plans may also include Killer B, whether he's aware of them or not.
As the synopsis suggests, the story is a split between crime drama & Supernatural Battle Epic. & having diverse elements in the story, it needed to be more intregated but it rather felt rough. There are two protagonists, Keith & Koku. In the beginning of the series, they had separate motives & their part of the story goes in parallel tracks. While neither of the plot points is straightforward, The story of Keith is more intricate than Koku's, driven by some really ugly plot twists. Some of its intricacy comes from the fact that the main serial killer case isn't actually the titular Killer B that the beginning of the series focuses on. Instead, this true killer represents the real reason why Keith rejoined the RIS, deeply linked to not only his backstory but also the shared prophecy that links the two plots. The ultimate goal of the real serial killer is also interestingly twisted and deeply personal as he shows some psychotic problems in his personality. By comparison, the Supermatural or I should rather say, the "Demi gods" side of the story follows a more ordinary progression with more predictable story beats, from a search for a lost childhood friend, to a web of revenge plots, to a villain's attempt to master fate by overcoming a prophecy. At least this result in some indulging super-powered action scenes. The story had some "side-issues" which they forgot to deal with but I guess they are kept for 2nd season. The world building also felt a bit lackluster cause they just focused too much on the plot while keeping us at a loss about the world we are seeing.
Now coming to the characters, Keith is a strong protagonist who is wildly, sometimes a bit comical & enormously clever guy with some crazy mathmatical knowledge who plays an crucial role in the story. Meanwhile the other superhuman co-protagonist Koku is one of the blandest, stereotype "I want to save mah girl" vigilante you will ever see". He gets outshinned by Lily, one of the members of Keith's investigation team. Lily is an energetic young woman who brings a welcome bit of verve to the proceedings of the show since the main protagonist are quiet & calm types (mostly). Her irresistible personality, keen insight & stubborn attitude enlightens the show. But she wasn't as much as fleshed out as you want a lead female protag to be. The other members of the RIS team merely makes any impact in the show cause they are mainly used as "I didn't understand, So explain this shite" armour. Both the main human/superhuman antagonist are revealed in the 2nd half of the show & I was able to kinda predict who he/she will be. Their beliefs & philosophy does get highlighted very strongly but those are questionable. & whatever impact they leave gets demolished by the epilogue. (including the indication of the continuity of the series)
The character designs and animation stand out most in facial expressions, especially the way Keith tends to flop around, but all of the characters have distinguished looks that help bring out their personalities. The animation in general is strong, particularly in its use of vehicle CGI. Graphic content can also be intense easily enough to justify a R-17 though the show is gory in punctuated moments rather than pervasively. With quality background detail that consistently complements fluid action, this is a great-looking series thanks to Production I.G. & A big clap goes to the musical score. The ending song "The Perfect World" is a perfect song for the series & by far better than the series as well. It's sung in English by The Singer of "MAN WITH A MISSION" with Marty Friedman doing the guitar work.
To sum it up B the Beginning is basically a super-human vigilante story crossed with eccentric genius driven crime procedurals & kinda messes up, gets flawed & ends by leaving the door open for a future follow-up; while both the serial killer story and the more immediate side of the superhuman story are fully resolved, another mastermind still lurks in the background for potential future schemes. If the story does end here, then it finishes far more satisfyingly as a crime story than a supernatural one. If you have seen & liked shows such as Psycho Pass & Terror in resonance then you will get the same feeling out from it but you will most likely to be dissatisfied. But it's still an enjoyable show & worth a watch.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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