Jul 13, 2018
--THIS REVIEW MIGHT CONTAIN HINTS TOWARDS SPOILERS, THOUGH I WILL NOT SPOIL ANYTHING DIRECTLY--
Darling in the Franxx is not, as some people might claim after an incredibly rushed ending, a bad anime. I remember someone saying that it's not an action mecha anime with slice of life elements, but a slice of life drama with sci-fi mecha elements (at least untill episode 19 or so), and boy, if it only stayed that way till the end!! I understand that this combination of genres is not for everybody, although for me, it seemed like a perfect mix. I absolutely love drama, sci-fi, romance, mecha, action AND
...
the reversal of proportions (teenage drama first, mecha in between) rubbed me the right way.
--STORY
It's really difficult to judge the story of Darling as a whole, mainly due to the giant focus shift after the episode 19.
Before the 19th episode (let's call it the First Part) it's discovering love and relationships for the first time, all while having no role models in form of family or even stranger adults to look up to. That's because kids live in absolute isolation from adults (with an exception of 2 caretakers) but even among grownups any kind of social interactions seem to be forgotten. Throughout the First Part a squad of teenage mecha pilots struggles with problems none of them, or anyone else in this world, can understand or dealed with before. All of these circumstances enable an interesting angle on growing up, we dont get to see so often. The story is well-paced and engaging. It takes it's time to set up certain events and builds an understandable world without needless exposition.
8/10.
After the 19th episode... well, I guess the creators said "ait, ditch the kids, wrap it all up, we need to leave the Solar System and save the humanity right now!! In 4 episodes, move it, move it!" because reasons? And then they added "BUT ALSO there's love, so please don't tell us the first 19 episodes were pointless, please." The pacing is faster than light and the world so carefully built in the First Part suffers from that greatly.
5/10
--ART
I don't really have much to say about the artstyle and visual desingn. It's simply great. Darling in the Franxx is extremely enjoyable to look at.
Very well earned 9/10.
--SOUND
Didn't notice anything outstanding about the sound. It's ok.
7/10
--CHARACTERS
You may love or hate certain characters of Darling, but they are written consistently and mostly in depth. Whether or not you find someone to be a good/bad/boring/interesting person is entirely up to you. It's a series that delivers you characters you might find unlikable (which some people confuse for bad character design) but still human or make you love and relate to your favourite. Some folks got more develop than the others, but that's a compromise a show had to make having 10 main characters. Most developed being Ichigo, 02, Mitsuru and Ikuno.
It's a 7/10 for me. Most of kids are sweethearts, but some of them could get more attention what would allow them to obtain more complex personalities.
--ENJOYMENT
Loved the First Part 10/10, the tea is what I'm all about!
Meh-ed the second part. So many things happening too fast, I couldn't care less. 7/10 because of nice visuals.
--OVERALL
I don't regret the time spent on this anime. Although the final 4 episodes made me lower my score from a solid 8 to 7. I belive they should have ended the season one at the point of episode 19, and carry on with the rest of the story in at least two other seasons.
7/10.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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