Apr 23, 2024
I paused at least 3 times in the first few episodes and said "I don't like that this happened just to further the plot". If you think too hard, the show falls apart but if you just put it in the background and tune in for the action scenes it was quite stunning. The music also fully in English is something I'm going to listen to far after the show is finished. This is an afternoon action slop show.
The worst part of the show is the fights have no arc and we NEVER hear what's inside the main character's head or their reaction through their
...
super suit. He wins because he's cooler, and has cool techniques. He doesn't get stronger through the fights, he doesn't learn anything through the fight scenes. It's just a pretty distraction away from the mediocre mystery plot.
Most of the show is built around the action scenes, foreshadowing and giving minimal context on who's next. It's a very Mario-like story where you gotta fight all the different Bowser Jrs, and they're all a bit quirky but nothing beyond that. It's actually kinda unique that we don't hear any person's thoughts at all across the entire series. We can only see their expressions and flashbacks, we actually know less than the characters do.
The best part of the show outside the eye candy is the unraveling of who the characters are. We slowly learn their motivations and we are surprised at the same time the characters are surprised when an insider is revealed or a betrayal happens. I feel like if I watched the show in reverse it would've been a little.. Better? Things make a bit more sense as we learn more, but the production didn't have the patience that other shows have. We slowly learn about the CEO, the Secret Society, and other side characters. But we spend too much time setting up the big action scenes that they don't get any breathing room.
Overall, the writing is mediocre at best, there are no clear good or bad guys. If you took this premise and let it cook for another year with more episodes it could've turned a lot closer to a noir ninja flick where nobody is in the right. They all have an obvious good belief and bad execution/interpretation of that belief (other than the first 2 "villains"). I won't spoil anything, but pay attention to everyone's primary goals and then see how they execute those goals.
I think the ultimate message of the show unironically is when you have differences, fight it out and the winner gets to decide who's right. I suppose "family makes us stronger" and the power of friendship but those are not expressed in the most pivotal moments of the show... They're backdrops to the former message. It's def a brainless action movie kind of show, but I believe you'd have a better time with other shonen such as early RWBY, Jujutsu Kaisen, or Demon Slayer.
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
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