Jan 10, 2025
While not for the faint of heart, this anime has my full endorsement. From cool characters, unique premise, and intense plot to awesome soundtrack, heartbreaking drama and hype battles, Ishura has it all. Epic is the best word I can use to describe the sheer scope of Ishura. Of course, this means it will take very long to resolve all of its components, and season one is just a taste.
Many people drop the show out of boredom, because the first 5 episodes bounce perspective between a bunch of new characters and establishing the world, while delaying the plot. (Then those people go back to
...
watching episode 2,723 of One Piece.) Not to mention, there is no "main character" for the average viewer to get attached to. But after episode 5, the characters we've met begin to interact, the tension escalates perfectly, and the plot begins to grow and then gets resolved, demonstrating that patience is rewarded.
If you are the type of person to shy away from "edgy" character writing (I use this word with a mountain of salt) then this show is not for you. If you are disturbed by gore or depressing themes, this show is not for you. If you do not have the patience to wait a few seasons for all the pieces to be setup before the huge payoff, this show is not for you. Also I should note that due to low production value, the art and animation isn't the best, and the CG is bad, although rarely noticeable. But if you are okay with all of that, and you appreciate high fantasy stories like Game of Thrones, then buckle up.
The plot has many layers, some revealed immediately and others only at the end of the season. Each character has motivations and emotions of their own, adding complexity to even the simplest of their interactions. Political figures scheme behind the scenes to get powerful warriors to do their bidding, elevating tensions. Everything has been set up in a way to allow the plot to explode in an exciting mess of violence.
Being a light novel adaptation, Ishura has lots of cool details everywhere. For example, instead of last names, every character has a unique title like "the white blade" or whatever. The show does its best to break down the lore and give it to you in digestible pieces. There is also an incredible amount of foreshadowing to potential future arcs and strong characters in far reaches of the world.
Perhaps my favorite aspect of the story so far is the crazy abilities that some characters have, and how they interact with each other in battle. After episode 5, this starts happening very frequently and makes the fight scenes a blast to watch. Each character that gets introduced can only serve to further complicate the ridiculous combinations of abilities that can occur, so I expect later seasons to be very chaotic.
All in all, season one of Ishura is a small teaser of what can one day be a masterpiece, if the low production value is overlooked. If you want a grand story and world to capture you, and have the patience to wait for future seasons, then I highly recommend Ishura. (Please excuse me, I need to go read the light novel.) Fantastic first season, 9/10.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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