Beginning its publication in 2005 and ending in its long-running serialization in 2013, 8 years later, Maid-Sama is a classic in the romance and Shoujo section. Of course, do not be disheartened by the Shoujo tag as a male because this manga appeals to all rom-com lovers!
Spoilers will be marked
※ Story: 7/10 ※
Early on, Maid-Sama utilizes many generic tropes and situations in an almost episodic fashion. But while these tropes are typical, they are so in concept, but not in execution, with there always being a spin on things to change it up, mostly due to the characters and their interactions with others.
At
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a certain point, the story enters a more serious tone and loses its episodic feel. Quite often, this means that everything becomes very melodramatic and the comedy aspect of the story disappears or drops in quality. But this is not the case for Maid-sama, while there is a dip in the comedy, the story is void of cringe-worthy melodrama that would normally reduce the realism of the characters, the main issue is rather interesting and intertwines well with Maid-Sama’s underlying theme of identity.
Now I will admit that sometimes I was guilty of skim reading just to get to those scenes of romance between Usui and Misaki because some of the smaller stories were just plain boring. And when I did reached those scenes that revitalised my love for the manga, they were cut short and the next chapter would start in a completely new situation which would contribute to the feeling of boredom for that chapter.
What I love about Maid-Sama is its presentation of identity. It is the basis for many issues that come up within the manga, including the ‘main’ issue. Misaki must deal with maintaining her image as a strong figure while hiding the fact that she is a maid, which if revealed, would ultimately bring down her meticulously crafted image. This of course creates immense pressure on her, which the manga does explore. Even Usui must deal with it himself as he is constantly drawn into a life that he doesn’t want to lead. Some minor characters do also have similar conflicts though obviously not explored to the same level as the 2 main characters.
The manga goes further by presenting human intimacy as a way to accept one’s self and embrace one’s own weaknesses, ultimately allowing individuals to a sense of freedom in expressing themselves.
※ Characters: 7/10 ※
Misaki is a very interesting, inspiring and well done character. Its always nice to see a well written female character and Misaki definitely delivers. She always presents herself as being stern and hard working as she can’t present herself to others as anything short of that. It is with Usui that she can detach a bit and reveal her weaknesses that add a layer of not only realism, but most importantly relatability to her character. Through the course of the story, she develops into someone who lowers her facade thanks to her interactions with Usui.
It wouldn’t be possible to talk about Misaki without talking about Usui. The perfect male, seemingly the personification of the word perfection. Yes, he is a generic Shoujo male character, but that doesn’t mean he’s not special. There is just something about him, even though I’m telling myself that he is unrealistic and generic, I can’t help but love his character. The way he completely changes the mood as soon as he is in panel or the mysterious life he leads.
- Spoilers!! -
The relationship between Usui and Misaki is wholesome, very wholesome. Those brief moment of intimacy we see at the end of each chapter between them is always so special, yet too scarce. When Misaki always blushes as Usui makes some suave statement and leans in for a kiss. It gets me every time.
But I have some small issues with their relationship. The name-calling and awkwardness never leave, Misaki still blushes and gets weird as soon as Usui gets intimate. It made me feel as though they weren’t necessarily progressing together and didn’t really get close. I understand that for Misaki its all very foreign and unfathomable, but I mean how does she not get more comfortable. It makes it even worse when the relationship from a character development viewpoint is meant to make Misaki more comfortable with her true character. Furthermore, this is purely subjective, but I would have liked more time spent on Usui and Misaki just straight up chilling and doing romantic things together without anyone else with them.
The one-shots of them when they are married are so heartwarming and really wholesome to see, while also displaying a closure to a relationship that didn’t seem like it had come to fully mature.
- End of Spoilers! -
Another criticism is Usui. Now, this might be because of my lack of experience with Shoujo, however, his character lacks the weakness and vulnerability that Misaki has, stripping him of any realism. But I think this is just a Shoujo trope.
The side cast is nothing special, they are just there as devices for development for Usui and Misaki. As mentioned previously some characters deal with their identity, but it is not pursued much later on.
Some side characters, in the end, get some closure, but it almost seems as though it was done for the sake of providing some sort of end for said characters.
※ Art: 8.5/10 ※
Hiro Fujiwara is really talented with her art. It is definitely top tier for rom-com. The panning shots of large areas are really detailed and even the intimate scenes are adorned with nice flowery patterns that contribute to the romantic feel perfectly.
Sometimes the paneling was all over the place and speech bubbles were confusing, but it only took a slight backtrack to fully comprehend the page.
※ Enjoyment: 8/10 ※
Some of the chapters were really boring, especially when they succeed an intimate scene. But after once the overarching plot began to take the main focus, that wasn’t an issue anymore.
The characters are really likable and I just adored every scene that Usui and Misaki were together.
※ Overall: 8/10 ※
Maid-Sama may seem generic at a surface level, but it takes a keen eye to see that it is unique and a story that incorporates relatable themes with a solid story and loveable cast.
Definitely recommend this for romance lovers! An absolute classic!
Jan 17, 2022
Kaichou wa Maid-sama!
(Manga)
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Recommended
Beginning its publication in 2005 and ending in its long-running serialization in 2013, 8 years later, Maid-Sama is a classic in the romance and Shoujo section. Of course, do not be disheartened by the Shoujo tag as a male because this manga appeals to all rom-com lovers!
Spoilers will be marked ※ Story: 7/10 ※ Early on, Maid-Sama utilizes many generic tropes and situations in an almost episodic fashion. But while these tropes are typical, they are so in concept, but not in execution, with there always being a spin on things to change it up, mostly due to the characters and their interactions with others. At ...
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Sep 22, 2021
Star Wars: Visions
(Anime)
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Mixed Feelings
Being both a fan of Star Wars and anime, this collaboration seemed like a gift from the gods. How could I not be excited for this! Even with the score I have given it, it still lived up to my expectations.
※ Story: 5/10 ※ As an episodic series. there was a great variation in the tone for each episode. In some episodes, we viewed a light-hearted and dreamy scene unfold, while in others, we witnessed a more serious tone with more mature scenes. Each episode did well in differentiating itself from the others in its storytelling. It didn't feel repetitive despite most episodes revolving around ... 'The Force' and Jedis. The direction that the episodes took was also unexpected and not cliche. I found myself surprised with some of the decisions the story writers made. That being said, there was nothing incredible about the stories, nothing intelligent or awe-inspiring, especially with the time constraints for each episode. Quite a few didn't close off the story but rather instigated the idea of a follow-up. In terms of being 'Star Wars', I'm glad these aren't Canon. The series took a lot of creative liberty with Star Wars lore, with episodes breaching it on many occasions. That being said, there we iconic Star Wars vehicles, planets and figures that returned to remind you that this is in fact Star Wars. Of course, this would not be anime without some Japanese culture in it. The Star Wars technologies and Japanese culture were interwoven well whether through the settings, characters or tools. It was very cool to see such a combination come to life. ※ Characters: 6/10 ※ For characters, there were a few well-written ones such as Dan and Tajin who had great chemistry and F. Other than that, no character really stood out as special nor memorable, just average, with a simple motive and a simple personality. Character designs were done well, especially in the 1st and 7th episodes. I would have liked more Aliens in the main casts, but I'm still contempt with what we got as no main character was appalling, except the furry one. ※ Production: 7.5/10 ※ The animation and sound are definitely where the anime shines. The iconic lightsaber sound coupled with great animation made for interesting fights. The Choreography in this was, I would argue, better than in some Canon Star Wars media, I was impressed with it. Wide shots in some of the episodes incorporated heavy CG for the scale which was a bit offputting, but completely understandable. The music definitely had that Star Wars vibe meshed in with some traditional Japanese music, contributing well to their respective scenes. ※ Enjoyment: 5/10 ※ The score for this category is a bit misleading as some of the episodes were superb (my personal favourites were episodes 1, 4 and 7) while others paled in comparison, primarily because of the boring setting and plot. Lightsaber fights just never get old and the anime maintained that while adding its own originality. For anyone who is a Star Wars and anime fan, I highly recommend Star Wars: Visions!
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
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Sep 17, 2021
Ginga Eiyuu Densetsu
(Anime)
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{Please note that this is my first review}
The 1988 adaptation of Yoshiki Tanaka’s series of Novels ‘Legend of the Galactic Heroes’ (known as ‘Ginga Eiyuu Densetsu’ in Japanese) is an anime I doubt will ever be surpassed by any other show I’ll ever watch. To call this a ‘smart’ show would be an understatement, as the scale and depth that it goes to is so mesmerizing that you get immersed into this rich galaxy of conflict, morals, politics, and alliances. ※ Story: 10/10 ※ The story takes place in the distant future in a galaxy separated into two sections, one side governed by the Democratic Free ... Planets Alliance, the other by the Autocratic Galactic Empire. Both sides have been in a prolonged war for 150 years in which no one side has made a significant advancement into the other’s territory. Though, the period of 6 years that we witness ends this stalemate and pushes the galaxy into motion. Spanning 110 episodes, there may be the perception that the pacing is slow, but I would argue that this is not the case. Of course, like in any anime, there are some intentional slower moments, but there is always something developing and occurring within each episode, always there to entice you to continue watching. I found myself being dragged into watching another few episodes for the cliffhangers alone. In one episode, characters might be simply talking with their comrades about politics or personal life, and suddenly, an event has occurred, spurring characters into action. Politics and ideologies play a significant role in LOGH. Unlike many modern media, in particular Western media, LOGH retains impartiality towards Democracy and Autocracy, neither deeming one better or worse than the other. Rather, it explores the weaknesses and strengths of both systems both in words (conversations) and actions (e.g., The Galactic Empire is swifter in its decisions compared to the Free Plant Alliance). Both systems suffer from corruption, which the series depicts as having devastating impacts on individual freedom and rights, governance, and inciting oppression. Rather than come to a decisive conclusion, it is up to the viewer to determine which system is favourable. While politics and ideologies are explored magnificently, religion is not fully evaluated. Religion is represented through the 3rd significant faction in the story, that of ‘Terraism’ (perhaps a play on words of “Terrorism”) who worship ‘Terra’, the origin of humanity. ‘Terraists’ carry out many acts of terrorism on both galactic players with their overall aim to weaken both systems in order for religion to prevail. That is their only motivation presented, other than that, ‘Terraism’ is used merely used as a way to advance the plot and cause conflict within the galaxy. It was a bit cheap and was an easy way to create some devastating incidents. It would have been preferable to provide positives to religion and delve deeper into the origins and motivations of ‘Terraism’. But unfortunately, all we saw were crazed followers throwing away their lives for a cause that viewers don’t even fully understand. LOGH also heavily details history. It is both a motivation for characters and a warning. Individuals such as Reuenthal, Oberstein, Yang Wenli… are all too aware of history and that they are merely tools in the grand scheme of its ever-flowing tide, they can attempt to etch their name into it, but they are ultimately subjects to it. We even witness extreme cases of people trying desperately to have their name be part of history in order to immortalize themselves. There is also the idea of ‘history repeating itself’ that is brought up many times as a way to question current political structures and their idealistic stability. As history has shown, democracies can turn into autocracies, so why would it not happen in the present day? LOGH does also provide in-universe history lessons about both sides and how they came to be, though that is more for world-building rather than for plot. As such, the worldbuilding of LOGH is some of the best I have ever seen. Within a few episodes, we are already immersed into its galaxy full of planets, technology, and politics. The galaxy is naturally split into 2 sections, with their only being a connection through the Iserlohn corridor, named after the fortress, that resides there, and the Phezzan corridor, controlled by the financial hub planet of the same name. While this layout is used to the best of its potential, it is a bit simplistic and convenient. Within this galaxy are countless planets of all different climates, sizes, and political influence. Planets such as Phezzan, Odin and Heinessen are the significant ones, and there are other less significant one such as Westerland, El Facil, Terra (earth) and many more that all play a part in the story. Other physical characteristics of the galaxy are Star Zones and meteor fields. A downside of the world-building is the technology aspect, while for the most part, it is fine on the Free Planet Alliance side, it is the Imperial side that is of confusion, with the early 15th-century style being paired with advanced technologies. The use of battle-axes is also bizarre considering the advancement in technology, but not unwelcomed as it makes for great action. My personal favourite part of the show is its coverage of the intricate parts of war. While it presents magnificently made battles at grand scales, it does not shy away from presenting the devastating effects of war on an economy and on individuals. We see discussions about struggling funds for the war effort, people mourning the death of their beloved and also the individual soldiers perishing in gruesome manners. One cannot help but think of all the individuals who die when one of many cruisers are blown up. In a sense, while the show focuses heavily on war, it sends an anti-war message to the viewers. Though powerful people are glorifying it and encouraging people to enlist, they themselves do not engage in it. This can best be summarized with this quote “I despise those who hide in safety while they glorify war and patriotism and send other people to the battlefield while they relax behind the lines.” (Yang Wenli). To summarise, LOGH takes place on a grand scale but zooms in on even the most insignificant person in a galaxy of billions to highlight their struggles or successes. Even though it lists out huge numbers of ships and troops at the beginning of each battle to give a sense of scale, we still think of each number as an individual person thanks to Yoshiki Tanaka’s masterful skills. ※ Characters: 9.5/10 ※ The 2 main characters of the show could not be more different. Reinhard Von Lohengram is seemingly the personification of the word perfection, which ironically, he believes to be a concept that is “fairly nonexistent”. It is this image that he perpetuates onto the populace that garners his popularity and subsequently aids his ascent to the top of the Imperial military, alongside his growing number of military achievements. What makes him unconventional for his time and thus a gear that moves the cogs, are his sense of justice and determination. The current powerbase is that of the Goldenbaum dynasty, one that is very conservative and a parallel to 19th century Prussia with there being clear class divide woven into the fabric of society. This societal structure spills over even to the military. Reinhard detests the current dynasty and their ways, having been born to an impoverished aristocratic family and witnessing his sister be sold to the then Kaiser. He believes in the abolishment of the Nobles and is unfavourable of inheritance of power, the centre pieces of the Goldenbaum dynasty. As a military figure, Reinhard is a very authoritative figure who wants people to fall in line and allows few individuals to criticize or object to his ideas. Nonetheless, he is fair to his subordinates and does not brutally punish them. Despite displaying many contradictions to the Goldenbaum dynasty, Reinhard does believe in Autocracy, though the way in which he wields the power earnt is morally just and “for the people” compared to that of the previous Kaisers. Although Reinhard is an accomplished military and political figure, it takes up most of his life leading to a lack of interest in romance and impeding on leading aspects of a ‘normal’ life. On the other side of the galaxy, the opposing genius, is Yang Wenli. Someone who entered the military with little passion due to his poor financial position impeding on his ambition to study history and who’s demeanour does not fall in line with that of the military, with him preferring to stay home rather than attend official ceremonies. However, he is a man of pure talent who’s many military achievements earnt him the title of “Miracle Yang”, the hero of the Alliance. This title of being a hero of the Alliance fits him well considering he is a relentless advocate for democracy that does not waver in the face of adversity, he is a genuine example of a leader of democracy. Yang is also a strong believer of the goodness of humanity and that we should allow for people to be free without strict government or military intervention. His strong beliefs however are not backed by any great ambition to enact change within government. Even though he is entitled as the hero of the Free Plant Alliance, he is still persecuted by the government who fear that Yang might seize power, displaying the distrust between both and how the government is so concentrated on retaining power that they even prioritise that over retaliating against the Imperials. Complementing the 2 main characters is a rich cast of characters. Each character within the show serving a purpose for the plot, be it small or large. Characters are seamlessly entering and leaving the stage, contributing something to the plot and advancing the story, rarely overstaying their welcome and returning at appropriate times. The side cast of characters play a key role in advancing the plot as they provide challenges or opportunities for the main cast, putting them in various situations for the viewers to witness. Each character is designed uniquely enough so that they can be recognised easily as the many names can be a bit overwhelming (especially on the imperial side with all their von…). While Reinhard’s admirals and Yang’s group shine on the battlefield, displaying well executed tactics and strategies, it is off battlefield where we get to see them talk among themselves and witness authentic conversations and interactions that add a layer of depth and humanity to them. Rarely did I see a conversation and think that it was un-authentic or awkward. Though it is down to personal preference, the Galactic Empire’s side has more fleshed and interesting characters compared to the Free Planet Alliance. The Alliance has more laid-back characters that form a good community. When the episode focuses on them, we know we will be treated to some good comedy and a more relaxed environment, that is not to say that they are clear of in-fighting. There really aren’t any character that are unlikeable, they all have their own appeal whether that be the charismatic Olivier Poplan, the ladies’ man Walter von Schönkopf (a character that at times is presented as too macho), the prodigy Julian Minci, the trustworthy Frederica Greenhill. In the Galactic Empire, the Admirals are those who stand out the most. Reinhard’s carefully picked group of subordinates include Siegfried Kircheis, Wolfgang Mittermeyer, Oskar von Reuenthal, Paul von Oberstein, Fritz Joseph Bittenfeld, August Samuel Wahlen and a few other notable admirals. Each of them have very distinct personalities, but are not characterised by a single personality trope. Kircheis is Reinhard’s childhood friend who has great influence over his decisions, acting as a moral advisor for the sometimes-sporadic Reinhard. Mittermeyer is a tactical genius who is kind and moral, always there to bring others on to the right track. Oskar von Reuenthal is levelheaded and calculated, but struggles to understand his place in the world, having had a rough childhood. Furthermore, he is also very prideful and has great ambitions. Paul von Oberstein is cold, manipulative and calculated, using any means necessary to achieve success even if it contrasts with Reinhard’s values. He prefers to work in the shadows while not openly voicing his opinion to others, out of lack of self-belief. ※ Action: 9/10 ※ While LOGH shines in its characters and story, it also has great action. Not so much action in the sense of amazing animation or hype fights, but rather space battles that keep you on the edge of your seat due to the way in which the show has been conveyed to the viewer. Characters are always susceptible to death, so the feeling of plot armour is reduced and adds the tension of the battle. This is accentuated by the grand scales of the battles in which thousands of ships and soldier are lost. Furthermore, because there is no overtly good side, the outcome of battles can go either way, adding to the tension. The best part of the battles though are the strategies implemented which are presented on simplified virtual representation of the battlefield to provide simple yet effective coverage of strategies and outcomes for the viewers sake. It was always satisfying to see a swift counterattack, a crossfire trap or a pincer-attack be implemented in battles, while we witness the very commands being ordered to pull off the strategy. Adding to the unpredictability and uniqueness of these large-scale space battles were the varying environments. One battle, there may be solar winds preventing an encirclement to happen, in another, one side may be using asteroids as cover or to launch a surprise and in another battle, eruptions from stars may wipe out an entire segment of a fleet. One downside I found with battles (though something that is very common in war-themed media), is the over genius of the main cast of military men compared to lesser-known military personnel. An insignificant navy officer has a run in with a fleet from a main-character and they just don’t do anything other than be tactically and strategically inept, rendering the battle almost useless (depending on the context of it). It makes you question how they even got to their position in the first place. Something else I found annoying was the imbalance in military genius between the Free Planet Alliance and the Galactic Empire. Too often were the Imperials outshined by the Alliance, reducing faith in the admirals that are too easily outsmarted by something they could have seen. It felt as though most of the Imperials were incompetent compared to the Alliance. This even translates over to the ground battles and the dogfights. Because the Imperials didn’t have a significant character in either of those battle types whereas the Alliance did, the outcome felt predictable some of the time as we watched the Rosen Ritter tear through Imperial axe-fighters standing there stupidly or Poplan shoot down countless Valkyries with ease. ※ Production: 6/10 ※ The weakest and most deterring part of LOGH is the production, namely the animation. Even for its time, the production was low quality. The movements of characters were very basic with no jaw-dropping sequences of animation being seen during the entirety of the show. I must point out that as the series progressed in its 9-year running, the animation quality improved and near the end, it was completely bearable. Something else that changed during the running of the show was the length of episodes which at first were the usual 22–24 minute length, but later changed (after episode 50) to run for 27-30 minutes per episode which was nice. The sound is also an issue. Voice acting was odd sounding at times, especially when the characters would get loud which the recording microphones seemed to not handle well. That is not to say the voice actor were bad, in fact they all did an amazing job in voicing their characters in extremely original voices adding personality and conveying emotions wonderfully. It may have been more of an issue with the technology used. The show is also guilty of reusing many sounds and using some un-original ones too. There was one scene in which a group of male Admirals were chanting, but the audio used was that of a crowd of male and females. The soundtracks used included pieces from classical composers of the likes of Beethoven, Chopin and some others that I did not recognise. I found myself sitting through quite a few of the openings despite them being classical music. The dramatic music used in scenes also blended well with that classic feel of the show. ※ Enjoyment: 10/10 ※ While at first, I watched 1 episode every week or so, after about episode 22, I began watching much more regularly. Once I hit episode 60, I watched about 5-8 episodes a day. This just goes to show how well the show progresses and grips you. Mind you I am not one to watch anime very often. Every episode is jam packed with events and character interactions that that will never leave you bored, but rather have you wanting more. The politics and ideologies that were explored were super interesting to me, as were the characters that preached them. My personal favourite characters being; Mittermeyer, Reinhard, Yang and Oberstein. This is a much watch anime that I will forever praise for being so masterfully put together.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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