A chill epic. "Epic" because it fits the traditional definition even better than most grand fantasy stories, covering events spanning a very long period of time. "Chill" because—despite world-ending threats existing and sometimes showing their face—the show's true concern is the inner life of protagonist Frieren and her relationships past and present. Frieren is never in a rush, and the show follows suit. Demon armies are at the gates, but the mood remains contemplative and meloncholy.
The plot isn't any different from any other fantasy RPG-derivative story. What makes Frieren interesting is its unique pacing and perspective. There's an impressive attention to character detail that, over
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Jan 13, 2025
Meitantei Conan
(Anime)
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Detective Conan is a highly formulaic murder mystery procedural series for children. The predictability of the formula is, I think, the primary appeal of the show—especially for older viewers. In this specific way it's comparable to long-running American police procedurals like Law & Order or NCIS: all of these shows have their flaws that seem damning from an impartial critical perspective, but they're successful by virtue of the comfortable grooves they've carved out through narrative repetition.
A big difference is that Conan is for children, and the premise of the show makes that clear: famous teen detective Shinichi has been transformed through mysterious means by mysterious ... |
