Change Your Image
ajyoung-54517
Reviews
BEM (2019)
Strong start, unimpressive follow-through
The show starts off with a few strong episodes, but eventually has a "been-there-done-that" feeling to it. Inhuman monsters masquerade as humans while fighting off threats to their city, and in their daily lives, contemplate and explore their relationships to the mortals they live among and protect. Some are eager to live among humans, while others feel more conflicted. I personally found this premise interesting, and it hooked me early on.
Unfortunately, as the show continues, it loses a lot of its character, and feels a lot more banal as the focus moves away from the main trio's attempts to lead normal lives. Instead, the central conflict turns out to be about a shadowy cabal controlling the city. In principle, this shift could've been fine, but in my opinion, it doesn't do enough to distinguish itself from the 5079 other animes about a corrupt city run by Bad Guys, Inc. And the importance of coming together.
If you'd asked me to rate this show after about the first 5 episodes or so, it'd probably have been a 7 or 8. As is, I'm disappointed that it gradually declines over its run.
Deadman Wonderland (2011)
Promising start, atrocious follow-through
We now have Hostel: the Shonen. The opening had me hooked, but it quickly became apparent that this was a show built on shock value and nothing else. Whatever promise it may've shown at first gets put to the side so we can see what would happen if an insecure teenage boy wanted to make an R-rated anime. I can truly say that the show failed to make good on every single thing I found interesting about it.
On another note, this is truly one of the most disgustingly misogynistic things I've seen in quite a while. Female characters seem to exist only to either be r*ped or threatened with it so the writers can add shock value. Simply awful.
Satsuriku no Tenshi (2018)
Definitely not good, but maybe enjoyable
About the first 2/3 of the show feel like you're watching a weird dream, which I mean in a good way. The last 1/3 feels like a middle-schooler trying to sound deep. It's not as gross or violent as some reviews suggest. Overall, I'd compare it to an above-average video game movie from the mid-'00s. Take this info as you will.