Basically a period drama in space.
But seriously, a great show with some of the best character writing the medium has to offer. It differs from most other anime for presenting a story that unfolds a futuristic history through characters at both ends of a galactic conflict who, for better or worse, find themselves caught up in events they ultimately play a hand in shaping. While this novelty is often highlighted, it must be stressed that the execution is why it is so well-regarded.
While firmly a space opera, the perspective that the societies in the show, despite their technological advancements, exhibit numerous anachronisms of our present
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and past (FLOPPY DISCS!!!) that nod to how immature they still are offers for parallels to be drawn to today’s society, much as in the tradition of sci-fi. The imperial side in particular tends towards behaviors rooted in a medieval sense of pride and honor as a substitute for ethics, which is consistent with the overall cultural image. These character flaws serve to move the story in interesting directions. In contrast, the republican side is more industrialized and bureaucratic yet more carefree at times, with corrupt individuals tending towards cowardice than any notion of nobility. A third party, the Church of Terra, also plays a role at times, but all I will say about them here is that “Terraist” is an inspired pun. In many ways, each side portrays an extreme end of some characteristic, which not only enhances the worldbuilding but provides impetus for the plot.
As an introspection of political thought, I do not think it presented itself earnestly, chiefly due to that autocracy was even deemed worthy of consideration despite its inherent instability and complete lack of accountability to the people whom it is supposed to serve—though it certainly is good for providing a source of conflict in stories. Not to mention that it never addressed the other facets of hierarchies which are ultimately at fault for society’s corruption and inefficiencies, such as within economic structures. For this type of work, political commentary on this level would be shallow and short-sighted, which is why I do not think it is worth looking at too deeply. Ultimately, the politics are a plot point, not the point of the plot.
On a related note, there is a clear emphasis on Yang Wen-li and Reinhard as geniuses of the age, and while the show acknowledges the weaknesses of societies that rely on individuals rather than ideals, some viewers may come away with the mistaken impression that society must lean on great individuals in subservience to achieve greatness. Of course, anyone who has paid any attention to history knows that this can only lead to tyranny, not to mention the misplaced contempt for the masses such a mindset implicitly holds. Certainly, the skills of geniuses should be acknowledged; lauded, even. However, the existence of geniuses is a probabilistic factor which society itself determines. These two were not destined for greatness; it was the conditions they were born into, raised from, and got tangled up in by happenstance which contributed to who they became and what they achieved. Furthermore, the skillset of geniuses is almost definitionally narrow: spending 10,000 hours on a single skill naturally leads to greater proficiency than for ten skills with 1000 hours of practice. For every skill honed there must be a skill neglected, and incorporating such flaws make Wen-li and Reinhard the great characters that they are.
The purpose of society is for people to come together and cover for each other's weaknesses, and this cooperation is what enables the existence of geniuses; without followers, all leaders would fade into obscurity having achieved nothing. Another thing is that society all too often praises geniuses yet inhibits the means by which geniuses are fostered, whether it be by fitting people into molds or refusing support structures that could mean the difference between success and failure. We must lionize unity in action while upholding diversity in character above any individual exploits lest we regress to burdening the individual with Sisyphean strife and conformity to dogma. I realize this is fairly abstract, but my point is that we must not swear allegiance to any individual because no one is infallible and they will eventually die; we must instead be stalwart defenders of utilitarian principles which transcend individuals, nations, and time, and shape society to bring out the best in people, so that there is as little room as possible for straying from the path which brings a better tomorrow for everyone. Reality is never so simple as to be accommodating to ideals, but that struggle for something better is what defines life, and to look down upon utopian visions is to admit tacit defeat and forsake everything for selfish contentment. In the show’s final scene it comments how natural it is for humanity to grasp for things outside our reach.
Taking a step back, while there is much to love, the show also has a few hang-ups that stood out to me. It has a bad habit, as Japanese media is wont to do, to give exposition in a very straightforward and unimaginative manner (a pet peeve of mine), and given the amount of info required for a story of this scale I am understanding to an extent, but at times the writing was just plain bad. For example, dialogue would often over-explain things in ways that were meant to convey info to the viewer rather than as a natural conversation which serves the characters in some way. It gets better after the opening episodes but every now and then some especially bad examples pop up, such as the prison guard in a scene late in the series who monologues for a full minute about how he’s a sadistic bastard and yadda yadda yadda get on with it already everyone knows exactly how this scene will play out. But in spite of how the story is conveyed at times, it’s still captivating. I think some areas could have been expanded upon, but given how long it is already it does not feel necessary, especially considering that they are footnotes to the larger history. There are other small details I could comment on, such as no-name characters acting like they have completely lost their minds for no reason at certain points, but they are ultimately trivial and I do not want to give the impression that my opinion of the show is more negative than it actually is.
Whether or not you will enjoy LotGH comes down to three main things: character investment, political intrigue, and style. The first needs no explanation and there is certainly no shortage of characters to become interested in. The second relies upon the relationships between characters that build over time and how their motives align and clash as situations change; this pays off over time and is where most of my own enjoyment came from. Lastly, the show presents everything in a formal manner as though adhering to a sense of proper decorum: the dialogue is largely stiff and ceremonious (the Japanese uses a lot of keigo), the imperials exude the stereotypes of old European aristocrats, and the battles are conducted with classical music in the background and, occasionally, via battle axe (this 1800s European aesthetic is the basis for my joke about this being a period drama in space). Naturally, I am highlighting only a portion of what it has to offer and there is no shortage of moments of levity, but this is a large part of the show’s tone; so if you don’t like the vibes of the first few episodes then this show probably isn’t for you.
Overall, I give LotGH a 9/10. With the way I rate, there is little difference in quality between a 9 and 10. The difference has more to do with personal impact and enjoyment, and while I give full marks to this show, it is not something I could watch endlessly and I am perfectly satisfied with just a single viewing of the main series. I would also add that the ending is handled in the most satisfying way I can imagine.
That’s about all I have to say. This is not so much a review as it is a rambling recommendation to let people know what to expect. I make no claims that this overview is comprehensive and without error, just that this is what I got out of the experience. I hope it helps.
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May 30, 2022
Ginga Eiyuu Densetsu
(Anime)
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Basically a period drama in space.
But seriously, a great show with some of the best character writing the medium has to offer. It differs from most other anime for presenting a story that unfolds a futuristic history through characters at both ends of a galactic conflict who, for better or worse, find themselves caught up in events they ultimately play a hand in shaping. While this novelty is often highlighted, it must be stressed that the execution is why it is so well-regarded. While firmly a space opera, the perspective that the societies in the show, despite their technological advancements, exhibit numerous anachronisms of our present ... |
