Reviews

There's not much that needs to be said here about the general picture of this anime. Like what many other people have said, you can just safely view it as a mindless, fun, somewhat visceral entertainment despite the countless of plot-holes and logical inconsistencies. I share with the same consensus likewise. Therefore, for this show, it's a requirement for you to suspend your disbelief most of the whole anime through. There is a particular Battle-Royale vibe to it especially when you consider its "game of survival" concept within the story. But half the show is balanced out with romance scenes between Yuno and Yukiteru in which depending on how effective you find the character Yuno is portrayed as well as your perceived tone and atmosphere of the show, the relationship and scenes between them as either greatly annoying or slightly disturbing. I already mentioned what the show is like in its most basic detail so there's no need for me to elaborate deeper as others have done it to death on MAL. Instead, let me attempt on my analysis of the show's themes and messages despite its intentions being not always clear in amidst of all the self-indulgent action train-wreck scenes . In fact, you would think from my opening lines in my review, that I'm looking at the show too hard thus contradicting my overall statements! But nevertheless...

The supernatural concepts communicates to the viewers of the lack of a beneficial, meaningful outcome for those people looking for a “convenient” or “easy” escape. Rather it paves the way for people in being encouraged to face their own challenges; their inner demons of the past in fair terms. For this very reason, the human elements clashing with the supernatural concepts, despite initially seem to be ideal, don’t bring to the closure that the characters deservedly need. It’s all about their own personal self-redemption as a matter of fact to achieve a stable state of mind. As a result, the show emphasizes what reality is all about; there will inevitably be a fair share of hardships along the way. Each character within the show are flawed in their own ways and on a similar subject to their difficult lives, the show examines how they react to it; whether to accept or/and move on from it. Some deal with it in many different ways; whether to just leave it as it is and be passive or even to the extreme end such as violence and terror. One can argue from their perspective especially in extreme circumstances, that their justifications to dealing with life matters are just and sympathized upon regardless if it’s morally “right” or “wrong”. Consequently, the show warns about the dangers of psychological trauma that take burden on human’s lives. This is particularly the case (in the show especially) when they lose their childhood innocence and thus ultimately shapes who they are.