Argento Soma

The anime was fantastic, yes the main character may might have been a bit villainous, but he shows his true self in the end. The anime is very mysterious, and it does have its fun moments, but it is a serious type of anime. I personally thought this was a masterpiece, and beats all the junk. Yes it was a bit repetitive in the middle, but it was all in the plot.

Overall 10/10 and it is a must watch, if you think the main character is too "emo" like the other review, then DON'T EVEN bother watching this.

When a show is described as a "hidden gem" it immediately calls into mind something that you've stumbled upon by happenstance with no prior expectations. These are the titles that come in and out of focus partially thanks to the presence of much more all-encompassing works made around the same time period. It's a common occurrence that spans across every medium but perhaps most notable in anime, where only a handful of shows per year are thrust into the limelight, while the rest are left to gather up dust and become yet another mortared in brick to support the weight of the juggernauts resting on ... top of it. These "hidden" titles were at the wrong place at the wrong time. Like in the case of 2015's superhero show Concrete Revolutio, which unfortunately had to compete for views in the same season that aired the much more popular One Punch Man. Or even self-indulgent titles like Sword Art Online, which ultimately received a far bigger viewer base than 2012's Accel World, an anime made by the same author, Reki Kawahara. Had these shows aired at a different time, the chances of it receiving better coverage could have been amplified, for better or for worse.

And when it came to being at the wrong place at the wrong time, Argento Soma could not have picked a more unfortunate release date; being produced during a period where any title with the slightest use of biomechanics and distressed young pilots were quickly dismissed as "Evangelion clones." This decade-long dark period also saw with it the likes of RahXephon, Brain Powerd, Fafner of the Blue Sky, Gasaraki, Brigadoon, Betterman and much more receiving that label for either legitimate reasons, or simply for the sake of grouping anything remotely similar under the same umbrella. Argento Soma was no different, becoming another statistic forced to carry the burden of that appointed buzzphrase. The reason for the label was pretty self-evident too, given the ominous aura that was ever-present throughout the mecha show's production; the pervasive nature of that 90s to early 2000s aesthetic that dominated all genres at the time, where anime entries were drenched in a pensive temperament, often dissecting itself and the broader storytelling landscape as a whole. This all served towards Argento's quick dismissal, almost being instantly forgotten upon arrival. But that's where the thin line of surface-level evaluations ended, as the show never stayed under Evangelion's thumb. Unlike the fate befalling some of its brethren like RahXephon, whom to this day still can't shake that "Eva-clone" label, Argento quickly grew into its own identity, taking a stance against its patriarch and choosing to draw from influences outside the medium altogether. Its statement may have been lost in the clutter, but for those that heard it—and more importantly—understood the bold proclamation; what they came to encounter was nothing short of an interesting artifact. To quote the words of the infamous ThatAnimeSnob: "Argento Soma, is to me, a deconstruction of Neon Genesis" and honestly, that's as befitting of a description as any. Instead of following the trendsetter at that time, Argento chose to challenge it in a way not seen before or since. Argento Soma is a "hidden gem" in every sense of the term.

Starting off in a semi-episodic structure, we're introduced to our protagonist and residential edge-lord, Takuto Kaneshiro, who, like many others, found himself involved in a lifestyle where the military's far-reaching hand became a part of everyday life, thanks to an ever-present threat of alien invaders. After a series of unfortunate events, Kaneshiro took on an officer role in a paramilitary group called Funeral; a subsidiary of the army made for the sole purpose of combating the increasing wave of alien invasions. And as the fight against these extraterrestrials rages on, new information is slowly unveiled that changes not only the course of the battle but also humanity's stance on the perceived threat as a whole.

The biggest forewarning that should be brought to your attention before viewing this is the choice of pacing. Argento Soma operates with a sense methodical arrangement, where everything is laser-focused to serve its characters and narrative, as it slowly builds towards its penultimate third act, where all its careful planning exfoliates into a much grander concept. A slow-burn that never concerns itself with side-show theatrics to maintain short-term attention spans, and as such, may require a bit of patience on the part of the viewer. It's the defining feature that separates sci-fi from hard sci-fi, Stars Wars from 2001: A Space Odyssey. Where the minutia of individual character involvement and the events of all things big and small are all held accountable; introduced with the promise of a return in investment. If pathos drove Evangelion, then Argento functions on precision.

The benefits of this slower-paced first act can be seen with the metamorphosis of our protagonist, as well as the side characters that make up his surrounding environment. As already stated in the synopsis, Kaneshiro is motivated by vengeance, which gives way to a lead that's enveloped in a lot of mental grief and suffering due to his circumstances. He's possessed by this idea of "getting even" with the aliens that robbed him of normalcy and happiness, and it's seeing this very mindset mold him that brings a great deal of intrigue towards his growth throughout the series. As if donning a mask to hide his true feelings, we come to know Kaneshiro for a majority of the show by the alias Ryu Soma. An alias he chooses to adopt when becoming a member of the Funeral organization. But beyond the need to shield his identity, what's truly being put on guard is the person himself. Kaneshiro is in a state of denial about his shortcomings. Something we're made privy to as the veneer behind his actions slowly washes away, and he's forced to confront the true source of his grief.

The first half of the show entertains a "monster of the week" formula but never places it center-stage to its true intentions: the character involvement and the grander concept that awaits them later down the line. In fact, it could be argued that the first half of the series is merely there to flesh out the world, give weight to the increasing alien threat, and more importantly, to add dimension to our cast of characters. In order to achieve this, the show develops its cast byways of a collective character study; a situation where the actions of one could indirectly paint a picture of another. Developments that come as a result of close-quarters interaction. And as all of this is being done, a slow paradigm shift from a character-driven story to narrative-based one is slowly being orchestrated in the background, as the show works its way towards the final thematic proclamation. One that makes broad implications yet remains intimate at its core.

And while screen-time is evenly distributed to most side characters to help achieve this third act revelation, the primary focus is always awarded to Kaneshiro. Seeing his slow metamorphosis and growth as a character was quite fascinating. His brash and somewhat pigheaded persona never felt like artificial drama but was branched out from a place of genuine angst. There was a poignancy there, something that similar works fail to grasp. He's driven by a need for redemption and lashes out, not because he's justified in his actions, but because the moment he seeks for the answer through introspection, the truth revealed is far crueler than the scapegoat he designates for his revenge. He's drowning in self-pity, searching for any means of resurfacing. And seeing his struggle, contemplation, and eventual catharsis through acceptance was something well worth the price of admission.

For those that have seen and appreciated Argento Soma, it's hard to fault the show's usage of deliberately slower pacing, as it's that very attribute that made its methodical reveals effective. But perhaps it's because of that that the show is practically unknown to a vast majority today. This isn't to suggest that the show had filler, but rather, it lets the narrative operate organically for far too long at times, even when it was done under careful observation. Ironically, the very free-flowing narrative that helped gave the events of the story a naturalistic expression is the same thing that contributed towards alienating its viewership. It was simply too long-winded for those that couldn't get behind this perceived "slower" pacing. This, as a result, has caused the few that have heard of it to either dismiss it altogether or shy away after getting wind of the unwarranted "Eva clone" mantra; a buzzphrase that offered a quick surface-level way to escape further elaboration.
This anime suffers not because of the actual content but because of the audience that surrounded it. As condescending as this statement may sound, this anime is intended for a more refined viewer, someone that understands the fundamentals of proper storytelling and the need for carefully planned build up to give later events more substantial impact. It's the difference between a person taking the time to appreciate the fragrance and taste of aged wine, as opposed to merely swigging it with the intent of getting shit-faced. The difference is patience and consideration. And for a medium that is known for attracting people that seeks expedience, Argento's quaint methods places it at a disadvantage.

Thankfully, for those willing to shift mindsets to accommodate this show's approach, it offers enough to justify its actions.

For one, the show never viewed things through an ideological lens but chose to let the content speak for itself. This made decisions on the characters' behalf to hold greater meaning. No one was ever "good" or "bad," they were simply human, making decisions that they deemed to be the best one. This sense of moral ambiguity was shared among all characters, whether their role was of primary concern or held tertiary value to the plot. And since the leads were composed of adults, it paved the way for far more nuances in their interactions than what you'll typically get from an anime cast overpopulated by teens. Adults weren't simply nowhere to be found while adolescence ran around "saving the day." This was a show that had enough decency and common sense to realize that including adults was not only appropriate but essential when it came to settling the moral dilemma of characters' choices. There are no redheaded tsunderes or emotionally detached lolis running the day-to-day operations of the military, but fully-grown competent leaders that think before they leap. To sell the seriousness of a story's conflict, accountability should come before marketability. Teen protagonists may sell like hotcakes for anime, but that's usually at the cost of legitimacy towards how plausible a scenario could be. Sadly, this is something that's mostly lost in the clutter of many anime titles, where teens seem to be the only characters of relevance. But in a way, it's because of tropes like these that the cast of Argento feels so refreshing by default. Whether the creators were cognizant of this or not, their decision to have a cast where there's only one teen, while everyone else was either young adults or older, ended up working out in their favor.

This is yet another defining feature that contrasts Argento from its patriarch. If Evangelion's relatability is with that of teens, then Argento shifts to the next logical step, cataloging sentiments meant for young adults to connect to. Teens blame the world, while young adults learn that taking ownership for their actions is the key needed to depart adolescence before entering the next chapter of their lives.

It's differences like that where Argento truly shines. Where its autonomy from the "Eva clone" mantra becomes crystal clear.

Beyond these strong narrative distinctions, the art and animation for Argento held up surprisingly well, as it contained fights that had a sense of weight to it, where the individual movements and the environment felt well-documented. From the swing of an incoming punch to gestures characters make under extraneous circumstances; every encounter was given agency. While there are instances where the show's age became apparent, it never got in the way of selling a scene. But perhaps the most notable inclusion was the striking character designs themselves, which looked like a crossbreed of sleek runway model-like postures and the lengthy stone-faced appearance of Gundam Wing's regulars; which isn't much of a surprise, given that Shukou Murase handled both Wing and Soma's character design work. This could also be seen with another Post-Eva work that he was involved in with Gasaraki. His aesthetic sensibilities are quite unique, taking anatomical body proportions and giving it a specific vogue-like neo-gothic edge. To get into specifics, the appearance of the main character was, for the lack of a better word, cool-looking. It's a type of blend between brooding and swagger that's rarely captured this well, but when done right, lead to some attractive creations.

Where the character designs lost points for creativity was with the aliens themselves, which lacked variety, as it was relatively the same design with exception given to the one known as "Frank." The show could have greatly benefited with a few more distinct variations than the carbon copy lineup that was offered instead. While it could be argued that that decision to keep them all looking the same was made to correlate thematically with the show's "big reveal" towards the latter half, finding a way to work in more creative liberties to how they looked was still something that they should have entertained. Another issue that would immediately jump out at you was the characters' noses, or should I say, the lack thereof. If Escaflowne is infamous for its Pinocchio schnozzles, then Argento stands as its antithesis, sporting the Michael Jackson look whenever someone is facing the viewer. Thankfully, it isn't a jarring feature for long, as the problem subsides the more you watch it, similar to the effect Escaflowne had with its initial viewing.

The show's soundtrack was a mix-bag of melancholic songs, all synchronizing under the same dreadful feeling that loomed over the entire series. And while the soundtrack served its purpose well, tonally the genres were scatterbrained. They were unified under the pensive tone each had, but that's about it. The opening theme captured the essence of the title quite well, having a bittersweet swooning vocal passage carried off by the swelling rise of the instrumentals; a balance between sorrowful pitfalls and hopeful ascensions. The same cannot be said about the ending theme, however, which was quite jarring and far too bushy-tailed for the sobering tone that the series gave off. It was as if someone started playing the Bee Gees "Stayin' Alive" during a funeral session.

Outside of a few minor nitpicks here and there, the show does have its fair share of issues outside of pacing (for those bothered by the idea of slow buildup), one of which was its decision to name things in a manner that feels entirely too superficial. You see, Argento Soma was Sunrise's not so subtle attempt at patterning specific name and events after a classic novel, and in this case, that ended up being Frankenstein. But outside of the first episode, naming the found alien revived by a mad scientist "Frank," and having facilities and organizations named "Morgue" and "Funeral," there was very little that paralleled the classic novel and film itself. Instead, it's safe to say that the show only superfluously borrowed these titles, and had it been changed to anything else, nothing of significance would have been affected thematically. The usage of these titles should be treated as more of a motif than anything with symbolic annotation. In short, ignore the relevance of these titles. Just as Evangelion's theology symbolism was nothing but window-dressing, so too is Argento's need to reference Frankenstein no more significant than an artistic choice.

Naming aside, perhaps the most significant issue that the show faces has to do with the involvement of a character named Mr. X. Unlike the harmless usage of name choices, Mr. X's participation brought with it damaging plotting issues. This wouldn't be any more of an issue than what's usually found with most shows, but for one that operates with such precision, the inclusion of such a wildcard ended up jamming the cogs of what's been up to this point, a highly-functioning machine. Given how problematic his involvement is, I would save all of this for the spoiler section. Thankfully, not even the issues found with his inclusion could diminish the show's third act revelation, something I will also save for the spoiler section as well.

With the first half of the series being dedicated towards the character and narrative buildup, it's the second half that the series began to strut its stuff. With carefully foreshadowed moments that started peeling back new layers to the plot, and characters growing alongside the story to match it, everything started to come together, as the reveal placed the show on a league of its own. It stepped out of the realm of usual anime fodder and took cues from cinema instead. All of its careful planning and character fixation was finally brought to fruition. The mysterious fog that hid all agendas had finally lifted, leaving nothing but the naked truth of the show's secrecy to be laid bare for the audience to see. With the revelation of the third act finally being unveiled, humanity, as the show comes to know it, was made humbled by the presence of something much more greater than itself.

For those that have experienced what Argento had to offer, join me in the spoiler section as we discuss this in further detail.

***spoiler section***

What made the third act so great was beyond the theatrics of the event but what it came to represent thematically in the series. What it managed to set up, in the beginning, resulted in the last few episodes being what I could only describe as "2001: An Eva Odyssey." It took the ingenious vision of Kubrick's film and pushed beyond its ending point by introducing a prologue that saw with it the genesis of humanity as a species, and the exodus of a new stage of human evolution into a grander sentient being. It literally and figuratively showed our limited understanding when brought face to face with an advanced species. Where humanity saw a brutal, uncaring race of otherworldly creatures, in reality, it was humanity that was the uncultured simple-minded species incapable of comprehending something beyond our current intellect. It's like a 2D person trying to grasp the idea of a 3D object. This plot twist even paralleled the journey of Ryu Soma as well, which made it a multifaceted reveal that serviced both the narrative and the characters involved. It's an idea that could have easily crumbled under its own weight but manage to pull it off with such gravitas. And since Argento had already committed to making its content as grounded as possible, the potency of this reveal was amplified even further. This isn't to say that Argento tackled the idea to the pedigree reached by Kubrick's magnum opus; far from it. But the fact that it even took the idea and ran with it was awe-inspiring within itself. It's honestly one of the most spectacular latter halves I've seen from any anime, period.

But outside of this achievement, the show does have a significant plot hole that hurt it towards the end, and that was the involvement of Mr. X.

David "Mr. X" Lawrence is by far the worst part of the show because, with his involvement, poor planning or split decision making on the part of the creators was immediately exposed. Earlier in the series, Mr. X was introduced as a sort of "devil on the shoulder" character that seemed to only exist in Soma's head. With his red hair, devilish features, and constant consumption of apples (obvious forbidden fruit reference), we as an audience was meant to believe that he was, in fact, a figment of the protagonist's imagination. But due to what I could only describe as a poorly executed retcon, this character was introduced as a flesh and blood human being that existed all along. Where the problem lies with that is that throughout the show, he was shown to have the ability to seemingly appear and disappear without anyone else outside of Soma acknowledging him. So when the reveal is made that anyone could have seen him all along, it rendered many instances of him appearing out of nowhere (from what we were shown) to be utter bullshit. One could argue that because of Soma's borderline delusional state, he simply couldn't follow Lawrence's movements and that his high-tech skills allowed him to evade cameras and personnel easily, but that still leaves the question as to how and why others were incapable of seeing him up until the point of the reveal. This was sadly a plot hole with close to no proper explanation given, but one I chose to consciously dismiss given everything else that the show had executed well in regards to the "Space Odyssey" third act, as well as Ryu Soma's character arc. That doesn't stop Mr. X from being a problem, and it's for that reason that my score was ultimately lowered. But aside from that point, nothing will take away that feeling of being awestruck that came about from the show's final act.

***end of spoilers***

Enjoyment: 9.5/10

I've never been one to care about the average scores accumulated by MAL users, but below 7 for this show is criminally low, perhaps being one of the most underrated and undeserving ratings given to any series I've stumbled upon in the medium up to this point. Sadly misunderstood, a show with so many layers that it effectively deafened itself to the general populace. And rather than take the time to decipher its themes, the quicker solution was to subject it to semantics and label it as an "Evangelion clone." Ignorance is bliss, unfortunately, that comes at the cost of things of greater value being dismissed by the collective out of convenience.
As a fellow anime enthusiast, I saw this at the right time, never once being bothered by the episodic first half or the methodical pacing that it chose to contain everything in. With intriguing characters and a plot that slowly revealed its hand, the more I watched it, the more engrossed I became. The protagonist was one I've seen done wrong so many times before that finally seeing his type done right was quite rewarding. Very few protagonists struck a chord with me in the way he did. This was a show that only grew on me as it went along, and after episodes 16-18, it became an addiction I couldn't stop watching. It was modest, never once flexing its accomplishments to obtain any further appraisal. It simply told its story and let the viewers that took the time to understand it to take from it what they will. It's that kind of quality that I actively seek out in media. And it's that very reason that Argento Soma won me over, flaws and all.

Overall: 7.5/10

This title is not for the impatient. For those that enjoy and understand the need for carefully planned build up, the payout is satisfactory, but for anyone else seeking instant gratification, you shouldn't bother with this. I don't like to advocate the saying of "you're not ready for this show yet," but in all honesty, sometimes that's just the case. This is a show that could only be appreciated by certain viewers past a threshold with their experience exploring the medium. One only accessible to those well-versed in titles of now and those of yesteryear. To truly know the legacy, the lineage, the very building blocks that make up its foundation. But perhaps more importantly, it requires a mindset that's moved beyond the "critics before art" phase. To receive what this show has to offer is to approach it divorced of any pretense, of any conceit. Humility is a must. And as a viewer, until you've gotten past these crossroads, I suggest keeping this one tucked away for a later date. I can't promise that you'll receive the same level of payout that I did, but I can assure that anyone in the right mindset to accept what it has to offer will, at the very least, be given something deserving of the price of admission.

Argento Soma is about Takuto Kenishiro, a young man who is offered a chance to get his vengeance on the monster he blames for destroying everything and everyone that he cared for. To get this revenge he is reborn as Ryu Soma and joins Funeral, a military organization that deals with the aliens that attack the earth.

My thoughts:
At first, I didn't think I would like the anime but it was surprisingly good. The animation was superb, the characters were likeable and the ending was surprising as well. It wasn't expected at all. This is an anime I would recommend watching.

Fairly droll for the first dozen of so episodes by at around episode 18 it starts to move, emotions set in and things go somewhere.. worth watching, don't let the lack of action and fairy land stuff put you off, it's a short series, stick with it.

Some anime fans have condemned Argentosoma as another "Neon Genesis Evangelion clone." It does bear some similarites, especially when it comes to the mechas and the secret that lies beneath their armor. Otherwise, they're two different concepts. The scenes and dialogues in Argentosoma are much more serious, while in Evangelion they are often sprinkled with comic relief (like those funny faces) and "fan service." The actions scenes in Argentosoma are often much more intense than those in Evangelion. My favorite aspect of Argentosoma is the character design. It is less "kiddie" and the protagonist, Ryu Soma, is probably the coolest and sharpest looking anime character ... ever animated. I recommend this series if you like mecha-themes, and especially if you haven't seen Evangelion.

***Includes a few spoiler paragraphs that are marked***

What can I say, this was a curious experience. Despite having some obvious flaws, it still managed to be impressive by the end, making bold proclamations without shoving anything down your throat. It's an awkward dish made by someone you know and love, that nonetheless tasted home. It forced a smile on me, it made my eyes wet, while I was fully aware that what I was eating is going to fail on a competitive contest. Therefore, I could only grow to treat this anime with love, albeit a tough one. Which is rare, to be honest.

Thematically, this ... anime is incredible. The last five episodes are enough to change your entire perspective on this show, even if you considered everything up until then as mediocre. Among other things, it covers the political and philosophical aspects of conflict, without picking any particular side. It gave me some Legend of the Galactic Heroes vibes, really: just like LotGH, Argento Soma leaves you wondering about the nature of conflict. What does it mean to fight towards a common cause? Who's my enemy, and who's my ally? What's the difference between "my" and "ours"? In the midst of panic and social unrest, we'll quickly dismiss these fundamental questions, in favor of the imminent. Our ability to plan and foresee in these kind of circumstances is severed, and this notion is positively reinforced throughout the anime. In other words, there's a message of caution here, of introspection and self-awareness, of making sure that I know what I want, but also where I am. Discerning what is "right" for me, and potentially for others too - why am I working towards a certain goal? Truly vital concepts, not only in the context of war or conflict in general, but also of a person entering adulthood - a period shrouded by confusion, indecision, and the fear of uncertainty. These themes are portrayed beautifully in Argento Soma.

The preceding ideas are further deepened through characters, obviously. While the anime fails in delivery, its intentions are clear and humble. First thing to note with characters is how everyone is actually at the age they're supposed to be - you know, adults and young adults? This atmosphere can really alleviate viewers who are fed up with mass-produced character sets in other shows; teenagers with stereotypical designs and personalities, furthermore playing in a setting that requires discretion, respect, and above all critical thinking. These depictions simply aren't realistic, but they're so overused in other shows that we've almost grown used to them.

Argento Soma is here to remind you how such a setting ought to look like. You can feel tension in critical situations, character logic is mostly satisfactory, and there's always a sense of connection within our cast; be that in the relations of our main group's members, Funeral, the military, or the government. Consequence is rarely forgotten in character interaction (unless said character is Ryu), providing gravity behind individual action, besides making the world more believable. Needless to say then, I enjoyed Argento Soma's characters. Yes, Ryu too. He had some of the OP essence as with many anime protagonists, but his character arc was rarely inconsistent, even if flawed (morally). With some exceptions, there was no particular reason to disapprove someone, because as I said, their logic is pretty solid; everyone had a reason as to why they were doing whatever they were doing, which was pretty cool.

Out of the cast, commander Ines was probably my favourite. I might be slightly biased here, but I just enjoy the representation of women in "unusual" work sectors, in this case the military. And it wasn't just a display of swagger and raw muscle you'll most often find in other shows. In Argento Soma, there is a genuine political concern for both the official and unofficial approval of women in these positions, a concern voiced by Ines herself: "Was I truly chosen for my skill set?" Her rebellion is not one of upheaval, but of sincere, collected, and justified dialogue, in spite of the recipient being an awfully conservative and pigheaded regime. Also, keep in mind that this show aired on 2000! It was another thin, yet clearly visible layer in an already thematically rich show, one that I personally savored.

As for the quality of this anime, and starting with graphics, they were good. Can't say much more. I liked character design: it felt unique without being presumptuous... if you make a small exception for Ryu. I cannot lie though, Ryu looked pretty cool, and Dan too. Emo vibes? Yeah, totally, but they looked cool, so I liked them, and that's that. Similarly, I liked Ines and Michael, although that guy's mouth was pretty confusing at times... still, I could always admire the unique stylistic approach. In the rare occasions where characters wore non-military clothes, you could take a glimpse of an entire new world of style. Take a good look at characters in the final episode - just gorgeous!

Musically, the anime was hit or miss. It's orchestral at core, and while this really helped to deliver sentimental and some tense scenes, it failed to accompany action. Never going beyond a certain limit in tempo, it lacked sharpness and intensity, elements that are more often than not, obligatory in fast-paced sequences. I always crave for shows to correctly not use music at certain scenes, though Argento Soma was not the brightest example. Let's just say that I wasn't very pleased having music play on top of Harriet singing, more than once. Thankfully, it wasn't disastrous enough to mix different keys, though that alone did not save these scenes. So conclusively, music in this anime didn't make for an exceptional experience, but wasn't bad enough to ruin it either.

***Entering spoiler territory***

At this point, you might have asked: why did I rank Argento Soma with a 7, despite my largely positive remarks so far? Well, there's a reason for that, and I'll have to enter spoiler territory to elaborate. I previously said that the anime fails in delivery, and I stand true next to this belief. While character interactions can feel organic at times, there are numerous occasions where developments were rushed or ignored altogether. Particularly, Lt. Green and David Lawrence were butchered. The former gets criminally little time for backstory (along with Sue), the romance with Ryu comes out of nowhere, and she's outright killed at the last episode time skip... without any explanation whatsoever!

Lawrence on the other hand, is turned upside down towards the end of the anime, without any cohesion in the transition. At first he resembles a villainous figure, almost an imaginary one judging by his spontaneous (dis)appearances. Then he's suddenly an ally of our cast... it's a mess. What are his motives? Why is he asking for Funeral's data from Ryu? Why is he aiding Ryu exact revenge on Frank, if he considers Frank (Yuri) his comrade? Why is the black SARG's pilot turning into tomato juice a reference to him, if he's not even on the government's side? Why is that pilot even killed in the first place? David is a character that, not only makes no sense, but takes the rest of the plot down with him. Oh yeah, and he lives with an injured leg by the end, after being gunned down at point blank. That's peak comedy right there.

Speaking of plot and holes: in the reveal that the aliens have no bad intentions, the show conveniently ignores how they were disintegrating innocent civilians with lasers... it becomes an uncomfortably transparent inconsistency, when the show simultaneously wants to highlight Harriet's past trauma. And speaking of Harriet... can we stop harassing this poor child for one second? She's handled like a ragdoll throughout the show. Yes, the dangers and the dilemma of having a child partake in military operations is acknowledged, mostly by Sue, and occasionally by Ines. But will we still choose to ignore how Ryu harshly mistreats her without consequence? How they chose to put her in the co-pilot seat of a SARG tasked with interception, and not in the much safer transport aircraft? How Ryu's college buddy was salivating over her like it was normal, or how two dudes were literally going to rape her? So okay, we get it - she's an innocent victim of war and the adult world, so can we tone down the unnecessary degeneracy? Needless to say, I was stunned with some of the things my eyes saw... oh, and while we're at it, can the military stop going nuclear every second time? My thanks in advance.

***End of spoilers***

Most of all however, the deciding factor for my rating was pacing, and the overall enjoyability of the first ten or so episodes of the anime. Admittedly, I had tendencies to drop the series at about episode eight or nine, as it wasn't making any essential progression with its episodic structure. It placed some question marks here and there, little pieces to keep some of your interest, though these weren't enough for me. Most of its early focus was placed on character exchanges. As I said, these did indeed have value, but they lacked impact; the anime lacks in delivering character moments. Mecha action wasn't that satisfactory either. Code;Geass, and even Argento Soma's closer relative, Evangelion, had way more enjoyable mecha action - especially the former. The reason is simple: progression. Each fight had something new, a new weapon, a new enemy, unknown variables. Yes, Argento Soma had unique enemy types, but what about their design? What about Funeral's side? Nothing changes. I understand that mecha action isn't the primary focus of this show, though can't the same be said for the two anime I brought up? Argento Soma simply didn't have any spice in its mecha fights. They were not bad per se, though definitely not enjoyable either.

At the end, this anime begged for patience and focus. Was mine, even if forced at times, rewarded? Certainly. More than half of the show's length was used for slowly setting up characters and the world surrounding them, but then effectively utilized them to deliver themes through a surprisingly wonderful story. And there really isn't a better way to describe it other than "wonderful". Although Argento Soma preferred the realm of reality, it couldn't help but get romantic at times, and I loved that. Sure, I wouldn't miss some of Harriet's singing concerts... but the show's ideas came through for the most part. This anime really is a journey towards an enchanted land. The road might be quite rough, but rest assured: once you get there, a wonderful world will unfold right in front of you. The decision lies on you: do you want to take the journey?

Wonderful (as defined in Oxford Languages): inspiring delight, pleasure, or admiration.

When people say this is a hidden gem, they aren't exaggerating. The air time slot and DVD release of this in both Japan and the Americas was poorly timed and this series got overshadowed and forgotten because of it.

This I would say is the closest thing to being a proper implementation of what Evangelion was after without the meandering plot and loss of focus that troubled EVA during it's later episodes. If you were at all disappointed by the way EVA handled itself later on, then this anime does a great job of picking up a very similar concept and follows through without needing ... a movie or OVA to wrap it up.

This anime focuses on its storyline and the effects war and service have on people. It's a very serious tone, and deals with a naturally unlikable main character. But this I feel kind of plays well with the rest of the cast as it lets the viewer focus on the full cast rather than staying involved with a singular character. It plays the unlikable protagonist character well, and does a great job of pacing the story, and developing it's entire cast with a believable progression, while still keeping strongly to it's sci-fi setting. It is a good example of the "Unlikable Protagonist" story and writing element.

The series pulls directly from Shakespeare, Russian and US Army inspiration, and delves deep into the psychology of loss, and the tragedy of war.

The sound and soundtrack is fantastic and has many unforgettable themes that stick in your head long after. Silent Wind, the "Nior" Theme, Wonderful World, and other tracks are easy to remember long after because they are so distinct and well composed. Though the ending theme is very odd and overly 90s cliche and could have been much better it's one of the only disappointments of the series.
The English dub is also very good, and is one of the few examples of very well thought out and very well played and performed dubs. IT's close to Ghibli level, not exactly, but very close.

The art style however is a bit odd and uncharacteristic of the time frame, and anime as a whole. While it pulls from it's 90's origin, it takes a significant strive away from standard expectations and leaves undefined features contrasting with overly defined features on the same character. It gives the show a distinct style unique for anime. It's strange at first, but it grows on you and plays very well with it's visual story telling.

Interestingly enough, they were unexpectedly well focused on military details and getting them correct. There are things in the anime that are real parts of the US Military. Things that I expected any animator to just guess and replicate, they instead got accurate with a small waiver of artistic liberty. They even got the PX Military exchange shop correct. That's a really minute detail that most people will definitely miss.

The show wears its military, Russian, and Shakespearean inspirations on it's sleeve and plays out much like a Drama play, and there is even an additional OVA that goes over the history of a fan favorite character(Sue Harris).

It's clever, smart, and explores tough subjects and hard to face realities.
I would definitely recommend this if you're into heavier themes, and harder to deal with subject matter. Any one with military service in the US will appreciate the military detail as well.

This is a wonderful anime. It is NOT like EVA. Keep reading and I'll tell you that this anime is not just entertaining, but full of amazing human relationships, and has a beautiful, satisfying ending. Yes, it takes some time to get to the "serious" action, but the character development is wonderful. Like one reviewer said, don't let the "fairyland stuff" turn you off--it's not what you think.

Most of the reviews for this anime (and there aren't many) are not complete or are incredibly unfair in how they portray the story. I have a feeling they watched this show with only one eye open ... (or didn't finish it). Otherwise, it was not their cup of tea. I have no idea why--I loved it. Here's my short, yet succinct, review:

What it IS:

The musical score AND Shakespearean stuff is lovely and flows throughout the whole anime. There is a balance of tension and beauty.

I LOVED the main character as he was complex and atypical (or should that actually mean normal, as all humans are unique and complicated?). Hattie, or the girl with the "annoying voice," as some said, is actually a great voice actress and plays the part of a traumatized young girl perfectly (it is not cliche). Her character development, like Soma's, becomes more and more noticeable and enjoyable throughout the story. The relationship between these two becomes deep, heartrending, heart-wrenching, and redemptive.

Artwork is classic--there may be a couple sloppy scenes here and there (not very noticeable), but on the whole, like Trigun, there is some pretty fantastic hand-drawn stuff. The main character's appearance changes (as his character changes--you'll find out why) and becomes really gritty and awesome. He is definitely someone we can all identify with...You really can't take your eyes off Soma. He's just ghostly cool and unpredictable.

The ending is fantastic. That's all I'll give you, as you really don't want any spoilers for this show. The surprises are all great and weave into the plot amazingly. Look for details. Rewatch value is pretty high.

What is it NOT:

It is NOT like Evangelion. Just because there are flying machines, "aliens," etc., does not mean it is like EVA or is trying to be. Argento completely stands on its own. And we don't have any obnoxiously angsty teens who are crying the entire time toward a horribly bizarre ending. The main character in Soma is incredibly complex and develops over the entire story line--and matures in realistic ways. My guess is some people gave up this anime after the first few episodes without taking the time to see what happens.

The only disappointments for me:

The only thing I would agree with is that the story gets slow for a few episodes in the middle, but then seriously speeds up and takes off (probably around episode 13, imo). There are some moments of awkward dubbing, but (this is actually a positive) the lead actors are great and are now considered veterans of the anime world. It's fun to see them in their earlier works. The only thing I could have wished for more of was Soma--even though we saw a heck a lot of his character. I ended up loving his character so much that I was sad the series ended. I guess that is another positive.

Fun Facts:
Crispin Freeman plays Lt. Dan. Fun to listen to him voice act in an older work. You can tell he's not totally in "Crispin mode" yet.
Soma is voiced by Stave Staley who plays Moondoggie from Eureka 7.
A certain mysterious character (won't give away here) is voiced by the actor who plays Legato from Trigun.

I Won't write a long review. Argento Soma it's said to be slow. Well, honestly, i didn't care, and i didnt notice until the half way. The construction and the interior drama are outstanding, each character has its own complexity of motives, truly remarkable.
The fights are pretty good. The art has some problems that, i think, come from the character design(too slender and ... no nose).
In my vision, the only flaw is the final form of the show. What does that mean? Each episode is great, but the whole is not. What was the point after all?
(SPOILER)The message of understanding others doesnt fit. It was impossible since the beginning. Then we have the buddist shit of the will creating something, that doenst fit in the plot at all. Mr. X being actually the good guy is not a problem, but it betray the eden snake symbol. (END OF SPOILER)
So, in the end, the best option is: Hate is empty, redemption is all. In the end, this is a fundamental truth of life.
If you like mecha and good story, thats for you.