Mar 25, 2023
Although filled with somewhat generic tropes, Mononogatari's execution of said clichés helps differentiate if from other run of the mill action seinen. I'd go as far as to say that the first couple of episodes are misleading, in that they deceive you into thinking that 'battles' and action are a much larger part of the story than they actually are. Although fight scenes are frequent, they do not take away from the real crux of the show, which is (surprisingly) the interpersonal relationships of the characters, and how they try to fit into the world they inhabit. It is rare to see an action seinen
...
that is, in its core, so character driven.
The main characters are used to create an interesting dichotomy; one of them has completely given up on normal life and pursues their obsessions single-mindedly, while the other yearns for normalcy even though they couldn't be farther from it. Loud and soft-spoken, apathetic and gentle; the show does a great job of portraying them. Not the most original, but they are consistent and well-polished characters. The plot point used to develop their relationship is very unorthodox, and one of my main gripes with the show would be that it does not lean even heavier into the aforementioned plot point and do away with the occasional unnecessary, almost fanservice-y action scenes.
As a side note; the supporting characters, mainly the Nagatsuki 'family', although at times two dimensional are handled well for a show with such a large cast.
Now moving on to the action... It's fine. There's really nothing more to say. The powers used are varied but consistent with the rules the show sets and they manage to be interesting for the most part. There are a couple of standout action sequences which are definitely above average. It's worth mentioning that the animation quality unfortunately seems to have taken a bit of a hit as the show progressed, but it remains serviceable.
It is not an outstanding show by any means. However, even factoring in the decrease in animation quality and some groanworthy moments, it manages to stand out as a good one in an otherwise rather mediocre season. The verdict is a solid 7.0.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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