Jul 4, 2022
This show stands out in it's field. There are no male recurring characters and no sexualization of minors. If you're looking for femme-led shows, that should be enough for you to start watching. Before you do, you should know that this series can't be binge-watched. It's from an older time, and matches the noir atmosphere to the format. Each show has extended, minimalist flashbacks to the previous episode that are tedious if you just watched it 7 minutes ago, instead of the intended 7 days ago. Towards the end of the series you'll probably feel the urge to binge, but if you can resist it's
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Jun 30, 2022
Vanitas no Karte
(Anime)
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(Note: Haven't read manga, no regard for similarities or differences)
Vampires, period piece (19th Century Paris), steampunk. All things I love. This first set of "Vanitas" is fine, but the second half gets worse. "Vanitas" has Boy's Love themes, which is how I stumbled across it, but this series never gives us That Gay Shit™, and has no intention of doing so beyond baiting. Instead, they develop a straight relationship (Vanitas & Jeanne) that's based on Vanitas making unreciprocated advances and taking advantage when she's weak. Cringe-y for 2022. This show does have humorous elements, and parts of it are fine detective-partner stuff. As it progresses it gets ... 
Jun 19, 2022
Vanitas no Karte Part 2
(Anime)
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(Note: haven't read the manga and don't care to, so no regard for accuracies or discrepencies)
I liked the first half of Vanitas well enough, this 2nd portion has turned me off and I won't be watching any further, despite my deep love for vampires, period costumes and steampunk. The story is convoluted. It's ambitious, but doesn't match the pacing of the show. The first 7 episodes in this are dedicated to the Beast of Gevaudan, and I had no investment in the Chloe & Jean-Jacques, so it felt like it just dragged. The revelations weren't addressed for the rest of the season. This arc is followed ... 
Feb 9, 2022
Murder Princess
(Anime)
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If you're here because you're looking for WLW content, look no further. Go watch it now. The hardest decision is to binge-watch it all at once or save it for several viewings. It's six 25min Sword Lesbian episodes. No comphet distractions. A few fanservice-y moments (episode 2), but they work for wlw-watchers and not just for boys. As with most wlw-leaning pieces, it could be stronger and more explicit (i.e., dykier), but it's impressive for a 2005 piece and holds up 15+ years later.
As much as I love this, I find it hard to write a 500-character review of. It's cool, medieval steampunk-y, female-led, well-paced. ... 
Feb 9, 2022
If you stumbled across this looking for WLW content, just go ahead and watch it. The lesbian relationship is explicit without comphet or male pandering. No sexualization of minors -- a few flashbacks to when the main characters were in highschool, but no out-of-place fanservice. It's a jet-setting action movie with secret societies, dystopian/utopian commentary, and themes on human nature. It's an enjoyable piece to keep in your collection of WLW content that isn't slice-of-life or high-school-based. Not going to win awards on originality. It tries to do a lot, and succeeds about as much as any major blockbuster does. I'll watch again to pass
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Feb 9, 2022
Update: The further I get out from this show the more I'm bothered by the treatment of Makoto. It just sucks. If you're reading my reviews for queer perspectives, skip this one. (And thanks, you're my target audience! <3) The art work really is beautiful though.
This show has some messed up treatment of a transmasc character, both in portrayal and missed opportunities. It takes the show from an 8.5 to a 6 for me. It has a strong female lead but falls into standard heteronormative tropes. The animation is beautiful with some good fight scenes without it being a bloodbath. Good universe building, I would ... |
