IF you don't want to read my review here are my recommendations for this show .
Overall recommendation:
WATCH episodes 1 to 10 . This covers the first two arcs, which are really the best. This is when teh animation suffers the least, and covers more of a "Kick ass" type of plot and a parody of "Power rangers/sentai"
THEN watch 19 to 22.
Why you say skip 11 to 18.....
Well this is when character development , animation, and really most things drop off the radar. The plot is still there, and the show is funny with it's parody of super heroes in general.
With episode 19 a new plot picks up, and they more of less cover from time to time what happened in the past episodes. Like who they defeated. You really don't need much details about the previous 2 arcs because they don't affect the overall plot of the last arc hardly at all( aside from characters which make one liners at times). And anything that does seem to affect it they seem to reference it via flash back, or they mention it so many times that with some thinking you can guess what happened like since the plot is very complex.
The last arc really picks up that pace of the first arc IMO and really hits its stride again, and if samurai flamenco had been given a 14 or 15 episode anime season and was able to skip the arcs from episode 11 to 18 , I think this show would be much better
Story: 7/10
the story for flamenco is really all over the place, which is fine IMO to go above and beyond throwing galaxy's at each other. However, it lacks something within this story.
Yes the plot seems to continue on one right after the other, and it is a very enjoyable comically because of the characters . But the story just misses the mark overall.
Without spoiling much, Flamenco story is a truly unqiue one and it gets larger and larger and large with each arc. However, the end result in the last episode completely throws this pattern away, leaving a disappointing feeling at the end. Like nothing is going to happen to these characters any more other then "Daily life".
Also the plot isn't one to psychologically evaluate (aside from the last arc), so if your looking for a show with a light hearted super hero themed plot this will be up your ally.
Art 5 or 6 / 10
Samurai Flamencos style and art starts out great, it was fantastic and amazing at the beginning...... But starting in episode 11 it starts to have its on and off moments.
For example in episode 17, the fight scenes are drawn in a normal or high quality like the beginning of samurai flamenco showed. BUT other scenes that may happen inbetween the fight barely look animated and some characters faces look so almost it hurts. (this episode in particular i remember the most of for whatever reason)
Also , the 2nd opening animation begins as a montage of first half of the series and then is later changed to an almost still opening. Using pictures of the cast from the shown at there multiple identities (such as hazama yoshi as samurai flamenco). For some reason after abandoning the montage and given this as a replacement, the first few episodes of using the revised opening animation result is a badly animated opening. And strangely enough with every single episode something is usually added or changed to the opening, making it look more presentable and nice, but at the same time makes you wonder if the production team truly didn't have the budget or time at the moment, and could only alter it little by little.
Compared to the first opening, which was fully animated like most shows really makes you consider the lack of budget to make samurai flamenco look as nice as it did in the beginning.
Note, to my knoweldge, aniplex often trys to touch up the animation for the home release. So heres hoping this also applies with samurai flamenco, and that they fix all the horrible moments that look like bad animated sketches, and can remove the 8 different versions of the opening 2 animation.
Sound 7/10 : Nothing amazing here, but it wasn't bad, Usually fit and the moment, but nothing that makes me want to go listen to the soundtrack .
Characters: 6/10
Overall the main probably 3 to 5 main characters get developed a good bit, but overall as the story progress' only hazama masayoshi (Samurai flamenco) gets developed at all at times. The other characters help with situations, but really after the 11th episode it seems like character development, samurai flamenco aside, is thrown at the window for the most part just to be picked back up in the final arc.
Enjoyment 10/10: The only perfect thing about this show. I love there take on super heroes and there parodies of multiple views of heroes through out the series. Every weeks episode was like feeling like a kid , wonder what villian would face Samurai flamenco, or what crazy plot twist(which there are too many of) would happen. and as such I highly enjoy this series, even if it may not be the best one out there with all the other areas falling hard in the 2nd half of the series.....
