I'm going to start with what I didn't like being that it might give some insight into my judgement regarding the series as a whole.
My least favorite thing about this series was the romance.
I know, I know. Hear me out.
The romance was far better than most of what I've witnessed in many series.
I go for romance. It's my thing. I watch and read a lot of it.
Saying it's my least favorite thing is not my implying that it was bad or poorly done. I'm merely lending perspective towards my attitude.
I felt the romance was often blindfolded and spun around all while having had too much to drink.
While it felt intelligent and mature at times, it often ended up frustratingly familiar. I understand the need to include themes that are familiar to a certain demographic, I really do.
However, it can get to a point where trying to maintain the excitement of not knowing the answer, or watching the characters suffer through needless anguish over the very same question, can become tiresome and fatiguing to watch.
In my opinion (and this is based on an opinion formed without having read the novels) the romance could have fared much better if it had climaxed sooner in the story. I believe this story should have been about the struggles of such a unique couple in an unforgiving world during an even more unforgiving time rather than your typical guessing game between characters who clearly love each other.
I guess what I'm saying is, it seems too childish and immature for this series.
I get it, Holo may be wise but she is also portrayed as very emotionally immature. The same can be said of Lawrence, I suppose. However, I say it again, the feel and tone of this series was far too serious and mature for that kind of romance.
This brings me to my next point regarding the romance: the end was far too anti-climactic for its own good.
In fact, even the romance simply didn't hit me like I'm used to and, trust me, I'm not hard to convince.
I didn't get that spine-tingling joy I always get when I see such a development. I didn't feel like I wanted more of it in my life. I didn't feel very much at all for it.
Which hurts to say, considering how much I respect this series.
All the negative aside, it was a fun ride.
The part of the romance I did enjoy was how disgustingly adorable those two could be. I simply ate it up. With every time she rested on his shoulder. With every grip of each other's hand. With every blush and moment of realization of their love for each other.. it was all well and good, indeed. This would probably further explain my frustration at how their relationship developed. I'll say again, I truly believe it would have done more good for them to have gone through at least some of the series knowing how they felt. I wanted to see more of that sincerity. I wanted to see them go through trials as lovers and not simply two people who feel they love each other but haven't realized it in the other..
Anyway, on to some more positive thoughts.
This series made me think. It really did. The amount of work the original writer put into gathering knowledge about economics during that period is truly admirable.
Overall, the studio who produced it did a fantastic job of putting me in a 14th century town filled with everything you'd expect of it.
The art, the sounds, the music. It was all so well done and really brought the world to life.
In the end, I feel a certain level of undeniable dissatisfaction. I do want more, I won't bother denying it. I wanted to see so much more from this series. All the anime did was make me want to buy each novel and read them just to rid myself of this cumbersome feeling..
Which, I suppose, is a good thing in itself, right?
If the creators of this series were trying to get me do that, they certainly succeeded.
Verdict: give it a watch. Honestly. You'll enjoy the ride as much as I did, provided you can ignore some of the more obvious flaws. Which are, thankfully, pretty far and few in between. Just.. don't expect to walk away feeling totally satisfied. This series won't give you that much. You'll likely have to read all 17 volumes to achieve that much.
