There seems to be a general consensus concerning this show that it was either misguided, not captivating, or generally lacking in any concrete merit. The source of this dissatisfaction seems to come primarily from the mystery genre to which it has been assigned. This show most certainly does not fall within the ordinary realm of the mystery genre. More so, it is an examination of the philosophies and psychologies of the characters involved in such scenarios. This is exemplified through extremes in order to more vividly portray the message, resulting in a more artistic outcome, as opposed to a more logical and puzzle-like approach one would expect from a mystery story.
The story is also very unique and incorporates a quasi-intellectual background to some extent as it directly references Laplace's demon. This is necessary for fully understanding the computer formula constructed that is integral to the plot. Anybody who is put off by intellectual or philosophical concepts will therefore find it difficult to become emotionally invested in such things or the characters related to them.
It also must be stated that this series is quite bloody and grotesque at times, revealing the hideous nature that lies within humanity as well as the acts which result from it. One example of this is a man who kidnapping little girls, pretending they were his children and burying them in concrete if they didn't accurately play the role of daughters.
The characters themselves are the shining light of this series and the main source of my enjoyment. The viewer is taken on a journey through various criminal acts and is exposed directly to the motivations and mindsets of the criminals in a very personal and emotional manner. I must admit, however, that they can be quite enigmatic at times and they are not always portrayed seriously either.
This series tackles big themes such as the nihility of man and the search for purpose, the best example of this being kobayashi's innocence and blatant disregard for any significance associated with death. I would describe it as being kafka-esque , once again, a quite niche genre within the anime community. In order to reinforce this message, there are often glimpses of happiness and hope thrown in matter-of-fact, seemingly as if they were arbitrary. This arbitrary nature, I would argue, is intentional, and serves to illustrate an existentialist perspective. The character's hopes and happiness are short-lived and despair, failure, or loss are the ultimate result. No character ever truly recognizes their goals or is completely satisfied with their current position in life. To think such things to be possible would be purely fantastical or fictional! This series quite accurately depicts reality from a philosophical perspective and borders on fantastical realism, yet another characteristic of Kafka. However, in spite of loss, despair, and failure, as humans we are forced to live on and perservere. In order to do this, we must make peace with ourselves, our situation, and our past. I feel this is the ultimate message of Ranpo Kitan. It provides a sense of ephemeral curiosity and serene acceptance in the face of death.
The ending of this series was well done and significantly increased my opinion of the series as well as provided a feeling of profound satisfaction that I rarely receive from conclusions of anime series. I do believe enjoyment of the series is highly dependent upon the viewer's mindset and their reluctance or acceptance towards existentialist concepts. As such, if you don't enjoy this show, it may not be up your alley, so to speak.
