Highschool of the Dead is:
A Harem
Highschool of the Dead is NOT:
A Horror
If you like "harem" and that sort of sexual fantasy mixed with sitcom-y type of shows, then give'r a watch. Try to imagine a little less comedy and more hyper "manly" action than your typical harem story. That's probably what you're in for, but I'm not too sure, I don't like harem so you probably know more than I do.
Don't bother reading the rest.
These aren't the droids you're looking for.
If you're like me then hopefully you can use this review to bypass this show and do something better with your time.
The "fan-service" is immense here.
Don't understand the concept of "harem" or "fan-service"?
A quick mostly-spoiler-free description of what I saw:
This show has all the straight-male fantasy found in typical 80's action flicks magnified by twenty, only instead of a super-muscular 30-something dude its a slim somehow-really-skilled handsome teen dude, and then add more innuendoes and more awkward teenager dialogue.
Most of the (sometimes) thought-provoking commentaries on society found in zombie classics like Romaro's Dead series is tragically absent. Occasionally there's a glimpse to some interesting human interactions but, for the most part, the show focusses on the handsome somehow-really-skilled teenager and his survival group with one unhandsome male "dork" and several female stereotypes with oversized boobs.
Like, really, really big boobs. Unrealistically big and perky boobs.
In this universe, Japan makes a shit-ton of money from breast-enhancement surgery.
One (maybe two if you're pushing it) of the female characters is skilled in combat and she's a confident person, which seems nice considering, but it's quickly revealed that she ultimately depends on the lead male character and is often used as a tool for the harem storyline. It's personally difficult for me to take a show seriously when some one who's supposed to be a badass finds herself wearing almost no clothing or participating in a wet t-shirt voyeur, just 'cause.
This isn't to say that's all a bad thing, necessarily. Some of the tropes and styles are really enjoyed by certain audiences, and harem stories are quite popular in Japan for a reason. However, I do not personally find harem and this sort of sexual fantasy interesting. If that's all a show is going to offer then why don't I just go watch some porn, or even better, a live-action erotic film that isn't so over-the-top and childish?
I was warned of the harem aspect before I started watching the show...
I was just hoping that maybe, just maybe, it would offer something else. Something that zombie-flick fans might enjoy or find interesting. Something a little deeper or scary than your average harem story. Unfortunately, the sexual fantasy aspect is really all that's there. Any time the story looks like it could turn interesting it never follows through and then goes right back to the hilariously unrealistic fantasies. Sometimes characters will go through (what should be) horrific experiences then within a couple scenes they're totally fine because they need to bolster the male leads.
Priorities, am I right?
