So I came to the review section and found nothing that truly explained why I should watch the show, why it wouldn't be just a wallowing pit of depression. My only choice was to watch it myself (seeing how well it was rated helped, of course)
Characters: 6
Unfortunately, this was what I expected. Without Kurisu, Kyouma had dissapeared, leaving a shell of the man he once was. And this is the point of the show, and is a perfectly realistic depiction of how he would be with events happening as they do.
However, seeing my favorite character, who caries the enjoyment rating from a 7 to a solid 10 all on his own, is just a plain, downright bummer. It's depressing and knowing that all this is avoidable just makes it all the more painful, in a non-enjoyable way.
And then not having Kurisu in the mix? Everyone else is a painful stereotype, and you just can't get attached to their personality.
The saving grace for this rating, though, has been Suzuha. Without giving too much away, she's stayed focused, and the voice of reason, and just frankly, is a total badass.
Story: 9
The story is actually what shines in S;G 0, surprisingly. Starting around episode 6/7, every episode has some sort of twist of new development that forces you to watch on.
Where this show suffers in character development, it brings up by throwing the multitude of characters through an array of happenings that hooks you, not to the actual character, but more "Wait, this character was this?" or "Hah, I knew it! Kind of... now what happens?" or "Next episode, next episode".
Basically, using an already strong plot, it throws the characters in the mix as well, and makes for one heck of a rollercoaster ride story telling.
Art: 7
Mostly what one would expect from steins gate. The CGI was disappointing and wildly unnecessary, and there are a few physical scenes which lacked a certain oomph (I'm looking at you, Braun punch), but other than that, it's pretty much what you'd expect coming from previous S;G entries.
Sound: 7
The opening/ending themes are wonderful, perfectly reaching the bar season 1 had set. My nitpick is with the OST; it has a very distracting, amateurish track that plays whenever the characters do something 'silly', and it is very distracting and makes me headdesk each time.
Enjoyment: 7
To be frank, I have not enjoyed Okabe this season. Him depressed is just not the charismatic crazy scientist we all know and love. The saving grace is that losing best girl would do that to anyone. But yeah, not having the 2 strongest characters at their finest is a huge blow already.
My enjoyment stems from the twists of the show, the new turns it takes us on, and the pacing at which it unravels the plot. I'm halfway through, and am thoroughly curious as to where in the world this can possibly go.
And honestly, that's what a successful show does, is it not? Grab your curiosity?
EDIT: I've now completed the show, and although my score still stands - since the majority of the series followed as such, the series did take a fantastic turn.
As one would expect from true Steins;Gate work, the last few episodes were simply superb. Feelings pulled at my heartstrings, character reached and all time high with development and the ending itself was more satisfying than any ASMR video, any soap video, any ice video.
Steins;Gate went through loop upon loop to finally converge on a path nothing short of epic justice.
I applaud you, S;G. Standing ovation all the way.
