DISCLAIMER: This is my second review ever and I'm sure you may hear these points somewhere else. This review may also contain SPOILERS
"Eventually, everyone reaches their limit, whether it be an adventurer or a hero"
STORY 8/10
Goblin Slayer starts in a fantasy world, full of adventurers and demons. The cliche world is what makes Goblin Slayer good. The creator has taken the classic tale of a hero defeating the demon lord and thrown it into the background. Instead, the story focuses on the "Goblin Slayer" working as an everyday adventurer. Some would argue that there is no coherent story, as episodes are usually one-offs but are referred to later on. This is a misconception, as the story revolves around the Goblin Slayer's backstory and his journey to recovering from the horrors he had faced during childhood.
The Hero and her party eventually slay the demon lord in the world and the world is freed. The kingdoms rejoice and celebrate the victory, but Goblin Slayer pays no attention to this. The anime shows him preparing for his next mission. This is because the author wanted to show that the world moves onward after the demon lord is defeated, and Goblin Slayer is a character who knows that the most. The threats of the world have not changed, and the story does a perfect job of depicting that.
The theme of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) is also brought into the series, as scenes depicting Goblin Slayer's past are shown. The story shows these gruesome scenes to help define the character and build the world. Goblin Slayer lives with the constant fear of the terror of the goblin race and as the story progresses and he builds a party of his own, his PTSD progressively fades. The story of healing creates a relatable character. Goblin Slayer, the anime, shows that focusing on minor points in the plot help build up a great anime. There are few people who understand the threat of the goblins, and because of that, they go unnoticed and the people who live through the terrors that the goblins bring are forgotten as well. The previous Hero, the sword maiden, lives with these scars both physically and mentally and meets with Goblin Slayer, knowing that he is one of the only people who could feel the same way as her. Displaying the helplessness of those with traumatic pasts help to define how the world views goblins, even if the person is the saviour of the world.
The story and character development go above and beyond, especially in episode 10. In this episode, the farm girl sits with Goblin Slayer under the stars. She speaks to him about the future, although he doesn't understand what she means by this. The farm girl has been previously introduced as a minor character with little involvement in the Goblin Slayer's work but is connected to his past. The following scene helps illustrate the sadness she feels for the Goblin Slayer and that, though she is cheerful, she understands the world as much as Goblin Slayer does. She begins a monologue explaining the life of adventurers. Adventurers will eventually grow old and tire. Eventually, the toughest people reach their limit. Though the people celebrate the victory against the Demon Lord, these days won't last forever. The Goblin Slayer will eventually tire and will perish as well, and this thought frightens her the most.
ART 9/10
The art for the world of Goblin Slayer is superb. Details in the armour, weapons, and even the environment help to create an atmosphere of terror that the creator was aiming for when writing the novels. While some complain about the CGI of goblin slayer or the goblins, I have found that it works well in this series. The evergrowing overuse of CGI in series has created a stigma behind its use altogether. Granted, there is no denying there usually isn't a need for it but CG animations can create a feel in scenes like a battle that regularly drawn animations cannot. The weight of a swing and the movement of a character is easier to depict to develop a sense of a well-choreographed battle. While it isn't necessarily needed for the Goblin Slayer, it does its job well. The clothing of the characters and their equipment help define their roles well, both in the party and with their personality.
On to the controversial scenes. These scenes depict the gruesome killings of adventurers and the rape and torture endured by the characters who come into contact with these goblins. I understand why some would find this offensive, but they play a crucial role in creating the atmosphere of the series. Do I think there is another way to depicting the horrors of the goblin race? Probably, but do I think there is a better way of doing so? No.
CHARACTER 9/10
The theme of growth and change is especially relevant in this series. A common complaint I've seen from others is that the Goblin Slayer character has no emotion and that he's a "brick wall" when it comes to personality. The characters in Goblin Slayer also don't have names and are referred to by their respective classes such as a priest or dwarf mage. While Goblin Slayer, the character, doesn't do much on his own to create a personality, his dialogue, actions, and his backstory do. The Goblin Slayer is presented as a quiet high-ranked adventurer, who is sometimes questioned for his status as the only kills low-level Goblins. As the story progresses, we see how his character is intelligent and capable as a warrior and that he rarely speaks because of his cold exterior. We are shown bits and pieces of his past to develop his reason for fighting and show the regrets he has. Goblin Slayer is a character that believes he must atone for his failures, as he could not prevent the rape and killing of his sister from the Goblins and although he has shown the capability of a skilled warrior, he too as admitted that he fears the goblins, but he hides it in battle.
The characters around Goblin Slayer help to change his perspective on the world and grow as a person little by little. His party helps him open up to others and begin to forget about his traumatic past. The Farm Girl helps to define what is left of his humanity and shows that he has a limit.
"Even if he doesn't die, there'll come a day when he'll no longer be able to slay goblins. These days won't last forever and when that day comes, what can he do? What should he do?"
SOUND/MUSIC 10/10
Opinion on sound and music is always subjective to the person experiencing it. In my opinion, the music shown in this series is fantastic and rivals that of the emotional music I've seen in popular anime movies. When I talk about the music, I don't just mean the Opening or Ending themes. While those are great, I find the score or the soundtrack amazing. The scene I described earlier in episode 10 proves this better than any scene in the anime. The choice of an orchestral score helps illicit emotion in the viewer. The understanding of what the farm girl describes and how the world never changes. The melancholy tone to contrast scenes of celebration help depicts her points as facts. I've rarely seen an anime where the music fits in so perfectly with battles, dialogue, or world building.
Overall, I believe this anime is fantastic. The in-depth depiction of a world that cares little about low-level creatures helps to build the scars our characters bring with us and how we struggle to come to terms with our past and our future. The Sword Maiden is left forever changed by her past with the goblins and is unable to find someone to understand her grief. The Goblin Slayer tries to atone for his failure to protect his sister and continues on his quest to eradicate goblins. The farm girl understands the sad future that awaits The Goblin Slayer on his path to destruction and does her best to be by his side with the precious time they have. This series is a knockout and I think anyone who truly appreciates the fantasy genre would love this series.
