When I first got into season 1, I was touched with how wholesome the story was, especially with the main protagonists being wholesome middle schoolers who are filled with dreams and guts. There was no way that I wouldn't like the characters, whether it be the mangakas or the editors.
In addition, every single work that Ashirogi Muto submits for the magazine contests are absolutely amazing. I was in awe with hearing about these great story premises, but I would be disappointed again and again when I find out that their stories fail. But this is to be expected because what is a story without challenges?
However, I ended up feeling that the great works that Ashirogi Muto have been coming up with in season 1 have all gone to waste. If they are barely mentioned later on, were they even relevant to begin with? Thus, I dropped Bakuman for an entire year until recently. Writing this review after finishing season 2 and 3, I still believe that they used their bad story premises -in my opinion- later on and allowed all the good ones to go to waste in season 1.
Because season 1 was so disappointing and also too realistically slow, it was really hard for me to get into Bakuman, but I think it was worth it in the end. Although it continues to be realistically slow, the seasons do get better and better.
