This show is essentially, an episodic detective mystery show. Yet, it doesn't fully commit to this idea. The murders are the focal points of each arc, yet a lot of the content of the episode is focused on the main characters' feelings, or side characters' feeling, and rarely is there a murder case that's thought provoking. You generally get to know the gist of the murderer's backstory, and the case gets closed pretty fast, with not too much focus on it for the entire episode. The episodes always have the investigation in the background, but you're basically watching the main characters interact with each other more often than not, completely ignoring the murder case. While there is definitely "investigating done," it always doesn't feel like there's too much emphasis on it, but rather, you get the idea that this show is more of "slice of life" than anything else. The way the murders are done are also not very innovative nor interesting, and it's all pretty basic. Murderer kills someone, tries to run away or frame someone else. It's not done in any elaborate fashion, and the only reason why they get away is due to the fact that this story is set in feudal Japan, where forensics and cameras are unavailable.
Well, as a result, you get to know the main characters more. But, you basically only get to know Ishikawa. The other characters don't really get too much dialogue or development, and Kyousuke especially, is a static character that doesn't get too much love despite being a major part of the story most of the time. I really can't get attached to characters if their entire role consists of being a foil to Ishikawa and playing the "straight man role." Other characters are mere ornaments that progress the story, whether it be providing clues to the murder mysteries, or being the murderer themself. I really find it strange that there are so few suspects and dialogue being spoken with different characters in each episode/arc. It means that the murderer can really be selected from a very small pool of characters. So, it doesn't really provoke any mystery. Of course, you don't really get to know how the murder was pulled off, but this is more of the fact that the show conceals essential details that Ishikawa catches onto, so it's really just a form of narration that excludes any possibility of the viewer catching onto how the murder actually happened. Rather than you discovering clues along with Ishikawa, you kind of just sit through his analysis after he figures out how the murder panned out.
I've got to admit, the art is pretty stellar. Characters notwithstanding, the backgrounds specific angles and views are pretty interesting, especially with the choreography pairing with some of the poems that get frequently thrown out. However, everything else is kind of against it.
I didn't mention pacing yet, but pacing is pretty hit or miss. Sometimes, episodes are alright in terms of pacing, and others, it's extremely rushed. I'd say the first three episodes were the best paced and overall best story-wise, and the rest are kind of just mediocre. There isn't much of a buildup from the past episodes, and it seems to be episodic until the "climax arc." Sure, there are feelings and characters that come and go, but the overall story is pretty stagnant.
I understand that this anime is a novel adaptation, so it's pretty hard to actually make good material out of a mystery novel. That being said, the end result is for all of us to see: badly paced, boring mysteries, and lack of any genuine characters other than Ishikawa brings me to unfortunately, drop this anime
