The magical girls’ genre is part of a series of conventions that make this theme somewhat relaxed that serves as a fantasy for girls. However, if we want to take it seriously, the key would be to start from the reality of magical girls and see its logical consequences. That is to say: what inconveniences, dramas, reflections, situations can occur if there were really fourteen-year-olds who face monsters. For this, we should use the genre itself, not create alternative magical girls with alternative problems that have nothing to do with the idea of shojo of magical girls that we know.
I do not know if I am explaining myself clearly, but this seems to me very important to discard "Madoka Magica" as an anime that shows the dark side of magical girls. Lie. What it does is simply prime that magical world with random personal dramas, which could be on any other theme, with any other characters. That desires bring despair (why? Why!) Or want to kill each other is not inherent to gender nor is it because they have magical powers; It is because the author has wanted to do it like this to create a story of magical girls seinen that is very serious.
In this way, as seinen of magical girls it is too silly. The absolute lack of communication between the warriors and their selfishness and / or narcissism when facing the enemy are two totally artificial conflicts: talking to each other and collaborating together one hundred percent of their problems are solved. What's on your mind, really? The very psychology of these girls is chaotic: I make myself sick because Pepito doesn't love me; today I'm trying to kill you just because tomorrow we become friends just because; He was kind to me and I am faithful to him for life ..., but beware, saving the world is the least of it, I do it for her and only for her ... Please ...
There is a time travel plot that although you already imagined it is cool, at least as an idea, and that is revealed and developed in the last four chapters, which are the ones that raise a dot to the series. The design of the witches' world, very original, and in sharp contrast to that of the main characters, of a possibly intentional childishness, also has merit.
Anyway, it is nothing spectacular.
