The plot is great but there could have been better character development. The characters are interesting but for some reason, I just feel like they could have done a better job of showing us character growth as a result of the experiences the characters went through. Don't get me wrong, I love all the characters in this show. But I feel like the job didn't do a good enough job making me emotionally invested in the characters. It's not a masterpiece, but it's most definitely an underrated anime that deserves a lot more attention and praise than it has received.
It's probably my favorite or second favorite anime series of the season. It was just so different than your typical anime. You rarely see something this unique. It combines elements of Feudal Japan with 18th century European history.
Was it one of the most remarkabley well written plots of all time? No, I agree with many of the critics that many parts felt rushed as they had to condense the story in a 12-episode series. I feel like if the writers had more breathing room, perhaps 24 episodes, the pacing issues would have not occured. However, they did their best with the limited time they were provided to give us a full story arc in this complex world they created in only 12 23-minute episodes.
I think anyone who enjoyed LOTR or Game of Thrones, epic fantasies, will definitely derive a great deal of enjoyment from this show. It is not your typical anime; it's more mature and the atmosphere it creates is completely different from any other anime I've watched in decades. It honestly doesn't even feel like an anime. It feels like something completely unique. Perhaps that's why I've rated higher than many others hear on MAL.
I always show a bit of favoritism to anyone trying to do something new and daring in any film, live-action TV series, or anime. I wish more anime would try to do something completely different like this. We need more writers and producers willing to challenge the conventional tropes of anime and create something entirely unique. So that's a big part of why I've rated this show a 9/10 overall. I hope the poor reception this anime received won't discourage other anime production companies to try something that isn't defined by the same, tired out, trite, cliched, boring, seen it 100 times before-style anime.
