Warning! Spoiler alert!
Story
If you wanna watch this show, I'd suggest you pay attention to every little detail the characters says because not only does this show combine the detective and fantasy genres, it's also very heavy on exposion and plot progression. In/Spectre is plot-driven, not character-driven. What do I mean with that? We learn more about the world the characters live in and the mysteries the characters solve than we do about the characters themselves. That's not necessarily a bad thing, as some stories work better like that, especially when they do bother explaining what's happening around the characters.
What's really impressive about this show is how some characters have the intelligence and deduction skills of detectives and those that don't have to continuously ask questions in order to avoid lagging behind, which prevents the show from becoming a rambling mess of splitting hairs. The mysteries are complex, but never to the point where you throw your hands up and just hope for the story to end and the show itself never rubs its supposed intellectual superiority in your face. It's just a fun story about ghosts and detectives. (8/10)
Characters
This is where In/Spectre falls a bit flat: the character writing. Like I said before, In/Spectre is plot-driven, which means that we don't get that much insight into the characters' relationships or emotions beyond the problems they currently face. I don't know, maybe I'm being too harsh on the characters, but sometimes, they feel more like exposition machines than as actual human beings.
There isn't much in the way of exploration of the characters' backstories. Sure, we get flashbacks here and there and the characters do talk about the current situations they face, but they do so in a casual manner. They have already gotten used to their status quo, which means that the role of everyman, or in this case "everywoman" falls into the shoulders of Saki, the ex-girlfriend of the male protagonist.
I actually like Saki. I thought she was gonna cause friction between Kotoko and Kurou, but in the end, she accepts the relationship between them and admits that she wouldn't be able to handle the supernatural antics these characters go through on a regular basis.
Speaking of the main duo, the show doesn't really devote that much time into their relationship. When they meet, Kotoko immediately declares Kurou to be her boyfriend and he's all like "Ok, then." There's barely any meaningful conflict between them and while I won't deny there is chemistry between them, the pace of their relationship feels too fast for my liking. Still, I do like the bond that develops between them and I actually believe it when the show tells me that these are the perfect fit for each other. (7/10)
Art
A lot of attention went into the visual aspect of this show. Everything from the monsters to the backgrounds and the lighting was perfectly made and well-crafted. That said, I do think the show indulges a bit too much in blood-staining and gore. Since Kurou is immortal, that just gives the show the chance to show as much blood as possible, with the belief that "well, since Kurou is immortal, he will come back to life and we can get away with all that violence." Fortunately, it never reaches dark and gritty levels of gore, so I can live with that. (7/10)
Sounds
I really liked the OP and ED songs used for this show. One is an exciting pop-rock song that showcases the supernatural aspect of the main characters' lives and the other is a quieter dance song that puts the characters in a more relaxed atmosphere.
I also enjoyed the vocal performances in this show. I think this is the first time I've listened to Lauren Landa (Saki) voicing a major role in an anime, Brandon Winckler did a fine job as Kurou and it's always a pleasure to listen to the talents of Cristina Valenzuela (Rikka). Still, the standout performance was delivered by none other than rising star Lizzie Freeman (Kotoko). Sure, most of the time, she delivers exposition, but there are moments where Kotoko is allowed to be more emotional and that's where Lizzie truly shines as a performer. (8/10)
Conclusion
In/Spectre likely won't rewrite the book on anime about detectives and ghosts, but luckily, it never needed to. Sure, the character writing could have been a bit better, but the show makes up for that with excellent does of supernatural mystery and detective intrigue. I am looking forward to see what season 2 has in store for us. (7/10)
