As a fan of the OVA, I had high hopes coming into this season. This season adapts all but the last chapter of book 3 of the novels (will conclude first episode of next season), so that means we're just getting into the juicy parts of the story.
As a movie trilogy, the production values are excellent. The CGI has improved massively, the artwork is more crisp and refined, the animation is fluent, the space battles are epic. Nothing less for an amazing series. Even the ED is entirely CG, and mixed with the song as the camera scrolls backwards through the battlefield and into the command ships, it gives that feeling of tragedy and sorrow, which fits the show well. It's definitely my favorite ED in terms of song and animation, but Binary Star still remains my favorite OP.
The show is still missing that old classical soundtrack that the OVA used, however, I think modern orchestral music still fits really well with the modern aesthetic and art style of the show. And it's been used properly in many of the dialogue scenes to bring out the key tones that the viewers feel as the story progresses and as the characters philosophize about war and politics. And as the seasons go on, we'll hear more tracks come out.
Perhaps movie trilogies are the way to go for the series. If they can produce this quality of animation and earn their money back to invest in even more seasons on a regular basis, then more power to them. It might look weird as the entry types on MAL would be Movie, but who cares as long as they adapt all 10 volumes?
Since I've already seen the OVA, I have nothing to say about the story and characters as they're already a 10/10.
Overall, my high hopes and expectations have truly been met for this season. I wanted to give this a 9-9.5/10 since this is only one small part of the story, but the show has impressed me enough to say 'fuck it' and give it a 10/10. I think from now on is where the remake is really gonna shine if I.G. play their cards right.
