That was utterly pathetic, people have no standards or their standards have been eroded from years of watching nothing but shit. Years of consuming product and getting excited for the next product, have totally brought the collective tolerance for crap down. Let me start by acknowledging that the production value is good, visually it's nice with all the sets of East European furniture and some nice landscapes. Sound-wise, acceptable I'd say, voice acting for this was so/so. Time for the meat (from this metaphorical meat and potatoes), the main reasons for this 'rant' I guess, even though I'm not even mad, I'm just apathetic and numb. Which is actually in a way worst. The story, plot, and characters. Starting with the plot. I mean nowhere original but serviceable, exceedingly similar to Irina: The Vampire Cosmonaut in many ways, though obviously very different (Cosmonaut). Here we have an authoritarian government, unexplained war, the pursuit of freedom, and some other minor plot threads. But non are really covered with any competency, and all are just 'dressing'. Characters are next. I mean, what can I tell you. I said this already but we get what we deserve. Cardboard cut-outs with surface-level motivations that are flippant, (says one thing does another). Let's examine Momo, who grew up in a 'gated' authoritarian society, where they are thought to hate vampires, and has a military mother. And you tell me "Come with me if you want to be free" is enough, just look at the real world for examples: the Asian communist countries or the past, the mind bend is hard to overcome. Plus we get no context to the world or the characters before the start of the anime. Which brings me to the story, what story though? Sorry for being a bit cheeky, but seriously what story... The characters move, sort of say, from place to place but they don't really get developed past basic and immediate, almost convenient aspects. And then we get a time skip at the end, come on you can go off the script sometimes, you don't have to follow the tutorial outlined in 'Writing for dumbos' and 'Ten basic plot threads you need to know'. I don't know if this review does anything for anyone, and probably won't sway minds, but for anyone with a similar opinion, here it is: in words.
