In contrast to its colorful prequels, the show was hinted to have a gloomy atmosphere in the trailers, and it did start off with a depressing battle that depicted the dreadfulness of the shipgirls in late (fictional) WW2. The battle was well-executed with great music and atmosphere, but the episodes that followed were a massive let-down. The pacing dropped significantly and the show dragged on with filler episodes. I don’t know why the story kept progressing so slowly even though it only has EIGHT episodes. Moreover, the lack of dialogue in these fillers also made the show dull and unexciting.
Furthermore, the show went back and forth with its timeline and setting, making it difficult to follow. In episode four, we were shown that the show took place in the 1940s, but then Shigure had strange memories that came out of nowhere without any explanation. Anyone watching the show without prior experience with the game would be extremely confused.
As a long-term Kancolle player, it is with sadness that I must say this show is not worth watching. I was drawn to the unique theme of a gloomy WW2 anime, but the poor execution really wasted its potential. The only redeeming factor of the anime was the excellent soundtrack. I hope the last two episodes can change my mind, but delays after delays made this season a let down.
