Story [3]
Yes, many of you readers have seen reviews of people ranting on the lack of originality, and that it's a Code Geass rip-off, and all that. Yes, those are all true, but if there's one thing Guilty Crown has been failing on, it's delivery. It ends with interesting cliffhangers, so the viewer (myself being the prime example) feels compelled to watch the next episode, expecting something different because the cliffhangers are always interesting. I've been disappointed every single episode I saw.
The pacing has also been sloppy, and out of eleven episodes, three of them I actually liked. It's the only thing that's keeping me going on this series, because I don't think this series has terrific writing...but it definitely does not lack the potential to change.
However, I'm in desire to see that change. Many series can make a turnabout, and a series isn't defined by an overall score based on five components. Sometimes it takes the very last episode to make a series, and I want to give Guilty Crown that chance, so final rating pending.
FINAL RATING: 5
Second half had a much more cohesive story, nowhere near as insipid as the first half, and although the good material was sadly rushed, nowhere near as cliche anymore, which was nice. Maybe some events could've been switched around, but hey, it did better going to the end, and satisfying conclusion, in the sense that I compare it to its first half, the second half of the anime had improved writing. Complaints? Of course I do, it's not a 10, but the backstory had some thought, and Guilty Crown managed to do its best to conclude the story as fully as possible, and it didn't get nothing from it.
Art [10]
Can't say much here. redjuice has always made terrific designs, and the lighting of the scenery is always so fulfilling to the overall enjoyment. The animation itself is very fluid, and it's not the best of the season (I greatly prefer Fate/Zero's), but the scenery and the designs of just...well, everything, it's unique, and wins big points for this series.
FINAL RATING: 10
Nothing to say here.
Sound [10]
Music is terrific. I would totally buy the OST for this and rape the replay button. Couple of cheesy inserts, but nothing is perfect. I can just delete bad tracks, since I'm assuming I would buy a digital OST.
Fabulous job. Just fabulous.
FINAL RATING: 10
Especially with the OST finally out.
Character [2]
Wish I could give the same praise here though. The show isn't destroyed by its supposedly generic premise. The premise itself have become familiar among this community, but it's all about execution. Like before, they haven't delivered, but it's alright when it comes to plot, since the plot is driven by the characters...
...but if the characters are terrible, the plot is made that much more worse. Yes, these characters are flat, emotionless, predictable, and obscure. I don't want to sound like I'm hating on the characters, because I do like a couple of them like Ayase and Segai, who give off the most potential.
The main character can get especially annoying, and interesting when his time to shine is executed correctly, which did happen, for me at least. Ouma Shu would be Emiya Shirou to me. Get a lot of hate, but they have their merits.
And to continue commenting on Shu, I feel that the writers try to make him connect with the crowd, and make him develop, but I feel that Shu remained stagnant. He never seemed any more different, and he always makes decisions late, and well...he didn't change at all. When the series is half-way done and the main character is like this, there's something to be done.
I can only hope that it's actually delivered this time.
FINAL RATING: 5
Character development! And tons of it, in delicious forms! And Shu became more cool! And I can go on and on, but I won't, because you need to watch it yourself!
Definitely an improvement, yes, could've done better, since the development was really rushed, but the rushed development means nothing when you know the anime was only supposed to be here for 22 episodes anyways.
Enjoyment [5]
My first impression was delivered moderately. Not the best, but it was pretty damn good. It went downhill from there, although it had its moments of awesome that made me wish for more.
Because those moments of awesome were just awesome.
Art and sound really helped me keep up with this too, I feel like the series can win an Academy Award equivalent for anime with its animation and OST. It's just that good.
FINAL RATING: 7
Nuff said.
Final rating pending.
FINAL RATING: 7
I'm so happy I had faith.
