**Story: 9/10**
Dr. Stone offers a compelling and unique premise, but that's where things start to go downhill. The narrative has immense potential that piqued my interest from the beginning. However, while the concept is strong, the pacing can be slow, and the execution is less than perfect.
Nevertheless, it does its job in highlighting the thousands of years of history that have culminated in our modern society and what would result if everything were lost. It definitely made me appreciate everything that has contributed to our current way of life. I also thoroughly enjoy learning about the basics of the technology we use today and how they came to be.
Despite how extravagant everything is treated in the show, it draws from real-world science which (when taken with a grain of salt) can be an enjoyable way to discover more about the past, present, and future of engineering.
Also please take into consideration that I really romanticize the story in my head. If I weren't such a science nerd and didn't fill in the gaping holes in this plot with my own aspirations, it would probably be much less praiseworthy in my eyes.
**Characters: 7/10**
The characters in Dr. Stone are watchable, albeit not groundbreaking. Senku, the protagonist, is, to me, an enjoyable character with his super-genius intellect and unwavering ability to problem solve. It's certainly interesting to see what sorts of contraptions he will create, whether plausible or not, and how he will get there. Yes, it's completely unfathomable that he would be able to do 95% of the things he does, but who cares? It's fun, it's exciting, it's a fantasy anime for god's sake!
However, his personality can be a bit inconsistent, as he oscillates between being emotionally detached and deeply invested, makimg him a pseudo-tsundere character, an extremely common archetype. Honestly, I think it would have been refreshing to see someone who is genuinely and completely apathetic for once, but I guess we can't have our cake and eat it too.
I must say, I can still be a trope lover at times and I happen to foam at the mouth for insanely powerful characters that haven't shown their true powers yet and are mistreated until they prove themselves, but it's actually easy to do because they are so powerful. Oddly specific, but Senku fits the bill. While he may not be everyone's cup of tea, I find him to be engaging, especially since I can relate to his way of thinking and his personality in general.
Gen, the mentalist, is another favorite of mine, bringing a charming cunningness to the group, even if he's also not particularly original.
Chrome is... Chrome. I have a STRONG personal vendetta against characters like him. Hard to explain, but he is meh to me.
Finally, as a girl myself, female characters are constantly under scrutiny in my eyes. And in the case of Dr. Stone, while they may not pass with flying colors, I really have no qualms with them. They are decently written and treated with respect. Best of all, they aren't subjected to unnecessary fan service, which is SO refreshing. While they may not have the strongest personalities, I'd rather they be simple, genuine girls than poorly characterized stereotypes with no soul. That said, it is unfortunate that some of the more important female characters lack depth.
**Art: 7/10**
The art style of Dr. Stone is appealing enough, though certainly not exceptional. Most character designs are memorable but nothing to write home about. The animation quality is consistent but not particularly outstanding. There are moments where it truly shines, but overall, it's serviceable.
**Enjoyment: 9/10**
While Dr. Stone isn't perfect, it offers me (emphasis on ME) a lot of enjoyment. I would definitely recommend this show to those interested in science and history. Again, it must be taken with a grain of salt as it's highly outrageous most of the time, but I think embracing the splendor of it all is part of the experience.
The show does have its drawbacks, such as the overbearing shounen comedy and occasional pacing issues (I wish Senku, and fricken Chrome, were less shounen MC; they both yell a lot ðŸ˜). However, the joy I get from learning about scientific principles and seeing them applied in creative ways outweighs these flaws in my books. The potential of the series to inspire curiosity and appreciation for human ingenuity is one of its greatest strengths.
**Conclusion:**
Dr. Stone, while not the most refreshing take on the shounen genre, brings science and storytelling together, creating a certainly unique concept. Despite its imperfections, it succeeded in constantly kindling my interest in chemistry and physics. I look forward to seeing how the series continues to evolve and hope it does better to reach its potential as it continues.
