7S is planted in post-apocalyptic soil. Varied Teams of 7 awaken to what is, apparently, a pristine alien-like ๐; one that's different than the world they all remember in more ways than just the strange virgin landscape.
The team we follow (Summer B) doesn't know what is going on or why they are here; neither do they have any special knowledge or skills. It later comes out that they are a back-up, or alternate team to one of the main ones (Summer A) which only serves to exacerbate the frustration & confusion.
Straightaway, they learn that their situation is perilous. It's been many multiple decades since civilization went under. They aren't entirely sure /how long/ they've been asleep, but there's been sufficient ๐ for new creatures to evolve. (Radiation may have had a hand in that). The fauna & flora aren't familiar, and much of it is killer. Seriously, it's deadly. People are dying. As the team ventures out, they will begin to meet other teams, some of which woke up years ago. Are you guessing that one of the biggest threats turns out to be mankind? To write it any other way would just be /too/ fantastical! Will these teams be able to cultivate a better society this time around? Things never seem to evโปlve /that/ way, D๐ค they?
As we get to know assorted teams & individuals, it just gets weirder. What IS the plan? There's no pattern to any of it. Some teams have specialists, some just have high schoolers & college athletes, and some have specific vocations. Some teams are combat trained, some teams had intensive survivalist training, and other teams, like Summer B wake up with no idea ~at all~ of what is going on. They all have team leaders, but there's no pattern to the leaders, either. They're are of all different hues.
One team is the furthest from typical: They are weapons trained, highly dangerous, and probably highly disturbed. There are other shady characters, put forth as monitors of some type, spotted here and there. It does make the viewer wonder: 'What is really going on?' That scary team, the one with the intensive training, always talks about the rough tests that they were put through. Some even have flashbacks about them. Some of them get confused as to whether the tests are still going on or not... With no idea what the coming story is, one still is tempted (or taunted) to speculate about the nature of the reality depicted.
I started 7S and another anime at the same time. I'm still familiarizing myself with anime by mixing subgenres and a variety of ratings. The other show is a light-hearted space romp following a pure-hearted teenaged boy who discovers he has powers. Tired out template aside, it's a fun piece. Initially, 7S seemed slow by comparison, so I picked off single episodes gradually, and appreciation finally swelled like the growing tide.
Every episode uncovers new drama or mystery all leading to more adventure. The plants are new, the animals are new, the dangers are new (and old) and the net ๐ is down. ALL the nets are down. Later episodes deal with a crazy abandoned ship that they explore. The whole sequence is just good 'ol ๐บ. The artwork๐จ is largely standard, but it's also gorgeous at times. There's close ups of water that are mesmerizing.
7S is imaginative & clever. It's sad and rough and even shocking at times. Sadly, by the end of S2, even the likable protags aren't likely to form a strong bond with viewers. There's potential, but the stage is still being set. The seeds (ahem) have been sewn for alliances and families to form. Next could only be factions & war. Some other heavy drama is in the forecast as well. I think we can all feel a shocker or two rumbling in the distance
Who's the troublemaker? In a show with almost no ๐ , we have the Ginger. Our Ginger is not a Weasley, but he is a bit of a weasel & thief. Perhaps he'll try to be better for the wholesome female he seems to like: At the times when it /really/ matters, he's been coming through. Snarkily fun, he's written right down the middle & could go either way. You just wouldn't want to buy a used car from him. He's the closest thing to any sort of fun. {Understood; it's not Shaun Of The Dead & the post-apocalyptic era isn't supposed to be fun ~> T๐ s๐n}
The bad news is that it's a 2-&-done. When it's just getting good, it ends. The show probably lost viewers between seasons 1 & 2 since S1 doesn't provide much bounty. Many viewers probably didn't care to see what's growing up at 7S in S2. It's a shame, because S2 carries the story up like a climbing vine.
All-in-all, 7S is good. It starts average, but ends up better-than. Furthermore, this anime, based on a 35 vol manga that was written over a span of 16 impressive years, has not been officially canceled. This means that there's a chance that S3, though not yet announced, may still happen. Without a doubt, I want to know what ๐ฑsprouts up next. Manga readers already know. No spilling the seeds, though, until we're sure the anime is fully grown๐พ
ใฐ๐ IMHO
๐ฌ6.5 ใฐ๐7.5 ๐ญ7 ๐5 ๐ฆ5 ๐ 1โก 7 ๐ค7 ๐จ7.5 ๐1 ๐?
Age 14+
I was surprised to see 7S listed with a mature rating. I don't recall anything that would warrant it. Some 14 year-olds might find this too disturbing, but most probably won't. There are difficult emotional, and physically violent situations (though not gratuitous, gory, nor graphic).
There's one attempted sexual assault, though it stops as it starts, almost. It's brought into question later whether it was merely an attempt to scare the woman. (I realize that doesn't matter much; it's scary, and it's assault either way, but it aptly illustrates how, after the fact, more than one version of things is likely to come out). 7S is actually sugar-coated. In a world where there are no law enforcers, and no laws, it's dangerous for everybody; that always goes 10-fold for women. The female protags in 7S are worth emulating. They are growing strong, so as to stand on their own. They're learning to rely on themselves, not other people, and at the same time, they want to contribute and not let the team down.
Anime, in general, is not something that you watch with your brain turned off. The ๐ใฐ in shows like 7S, and the more jolting Tokyo Ghoul and Psycho Pass, is always about overcoming the black ๐ค heart of humanity. How can one do that, if one is not aware of it or not able to comprehend it? Anime usually leaves us with many things to be pondered and discussed later. Thus, all the geek๐คfans....
Age recommendations are listed to enable parents to evaluate what they want their kids to ๐, and what they permit their kids to watch alone. We all have to consider our philosophy of parenting: Is parenting supposed to be about shielding your children from everything unpleasant, or exposing them in the right way at the right time, so that you can prepare them to deal with the big bad ๐? I'll encourage you to consider taking every opportunity available to let your daughter know: 1. She needs to be aware of what's going on around her 2. Be prepared to defend oneself. Be strong. 3. But! Factually, at the end of the day, most women won't be able to fend off most men. Therefore, to maintain safety, avoid bad situations that could set up something like that. 4. Don't go into a potentially vulnerable situation with somebody who has not earned your trust yet. Trust should not be given, it should be earned.
Originally ใฐ๏ธ๐ 8/2022
