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NickCosio
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Nagato Yuki-chan no Shoshitsu (2015)
I guess these characters just aren't for me.
I wasn't a big fan of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (see my review of that), but thought that Nagato was by far the most interesting part of that show. I also watched The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya and liked it, but still thought it had a lot of the same issues as the show. I still watched this show because I wanted to see if they could do the character of Nagato justice, and because I'm a completionist. Unfortunately this series didn't offer me what I was looking for with the character, nor with the premise as a rom com. In terms of being a rom com, it is about the most generic and uninspired one I've seen so far. It offers nothing unique to make it stand out in the genre, and only by end do they even try to be interesting. I am generously giving this show a 6/10 because there were more parts that I liked here than in the previous series, but I would not recommend this show or the original show. Maybe the movie though.
Over the Garden Wall (2014)
Worth the watch.
I'll admit that I wasn't interested in this series at first, as the art style isn't my preference. I was pleasantly surprised and found myself really enjoying this mini series for most of it. I think a big part of my enjoyment was the humor; it lifts the tone and makes for a really fun and captivating experience. The characters all worked for me mostly, and they were voice acted very well. I would have to say my biggest complaint is that the ending felt a little rushed, and could've used a little more lead up to it. Overall I found this to be an enjoyable little series, and I think anyone can check this out and likely have a good time with it as well.
Go-Toubun no Hanayome (2019)
One of my favorites.
Having seen this anime a couple times all the way through now, I feel confident saying this is one of my favorites in the rom com genre. I won't spoil anything in this review, but one of my favorite parts about the show is the journey to learn who Futaro ends up with. There is extreme care put into all the little details throughout the series and each of the quintuplets was made to be unique and stand out as there own character, as well as perfectly blend as a group of five sisters. On my most recent watch, I was pleasantly surprised at how funny the show was, and although not every joke or funny moment will make you laugh out loud, a lot of them will get you to smile. And that's what this show ultimately is, a fun and enjoyable time from beginning to end with plenty of satisfying moments. I highly recommend this show to any and all anime fans. Lastly for those who care, I thought the movie was well done and a worthy ending, but a bit long with some pacing issues.
Suzumiya Haruhi no yûutsu (2006)
The Failure of Haruhi Suzumiya
This show really challenged my patience, and I typically consider myself to be a really patient viewer. I forced myself to watch all 9 seasons of The Flash, so I'm no stranger to toughing it out through slogs. I did like quite a bit about this show when it was first starting, and after finishing it that opinion still holds true. Some of the character moments can be really fun, and when they are acting likeable I found myself really enjoying the show. Unfortunately that is not most of the time, as I though the main character Haruhi was unbearable about 80% of the time. Her treatment of her "friends", particularly Mikuru Asahira, is abysmal and even disgusting at times, and I personally didn't enjoy watching those interactions. The show doesn't do a good job of explaining why she acts this way either, basically saying that she can do whatever she wants and everyone just has to go along with it. Am I supposed to just accept and like that explanation?
I realize there is a movie that follows this show that may explain Haruhi more, but I won't give this show credit for that if that is the case. When I'm watching a show, I should not be expected to watch or read anything outside of that show to explain what's going on. You can have extra media like that to enhance the original content, but it cannot cover up for it. I also thought there was way too much narration. Often what was being said wasn't entirely important, and sometimes it was difficult to tell when Kyon was speaking to someone or just narrating/thinking to himself. It was done to such a degree that I'm positive that as a viewer I have a stronger connection to and understanding of Kyon than anyone else in the main cast does, and I know that was not the intention.
And of course I have to mention the Endless Eight episodes, which for those who haven't seen the show yet is the same episode shown eight times in a row with the slightest of differences. I don't give any merit to those differences, and I cannot believe this show got away with doing this. That was just about the laziest way to fill an 8 episode slot I have ever seen. As horribly written the final seasons of The Flash were, at least each episode was uniquely written. I don't think there's a justification anyone could give that could make me forgive this. If you are going to watch this show, I implore you to only watch Endless Eight I and Endless Eight VIII. The tiny differences in each episode are not important and do not justify watching each one. Please save yourself the time.
There was more with the show that bothered me, but what I have mentioned were the main things. I do not recommend this show at all; I think it just has far too much wrong with it. I do plan on watching the movie, as well as the Nagato spinoff show just because I'm a completionist.
Seijo no Maryoku wa Bannou Desu (2021)
Has fun moments but mostly generic.
Unfortunately I didn't find that this anime added anything new to its genre and is a pretty standard fantasy isekai in the end. There were some interesting ideas here and some good character moments, but not enough. The biggest issue for me were the characters; there was no standout among the cast and just about no one had an interesting story going on with them. The whole show is basically just watching the characters float around the world doing everyday tasks and talking to one another, which isn't inherently bad, but ends up being a bit boring when nothing else is going on. Plus the conversations for the most part aren't all that interesting, and as I stated before neither are there characters, so we end up with 24 episodes of bland characters having bland conversations. I don't recommend this show and you could find much better in the isekai genre, both in the romance, fantasy, and comedy spaces.
Isekai Yakkyoku (2022)
Surprisingly original and uniquely fun.
I will get my biggest flaw with Parallel World Pharmacy out of the way first, that being that the show's ending is slightly rushed. I'm not asking for a 10 season run or anything, but another season or two would've been justified due to the vast and interesting world that had been set up in the 12 episodes that we did get. So many powers, countries, ideas, characters, and more were merely just mentioned and it would've been really cool to learn more about those things. Other than that this show took me by surprise, as it starts out pretty basic. By episode 7 I was enjoying the show, but it was nothing too special. Not to exaggerate too much, but episode 8 was one of the greatest episodes of a TV show I have seen in a long time, and from there it was consistently great. Episode 8 made a unique choice to follow someone other than the main protagonist, and I really appreciated that as I think it turned the show from a standard isekai anime into a fantasy drama about class hierarchy. There are also a lot of unintentionally funny moments throughout the show, but if anything they just made me like it that much more. If you like isekai anime, I think Parallel World Pharmacy is a good watch.
Hige o Soru. Soshite Joshikousei o Hirou. (2021)
Satisfying show held up by likable characters.
Higehiro is different from the other animes I have seen in this genre, particularly because it is more serious and the protagonist is a bit older. Neither of these ended up being an issue for me, but I would be lying if I said it didn't worry me at first. I tend to enjoy the more lighthearted and comedic animes because that's what I watch them for, but Higehiro surprised me with how much it gets you to care and root for the main characters. The show does a great job of having the character interactions not only be believable, but also satisfying, which for me went a long way. Without spoiling anything, I would've liked the ending to be more complete. It isn't incomplete, but it does that thing where it ends on a cliffhanger of sorts and leaves the fates of the main characters up to interpretation, although heavily implying a specific resolution. I wish shows would stop teasing viewers like this, especially in shows that invest the viewer so much into the main characters. Either show a complete and satisfying resolution or just cut it off with no tease, preferably the first option. I believe that viewers deserve a worthy payoff for their time investment, and as a creator I would want my characters journey's to be complete. Higehiro overall, although slightly on the heavier side, is an enjoyable anime that I would recommend you check out.
Green Lantern: The Animated Series (2011)
The Best Green Lantern Content Out There
If you're a DC fan or like the Justice League and haven't seen this show yet, I highly recommend it. I didn't really understand or like the character of Hal Jordan/Green Lantern before I saw this show, mostly because I hadn't seen anything about the character that was particularly well done. This series does that for me, and not just for Hal Jordan. Its extremely impressive how this show manages its story, characters, and lore in not just a coherent way, but also a mature way. This show doesn't feel like it was made for kids, and a lot of the character arcs are pretty complex, and the show deals with a lot of more mature themes that kids likely wouldn't understand. If I had to point out a flaw I had with the show, it would be that it took it a few episodes to find its footing. The first half dozen or so are made up of a lot of filler, and come off as a bland "saturday morning cartoon" rather than a compelling series. But I think soon enough it gets on track and delivers a really compelling plot. My favorite part of the series has to be the character of Razer. I found his character in particular to be quite deep and thought it was done in a complete and satisfying way. Again, if you have not seen this show and are a DC fan, I highly recommend it.
Sonic X (2003)
A good Sonic show, a great Tails show!
Sonic X is the 4th Sonic show that I've seen, after Sonic Boom, Sonic Prime, and Knuckles. Interestingly, Sonic X has just about nothing in common with those other shows, and I liked that about it. Each Sonic show I have seen so far has had a unique story to tell and as a new Sonic fan I appreciate having a wide selection of stories to explore. From my understanding, Sonic X adapts the Sonic Adventure games' stories and as far as I am aware the show did an excellent job at that.
The show technically has 3 seasons, but its a bit confusing knowing when one season ends and another begins, so I think its easier to follow the sagas instead. Some sagas are definitely better than others, but I did enjoy them all. By far season 3, or the Metarex Saga, was my favorite. Tails is my favorite Sonic character, and I like that he got a lot of character in this show, especially in that saga. I also think its hilarious how OP Tails is in this show as an inventor. He builds a giant spaceship in like 6 months and it is 100% complete with an insane amount of features and details. Some characters where a bit lacking when it comes to their actual character, but that didn't mean they still weren't enjoyable. My biggest complaint with the show would be Chris' character, as in the first 2 seasons he is pretty annoying and doesn't add a whole lot to the show. In fact he often takes away from the characters you are really there to see.
I watched the original Japanese dub and recommend it over the English dub, which I normally wouldn't do. The reason that I do is that I found out before I started the show that the English dub infamously had changed scenes and dialog from the Japanese version or removed them all together. I would also recommend buying the Blu-ray and watching it that way, unless you can find the Japanese version streaming without ads cause it is a longer show.
Overall Sonic X is another enjoyable Sonic show that only made me that much more of a fan. It is on the longer side, but I think the stories and character arcs you get out of it are enough to justify the time spent.
Higher Ground (2000)
Not bad, but I don't see what makes it great.
After watching Higher Ground from beginning to end, I did enjoy it. But I think giving it a 9/10 or a 10/10 is a bit generous and I don't understand why it gets such high praise. Sure the show deals with a lot of big character moments, sensitive subjects, and mature themes, but I have 2 issues with that. The first is that the entire show focuses on those things, so there isn't any lighter parts or middle ground. At times they try to have the kids act normally, but in the end they always blame whatever issues they had and don't seem to make progress with themselves. Also on this point, the show is too dramatic and too serious, and needed more levity thrown in throughout. When a show takes itself this seriously, the few funny moments that are there don't work as intended and the rest becomes predictable. I guess I'm confused on the point of the show/the school in the show; are they helping students learn to live with their problems, move on from their problems, or just keep the problem kids away from the normal kids? The other issue I had about halfway through was connecting to the characters. I'm not saying you need to have the same issues or be in the same situation as a character to relate to or feel for them, but in this case I did feel that way as the show feels preachy in that regard. Clearly they wanted you to care for the characters, and feel something whenever something happened to them and I can't say that I did. Overall I think it is a decent show, but not one I will be rushing to recommend to people.
Krypton (2018)
Why did they chose to go this route?
I think the premise of doing a show about Kypton before Superman and the planet's destruction could make for an interesting political drama mini series. What we got however, was some of the most bizarre creative choices I've seen since Pennyworth. So they set the show 200 years before the destruction of Krypton and focus on Superman's grandfather as the main character, but why exactly? Was there a super interesting story to tell with this character from the comics? Not from what I saw, and according to the trivia here on IMDb Seg-El was given his name for this show and was based on the creators of Superman. So we have a completely invented main character and out of left field point in time for our story. So what other characters and villains are we going to work with? Oh only Brainiac, General Zod, Lobo, Adam Strange, and Doomsday of course! And by the way, Zod, Adam Strange, and possibly Lobo too are all from the future where they know of Superman and Krypton's fate. So I was left completely confused what the writers and creators were trying to do here. If they wanted a story about Krypton before Superman existed, why inject so much Superman stuff into it? If its the opposite, why not just do a Superman show? It wasn't a complete waste of time, I thought some of the characters had interesting things going on with them about half of the time. This whole show is half decent ideas and half "what were you thinking?", so I give it a 5/10. Can't say I recommend it, not even to big DC or Superman fans, although it isn't the worst DC show I've seen.
Sonic Prime (2022)
Rough Start to Overall Pretty Good
I though the first season of Sonic Prime took way too much time setting up its world and characters, and that's really all it does. Luckily season 2 picks it up and really starts moving, both with the story and the characters. Although season 1's long setup was kind of necessary to have season 2 move how it did, I still think it hurts season 1 overall. Season 3 was interesting, but at times really felt like they were stretching the final battle to fill all 7 episodes. So I would describe watching Sonic Prime as a little tedious but overall enjoyable.
These versions of the classic characters were fun to watch, although at first I wasn't really on board with them. By far the most interesting was Nine. Tails is my favorite Sonic character, so I was bummed at first that he was replaced with this more serious version. But after learning about Nine and why he was the way that he was I found myself fully invested anytime he was on screen. The rest of the characters are alright, but more definitely could have been done to make them as interesting as Nine. The Chaos Council for example is more or less just five tropes/stereotypes and not five unique characters with individual goals and ambitions.
I think your enjoyment of Sonic Prime will rely heavily on whether or not you are a Sonic fan, and if you have a lot of patience. The biggest issues for me were the slow start in season 1, the drawn out repetitive battles, and a lot of the characters not being that interesting. The biggest strengths for me were the art style and facial expressions, Nine, the diversity of locations, and the creativity with the Sonic cast and lore. If you are a Sonic fan, I would recommend giving Sonic Prime a try.
Smallville (2001)
I have come to appreciate what Smallville has to offer.
I originally watched this show in its entirety back in 2020 on Hulu, and by the time I was done I wanted nothing to do with it. My biggest issues with it were that I thought it went on for way too long, and the romance between Lana and Clark eventually got in the way of the characters or show growing. After sitting on it for a few years and listening to Michael Rosenbaum's podcasts talking about the show, I got interested in giving it another try, so I got the complete series on Blu-ray and watched it again from beginning to end in about 5 months. I definitely liked it more the second time, but I think that has a lot to do with what I learned watching it the first time.
There are some things I would highly recommend for people considering watching Smallville: 1) Take your time going through it. Don't look at it as a 10 season show, just start at season 1 and go on from there. 2) Unless you are paying for no ads, don't watch this on Hulu. The ad time will add another couple months to the total runtime. 3) If you are like me and have seen other superhero shows before watching this, remember that no show like Smallville had been done before, and it is technically not a superhero show. 4) It's also not a Superman show, it's a Clark Kent show. You know what that means if you've seen it, but basically don't expect this show to make perfect sense for Superman, because it doesn't.
Back to my original complaints, after watching it again I have to agree with both still, but only partially. When it comes to Clark and Lana's relationship, it is 7 and a half seasons of on and off over and over. By season 7 I was over it and ready for him to move on to Lois, who at that point had been there for 2 seasons already. The biggest offense was in season 8 when Clark and Lois are finally ready to be together, then Lana literally walks in between them and Clark reverts back to her. Sure she's gone for good 2 episodes later. But it's still annoying that the writers couldn't help themselves do it one more time. 6 seasons of Lana and Clark is the absolute most that should've been here, and I stand by that.
I still do think this season ran a few too many seasons long as well, 3 seasons to be exact. Season 7 should've revolved around a different main plot and been the final season. There were still good episodes and things that I liked in seasons 8-10, but overall they just didn't do all that much with the exception of expanding on Clark and Lois. Tess was added in season 8 of the show, and although she wasn't a bad character, she doesn't add anything that Lex didn't already do. In the end that's all she is, a replacement for Lex and Chloe. Smallville does an excellent job for the most part utilizing its cast in interesting ways, and that's not something a lot of shows can say. For this being an early 2000s TV show, the effects really hold up today and even impressed me multiple times.
Seasons 1-5 are where Smallville really is special, as that's where I think the original vision and ideas for this show were. Clark's time in high school, maturing under the guidance of his parents, slowly learning about his Kryptonian origins, and his friendship with Lex are the plotlines I really got invested in the most with this show and missed when they were gone. The last three seasons in particular mainly just focus on Clarks slow evolution into Superman and his relationship with Lois, which aren't boring, they're just not as interesting as those others. The cast is the heart of Smallville, because even though the writing was solid for the most part, it's the actors and their performances which elevated so many episodes and scenes. Once John Schneider left the show, that was the real turning point for me. He had such a presence and influence on Clarks character, that it was just never the same without him, and the same can be said after John Glover and Michael Rosenbaum left after season 7. Justin Hartley was good and Cassidy Freeman wasn't bad, but their roles just couldn't compare to what was there previously.
Smallville is one of the better DC shows, and is at least worth giving a try. You can easily start it, and decide to stop watching after any season you want. I personally rated each season as follows: Season 1: 7/10, Season 2: 8/10, Season 3: 7/10, Season 4: 7/10, Season 5: 7/10, Season 6: 6.5/10, Season 7: 6/10, Season 8: 6/10, Season 9: 6.5/10, Season 10: 6.5/10. I would recommend watching seasons 1-5, and continuing on if you're really enjoying the show at that point. I don't think any season is particularly bad, but the second half is noticeably not as interesting if you ask me. I do also highly recommend listening to the Talkville podcast with Tom Welling and Michael Rosenbaum, as they go in depth with behind the scenes trivia on every episode which just made the show better for me.
Seiken no burakkusumisu (2009)
An average anime with interesting characters.
The Sacred Blacksmith doesn't do anything too special, but there were a few times I found myself fairly interested in certain characters. I thought that by the end Luke and Lisa were interesting, and would've liked to see more of them in a season 2. The arc with the princess and her three companions was done especially well and was the highlight of the show for me. The biggest cons for me were Cecily and the main plot. I did not find Cecily to be a very interesting or relatable protagonist, and sometimes could be a bit annoying. She lacked any sense of individuality or ambition, so she ultimately came off as just a generic anime lead. The main plot revolving around these "demon swords" is interesting as a premise, but unfortunately is not explored to a satisfactory degree. The villain is very underdeveloped and their motivations are vague as well as their capabilities. Overall I wouldn't really recommend this show, there are much better alternatives in the fantasy subgenre like Snow White with the Red Hair.
Masters of the Air (2024)
On par with Band of Brothers in my opinion.
Band of Brothers biggest strengths for me was telling an authentic story with likeable and believable characters, engaging the viewer in as realistic of a WWII setting and narrative as possible, and staying accurate and respectful to the real events that took place. To me this describes Masters of the Air as well. Sure Band of Brothers is probably still better, but I have to admit I was completely invested in the story and characters from beginning to end in Masters of the Air. I was impressed just how many scenes there were in the planes and how many battles they did, because these days I expect these studios to limit their inclusion because of how expensive they can be. I also really appreciated the POW angle the second half of the series explored, as I feel that is an underrepresented area of WWII that I was glad to learn about here. Sure there were some slow segments here and there, but even those served to build on the characters and explore the non combative elements of the war, and Band of Brothers did the same thing. I really enjoyed Masters of the Air and would highly recommend it, especially if you liked Band of Brothers or just like WWII content.
Toradora! (2008)
I immediately want to watch it again.
About 10 years ago I binge watched Power Rangers: Samurai on Prime Video and was really depressed when I finished it. At the time I thought it was just because the show was over and I wanted more, but since then I have come to realize why. Commonly referred to as "Post Anime Depression", its what happens when you enjoy the characters in a show so much you want to see what they do next, but the option isn't there. This is a sign of really good writing and it asks the viewer to trust that the story is complete, and that everything worked out from that point on. Otherwise, the story wouldn't be complete and a follow up would exist.
This is the exact feeling I had when I finished watching Toradora!, only on a level that I had never experienced before. There is so much going on throughout the show with the characters, that the final two episodes hit you like a train when everything culminates into an explosion of realization. Then it just ends, both satisfyingly and unsatisfyingly at the same time for the reasons I stated previously. Part of me feels like most of the focus of the story was wasted in the wrong direction, but then you have to acknowledge that direction was needed to get to the result ultimately desired. And in my opinion it was the right ending. Without spoiling anything, it was exactly what was being set up throughout the show, which is why I recommend seeing it twice cause its difficult to pick up on all the little details the first time through, and its the little details which make the story and characters so beautiful, mature, and believable. If I had any complaints, I do think a little too much focus is on the side characters, and in the end a couple of them weren't all that compelling for me. But as I stated before its kind of needed as everything builds up in the end; I still wish they were given a little more.
Ultimately I loved Toradora!, and consider it a masterpiece when it comes to romance storytelling and character development. It had me thinking about it for days after I finished it, and it definitely warrants a rewatch to fully appreciate everything it has to offer.
Sonic Boom (2014)
This show had no business being this good.
Sonic Boom surprised me in all the right ways, from hilarious jokes in every episodes to intelligent writing most adult shows don't even have. Here it is all about the characters, which are masterfully voice acted and insanely entertaining to watch. At first I didn't like that Eggman was in every episode, but he got a lot better over time and became a character I enjoyed just as much as all the others. That is one of the strengths of this show, is that it only improved as it went along, nailing down its humor and each character's place. I never found an episode to be stale or boring, and a lot of that had to do with the 11 minute runtime. As a newer Sonic fan that doesn't know many of the characters or lore, I didn't find myself lost at all and would describe this show as very beginner friendly. I cannot recommend this show enough; don't let the fact that its a "kid show" fool you. Most of the jokes you can tell were made for adults. I can't wait to watch it again!
Teen Titans (2003)
A Classic for DC Animation
The original Teen Titans show is well regarded as being one of the best DC animated shows ever, and I can certainly see why. I've seen this show a few times, and after my most recent rewatch I'm glad to see that it is still as enjoyable as it has always been. Robin is one of my favorite characters in DC, so seeing him go on unique adventures with a diverse team is a welcome change to what he normally does. This show is all about the characters, and thankfully they are done very well, although not perfect. It would've been nice if Robin and Beast Boy had more to bond over, but I don't think I've seen an incarnation of those characters together who have. The villains are also written very well, hitting majority of the time. Each season offered a compelling storyline that focused on a specific character, sometimes 2, with the exception of season 3 which I though to be the weakest. As a DC fan I also appreciated the additions of many well known sidekicks as well as adding some more obscure ones. The tone also impressed me throughout the show, as majority of the time it is a lighthearted comedy, but can quickly shift into a serious tension filled narrative. I always like it when animated shows "made for kids" act smart enough so adults don't feel out of place watching.
I thought the movie was alright, but serves as an extra long episode more than anything else. This show is miles better than the live action adaptation from 2018, but just slightly behind the first season of Young Justice in my opinion. I also wanted to mention that on the Blu-ray complete series of this show, I encountered many small animation and visual errors that didn't make it unwatchable, but can be distracting. Overall Teen Titans is a highly rewatchable show with well written storylines and characters that prove that an animated show about kids made for kids can be extremely compelling, mature, and entertaining for all ages.
Thundercats (2011)
One of the saddest cancelations ever.
I wouldn't call myself a fan of Thundercats, but I've always liked this show. I've always felt sad that it never got a season 2, and after just rewatching it I still feel that way. This show had a shocking amount of potential, from the characters and their dynamics with one another to the overall storyline they had going. I was surprised with the amount of mature themes this show has in it, which may have played into the show ultimately getting cancelled. I enjoyed most of the episodes out of this show, but I do think there is a bit too much filler here, and the second half is much stronger than the first. I can't help but think that this show was about a decade too early, and would've thrived in the modern era of streaming. There is always hope however; shows like Young Justice sometimes get a second chance.
The Flash (2014)
The Flash: A Good 5 Season Show
I have been a fan of this show since its first season, and have rewatched it many times since I first saw it. I remember when season 2 came out on Netflix it was a huge deal for me and I probably watched the whole thing in a couple of days. Season 3 was the first one I watched live week to week and would continue to do so through season 6 which I didn't like as much. I decided to give the first episode of season 7 the chance to convince me to continue watching, and it did not. After hearing the show had finally ended after 9 seasons, I decided to watch the whole show in its entirety starting from the beginning.
Right away I would like to clarify that after watching all 9 seasons, I view The Flash as 2 different shows. The first is "The Flash" which is seasons 1-5, and the other is "Bartholomew and Friends" which is seasons 6-9. I would highly recommend watching The Flash through season 5, but then strongly caution against continuing from there. "Bartholomew and Friends" has nothing to do with the superhero "Flash" and in fact succeeds in performing character assassinations on nearly everyone you care about. Not to mention the writing takes a nosedive and acts as if all their viewers are morons, proceeding to dumb down and spell out their barebone plots that even kids would've rolled their eyes at.
The Flash to me is a 6/10 overall. I would recommend you give this show a try, and luckily you can just stop at any season you want. The way this show turned out makes me grateful Arrow ended when it did.
This is what I thought of each season and rated them. There will be some spoilers.
Season 1 - 8/10
The cast is stronger this season than any other time in the whole show in my opinion. It doesn't get better than Dr. Wells, Caitlin, and Cisco all at STAR Labs helping Barry learn his powers. Barry is extremely fun to watch in this season, as he is still young, doesn't try to boss everyone around, and you can tell that Grant Gustin brought a certain energy to his performance here that you rarely get to see going forward. Iris isn't bad here either, and works well with Eddie. It definitely helps that this is the only season that she doesn't know Barry is The Flash, which means she has to be interesting on her own. The best part is Dr. Wells, aka The Reverse Flash. He's an extremely compelling villain, his performance is perfect and very memorable, and the writers were able to tie the villain, the heroes, and the plot together by the end in a highly satisfying way. My only real complaints are that some tropes are a bit forced and can become distracting, and that the villains of the week were sometimes kind of lame and not very interesting.
Season 2 - 9/10
Although I think Reverse Flash in season 1 is the better villain, the plot around Zoom was a lot tighter and took up more of the season. This made for season 2 to be my personal favorite in the end, as I think it was just a step up from season 1 in almost every way. All the characters have something going on at all times that you actually care about, plus all the new characters added I found to be intriguing. I think overall this is also the most rewatchable season, as so many things happen throughout that you tend to forget by the end all the specifics, which I like. Shockingly I thought Iris was even a good character this season, as she had Wally to work with and it all just worked for me.
Season 3 - 7/10
Some people say this is where The Flash turned into a bad show, but I disagree. Although not at the levels of the first 2 seasons for many different reasons, I always thought season 3 offered a unique tone and plot that made it stand out. I thought that knowing how the story for the season is supposed to play out early on made for a different but fun watch. Barry is a bit too serious for me here, but at least that was for a reason. Savitar was a good villain, but all the threat of him came from his looming actions, not exactly him. H. R. Is an interesting next Wells, and I like what they did with him. This season does just enough right for me to recommend it.
Season 4 - 7/10
Season 4 is when the tone of this show changes for the worse, but luckily it's not in your face right away. You can just tell how it's shot, how it looks, and how the characters go about their episode plotlines that it's a lot more formulaic than it used to be. Devoe is a nice break from the last 3 speedster villains and it was fun to watch Barry face a different kind of challenge. Ralph is a good addition to the cast, but is by no means an S tier character. I guess overall I would describe season 4 as a good season, but with a different feel almost everywhere.
Season 5 - 7/10
The final season that I think is worth watching is season 5. Nora works in this season only because of how they USE her character, not BECAUSE of her character. For some reason she acts like a whiny teenager the whole time even though she's supposed to be in her mid to late 20s, which can be very annoying at times. This is also the last season that actually gives its characters things to do, like Cisco and Caitlin working on the metahuman cure. Joe didn't have much to do this season so he wasn't in it as much, which I appreciate especially in hindsight after seeing the next 4 seasons. Cicada wasn't all that great of a villain, but wasn't terrible either. I just think something better could have easily been come up with. Reverse Flash works in the end and is a nice surprise, although I've always wished that they set him up a bit better.
Season 6 - 4/10
I would like to start with a quick rant on Crisis on Infinite Earths. This is the Endgame equivalent for the Arrowverse, but actually managed to do more harm here than what was done to the MCU. Oliver dying in the first episode was dumb, and was only done because the writers wanted Barry to be reflecting on his death, but that doesn't matter because Barry will be reflecting on Oliver's death until the end of the show - no joke. Iris and Lois are not superheroes, they need to be left out of the main plotlines in big crossovers like this. Supergirl and Batwoman getting a whole episode dedicated to their friendship was a complete waste of time, especially considering Ruby Rose quit her show not long after and Supergirl only got one more season. Lex got too much, Smallville was cool, Kevin Conroy was wasted, Brandon Routh Superman was ok. This season narrowly manages to avoid performing any character assassination, but comes dangerously close with moments like Iris demanding respect from Barry because she has her "Team Citizen" now (yes they actually want you to believe that her dumb newspaper is just as important as a team of superheroes protecting the city), or Wally throwing a fit at Barry after being MIA for like 2 years. The villains, Bloodwork and Mirror Girl, or whatever her name is, suck and make for pathetic storylines that I did not care about in the slightest. This season is when "the formula" becomes standard practice, but gets even more offensive going forward.
Season 7 - 3/10
I consider this season to be the worst season. I know a lot of people may point out right away that the characters at this point in the show suck and that's why the show sucks, and they're not wrong, but it's much more than that. The Flash as a show is 100% writing; writing good characters, good character interactions, good episode stories, and good season long stories. All of these were present, I would argue, in seasons 1-5 and are completely absent in seasons 7-9, 6 being the exception because the characters individually were barely passable. Season 7's characters have zero chemistry with one another, they never do anything compelling, and the stories being told each episode are filled with generic obvious plots and forced conflict. Barry is constantly acting like a jerk to people from here on out just because the writers wanted a little drama, with no regard for how out of character this is for him. Barry sucks to watch in seasons 7-9, and any and all character growth he had in the first 5 seasons has been completely thrown out; he is now a prop for the writers to use whenever they need. The same can be said for every cast member at this point, and it is infuriating as much as it is insulting to me not only as a previous fan of this show, but as a human being with intelligence. Bart sucks too, his whole plot with Godspeed is comically lame, and they even go so far as to claim Godspeed is Bart's Reverse Flash, which is as dumb as it sounds. I hate this season, Gotham Knights was better.
Season 8 - 4/10
It is at this point I stopped caring at all so season 8 didn't upset me as much as 7 did. I left a lot of dumb stuff out of season 7, but I don't want this review to go on forever. Reverse Flash manages to get his character assassinated here; the writers apparently ran out of ideas and just threw him in all over this season. It's all just as dumb as you would expect.
Season 9 - 4/10
Again, I didn't care anymore at this point, but there are some horrible things I wanted to address. Caitlin hasn't been a good character for a while now, but she actually dies in the first couple episodes somewhere, and nobody cares. Literally none of the characters show a hint of sadness toward the death of their friend that some of them have known for almost a decade at this point, but I shouldn't have expected anything more from this show at this point. They try to drag Oliver back and ruin his character too. This is only the millionth time Oliver has had to spell out to Barry that he's being an idiot and slap some sense into him, so that was a nice bit of character regression. Regardless of what that episode is rated and what people say, it is not good. It is only good in comparison to the 50 that came before it. The finale is forgettable and was everything it shouldn't have been. Every single speedster villain is brought back only to get killed by Allegra and flying Cecile. Great. I'm done now.
Swamp Thing (2019)
This could've actually worked!
I never really understood the appeal of Swamp Thing as a DC character. How could some random swamp creature possibly be that interesting? Well after watching this show, I can see this character working in a very well made movie, but not quite in a series like this. From what I saw, there just isn't enough in the character cast, lore, and setting to pull off a TV show; they barely had enough for the 10 episodes here. I know James Gunn was planning to do a Swamp Thing movie, and I hope that turn out good.
As for this show, I am happy to admit it wasn't quite as boring as a thought it would be, but at the same time it just wasn't that interesting. As I mentioned before, the main plot here is stretched SUPER thin across all 10 episodes, and you could definitely tell where time was being wasted. By the end I didn't feel like my time was well spent, hence the 5/10.
The characters were my favorite part here, but really hurt the show as well. The pilot started very strong, and I was actually very excited to continue with episode 2. The chemistry between Abby and Alec was done very well and if they were in the whole show, I would've liked it a lot more. Unfortunately Alec had to become Swamp Thing, so we lose out on that chemistry almost immediately. At parts I could tell they knew what they had with those characters, because at a certain point in the show they make excuses to bring Alec back for seemingly no reason. But by the time they do that its too late. Swamp Thing himself was ok, but I never found myself rooting for him nor was I all that interested in what he was doing.
Another bright spot for me was Will Patton's character Avery. Not because he had an interesting story, but because he was comically inept throughout the entire season. He would constantly get caught and his plans would fail, or he would ask for someone to do something and they would turn him down because no one had any respect for him. It looked like he had no clue and thought everyone loved him because when others would disobeyed him he would say "after all I've done for this town, this is how you repay me?" and I would just laugh. The plots in this show are all over the place, and at best I found them tolerable. The Blue Devil is in this show, kind of, which was a neat inclusion but ultimately pointless.
Swamp Thing as a show I can't really see working, at least with what they had here. I certainly can't see a season 2 if that ever happened. I'm not quite sure what place Swamp Thing has in DC, but I will say I think he could have one. In the end I think Swamp Thing is an average at best show, and a below average DC show.
Aquaman (1967)
Has not aged well.
Compared to just about every DC animated show that has come since, Aquaman (1967) falls short in just about every regard. This show was from the classic era of saturday morning cartoons where you would just enjoy your time with your favorite characters. I think this format still has a place in the modern age of cartoons, but the writing needs to be there. What they had here was as barebones as you could get, with no depth, no characterization, and no plot. Unfortunately this show has just been outclassed by the nearly 60 years of DC animation that has come after it, and that means there isn't really a place for Aquaman (1967) anymore. I will say it was cool seeing classic versions of the "Super Friends" as a DC fan, and sometimes the show was so bad it was funny. Pass on Aquaman (1967).
Legion of Super Heroes (2006)
A Good Obscure DC Animated Show
Legion of Super Heroes has never been all that interesting of a concept to me, and this is coming from a long time hard core DC fan. It always seemed like a bunch of random superheroes that didn't have any character behind them so I was never begging to see a show about them. But in my quest to watch everything DC has made, this show was on my list, and I'm glad to say that after I watched it, I like the Legion of Super Heroes now.
I want to start by saying that adding Superman to the cast here was a genius move, both for this show and the lore of the Legion. The Legion cast here are all teenagers, and the Legion historically looks to the memory of Superman to guide their morals and beliefs as heroes. It makes all the sense to add Superman to the main cast with the Legion before he even becomes Superman, because now they can each learn from each other and that makes for a compelling watch. For the viewers, adding Superman to a cast of nobodies immediately grants a foothold into this show and allows casual DC fans a place to get started.
The tone of this show is very similar to Justice League and Justice League Unlimited. This show feels more aimed towards kids, but it isn't written in a dumbed down way. As an adult I had no issues with the tone, and was even surprised by some more mature things that take place, especially with some characters. The characters are a mixed bag, mostly due to a handful getting more time and characterization than others. Overall I was satisfied with the ones I really cared about, but characters like Cosmic Boy end up disappointing. My favorite by far was Brainiac 5, as I could tell there was a lot to that character and it was all fascinating to me.
Something that was strange to me was the pacing of the 2 seasons as they relate to one another. Without spoiling specifics, season 1 has all the characters as teenagers. Season 2 has a slight time jump a few years and now everyone looks like they're a young adult. I thought this was a fine change, as I thought they really had a good story to tell with these characters and wanted to get to that before they got cancelled. But then season 2 ends with a sort of cliffhanger, teasing what is coming next. I thought that was a very odd choice, as there was no way they assumed they were getting a season 3. This reminded me a lot of Young Justice, as they would constantly do the same thing. I wish shows would stop doing this, and just treat each season as if it were their last.
Overall Legion of Super Heroes was a pleasant surprise and I ultimately enjoyed it. I would recommend it to DC fans to check out, but it isn't the easiest thing to find at the moment. Even still it is a welcome addition to the roster of DC animated shows.
Netoge no yome wa onnanoko ja nai to omotta? (2016)
Really funny, just wish there was a little more going on.
Of all the rom com animes I've watched so far, this is one of the funnier ones. I appreciated how there is more of a carefree tone here and it serves as a nice relaxing experience all the way through. Of course this is all due to the characters, not only how they were written but also how they were voice acted. Both were done extremely well, and I though a majority of the characters were fun, memorable, and even relatable at times. If this ever gets a season 2 or movie, I really hope they take a little more time writing the story. The story in this season was very basic and although I liked it, it wasn't enough to fill all 12 episodes. Something else was needed, and I hope they get the chance to fix that eventually. Check this show out when you get the chance, definitely worth a watch!
Trinity Seven: 7-nin no Masho Tsukai (2014)
Not bad but not for everyone.
I thought Trinity Seven definitely had it's moments, and was certainly an entertaining watch. The characters here are very memorable and all stand out from one another, which is this show's biggest strength. But I would also say that's its biggest weakness, as the story took a back seat to the characters. Like I said I like the characters, but they took far too much time exploring certain ones that it took away from the overall plot and ultimately felt like an underdeveloped show. I gave this show a 7/10 initially, but after thinking back on it, it is definitely more of a 6/10. I don't recommend this show to casual anime fans as it definitely has it's niche of an audience.