As with any review, these opinions are just mine. It is perfectly fine if you love this show, and I have no reason to keep you from loving it.

I watched this show 2 episodes a day, every day for 56 days, and all I can do after finishing is let out a sigh of disappointment.

To start this review out, I want to say that there is a heartfelt core to Galaxy Express 999. A journey about life, greed, loneliness, connection, and coming to terms with loss. If you are able to connect with the characters and suspend disbelief for a large number of plot holes, this is a journey worth experiencing. But like I said before, upon finishing this I was left unfulfilled and disappointed because I didn't feel like I was given the profound experience that this intergalactic train ride so fervently promised.

In my firm belief, Galaxy Express 999 suffers from a bloated duration that could be significantly condensed without losing its essence. While a movie adaptation exists, I find that approach extreme. A reduction in episode count to around 30 would allow the show to explore its thematic concepts with equal measures of depth and variety. Regrettably, the truth of the matter is that the show lacks an abundance of meaningful depth or variation to begin with.

Galaxy Express 999, being an "episodic allegorical" series, necessitates the exploration of an extensive array of ideas, accompanied by profound insights. This exploration should occur in a manner that preserves the freshness of its concepts. However, the show falls short, giving off the impression that it randomly selects the focus of each episode by the roll of a die, with a one-in-six chance determining its subject matter. While I genuinely appreciate certain ideas such as poverty, industrialization, transhumanism, and culture, I despise the strange romanticization of incels/abusers and the frustrating plot progression that dangles a proverbial carrot on a stick.

Let's delve into the aspects that pique my interest first. The journey begins on a planet besieged by rampant industrialization and plagued by gaping class disparities. However, beyond its initial narrative utilization involving cyborg bodies, Galaxy Express 999 fails to imbue this idea with any substantial depth. Throughout our journey across various planets, the recurring theme of poverty and class disparity resurfaces time and time again, but it remains frustratingly superficial. Despite spanning a staggering 113 episodes, the show squanders ample opportunities to contribute something of genuine value to the theme.

This situation extends to the other two ideas that pique my interest as well. Countless episodes conclude with the message of "perhaps the mechanical bodies should not be idealized," yet Tetsuro's mindset remains unaltered. The incessant repetition renders these moments futile and superfluous. While the show may aim for dramatic irony and to depict Tetsuro's naiveté, the sheer frequency with which it employs this device without meaningful development becomes laughable.

On a brighter note, the aspect that Galaxy Express explores with the most creative variation is culture. With each leap from planet to planet, we are granted a glimpse into an astonishing array of distinct civilizations. Every planet boasts its own climate, population, and societal structure, which shape its inhabitants' behavior. This attention to worldbuilding contributes to a rich and captivating sense of diversity. Although the absence of a defined map or clear boundaries within this galaxy grants the authors the liberty to conjure up any imaginable planet, the sheer variety and exploration of these settings remain commendable.

Now, let's delve into the recurring elements that left a sour taste in my mouth. There is an issue with the portrayal of women in this show that cannot be ignored. At the outset, things seemed promising: Maetel was portrayed with respect and possessed her own agency. While occasional instances of off-comments and leering characters were present, the overall treatment of women in the show was surprisingly decent. However, a disconcerting shift occurred roughly a third of the way through the series. Episodes centered around literal abusers and incels began to emerge, and to much dismay, they were not critiqued but rather portrayed as "misunderstood great men" whose desires women should unquestioningly cater to. It was a genuine gut-punch and swiftly unraveled the previously decent treatment of women in the show. While this trend eventually receded to some extent, it would occasionally resurface unexpectedly.

Another significant problem I have with this show pertains to its treatment of the central "mystery" surrounding Maetel. In the very first episode, evidence showed that she was not entirely open about her true identity and harbored a hidden mission. As the story unfolded, this idea resurfaced repeatedly. Every few episodes, the question of "perhaps Maetel isn't who she claims to be" would arise, only to be left frustratingly unexplored. Each time it felt as if a revelation was imminent, we were left without any additional information, no wiser than when the episode began. This tiresome pattern continued until the final episodes when the reveal was finally given. However, the constant teasing and withholding of crucial details had rendered me apathetic by that point. The carrot had been dangled before our eyes for so long that it had rotted and transformed into a source of disappointment.

In a world plagued by the voracity of greed, the relentless pursuit of individual goals at the expense of others evokes a sense of profound horror. This haunting force permeates our present reality, giving rise to deep-rooted societal problems. However, there exists a path forward, one that embodies the spirit of empathy and collective action. Let us embark on a transformative journey of understanding, forging meaningful connections with those who inhabit our shared space. Through the creation of a united community, we can manifest a potent force of solidarity, steering our collective endeavors toward a focused goal. In this collective, we defy the insidious grip of loneliness that seeks to afflict our daily lives. Together, we rise above the fragmented isolation that pervades our world, embracing the transformative power of community and cooperation.

In essence, Galaxy Express possesses a great idea and surface-level charm. However, beneath the surface, there isn't much to be found except for the repetition of a select few interesting ideas and occasional instances of misogyny or bigotry. The show's potential could have been harnessed more effectively through significant condensation, allowing for a more focused exploration of its thematic concepts. As an "episodic allegorical" series, it should have delved into a vast array of ideas with profound insights while maintaining the freshness of its concepts. Unfortunately, it falls into repetition, selecting episode themes as if determined by the roll of a die. While certain ideas such as poverty, industrialization, transhumanism, and culture hold promise, they remain largely underdeveloped. Conversely, the show dwells on the romanticization of abusers and incels, and its handling of the central mystery surrounding Maetel suffers from prolonged teasing, resulting in a lackluster and ultimately disappointing reveal. Galaxy Express 999 falls short of its potential, leaving me with a sense of missed opportunities and unfulfilled promises.