REVIEW/REVIEWER CONTEXT:
Normally, I don't do reviews on this site but I feel the need to write something for people who stumble upon this series page and see no community feedback. I'll give a bit of context on me to start and then will go into the actual series itself. I will avoid any major spoilers even though there aren't many, but for context on me pretty much just know that I have less knowledge than someone who's watched as much as I have, should. And thats pretty much all you need to know. Moving on.

THE BAD PARTS:
Around the time I started WUG I had just finished Love Live and was very much in the middle of an idol show kick. I'd heard people talk about Idolmaster but saw this and was interested in the more realistic design and art style. I thought a fresh more serious take on the idol industry would be a good change when compared to Love Live, unfortunately this show turned out to be less realistic..... with more realistic design.

Let me also just interject here and say that I did really enjoy the first few installments of the show, but it starts to take a dive during Beyond the Bottom! to the point Shin Shou became the season that should never be spoken of. That aside though I really did enjoy it, I say that because it might seem like I don't based on the next few paragraphs. An FYI - if you will. I like this shit.

The show is exactly as its presented, it's about a talent agency that creates their own idol group in hopes of competing with the best. What IS different is the fact that from beginning to end you really learn absolutely nothing about the personal backgrounds of the girls in the group. That's not to say I didn't like the group it's more just saying at no point do they ever really develop the motives or dreams of the girls, they instead just sorta pop up and create WUG. The girls themselves do get the interpersonal relationships between each other developed which is.... okay... but it gives you enough that you can see how they are molding around each other when the group forms.

The management aspect of the show almost ruins it. Anytime the CEO lady and her pathetic assistant are around the show is dramatically worse. See episode 2 of this series for an example. I still have no idea why that sequence of events was ever necessary, nothing came of it, nothing was explained during the entire situation... it's one of those things you looks back on just confused as to why it was ever included. And there are not many things more frustrating than watching girls who are trying to achieve dreams get screwed by some adults who are for lack of better words, absolutely pathetic characters. I1s CEO is a chill dude, I can respect the vibe and Hayasaka is a hilariously solid character who has some funny scenes that most likely should have been serious, but the rest of the managers in the show can get kept. Wish they were never included.

I swear I like the show.

THE GOOD PARTS:
Let's say some nice things. I loved the soundtrack and performances. They only throw about 5 songs at you across the entire series but 4/5 are BANGERS. They do a great job building the anticipation to the big concerts and I fucking loved the little pre-show stomp of the groups before they go on stage. For whatever reason it makes it all a lot more intense, they're going out there to battle. Savages out there I love it. Love Live had big CGI concerts which I have no issue with, but it was also nice to have a pretty decently animated idol show with no major CGI. The performances are absolutely on point in the start of the series, later on not so much but we'll get to that.

More good things is I really did like the actual group, and some of the direction the show goes. One thing that was interesting is the show gets the girls to do local jobs to get more recognition as they are the up and coming new group. Seeing them slowly build a following was pretty cool, and as all the characters are pretty reasonably written it's easy to support them all as a group as they become better friends with each other. Some characters get more love and screen-time than the others though, which never was a problem for me since there are levels to the characters for sure (Mayu the goat for example). I'm not calling the writing good by any means, but its good enough to tolerate, and for the things that aren't you just need to laugh at them

Lastly I really loved some of the recurring bits that they threw in there, the one that immediately comes to mind is the fan-group in the restaurant bit which didn't get old for the entire series. I thought that shit was great everytime. Hayasaka has some good bits here and there but besides that there's not too much else. Once you keep seeing them though they grow on you big time.

CLARIFICATION:
When I am talking about the good parts I'm pretty much talking about the Original Series and Seishun no Kage, Beyond the Bottom! has SOME good points but for the most part is extremely rushed and you miss out on what should be the best parts. I'll refer to this review to do the talking for Shin-Shou, I think they call it a glorified power point which could not be said any better but it is worth checking out the very last episode because its just one big concert with them throwing down HIT AFTER HIT. LETS GOO... anyway,

CONCLUSION:
Overall, the show is more shallow than what you might be expecting, not great development or writing, it does not follow what the art style has laid in front of it thematically. The art style is person to person but I personally liked it, reminded me of Just Because if anything. The adult characters are insufferable except for the one I1 CEO and main producer. The other idols we never really meet but keep seeing and meeting don't add too much either. Its like they bring up these ideas then never finish them off and the loose end is never tied.

All that being said I loved the groups inter-dynamics, I loved the songs and performances, I loved the fan groups bit, and overall I really enjoyed watching the first half of this total series.

I know I'm a sucker for wholesome, friendship building musicals, but I just need to mention that the ED transitions at the end of Seishun no Kage might be my favorite part of the entire show. IT GOES RIDICULOUSLY HARD.

Either way at least this show has something being said for it now. Though it might not be a good thing in the long run (I swear I like the show).