After how much I had enjoyed season 4 of Scissor Seven, I didn't think this show could possibly get any better; yet here we are. This season was a masterclass in storytelling; blending brilliance, creativity, drama, tension, humour, and a multitude of other captivating elements in a way that feels both effortless and awe-inspiring.

What consistently impressed me is the show's ability to balance such a diverse array of themes while maintaining an unrelenting grip on the viewer's attention. Once it has you by the scruff of your neck it does not let go. You will be hooked like a perfectly baited fish; and once you're reeled in, you're completely absorbed and can't escape. Not that you’d want to anyway.

There are numerous standout aspects worth highlighting. The animation was remarkably fluid, with each scene crafted to perfection. The humour was spot-on, delivering jokes that were both clever and laugh-out-loud funny. The soundtrack, meanwhile, was a perfect blend of fun and pulsating energy, elevating every moment to new heights.

But I have to say that out of all these things, my favourite aspect about this season, without a doubt, was the brilliant fight scenes it had to offer. Within 10 episodes, we are exposed to not one, not two, and not even three but EIGHT fight scenes, each as creative and intense as the last. As the season progresses, Seven has to overcome many hurdles and encounter many fearsome opponents. This in turn leads to many fights, each of which were all a delight to watch. The creators of the show let their creativity roam free and what they produced was nothing short of genius. I trust that you will take great joy in watching (and rewatching) the fight scenes just as I have.

After several episodes of Seven persevering quite admirably against many foes, he finally meets what is essentially this season’s final boss; the newest addition to the Shadow Assassins (the Killer League's inner circle). This new addition is a man introduced to us as killer number 9.

The final episode of the season presents us with the battle between Seven and Nine. And if you were wondering, yes it does deliver. It delivers big time. The fight is animated extremely well, each movement fluid and smooth, each strike impactful and aggressive. One thing that impressed me was the fact that in order for Seven to beat Nine, he uses all his experience from the fights from the previous nine episodes (not sure if that was intentional but it works).

Overall, this season has set a new standard for the series, and I'm eager to see where it goes from here. The animation is still just as fast paced and visually appealing as ever and it has perfectly found the balance between humour and action. Scissor Seven has truly cemented its place as my favourite piece of Chinese animation.

Zero notes. Only applause. I impatiently await the next instalment of the series.

Thank you for reading.