Okay, I'll make myself clear, I have a very strong opinion about this. I wouldn't really say that the Lord of the Mysteries novel is one of my favorites, but for a long time, I've been reading it due to the excellent setting and it's eldtrich horror atmosphere. It took me ages to wait and see it being adapted into an animated series. When they initially revealed the adaptation was coming, my reaction was a mix of enthusiasm and fear. The enthusiasm was because it's one of my favourite settings and I would see those incredible Lovecraftian locations, gods and the lovely Victorian atmosphere at last. But fear was there too because numerous adaptations managed to destroy excellent novels and this setting is quite impossible for many studios to pull off. But having seen the latest episode of Season 1 and enjoying it immensely, I can say this happily now: they did it right.

The moment I was waiting for, that flower clown scene was done just like I wanted it to be. No spoilers, but wow, being there and finally seeing it animated made me feel excited. It was one of those special times when the wait really felt worth it.

The atmosphere is undoubtedly one of my favorite aspects of this work. The combination of Lovecraftian elements and Victorian aesthetics with lamp lit streets, fog shrouded alleys, secret societies, The blood moon and unseen cosmic horror is something distinct from any other anime. Honestly speaking, probably the only work which gets the combination quite perfect is Lord of the Mysteries. It is creepy, it's dramatic, and it's lovely in a foreboding manner. Now, I can see the series is a lot for someone who is new to this IP. It's got a lot of backstory, a lot of systems, and a lot of details that can confuse you if you're not paying attention. Since I've already read the novel, I was able to keep up, but you can tell not everybody is going to understand it at first. It's not a straightforward anime. It requires patience and concentration, which not all the audience is going to enjoy.

The music is fine. It’s not amazing, but it fits the mood. It creates tension when needed and doesn’t take away from the experience. However, the best part for me is the animation. Really, this is likely the best 2D animation I’ve seen in a long time. The quality stayed Consistent the whole time. Every scene looked clean and even, which is not common in this space. And when you combine that animation with the strange, otherworldly settings and powerful beings this story shows… It’s just beautiful to see.

Overall, I really liked it. As someone who has read the novel, I may be biased, but watching this world - the gods, the mysteries, the horror, the atmosphere all brought to life in animation felt amazing. I loved it.

Final Rating: 7.8/10

Not perfect and probably not going to work for everyone, but for me waiting ages for it was worth it.