I was first introduced to the series in this thread, where /u/Shimmering-Sky mentioned loving battle couples. It was one of those tropes that I hadn't really realized I was fond of, but after finishing Alderamin, I'm certain that it's something I want to see more of. The main characters, Ikta and Yatori, work very well together in the ways that they play off of one another. One has brains, the other brawn, and their communication - verbal or otherwise - is impressive and endearing in a lot of ways.

The story involves the main character, Ikta Solork, ending up in the military after saving the Empire's princess, despite never having wanted to be a soldier due to his distaste for war. Alderamin is a military drama, for the most part, with underlying themes that cover ideas such as the senselessness of war and the importance of individuals rather than a nation.

The animation is nothing special, and the fights are short. It doesn't look impressive, but it doesn't look bad, either. The main focus of the action - and, by extension, the story - is Ikta's notable skill as a strategist. For anyone who likes smart, competent characters, I'd definitely say that Alderamin is a good choice. Ikta is lazy, a product of circumstance moreso than upbringing. However, this doesn't prevent him from acting when he needs to, and he's a character who places priority on the victory with the least amount of casualties rather than the most sound or crushing wins.

There's definitely a sense of fascination and curiosity that kicks in whenever the characters find themselves in a pinch. Watching as Ikta plans out his strategies is fun, and the series also likes to tell you that he has one without detailing it so that you can then watch it play out. The unwavering trust that Yatori has in Ikta and his methods of thinking is definitely one of the strong points of the series, with their interactions being definite highlights.

If I had to point out one thing in particular that I found bothersome, it's that in order to allow Ikta to shine, we have to suffer through numerous more rash or incompetent people who outrank him. While there may be characters who seem to be smarter and disagree with those incompetents, they, too, are outranked, but orders are orders and they must respect them. A lot of the drama, specifically towards the end of the series, is a result of this. On one hand, it's great to see Ikta and his squad in action, but on the other, you can't really help the feeling of "if these people were a bit smarter in the first place, this situation never would have happened."

One thing that I enjoyed outside of the premise is the way they portray some of Ikta's other traits. He's a womanizer, and he's seen often flirting with women, even having one encounter where he meets someone whose mom he'd slept with. However, he's not perverted in that sense; the anime doesn't resort to any of the standard pervert tropes. Ikta is never seen groping a woman, and his conversations are more flirtatious and suggestive in nature rather than just plain outrageous. While not necessarily unheard of, it is refreshing, especially considering that this is a light novel adaptation and that, in a lot of ways, it's one of the more guilty mediums of doing so.

I'd definitely recommend Alderamin on the Sky to people who like military dramas, battle couples or main characters who outwit rather than overpower their foes. While I can't say that there's anything exceptional or outstanding about the series, I can definitely say that there's something worth enjoying here.