After watching the first episode, it left me with the impression that what we have here is an intriguing concept with a rather fresh scenario and an execution and production that made everything about it feel promising. A few episodes later, I realized that much of the momentum is being wasted on uninteresting sub or side plots that (and that is very bad) do not drive the main plot forward. The consequence of such unfocused writing and directing is loss of momentum and consequently, loss of interest. In general, the further the anime progressed the more it became apparent that the writing, pace, the directing (especially), and the musical utilization were a bit off. Like various colors on a painting that are not able to mix with each other, at least not in order to create something appealing. I still had hopes for the anime at that point but I was aware that it is not a top tier entry.

Having decided the overall score halfway through I was left watching something with limited potential, written and directed in a style that was working against the major attraction of the main plot. Its greatest flaw was the inability to focus and heighten the fear and thrill the plot was trying to create, which would have turned it into a roller-coaster ride of emotions, instead ending up being a lukewarm and slowly moving stream with a waterfall somewhere in the distance. And we may as well could have fallen asleep until our "boat made out of mud" arrived there.

The characters who seemed novel at first ended up becoming objects of my dislike due to their endless whimsicality and whiny nature, even when faced with total destruction (just no). Their behavior did not add anything to the drama but only made it annoying to watch. Towards the end, it became apparent that the script never had any intention to create excitement by totally missing the potential momentum that a secret escape, which is threatened by gruesome consequences if detected, is able to create, and drifted instead into endless battles about non-consequential things while paying attention to unimportant characters and their feelings.

Expecting the audience to care about someone that is not part of the core group is a cardinal sin that too many anime too often make. I can only guess that this is something that can happen when character development that exists in the source (literature or manga) is axed in order to fit into the anime format, but that is no excuse for all the mistakes and failures that have been made with the writing and directing. And if you can't make a novel or manga work as an anime perhaps you shouldn't do it in the first place.

When the final episodes arrived it became compulsory rather than enjoyable watching, just to see how this mess of a story would be untangled. And as expected, it was an uninspired and disappointing mess, just like most of the writing. It is truly remarkable how this anime drifted from being great to I want to shoot the director within a few episodes, albeit not as bad as DARIFURA did.

My message to the creators of the anime: Thank you for wasting my time, it would do you good to study life a little bit more and to understand what human tragedy really means before you try to convey any meaningful messages through your art, because you failed miserably. And that is a message that I can share with everyone who is creating or planning to create art. Thank you for reading my review.