Utawarerumono
a review by GiantR
a review by GiantR
I started the show with the intent of reading the Visual Novels, but after this goddamn travesty of a show, I am no longer certain I’d do that. Some [SPOILERS] Ahead.
The show is from the mid-2000s so it should be given some slack. But on the flip side, the story elements should still be done well. As it stands, not a single character in the show is fleshed out or has any modicum of nuance. The Villains in particular are the worst in that regard. Literally all of them are hysterically laughing madmen with not an ounce of good in them. They murder, pillage, and destroy even their own people without ANY reason, just because they are Evil and "Do Evil" was on ever time slot on their calendar.
The protagonist is just as much of a blank slate. He is said to be good at tactics, has some knowledge of agriculture, and is a good person to a fault. In short he is a Gary Stu that is said to become a "Monster" from time to time. That's supposed to be the main conflict of the show, but it doesn't fucking matter at any point, it just is decided to be resolved at the end. Some people die and Boom we are in the end game, without any payoff or meaning. The MCs interactions with the cast are shown to be one sided at best, and yet he just does shit and it works.
Which leads me into the main point. In a show about War, I personally look for several things
The politics are laughable, because there isn't a single person other than the protagonist with a goal that isn't utterly self-centered and based around destruction. The tactical side of the conflict is hand waived by saying that the MC is good at that, and then he just goes and murders the enemy King. And the characters are cardboard cutouts. No one has strong convictions in anything that isn't absolute bullshit.
The show constantly tries to tell poignant stuff about "War", but it always falls hilariously short, because it's just not a smart show. Everyone just goes genocides several villages, and that's just hand waived as a minor detail, while also saying how big, bad and important it is. At one point a small Nation is attacked by several bigger ones. Due to some magical mechs the small nation destroys both the invading armies and their homes. And yet like a week later someone else attacks them again!!!? The show has no internal consistency, things just happen and we are supposed to accept it.
The world of the show is shallow. Nothing is explained too much, and honestly nothing even matters. When I compare it to shows with similar worlds that are (Japan/China but not) like Twelve Kingdoms, or even Escaflowne. The holes of the world building become apparent and numerous. Armies just get magically made from countries as the world is nothing more than an RTS game, and the units are just produced at barracks. The ending "tries" to rectify this, and yet it still fails by just handwaiving a lot of the things that happen.
The art is ok, but the animation suffers a lot. There isn't a moment that isn't reused, and it's done super blatantly. The music is forgettable. Overall the show isn't even a pleasant romp to look at. The direction is another point that’s super meh, even bad at times. The way some scenes are portrayed makes it difficult to understand what’s exactly happening. Very low points from me on that regard.
So I said numerous bad things about the show. Are there any positives? Yes some of the waifus are cute, Eruruu must the treasured and protected. That said, i'd never recommend the show to anyone for any reason. Even the waifus.
Maybe the VNs are better, but if I had to base them on the "merits" of the show I'll pass. I had to force myself to finish the show as it is.
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