Let me preface by saying that I never watched this show during it’s airing. I heard about it, and knew it was a trigger show but didn’t end up sitting down to experience it. For the longest time I avoided this show. Fans avidly drooling over Zero Two, and then a divine fanbase really turned me away from ever wanting to touch this show. Ironically, the divisive opinions of Kill la Kill made me push it off for the longest time. I ended up enjoying Kill la Kill, so I thought why not give Darling in the Franxx a shot rather than giving it apt hate.

The chemistry between Hiro and Zero Two was great, and I enjoyed every single moment they were together. The flashback scenes between those two we’re executed to perfection. The rest of the crew also has a great dynamic too. You get to know everyone, or at least you think so until the others begin developing bonds with different partners. The soundtrack also has a very deep dramatic tone to it, especially the opening. At first, it felt odd seeing such a colourful show presented in this light, but once you get to watch more you'll understand why.

I have so many things to say about Darling in the Franxx, and a good chunk of this show is positives. The biggest criticisms overshadow the latter half of Darling in the Franxx, which ultimately ruins the world-building and moments that came before. However, underneath it all you get a husk of wasted potential and meandering character development. The first half of Darling in the Franxx is quite enjoyable, and that mid-season episode had me feeling.
Where this show falls apart is shortly after in which the main antagonists end up being aliens with a lust for power. It’s boring, generic, and quite frankly (pun intended) a middle finger to everything that came before it. On a completely unrelated note, in the very first episode, there was some weird groping scene that occurred in the first episode that really did not belong there and felt more creepy than funny. There are actually a few “funny” moments that probably could’ve been cut, ironically the parts in which the characters are trying to understand their sexuality were more mature than any of the wacky anime antics.

Darling in the Franxx is a good show that does a complete 180 to everything it set up. I like Darling in the Franxx, and yet I struggle to find more words to say about it because there isn’t much else to compliment it on. I still love the show enough to give it a good rating. I just can't help but think about what could have been if the writers didn't resort to utter genericism.