Name: The Price is a bit of a Mess that lost all Potential
Item: The Price of Smiles
Rating: 60
Author: sam19967

Waifra

The Price is a bit of a Mess that lost all Potential · Waifora

Let's start with the good. The mecha combat scenes are (in 3D CG yes) really well done and they are quite nice scenes to watch as in they are well presented. This is for all the mecha combat scenes in the show making these scenes quite consistent (unlike the plot) throughout the show. While not all the characters are that good there are a few characters that are quite likeable making their story and struggle more relatable compared to other characters. While I don’t really like the plot the world background is quite good as it depicts, the struggle for the general population to survive and the human cost of war is shown really strongly. While that is essence is only backdrop it feeds into the story and the characters in different ways.

Right the bad stuff now. The world setting is slightly confusing as it was a little unclear who side people where on (a bit of surprise for the last few episodes) meaning while you might be routing for a side take a closer look just to make sure who's side they are on. Further to that the whole main plot is confusing as it jumps around quite a bit without explaining anything with too many turns and twists (example in spoiler section) to create any consistency (which can work is shows like ‘The Idolmaster’ but not this). Overall it makes the show a bit difficult to follow and loses its audience. The problem is due to the inconsistency it draws all the attention to it and it becomes the main focus instead rather than the show itself. On top of that as events are spread out far from each other with long dialog section (where the show gets philosophical but not very well (compared to the world building) it’s a bit boring.

Spoiler, click to view

Spoilers to explain above - Good first, During the story we really get to know Stella on a personal level (meaning the main helped) as she starts to question herself where she should do what’s right for her or her job as a soldier (that said that doesn’t matter in the end as it’s really isn’t a chose (after a mega plot twist (the princess is actually the enemy and what to destroy everything (also end with another plot twist))). But anyway Stella’s story (excellent voice acting from Saori Hayami) is the best aspect of the show. Also the world background as mentioned above is great for example in this world as the war happened many people became displaced, many of them children and we get to see this side of things. But it isn’t used to make a situation lighter but rather to make the whole world darker. Right bad, as you might have guessed there are way too many plot turns and twists in this show and most of them are due to an inconsistent story and unclear factions (see section in brackets in this paragraph for an example). Overall it makes the show a bit difficult to follow and loses its audience.

In Summary then, while ‘The Price of Smiles’ is deeply inconsistent, very difficult to follow, very surprising (in a bad way) and a little boring, it does have some good points with a okay story, good world building and a nice main focus character. But the best bit it manages to make what would have been a bad show into a fairly okay show by having really good parts that are really good and shows potential but the bad parts that spoil the whole show. I would recommend it if you just wanted something to watch not follow. ‘It’s not bad, but it’s not good either’.