Death Parade is an enigmatic mix of emotion and emotionlessness. It centers itself around the theme of death, the place in which it garners most of its ideas. The death games provide a good spectacle, while the narrative tries to make a commentary based on the psychology of the human condition.

This show has its moments. Since it is an episodic anime, each episode revolves around a different game with different players. The games are where this show shines, be it darts, bowling, or otherwise. Each game explodes onto the set, giving way to the ominous yet powerful atmospheres that each game presents. This gives the characters a chance to display a whole range of emotions within their 20-minute time span. Furthermore, each game comes to a unique emotional peak, making the darker episodes hit harder while producing the right amount of tension to keep it interesting.

But when it comes to the permanent members, it is hard to come by development. They are mostly cast aside, while the focus is put on the storyline of the week. This makes me feel like they were more of an afterthought used to link the games together than actual characters. Although they were given moments of personality, they were tacked on, never feeling impactful or genuine. A good example of this is Oculus. He is the driving force of the main narrative and is the ‘boss’ of the arbiters. But nothing came of his storyline. Sure, he was threatening towards some characters, but these were empty threats as he never followed through or changed emotionally in any way because of it.

The overarching narrative did not fare much better. It portrays itself as grandiose, indicating some big finale to come. The tables might turn, or there could be a surprising plot twist. But anything remotely similar to that only happened within the final moments and by then, it was too late. The finale should have occurred at the halfway mark, leaving room for proper characterization, worldbuilding, and more solid stakes later on.

Nevertheless, the opening is one of my favorites. Along with it being a total bop, it creates a complete juxtaposition between its tone and the tone of the show, somewhat cleverly subverting expectations. The original soundtrack is fitting and attunes to the tension that comes with people playing for their lives. Additionally, MADHOUSE never fails to impress me when it comes to their work. The art has enough detail to be pleasing, the animation is dynamic, and their color palette is fittingly moody. All of this works well to enunciate the themes and resolutions that are reflected in the story.

All in all, I like Death Parade for what it is. The flashy games provide a spectacle full of raw human emotion, with a pseudo-introspective look into what makes us human. This is not a drama that prides itself on its insight or storytelling prowess, but rather a vessel used to showcase the games and the narratives that flourish within them.

Alterations
Emotional Score: 76/100
-6 for the underdevelopment of the main cast (Mainly: Decim, Chiyuki, and Oculus).
-2 for the underdevelopment of the main story