Steins;Gate

A spoiler-free review~

Tuturu~

Once in a blue moon I chance upon an anime that knocks the wind out of me. The impression is one that I shall reminisce about for a long time. In all likelihood, it’s a feeling that I wouldn’t forget, even if I could. The impact is deeper than merely a story that was enrapturing and a bundle of fun. I’m talking about the magnum opus of Sci-Fi anime— Steins;Gate. Admittedly, the theme of time travel is no stranger to the realm of anime, so making a time travel story stand out isn’t as easy as shooting a fish in the barrel. Steins;Gate delves into this realm of time travel and worldlines, putting in acknowledgements to bona fide theories viz. the butterfly effect, and how, once you alter even an inconsequential thing of the past, the future transitions into one large scrambled egg. The laws of time travel are possibly pseudoscience, but S;G sticks with these laws and makes it seem as though they are indeed the real deal. The story and narrative of this Sci-Fi gem is exceptionally well researched and meticulously hand-crafted; virtually like a luxurious item, with a sizable detail added to conjure up a plausible narrative of time travel and the anticipated catastrophic changes that come with it. In spite of being somewhat complex, the time travel mechanics hold together reasonably well, and are instrumental not merely as the prime catalyst for the plot, but also its resolution.

I’ll be dead honest and say that the first few episodes are incredibly slow and random to a point where it may turn some of its viewers down. However, this rather slow start is actually of the essence in order to establish the nitty-gritty concepts concerning time travel which the anime utilizes, and setting the foundations for the characters and their relationships. Once it picks up, the mind-blowing Sci-Fi thriller fires up its engines, the intrigue and mystery kicks-off, and the pace of the series accelerates; putting its viewers on the edge of their seat. What follows is an enthralling plot, which managed to blow my mind each episode. The ending is equally spectacular, tying everything together like a dream, and even presenting a new perspective on prior events (I oh-so suggest rewatching episode 1 after you finish). The characters for S;G, as far as I’m concerned, are developed remarkably well, and on top of that are some of the most captivating fictional humans that I ever had the pleasure of beholding on screen; which is why I was also able to connect with them in terms of their emotions and goals. If I could travel back in time and tell myself to watch this modern classic sooner, trust me, I would. Alas, I don’t have a time machine to my name which will enable me to accomplish such a feat… and after watching this anime, I think it’s opportune if I’d rather not haha. Every once in a while, an anime will spring up that will withstand the test of time and join the ranks of other anime series which are counted as one of the best ever created. In my humble opinion, Steins;Gate is one of those masterpieces. I’m not writing in hyperbole when I declare that Steins;Gate is the best anime that I have ever seen. Not only is it well constructed and emotionally resonant, but it’s also by far the best-executed time travel narrative that I have encountered. In my view, it’s pretty much an unprecedented piece of art, and I unreservedly recommend this anime to anyone who is even remotely interested after reading these aforementioned thoughts of mine on it.

This is the choice of Steins;Gate.

El. Psy. Kongroo.