Claymore

Cool aesthetic. Animation is good for TV. I really like the Euro-fantasy setting but the male MC's histrionics ruin the grimdark vibe. Makes an admirable attempt at being very character driven for an action show but fails in a way that's sadly common in anime - ignoring the "show don't tell rule." There's too much needless exposition and dialogue explaining things that would be better expressed through actions or are already clear from what's been shown. Occasionally condenseding as a result.

I did admire its dark kinda Eastern European-flavored fantasy vibe and general ominous tone and monsters and big swords and shit. I found the characters a bit uncompelling and the animation kind of flat and undercooked though. No hatred for it, but I didn't finish it either.

too obvious and explicatory, raki is inarguably a shit character and the north portion is noticeably weaker which is a major blemish, but everything else is my flesh and my blood. as befits a show about the thin line between human and monster, it is unimaginably monstrous, and so dreadfully painfully human. images and traumas here that will haunt me forever, more horrifically 'lovecraftian' than lovecraft himself. addictive lore (seguleh hierarchy ftw), awesome music and atmosphere.