THE STAFF - Animation is done by Doga Kobo, a minor studio which never produced anything significant outside of some aesthetic quality in Natsuyuki Rendezvous. - Directed by some nobody not worth of mentioning. - Based on the light novels of Tanaka Yoshiki, the writer of the god-tier Legend of the Galactic Heroes. Sadly that was his only worthy work and this is nothing to look forward to. Something-something Jikenbo is basically a mystery series, a combination of CSI Miami and Supernatural (the series). It has to do with weird crimes that always end up having something supernatural (the term) about them. The protagonist is also the main attraction of the show, Ryoko the investigator. She is a highly dynamic, highly cunning, and super sexy woman, and as long as you like her charm, then the rest of what is going on in the show don’t matter. It seems as if people dying by the hundreds and martial law being enforced are less important that watching her devious smirk, her mesmerizing eyes and her perfect curves. But she wouldn’t be able to do all that without someone next to her to be compared to and here is where her assistant Izumida, a male police investigator comes into play. He is also a handsome guy but always tries to look serious and distant, unwilling to mix business and pleasure. He is a rather unsecured with himself young man who does his best to not fall for her… but ends up being her lapdog anyway, as she loves to constantly teasing him in various ways. Practically Ryoko is a sadist who loves to torment guys with her charms before she sends her dog Izumida to beat them up and make them spill everything they know. The chemistry of the main duo is the most important element of the show and, again, as long as you like their relationship you can stop worrying about what is going on with the plot. Because if you do chances are you will fall asleep. Each case is performed in a very straightforward manner and no matter how much they try to make it look scary, or mysterious, or different, it is still nothing but a simplistic route of going from place A to place B after an easy to follow line of thought. Plus the whole deal is lacking very much in excitement as the protagonists are almost almighty in whatever they are doing and their opponents make terrible mistakes. So watching Izumida carrying the several heavy luggage of Ryoko, while she is telling him what a good job he does is more interesting that a super virus that can kill anyone in the world. Plus not everything is logical or that scientific from a detective’s point of view and all cases end up being non-detective with so many magic stuff they have in them.The rest of the cast is completely flat and you hardly get to see them being colorized. They are there just playing their roles without anything for you to care about. The most interesting amongst them is Ryoko’s main rival and her own aid, and only because they are their evil counterparts albeit with less charm and screen-time. The production values are very good, as everything is drawn with great detail and good lighting and shadowing effects. The OST is also made to feel like it fits the show, Jazz, Blues, and a touch of film-noir. Both lack some fine details to count as super great but are otherwise very good.In all, this show is not really good outside the cool/sexy Ryoko and her dog Izumida. The cases are played out in a silly and boring way, the rest of the cast is uninteresting, and even the main duo never develops to anything more than what you see them at first. Replay value is practically zero and your enjoyment equals how many episodes you could stare at those two before getting bored with the rest. I managed to stand them for three. If you liked it, also try Kuroshitsuji. It is gayer but it has more weirdness in visuals to keep you interested for more. And now for some excused scorings.
ART SECTION: 7/10 Analysis: General Artwork 1/2, Character Figures 2/2, Backgrounds 2/2, Animation 1/2, Visual Effects 1/2 SOUND SECTION: 7/10 Analysis: Voice Acting 2/3, Music Themes 3/4, Sound Effects 2/3 STORY SECTION: 2/10 Analysis: Premise 1/2, Pacing 0/2, Complexity 0/2, Plausibility 0/2, Conclusion 1/2 CHARACTER SECTION: 5/10 Analysis: Presence 2/2, Personality 2/2, Backdrop 1/2, Development 0/2, Catharsis 0/2 VALUE SECTION: 1/10 Analysis: Historical Value 0/3, Rewatchability 0/3, Memorability 1/4 ENJOYMENT SECTION: 1/10 Analysis: Art 0/1, Sound 0/2, Story 0/3, Characters 1/4 VERDICT: 4/10