Pandora Hearts
I watched the anime many years ago and have always wondered how it would end, as the anime had an open ending that completely departed from the manga.
And one thing I must say, this manga impressed me in many ways. Not only with its sympathetic characters but its multi-layered plot and the individual resolutions over time, whereby more and more of the "truth" was revealed, until the climax. To my disappointment, the ending of Pandora Hearts was relatively poorly realized and it is only "mediocre" at best. It had little tension or emotion but seemed like an empty stringing together of events that were supposed to be "big". But they were nothing more than overdramatization over-exaggeration.
However, the fall of Pandora Hearts didn't start until Chapter 90 +/- and it didn't get bad until Chapter 100. Until then, the manga possessed a very high-quality QUality and was carried especially by the characters and the twists.
[Storyline 7]
The story of Pandora Hearts revolves around the individual noble houses, of which the protagonist Oz is one. He is pushed into the abyss for inexplicable reasons and meets Alice, the "B-Rabbitt" there. They make a contract with each other to escape the Abyss. After their arrival, the rest of the plot focuses on the "Tragedy of Sablier". A single event that links the lives of all the characters and reveals a very interesting truth that has been hidden by several layers and holds a very unexpected event at the end.
The rest of the plot revolves around the introduction of various characters, their relationships, and an immense number of miscellaneous puzzle pieces are scattered about. Already since Chapter 1, some fragments belong to the truth.
The way Pandora Hearts is told reminded me a lot of "Fullmetal Alchemist" with its consequences and the concept of "The Truth Behind the Truth". This was also very well staged here and the individual clues that one received as a viewer, constantly changed the perspective.
The 2 negative points here were. First, in the end, after everything was revealed, there was only a half-hearted final fight, which was not the author's strength. Along the way, other elements were introduced that didn't help the plot at all.
Furthermore, there was a problem with the pacing, later on, there were too many "twists" in a massive anime sequence, making it hard for the viewer to process. Whereas twists in the manga happened on average every 5 chapters and you could order the detail well. In the end, a whole dam of information was opened, which was almost uncontrollable. The character is in pact with he is, in reality, **** he is he, this character betrayed him, but he is a double agent, but this one is in reality ... < as an example and this on about 2 chapters.
I am glad that I read the manga very carefully from the beginning and even followed it with enthusiasm, otherwise, it would be problematic to forget any "detail" here. Since you would not understand anything at the end if you lose the context.
[Characters 7]
Characters, their backgrounds, and ambitions were excellently realized here.
There is too large a collection of essential characters, all of which are interconnected, so I can't go into each one individually.
Oz is the young lord of the Vessalius house and the protagonist of the story. There is much more to his plot than is expected at the beginning. And his self-critical and self-sacrificing personality has provided some scope for development.
Alice, on the other hand, is rather simple. She is the strong protagonist, who is predominantly potty-mouthed, yet has drama to fall back on. Her background and the resolution of her true story, however, turn many things upside down later.
Gilbert is the most complex of the 3 protagonists, constantly in self-conflict with himself and his own will. This is portrayed very nicely. Also later, when the background for all this is shown, one understands all the more why he was in such a self-conflict.
The rest of the important characters also all had the goals they wanted to achieve and various interesting backgrounds. Whether any antagonists or allies of the protagonists. They were all part of the puzzle.
I find it particularly remarkable how the connection between all the characters was woven and connected with the "tragedy of Sablier". Everything returns to the place where it happened a hundred years ago and still does not belong to the past.
Jack and Glen's background was also very interesting and the fascinating final piece of the puzzle in this entire story. By far 2 of the best characters, emblematic of their rivalry and friendship.
[Drawings / representation 7]
Varying between above average and beautiful. Some chapters were subtle with diverse backgrounds and details. Others, however, offered huge and beautiful scenery.
The characters' drawings were simple but blended well with the contrast to the setting.
[Conclusion]
If only it hadn't been for the miserable ending, Pandora Hearts could have been a symbol for an unprecedented top title or even a masterpiece that is never mentioned.
Unfortunately, the author failed in the end and gambled away the excellent structure.
Nonetheless, the ending alone doesn't ruin this great fantasy manga, and fans of the genre will get their taste for it.
[Enjoyment 9]
Add to list