apoc9

Due to the nature of the series contains spoilers for the first episode. Coincidentally with popularity rise of game Among Us, we’ve got a series, which could be tagged as Among Us the animation. The first episode throws you of guard, because it purposefully presents as school-life series with super powers. It does so quite convincingly, but it does hint in the beginning what is the series about. I have to admit it did slip out of my mind and tricked me into thinking it’s just another of that kind of building friendship series. Good, job Mr. or rather Miss impostor. The second episode does show what is the real gist of the series. Let’s us not kid ourselves. While the premise of people abusing superpowers and being really dangerous to world and society as whole is completely fine, the way how to deal with such people, that serves as justification for the whole plot, is just dumb. Instead of just disposing quickly and effectively of people with super powers, there is this really elaborate way of sending them to an isolated island, where there either kill each another or just to be safe, the government sends its agent to ensure they are all killed. Plus, it’s quite risky, that the whole thing might be exposed in consequence it would be way easier to just “euthanize” the kids in hospital. The whole ordeal could be easily avoided. This does lower the whole experience for me already. There is one big “but”, because it isn’t certain this explanation given by the main protagonist Nana is true. Or pretty much anything she beliefs is true. However, the anime doesn’t show in its 13 episodes either way. It’s mere speculation at this point.

Probably the closest series to this is Death Note, because this is after all about plotting, scheming and avoiding to be caught by others. In that spirit Nana is Yagami Light and her antagonist Kyouya is L, who does suspect Nana and does his best to expose her as murderer. If I should pick something that could be better. It’s the fact, that most of Nana’s victims are evil or presented in the end as such [1]. It would be better if there were more variation and viewers could more readily question, whether her actions are really justified or whether is she just fed propaganda from her superiors via the messages containing estimates. When I’m thinking about it, having such messages in the phone is unnecessary risk and so is having the phone as a channel of communication. What if you have someone with ability to intercept phone signal or hack your device. The series does to try be smart like Death Note, but it does have holes in the narrative and it feels more like luck, than actual skill, when Nana manages to avoid detection or avert suspicion a bit. Does she? Pretty much with main antagonist Kyouya she is “sus” nonetheless.
If I should point out one thing the series did good is its direction towards the end in regards to Nana. It steered the show in direction, that made a better overall impression albeit it downplayed the scheming element in return.

Animation is ok, not great. Soundtrack, OP and ED ok. Nothing special I would care much about.

The series is leaning more to be good [2]. If you enjoy thrilling sensation of series like Death Note. You may enjoy it. If you are approaching everything in very analytical manner and your threshold for suspension of disbelief is very high, you are likely to find the series lacking. It’s probably one of the better series of the current season so, I would recommend it.

Spoilers

[1] The good thing is they didn’t do it with Michiru, but then she conveniently sacrificed herself so she poses less significant issue for further development.

[2] I was thinking about what makes or breaks the show is the ending or further development. If there is some shift like having change of heart or having to make alliance with the enemy of humanity. They sort of did went to this route in the last episode, but it ended suddenly with Michiru’s death. The ending is pretty much open for further episodes.