B: The Beginning's intense and dark tone signaled at something like Death Note, just with lots of action and lesser episodes. It eventually proves to be a gripping action thriller which does have an occasional slow pace but never feels dragged or boring. The season 1 is so gripping that you can easily binge the whole thing in one sitting without feeling like a drag. The music is wonderfully used throughout, the characters are written with subtlety and the action sequences are outstanding, with bursts of emotion underscoring the suspenseful, twisted story.
Season 2 is also engaging, but eventually fails to keep up. It mostly feels unnecessary in hindsight, story seems bland and characters don't shine as much as they do in the first season. The final episode feels a bit of a drag and the ending is a little underwhelming. But the focused writing is a reason why it never feels bad or disappointing as a whole. It's fairly decent if you keep the expectations in check since the animation quality also remains top notch and it overall looks picturesque on the screen. Gone, however, is the tension and the urge to quickly jump to another episode, unless you know you can finish it in a 2-hour sitting given the number of episodes.
All in all, it's nevertheless a worth-watching action thriller anime that touches a lot of mature themes and presents them well on screen. While I give season 1 a solid 10/10 for literally everything it offers from action to twists to characterization, I give the season 2 an 8/10 since it's somehow gripping enough to be watched, although it's ultimately pretty forgettable and doesn't end as expected. But if you're ready to keep your expectations limited from the second season, you're in for a solid treat. I just hope they improve on the writing front if the makers are planning another season somehow. This show has great potential to become one of the greatest anime shows of all time, and the first season alone proves that without fail.
9/10 overall.
Season 2 is also engaging, but eventually fails to keep up. It mostly feels unnecessary in hindsight, story seems bland and characters don't shine as much as they do in the first season. The final episode feels a bit of a drag and the ending is a little underwhelming. But the focused writing is a reason why it never feels bad or disappointing as a whole. It's fairly decent if you keep the expectations in check since the animation quality also remains top notch and it overall looks picturesque on the screen. Gone, however, is the tension and the urge to quickly jump to another episode, unless you know you can finish it in a 2-hour sitting given the number of episodes.
All in all, it's nevertheless a worth-watching action thriller anime that touches a lot of mature themes and presents them well on screen. While I give season 1 a solid 10/10 for literally everything it offers from action to twists to characterization, I give the season 2 an 8/10 since it's somehow gripping enough to be watched, although it's ultimately pretty forgettable and doesn't end as expected. But if you're ready to keep your expectations limited from the second season, you're in for a solid treat. I just hope they improve on the writing front if the makers are planning another season somehow. This show has great potential to become one of the greatest anime shows of all time, and the first season alone proves that without fail.
9/10 overall.