A skeleton takes his slave as a wife.

This feels like something I should enjoy, theoretically. But I didn’t. Not in the slightest.

I’m not sure what it is. I just couldn’t bring myself to care. I had the exact same problem with the manga when I attempted (and failed) to read it a few years ago.

I think part of it is that the “relationship” between them makes no sense, and the show mainly just dodges this question. Is Chise Elias’ child? Or his parent? Elias and Chise seem to think of themselves as lovers, but that’s ridiculous, and simply demonstrates that neither of them understands what lovers are. Chise is portrayed as making this profound journey of self-discovery when it feels to me like she’s progressed from infancy to possibly the level of a toddler. She spends so much time in introspection, and for what? I can’t understand this girl in the slightest. The answers she finds are dumb. But that isn’t a surprise, since the questions she asks are even dumber. Elias is boring and predictable. He’s supposed to be growing feelings or something, but no, it doesn’t work. None of the assisting cast is compelling either. People say this show has a great atmosphere, but to me it comes across as some generic pastoral Britain. The world of the show feels claustrophobic and empty. The magic feels like they’re pulling it out of their ass.

It’s supposed to be a story about agency (I think….?). Chise starts as a slave and slowly grows her own sense of identity. But… she starts as a slave, and ends up as a bride. In this particular case, I’m not entirely convinced there’s much of a difference. She still is living for somebody else. And what annoys me the most is, she acts like she’s grown so much. She’s barely grown at all. Her growth, and the entire show, feels like much ado about nothing.

But hey, take my opinion with a huge grain of salt. I pretty much gave up around episode ten and watched the rest (sort of) while I was cooking. And if it seems like I’m especially harsh on this, it’s because I started with high expectations, which were quickly and brutally shattered.

• Storytelling – D – Seems promising, but conveys nothing of value.
• Voice – C – Looks good at first, but you get behind the facade and there’s nothing there.
• Characters – D – Had so many interesting questions it could have explored with these characters and their relationship. Spent the rest of the show dodging them all.
• Attention Grab – F – Bored me out of my mind. And I wasn’t even paying attention for most of it.
• Production – C – It’s fine.
• Overall – D+

Recommendations – Natsume Yuujinchou, Violet Evergarden