The Story

It’s no secret that Satsuriku no Tenshi has been stumbling since its debut, with both a plummeting score and mixed discussion at best weighing on its shoulders. For such an anticipated Summer title preseason, one fit with highly regarded source material, it’s surprising to see it struggle in the fashion it has to win over the community.

Where does it actually struggle?

Its most immediate issue is tone. Satsuriku no Tenshi doesn’t have a firm grasp of atmosphere, often stepping on its own toes with immersion breaking directional choices that feel better off left on the sideline. Tenshi’s approach ends up coming across as a clumsy juggling act, mixing bleak horror beats with comedic ones to poor effect.

Is that it?

Well no, our leads can be pretty frustrating in their own ways too. Zack is extremely shallow in structure, a relatively straightforward murderous psychopath for most of his time on screen with character acting and dialogue quips that rides on the edgy side. Rachel on the other hand has a very deadpan demeanor that undersells a lot of scenes potential weight. Her dialogue choices aren’t much better either – constantly asking for her death gets tiresome fast.

Anything else?

Beyond the show feeling like a Lets Play, certain decisions and interactions are highly questionable. Just in this latest episode alone we have Zack breaking through a thick wall of concrete in a single scythe swing and Rachel for no apparent reason, not using her flashlight when Eddie cuts off the lights to the room they’re all in.

The Bottom Line

Satsuriku no Tenshi clearly isn’t shaping up so well and definitely has notable flaws already. Given that it’s currently the most popular non sequel show (according to MAL) and combined with the hype that backed it – if it continues stumbling it’s likely to end up as the season’s biggest disappointment. To be fair though, it’s still early and there’s 13 episodes left to turn this all around. So there is hope for a final product worth embracing.

 

 

“QUOTE OF THE WEEK”

–Another week, another poor outing for Island. Congrats on making it even that far – you’re braver than most.

 

 

SEASONAL PRATTLE

Find what you’re looking for fast
Tenrou: Sirius the Jaeger
Banana Fish
Satsuriku no Tenshi
Planet With
Aguu: Tensai Ningyou
Asobi Asobase
Boruto: Naruto Next Generations
Shichisei no Subaru
Happy Sugar Life
Revue Starlight

Tenrou: Sirius the Jaeger (2)

Original productions aren’t exactly the easiest to manage, but the way Tenrou: Sirius the Jaeger continues to provide value for viewers reinforces that this project is in good hands. Even if you aren’t quite yet sold on the character dynamics or base narrative, aspects that Jaeger is rolling out nicely, this work’s action is well honed and exceptional for its genre. From the music to the direction, we have a silky smooth mix of creativity and precision in execution that makes those beats very satisfying. Great way to follow up a strong premiere with this reassuring addition.

Banana Fish (3)

Momentum remained high throughout, and I’m glad Banana Fish continues to be very entertaining with its telling in week 3. Utsumi once again showcased firm control over the give and release of tension along with competency for close character reading, elements that are not only crucial for this genre space, but that also result in a smooth and engaging twenty minutes of following Ash through prison. Max’s introduction is handled well, and Banana Fish’s more intimate beats go off without a hitch. Another job well done.

Satsuriku no Tenshi (1)

On the brightside, Satsuriku no Tenshi definitely feels like a product that has a director who’s very comfortable with material like this. Kentarou Suzuki’s vision is highly effective for large batches of scenes – there’s a thick layer of confusion and intrigue created by the his framing that compels you to want to explore these floors. On top of that, Suzuki closes out this premiere well with a hook that’s not too reachy or miss timed. Despite that, on the not so brightside, certain plot beats have an inherent edge to them and Rachel’s situational awareness will likely raise some questions. This may shape up to be a work were you have to roll with the punches, but its potential payoff seems worth it.

Planet With (2)

Many authors struggle to finish their work – even more battle to start. Without deliberate observation and sturdy narrative fundamentals, stories like Planet With’s end up all over the place – often dead on arrival or quickly divorced from the message they initially intended. Thankfully, this week’s episode provides more reassurance that likely won’t be the case. Planet With’s OP & ED alone hint reasonably at its thematic core, and the improvement in character texture in addition to a couple shades of complexity implied for the plot, gives me a lot faith. We’re still all upside here but the picture is beginning to come together.

Aguu: Tensai Ningyou (1)

Aguu: Tensai Ningyou premiere is basically a budget Junji Ito doing a drunk Princess Tutu impersonation, only to stop right after the ballet part to dive into a pool of old Studio Deen. It’s a cocktail that no one wants on paper, but past the first sip isn’t actually that bad. Goes down smoother than expected.

Asobi Asobase (2)

Even in an episode where Hanako is the clear star, Asobi Asobase still manages to use its leading trio to great effect – a real testament to how smoothly screen-time is being handled. There are well built physical gags, great passive background faces, and snappy callbacks across the whole cast with no one character feeling “left out.” This show is really selling its material well and I’m happy to see it successful for another week.

Boruto: Naruto Next Generations (65)

Plenty of charged cutting, crisp layouts, and so much complex-fluent movement easily makes this episode hands down one of the best of the year. Being able to land your emotional notes with grace is one thing, but pulling off the scarce feat of a battle with this visceral level and awareness – letting gorgeous composition take the place of what a mortal show would have to deliver with text – is another. I never thought I would say that we’re blessed to have a Boruto episode, but this one absolutely deserves it. We’re blessed to have this episode

Shichisei no Subaru (3)

Part of me wishes Shichisei no Subaru was better at constructing drama – Asahi’s emotions could be less upfront and the series on a whole could spend more time with its somber beats. Subaru certainly has the foundation to do so, and there’s still plenty of time on the clock to lean towards that path. However and until then, we’re stuck in a pretty middling MMO telling with the only real hook being Asahi’s mystery itself. What a shame.

Happy Sugar Life (2)

Episode two displayed all the understated strengths of the first, quietly providing competent framing for viewers to better blend into Satou’s headspace. A vast portion of why this show works so far is simply that the story here is just intriguing – we’re steadily getting more intrusion into Satou and Shio’s relationship and there’s enough balance in Satou’s demeanor to sell those plot beats with interest.

Revue Starlight (2)

While this week was tamer than the last, Revue Starlight still had a great showing from start to finish. It’s good to see more thematic footing from Karen and Junna as it relates to the competitive system, but even better to see that Revue’s quality in craft isn’t pulling its foot off the gas. This work has a lot of upside, and the storytelling tools both visually and textually to further push its ceiling. It’s definitely a trip that I’m excited to be on so far.

Worthwhile Prattle:

Japanese musical theater terminology that is found in Revue Starlight

 

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