Anime Review: Sokou no Strain

My husband and I watched all 13 episodes of this series over the course of two days. I have mixed feelings about this show. I think the basic story was compelling, but the execution was poor. The story takes place in an alternate universe in which mankind is split into 2 factions -- the Union and the Deague. It's never really explained what the main difference between the two factions is -- which is sad, because it could have been used as a red herring in the story. Anyhow, the story begins with the parting of Sara Warrick from her beloved older brother Ralph. Ralph joins the military to battle the Deague and Sara promises to join the military too so she can be with him. Stuff happens and while Sara is in training, her brother comes back as a traitor in league with the Deague and destroys the military academy and kills all of her friends while retrieving a mysterious little girl. And so the story begins with Sara confused about her brother's intention and her quest to find her brother and to figure out what the hell is going on.

For some reason Sara's personality is reset such that she's a haughty asshole that does not "do" teamwork and acts like a crazed recluse. There's lots of bitch-craft involved in this story which, while being typical, nonetheless, still pissed me and my husband off to see played out. There's gundam battles a plenty, a little romance, two goth-lolis, and yuriness. The "yuri" episode is quite funny, but also precipitates the end of this tragic, but fractured tale. There are a lot of story threads that are started, but forgotten, like the impending battle-to-end-all-battles between the Union and the Deague, the nonsense about the Emilys, and why any of this was going on in the first place. I give this 3/5 for a OK anime series.

Review: Toward the Terra

"Toward the Terra" is one of the best anime series I've watched. It's tough to talk about what the show is about with ruining it, so please bear with me. Anyhow, the show is set in the future when after human have fled Earth for other planets. The story revolves around two main characters Jomy and Keith, who eventually fulfill their destiny of becoming the head of the two warring factions of humans, the Mu and humans, respectively. What's great about this show is both of the main characters are not perfect and both perform act of heroism as well as acts that could be considered atrocities -- it's a war afterall and the show makes it very clear that war isn't pretty nor moral. Anyhow, the characters of Jomy and Keith are so well written and complex -- I was absolutely delighted. The other side characters are wonderful too. This is definitely a character driven show that also happened to include some great action. One of the last scenes in the final episodes poignantly shows off the skill of the story writers and the animators. I was moved by both the sadness and the hope this scene as well as the care taken to draw Jomy and Keith in their last moments. Oh, so good!!! There are actually a few scenes in the series that are like this and each time I was moved to tears. It's lonely to be the leader even though the leader is loved by many. It is tough to be a leader and to live with the atrocities you've committed and to feel the weight of each and every life you feel responsible for protecting. Who is good and who is bad -- or in fact are they sometimes the same? This series deeply probes this question and in the end I'm am left to say that Jomy and Keith acted in the best interests of the people they served. I think this comes through best when Keith asks Jomy, "Do you still have the power to destroy planets?" Jomy replies, "yes" and in response Keith says, "Then it is still my duty to eliminate you." The irony is that Keith has this power too and uses it, but it's in the form of a machine. 5/5 for a truly great series.