So here goes. First, some positive, the fight scenes visually are good as well as the actual moves. The escalate well throughout the series. Kenshin can be badass and funny, overall likable, which is apparently a hard thing for some anime's to do. An I liked most of the stylistic art choices, like with the vibrant almost neon blood. The historical period was good choice and I sometimes I did find myself laughing out loud. However here is the bad, let's give some context, I went into this anime, by seeing its rating IMDb 8.6 (at the time of this review). Awesome score, I'm in for a treat I thought. But no I got a show full of false ideological clashes, misused characters and preachy ending that made me not even want to give season 3 a chance. Just heads up, this review will mainly focus on the Kyoto Arc as it is the portion of the show that I think is the best, while season 1 just exists to set everything up. So, in season 2 we have Kenshin, legendary Battōsai, a converted manslayer (side note this doesn't sound epic as I think it is supposed to, in my opinion) and his fight with his friends with against anti-government movement of Matoko Shishio. A man who believe in a primal survival of fittest philosophy, okay decent set up. But in the end after Kenshin physically beats him, they try to ask so who won, is it okay that this evil monster will be forgotten to time and poor evil guys who end up getting off mostly scot-free. However, this show doesn't deserve to ask these questions. I understand historically the Meiji government wasn't Japan best era, but the show rarely shows the evil government, other than a few flashbacks, and when it comes to showing government higher ups, they're generally good. And yes, Shishio was betrayed by them, but I don't get to see what he was like before this so I assume he was always slightly evil, and if I were the Meiji I'd off him in that case too. Overall most fights try to give this philosophical conflict and fall flat, except in Sanosuke fight with Anji. Shishio's viewpoint may have historical foundation but the show doesn't give that, so I'm left with definitely evil guy, and clearly the good guy. When they win and they ask the question, the answers are undoubtedly, YOU, YES and NO. The show wastes time in this think rather than intelligently and gradually building its characters. Which brings me to my next conundrum, misused characters. Let's start with Sanosuke, his drive to improve to help and rival Kenshin, okay good, but we keep meeting more and more characters with "god- like" skills and Sano falls into obscurity, he almost makes a comeback Futae no Kiwami, but still is no match for any top tier combatant. But, he does have a good philosophical battle, the only case of this with Anji. But on completion Sano becomes Kenshin's Yumi, as she is to Shishio. So, goodbye, character who almost finished his arc. Next briefly because I'll get to angry if talk too much about this headache, we have Yahiko, f**k this kid. He is annoyingly written and acted in the English dub. This is a kid with inferiority complex, for no reason. You are a child, you won't be at Kenshin, or even Sano's level at your age, but he got to prove himself! So, f**k all sense he's going to yell, all the time, and never grasp the reality that he is a novice wooden sword user and A CHILD. I can't, and they never stop with him either, "just go away" was all I could think when he'd say anything. Lastly for characters I'll talk about Kaoru, she an assistant master (assistant to who, her dad? Isn't he dead? CONFUSED!) so decent fighter, but madly in love with good guy Kenny, like I get that. But why would Kenshin give one f**k about this, at least to me this was never portrayed to me convincingly. She almost always in tears at the thought of Kenshin in season 2, but I don't get, why? When did you become so whiny? Overall, I feel the show is remember fondly by people who may have watched this in their youths, or by people who haven't watched many anime, cause this is not as some claim "the greatest anime of all time?". One last note, wish this story had some balls, to kill someone, at least for a change up or shock. Everyone gets knocked out, or (and this was bad, happened 4 time within the first 2 seasons) prevented from killing themselves but someone grabbing their hand, to their own shock and awe. Overall nah to this, I'm gonna watch some OVAs heard some are good, 6/10. Lastly amazed you read all this. Sorry if you love this show.
Review of Rurouni Kenshin
