There’s no way to talk about the first season of this series without acknowledging one simple fact: this show loves its formula. This is not a criticism, merely an observation. Contrary to the prevailing wisdom, I don’t consider a show being formulaic to be a flaw in and of itself. It’s how the formula is handled and played with that is good or bad. The question shouldn’t be “Does this show have a formula?”, the question should be “How does this show use its formula?”. And the answer to that question is it’s a bit of a mixed bag.
One of the benefits is that it’s easy to jump into this show from any episode and get an idea of what you’ll see for the rest of it. If you immediately decide you don’t like what you see, then you don’t need to waste your time. If you’re on the fence, a couple more episodes should help you decide pretty easily. Another good point is that the show does a decent job of using the formula to develop the characters in the supporting cast. They may not be the most unique characters, but they’re an endearing group that grows on you as the season goes on. The formula also allows the show time to emphasize one of its greatest strengths: the action. When it comes to CGI superhero shows, this one is easily the best when it comes to animating fluid and dynamic action sequences. It also tops anything the recent Marvel cartoons have put out. The people on this show know exactly how to make fights visually captivating.
And now for the cons of the formula. While the formula does benefit the supporting cast, the Akumas can be pretty forgettable, especially the one-off ones. Some of them are at least buoyed up by having funny powersets, like M. Pigeon, but often they’re rather bland. As for the main villain, Hawk Moth does not have a good showing this season. He doesn’t feel like a genuine threat, given that LB and CN are constantly beating his minions without too much trouble. The lack of development for him just compounds the issue. The formula also keeps the show from truly exploring the story beats it was trying to set up. There’s small hints at a larger picture, but nothing major until the very end of the season. The show seems uninterested in moving things forward up until it’s already too late. It doesn’t help that the heroes secret identity angle feels like something left over from a 90s to early 2000s superhero cartoon.
So what are my final thoughts? Overall, the endearing cast and beautiful animation make up for the weak villain and plodding narrative. It’s not a great season by any means, but it’s fun and cute.
Season 1: Formula to a T
There’s no way to talk about the first season of this series without acknowledging one simple fact: this show loves its formula. This is not a criticism, merely an observation. Contrary to the prevailing wisdom, I don’t consider a show being formulaic to be a flaw in and of itself. It’s how the formula is handled and played with that is good or bad. The question shouldn’t be “Does this show have a formula?”, the question should be “How does this show use its formula?”. And the answer to that question is it’s a bit of a mixed bag.
One of the benefits is that it’s easy to jump into this show from any episode and get an idea of what you’ll see for the rest of it. If you immediately decide you don’t like what you see, then you don’t need to waste your time. If you’re on the fence, a couple more episodes should help you decide pretty easily. Another good point is that the show does a decent job of using the formula to develop the characters in the supporting cast. They may not be the most unique characters, but they’re an endearing group that grows on you as the season goes on. The formula also allows the show time to emphasize one of its greatest strengths: the action. When it comes to CGI superhero shows, this one is easily the best when it comes to animating fluid and dynamic action sequences. It also tops anything the recent Marvel cartoons have put out. The people on this show know exactly how to make fights visually captivating.
And now for the cons of the formula. While the formula does benefit the supporting cast, the Akumas can be pretty forgettable, especially the one-off ones. Some of them are at least buoyed up by having funny powersets, like M. Pigeon, but often they’re rather bland. As for the main villain, Hawk Moth does not have a good showing this season. He doesn’t feel like a genuine threat, given that LB and CN are constantly beating his minions without too much trouble. The lack of development for him just compounds the issue. The formula also keeps the show from truly exploring the story beats it was trying to set up. There’s small hints at a larger picture, but nothing major until the very end of the season. The show seems uninterested in moving things forward up until it’s already too late. It doesn’t help that the heroes secret identity angle feels like something left over from a 90s to early 2000s superhero cartoon.
So what are my final thoughts? Overall, the endearing cast and beautiful animation make up for the weak villain and plodding narrative. It’s not a great season by any means, but it’s fun and cute.