Progress Review: Valvrave the Liberator

Oi, you boys, kiss already!

Hey, everyone. This is a new section for this blog. It would composed of Reviews (Progress and Final) for anything I am currently into. I won't review by episodes since I'm more of a general reviewer with the specifics if you had seen my Opinion posts (technically those are reviews too... oh who cares. Those sections has different requirements for me to write anyways) Would it hold up on its own? Would it be great, good, mediocre, or just outright horrible?

So far I have reached episode 5 of the first season and there's nothing you can say to stop me from watching this. Technically it's too early for me to write a Progress Review but who cares, right?

Admittedly, I was only going to see this because it was written by the head writer of Code Geass, Ichiro Okouchi. I don't think he's a good writer (have so many cracks and plot holes but does have good characterization even though sometimes the plot can be pretty stupid or interesting at times), better than the head writer of Guilty Crown surely but his stories tend to have cracks. It was only because of Goro Taniguchi's direction, the cracks in Okouchi's writing was covered.

I heard of Kou Matsuo a bit. He's the director of Kure-nai and Red Garden. I haven't seen those so this is my first move into his territory. So far... I think he's okay. Not as great as others but still better given he managed to covered Okouchi's story cracks.

Now moving on. I liked Haruto and many characters alike. They all have their own identity enough for me to identify them as their own person...but some characters aren't developed yet (considering I'm still on season 1 so it's justified). Haruto was given special honor since his development is very good. At first, I thought he would be the new Shu Ouma...

Turns out I was wrong and I relished in satisfaction knowing that this protagonist would be able to carry the story. His personality is just fantastic and matched the tone of the writing quite well.

The story, again Okouchi's writing, has plenty of stupid moments but there are also some good writing sprinkled then and there akin to Code Geass R2 (hey, he had written some good when adapting (Berserk, Angelic Layer to name a few) before but personally the best thing he ever written was CG season 1 in terms of plot and characterization).

It has many similarities to Guilty Crown with the Whams I seen so far but...

Here's the thing:

Guilty Crown has distasteful characters with the exception of a few (see my Opinion Post on the anime) and a stupid mindless plot.

Valvrave has many interesting characters even though the plot can be stupid or interesting at times (it's either one of the two or both if I encountered Okouchi's writing skills).

Basically Valvrave is the series Guilty Crown had tried their hardest to strive to be. It's seems to be that way to me. Guilty Crown tried to build their own identity (and did so by trying to be like the combination of both seasons of Code Geass) and only managed by and known with stupidity.

I don't know if I can do an Opinion Post on Valvrave. Guilty Crown has enough criticism from me I can't help it. Walk On In garnered enough praise from me to promote it. You can't deny I promote it.

But you might get a final review if I finish the anime.

This is my opinion and I respect those who hate/dislike the series. You like what you like and you hate what you hate.