Review of Ikebukuro West Gate Park

Ikebukuro West Gate Park was a show destined to fail. People came in expecting action, violence, and romance and got neither of those things and so they didn't waste time downvoting it. By the time I started watching, which was around the time of airing 3rd or 4th episode, the score was already well below 7, which was unfair at that point in time. Durarara comparison also did not help. While the two shows are not that similar, one thing connects them, the unity of the characters. Even if the two characters do not know each other, certain Ikebukuro rules connect them, and it seems likeeveryone living there is a part of something bigger. The difference here is that in Durarara, we watch as those relationships grow, while in IWGP most relationships are already established.

The story follows one of the best protagonists in fiction, young Makoto, who uses said relationships to help people in need.
Every episode follows a similar route: trouble-> Makoto is asked to help the person in trouble -> conclusion. During the helping part, we are introduced to various characters, who mainly serve as a helping hand to Makoto and his troubled customers.

For the most part, everything was super enjoyable, every episode had its own unique story with unique characters, and with every episode, you gain more respect towards Makoto. Willingness to sacrifice your time, body, and mind to help someone you don't know, and to fight for justice should be the highest quality a person can have. Makoto has it, and because of that, every person we meet is ready to help him. That is the enjoyable part. It is nice to see a good person getting respect and rewards for his actions.

Unfortunately, the fun stops at the second to last episode, a strong contender for the stupidest episode of all time. It was a wish come true for those demanding gang fights and violence. At some point, trouble was expected, but the way it was executed was ridiculous. It's like Saika came and stabbed everyone and everyone became brainwashed, and the only thing they can think about is violence. Relationships that were established both previously and during the show were no longer there, and almost all of the likable characters immediately became unlikable.

The last episode was much better, as it fixed some of those things. It was still quite stupid and felt rushed, but at least it was enjoyable.

Score by episodes:
Episodes 1 to 10 - 10
Episode 11 - 1
Episode 12 - 6
It's unfortunate that the most important episodes are the last ones. If the show started badly and finished strong it wouldn't matter as much.

Overall I am glad that I watched it. It is a nice show that has nothing to do with romance, and the gang part of it is, for the most part, irrelevant.