A Certain Magical Index NT · review
If you are reading this review, you are likely either 1) interested in the series and want to see whether the series as a whole is worth your time or 2) have read the prequel A Certain Magical Index and are wondering how its sequel Shinyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index (Index New Testament or Index NT for short) stacks up. To answer those questions, 1) yes, the Toaru (series name) World is awesome, and you should get into it, and 2) Index NT is an improvement on Index in most every way with higher stakes, better plots, better character interactions and an expanded scope.Also, the magic side which many saw as lacking in Index gets much more interesting.
For the actual review, I would really like to give Index NT a 10/10 because at its best it is a 10/10. In fact, its arc focusing on A Certain Magical God is my single favorite arc out of all the arcs I've watched or read in Anime/Manga/LN's. If you couple that arc with its final arc and had nothing else, it would be a surefire 10/10. The issue is that the other arcs, which mind you, are necessary for the story, are not on that level. While some are still pretty strong, a few volumes and arcs border on mediocre.
Going back to the positives, Toaru's biggest strength is its characters and Index NT grants several characters (especially its 3 main protagonists) further character development while introducing several new characters that have quickly become fan favorites. The interactions between the expanding cast is almost always fun to read, but can sometimes lean too much into the fan-service. The other small issue with the characters is that at times, especially during the World Rejector Arc, we get too many new characters, and it gets tougher to follow.
Overall, I'd say that Index NT still deserves a 9/10 despite its inconsistency in quality from arc to arc. While the lows are pretty low for a 9/10, the highs are ridiculously high enough to make up for it.