Review of Deca-Dence

When 'Deca-Dence' gets into its first episode, you're pretty sure you know what you're getting. I'm going to be upfront here: you don't. After setting up a fairly familiar premise; a hero living on a moving fortress, protecting the remains of humanity from giant monsters, who wants to be a warrior to fight against them. Add in some brilliantly lived-in world design, a likeable supporting cast, and a fun, dynamic system of combat, and I feel like even a predictable series can still be fun. And then the second episode starts, the show lays all its cards on the table, and you realise that you're watchingsomething very different. That feeling doesn't go away.

'Deca-Dence' is an exciting story, with interesting, empathic characters, incredible fight animation, and constant surprises. It's got super interesting themes, about a person's dreams, fighting against the system, and a fairly amusing deconstruction of consumerism. By the end of the series, two out of three of these themes are really nicely tied up, with one of the most satisfying endings I've come across in the last couple of years. And, even though that last theme gets a little brushed aside (it's not the complete deconstruction of capitalism it looked like it might be), what it ends up being is something that feels totally fresh and original.

At the beginning, I thought 'Deca-Dence' was going to be a familiar but enjoyable show. In reality, what I got is what feels like one of the most surprising, unique, genuinely original shows in a long while.