Review of Monster

What makes a monster? Is it nature or nurture? How do you even separate one from a human being? Monster is a story that attempts to explore that moral playground. Personally, I find it to be an anime I respect more than love. The main conflict of the story, the moral dilemmas, the depths of complex characters, and even the I can't-wait-to-dig-deeper plot kept one invested throughout the journey. Still, the storytelling requires patience as the revelations are slow-burn. This show must have been revolutionary when it first came out, with all the twist and turn, but some elements can be predictable now for someone whowatched too much media.
I think the part that stopped it from keeping me 100% hooked is the constant detour to introduced new characters. While this is part of why Monster is so unique and I really find the side characters intriguing, not all side quests are equally interesting. It can be frustrating when you want to see Tenma's quest to redemption and the mystery behind Johan's origin, only to find chunk of episodes that focus on mafia story. Maybe I'm impatient, so it might be a better watching experience on rewatch. The storytelling style also made it feel a bit old-fashioned, but I do find the overall direction to be good.
What Monster excel in is writing morally gray, humans. Side characters like Grimmer, Lunge, Eva, Dieter (making a kid not annoying is such a feat!), and many others made you "care" about their fight against the inner demons. As for the main trio, Anna is the weakest link as she have the same goal as Tenma, without the conflict. Johan, the devil incarnate, as many have claimed is definitely one of the best villain in any media. Uncovering his mystery is the show, but attempting to understand him fully feels impossible even after watching. As for the hero, Tenma, is one you root for entirely due to the injustice he face and his will to remain a saver rather than the destroyer. In this current state of anti-hero, it can be inspiring to watch someone try his hardest to stay moral.