Review of Black Butler

Kuroshitsuji or Black butler has made it's way to Netflix and a new audience, this anime has since become a classic and the image of Sebastian is well know to any anime fan regardless if they've seen the show or not... which is the main problem here. This show exists for that one reason, to simp over cute guys with heavy yaoi over-tones and a Victorian era backdrop. Art & Animation = 8/10 Beautiful art, and smooth animation. The high-end gothic look is timeless and designed to appeal to women which, considering the number of Ikemen in the cast, was probably the target demographic. (Ikemen justmeans Bishie but grown up and refined rather than youthful and cute).

This is the selling point of the series and the reason you keep watching. Doesn't get deeper than that.

Characters = 3/10

Sebastian is the most distinct character in the show. He is however static due to the nature of his role.
The problem comes from Ciel, the second main character. The kid is a brat full of angst, the only way to describe him is that line from south park "You Will Respect My Authoritah!"
To make it worse his actions and motivations are beyond muddled and the only reason to explain them is if he followed with his revenge motive this show will be over in 5 episodes! Of course he has to make up reasons to not check clear cut clues or interrogate the one person that KNOWS FOR A FACT who killed his parents.
I did like the side characters but you don't get their back story until episode 20! If you've watched them for that long why would you care about their backstories now? To excuse the upcoming action scene is the only reason I can think of.
If they portrayed Ciel as spinning a web to trap others and progressively becoming evil due to the corruption of the life he leads that would have been interesting, there are hints of this in the show but they never follow through with it, Ciel is always the poor kid that screams "Sebastian do this", and nothing else.

Plot = 2/10

There isn't one.
The one good arc it had was the Jack the reaper arc in the first quarter of the show. Everything past that is muddled, nonsensical and random. The attempts at comedy here are weird and will give you whiplash.

This is the main failing of the show, we start off with a kid selling his soul in exchange for.....
Yeah that's it. You assume he's doing that to avenge his parents but that isn't touched on until the finale. for the 20 episodes before that he just plays Sherlock Holmes with a villain of the week kind of set up per episode.

The anime can "say" whatever it wants, what it shows however is a kid trying make himself important and sold his soul for a "deus ex machina" to make life easy on himself. Sebastian is too over powered so there are never stakes involved, it gets predictable fast.

The ending is one of the worst I've seen since Soul eater. I'd call it a wet fart but it's more like someone lost control of his bowls when he had a sneezing fit!

Plot holes = A Million

First time I ever make a plot hole section, it's an anime about a kid selling his soul to a demon... but there were so many, so very many that it took me out of it.

1. This anime takes place in 1888, how in gods' name do they have a wireless car phone?

2. In 1881 there were exactly 25 women doctors in all of Britain and Wales, you're telling me his aunt is one of them and it WASN'T a big deal?!

3. (Minor spoiler) Abortions were illegal in the UK right up until 1968, you're sayng that one of THE CLOSELY MOINTERED 25 female doctors wasn't just doing that but doing them openly and leaving a paper trail? Are you serious?

4. Chainsaw in 1888... that is all.

5. Cinematic film was invented in 1895, took me 3 seconds to google that and this show couldn't be bothered to spend that much time checking this.

6. A prince will go around a foreign country with no entourage, guards, inform the embassy OR a place to stay... sure... I don't know if that particular episode is considered racist, but I feel safe calling it racist!

Enjoyment = 7/10

I rag on this anime but that's because it's wasted potential, Yes some of the situations and lines were very satisfying but as a whole the show is meandering and can't decide on a tone. Even with all it's faults I still kindda like it, just wish it had more to offer than aesthetics.... or Sebastian. Because that's really all you get out of the show!