Review of Bakemonogatari

A complicated thing, this. Expect to put in some effort with Bakemonogatari, it expects you to keep up. There's art in here, no doubt, and the craft is impressive; I'm still not sure if I like it. There are a lot of reviews out there of Bakemonogatari, and I'm sure if you're even at the point of seeking out this show you know all of the usual stuff people talk about when they talk about this show. Yes, it's like 95% dialogue. No, you probably won't get like half of the word-play unless you speak Japanese. Yes, it's got some weirdfanservice that feels, uh, not so good. And yes, it's disjointed and mostly makes no sense.

I think it does all of these things very carefully, though, and with purpose. The show is unrelentingly surreal, with every scene set in dreamlike, liminal spaces. No one seems to live in the world of Bakemonogatari but the victims of monsters, and the monsters themselves. There is an overwhelming sense of emptiness and melancholy through a lot of the show, often in stark contrast to the mile-a-minute deadpan comedy banter. The world is dark and scary and complicated. The show is not completely devoid of humor or lightness, but it's always got an edge to it. There are very few action scenes, but when they do them they are kinetic and stylish, honestly a few are quite impressive. Ultimately the way the show looks and feels is maybe the most divisive thing about this show; you'll know pretty quickly if you can tolerate it or not.

The other big divisive issue with this show will be the "fanservice" of the girls in the show. The show literally starts with a panty shot, and includes some pretty intense sexual themes as the show goes on, and while they don't always land, the show usually feels like it's using these scenes to actively make the viewer uncomfortable. The show is often about our underlying emotions, and they're a bunch of teens. I get it, and if it serves the plot, okay, fine. There's actually not that many scenes of it, either. This show sometimes feels like it's pushing a bit too hard when it does though, especially with the very young characters. Again, I think you're meant to feel uncomfortable. Success, I guess.

I think that your interest in the artsy fartsy stuff and your tolerance for the uncomfortable bits will determine how much this show does for you, but it's hard to argue that it's not unique and interesting. I watched all of it, and I'm probably going to move onto the sequels, because it's just so strange. If you can bring a critical eye and can handle some discomfort, I think there's a lot of reward to be had here.