Review of Astra Lost in Space
Kanata no Astra is an enjoyable show, much to my confusion. It’s a mix of really troublesome writing poorly timed jokes (some of which are still funny) and some interesting sci-fi stuff, which shouldn’t work but they did. When I say troublesome writing, I mean the type of writing in which tension is built way too quickly and released just as quick, this show releases way too quickly and doesn’t leave you satisfied. The tension or any gravitas was cut in favor of humor, which is all that bad in within itself unless it’s some heavy, character-defining stuff. But all the tension or any gravitas wascut in favor of humor, which is annoying until, you realize this show doesn’t take itself all too seriously even though these seventeen-year-olds might die in the cold abyss of space, hungry, lonely and without releasing their dreams.
Once you adjust your expectations this show becomes a really enjoyable show. With an enjoyable story.
The story is half adventure and half sci-fi mystery. The adventure stuff happens at the first half and the other half, which is poor story structuring if ask me (nobody did).
The group of random randomly picked and randomly assembled students (high students to exact but you already knew that) go on a school trip to space. The trip quickly goes wrong and find themselves lost in space. The premise isn’t anything new. It just done hasn’t been done in anime.
The show clearly wears its influence on its sleeves and its skin-tight astronaut suit, I just couldn’t point it out (if you’re asking yourself how I noticed these influences despite being the inability to point them out then you’re asking yourself the right question), I don’t watch space adventures save for Star Wars. The aspect ratio was a very cinematic 16:9 which was cool at first but quickly annoying as the aspect ratio changed frequently as the mood does.
The cool sci-fi stuff was treated as a spice in the odd mix match that was this show. It had everything you can imagine. I won’t reveal any because spoilers but one thing I can say is that cool sci-fi stuff took a back seat. It was used only to develop the characters and expand the world, and it did a good job at both. The character’s back story was very interesting and the world was even better. A prequel or a spin-off based on the events before the show could be explored and be successful. If you they can get the tone right.
Watching this show reminded me of an ancient Chinese saying. “Sometimes peanut butter, marmite, and chicken is a good idea, sometimes it’s not. I am not a chef”. This show was a mix of stuff the author thought off and it just happened to work. It could have gone bad.