Review of Monster

Often lauded as a masterpiece, Monster is a gripping thriller which follows the carnage caused by the psychopathic villain Johan Liebert. And in the same way that Johan toys with his victims, the show dances around its audience. Truth is doled out in driblets, a whiff here and a taste there. In short, Monster is a show that should have spanned 40 episodes, yet is stretched over almost double that length. That is not to say that Monster feels especially slow. It has no fillers. In fact, there's nary a moment without tension and fraught drama, even if it must be forced into a scene. Ifa character's life is in danger, she may sprint away from the safety of a crowded area to a nicely secluded one. Just as a crucial bit of information is about to be revealed, somebody interrupts. And as noted in many reviews, when there is a gunshot, the scene will often cut away so the audience has to wait to know what happened.

Balancing out these artificial elements is the organic character-driven drama which is ultimately what carries Monster to its finish. The protagonists writhe and struggle. Each has his own agenda and way of thinking, and when a character dies, it is abundantly clear how high the stakes are. Even if some plot elements are absurd and clearly used for emotional manipulation, these characters keep the show grounded.

As it wades through underworld of central Europe, the show introduces many interesting and mature themes which are far from the common anime fare. Racial elitism and social experimentation come to the fore, along with questions of good and bad, right and wrong. And of course there are the ideas of justice, atonement, and redemption.

While the strong characters and themes compensate for many of the show's small irritants (such as the fact that the wanted criminal Dr. Tenma never changes his appearance or name), I found a few decisions to be particularly frustrating. First, the protagonists are indecisive at the most critical moments. It's fine to struggle through certain decisions, but once the choice is made, it is hard to watch their resolve waver when it is needed most.

Second, the show is fixated on childhood trauma. This is a common trope in anime, and I understand that these particular characters suffered in Soviet brainwashing centers, but I don't need to know how many meals they were served. Knowing that the villain Johan is a mass murderer, is it really necessary to psychoanalyze his favorite children's books? Lastly, the ending was unsatisfying. As if 74 episodes were not enough to address everything, the series closes with asking new questions.

In terms of artwork, Monster is nothing to be envied. The washed out colors portray a bare and dreary world, and the majority of the runtime is spent talking with the two-frame wagging jaws.

Monster is a show which grasps at greatness. It is riveting, a true psychological thriller which doesn't rely on violence or gore to compel its viewership. I found it a good anime and worth watching. Ultimately, though, it suffers from systemic flaws which keep it from being a masterpiece.

Overall: 7/10