Review of Steins;Gate 0
As someone who did not think much of the original Steins;Gate series, I would call Steins;Gate 0 not only an improvement when compared to the original series, but a whole different show altogether. In comparison to the previous series, Steins;Gate 0 offers a deeper look into every aspect of the original show, including story, character, and appeal to the audience. Steins;Gate 0 still does have some of the obvious hints that the original show had to plot development such as with the immediate suspicion of Professor Victor Chondria, but that is the only issue that remains at large. Steins;Gate 0 fixes thelong and slow progress that the first show took, an issue that ruined the original series for me on some level. The beginning of Steins;Gate 0 was efficient in presenting characters, conflict, and a story that is not overly complicated for someone who cannot recall everything that happened in the original series. Steins;Gate 0 does still contain slight filler, but the filler typically helps in assisting the story or easing from the drama when appropriate - not to mention that the filler is spread out over the series in very time efficient manner.
Okabe becomes a much more understandable and relatable character as he struggles with the fight between world lines and the unfortunate outcomes he has seen. It was a nice change to hear Okabe's actual voice and thoughts. Mayuri also gains a level of depth, something that I had been waiting for since the original series - I knew it was there, but a lot of people overlooked it.
The art is an upgrade from the original series, with one of the most notable changes being the eyes of the characters. Steins;Gate is known for its unique eyes, that always feel like they have a "blankness" to them (a contrast from other shows that I like to attribute to the blankness we have as people who can be manipulated through world lines). The eyes in Steins;Gate Zero do not feel as empty however, which I find very appropriate considering the focusing on one timeline. The lively eyes of Okabe pull the viewer into the story constantly and express his emotions very well. Amadeus Kurisu's eyes are shown off with beautiful rainbow spectrum at times, but they also are more lively in general and work with the autonomous personality of the character.
The music is still shabby too for the fact that it is limited. The theme of the show is played most of the time throughout the series, and works well, but it would be nice to hear some more recognizable and original music. There has definitely been an improvement from last series.
Overall the show was great. The story progressed well, with several different conflicts presented, while none of them lasted too long. The show pulled me in very well with the emotional appeal and continuous interest of what would happen next in the story. My satisfaction in Steins;Gate 0 has convinced me to give the original series another try. I highly recommend to give the second series a try, even if the first series was not your cup of tea!