Review of SSSS.Gridman

Do you remember during parent-teacher interviews, when your teacher would turn to your mum and dad and say "Johnny has so much potential, he just needs to apply himself in class." I always hated that, especially when it was followed with the familiar side-eye of disappointment. If you thought receiving that dirty look was bad, watching SSSS.Gridman finally gives you the opportunity to realise that giving that look is so much worse. Understandably, the show is a mecha anime - but this does not exonerate it from tarnishing the development of its few interesting characters and plot threads to push toys in the form of CGI robotbrawls. In the end, most elements of Gridman do an average job, yet the show is inconsistent in its plot devices.

**Spoilers**
Character
There are two interesting characters in the show. Akane and Rikka. They interact with every other character, and in turn their relationships are what seem to be the most important. The main boys, Utsuma and the kid that gridman possessed, experience very few developments outside of shallow "im mad," and "i realised im a robot." It's uninspiring to say the least.

Don't even bother with the toys. The loli, mask guy, handsome guy and samurai are literally just there to transform into toys. Funny because their personalities amount to the hunks of plastic they were made to sell.

Sound and Art
I'm going to clump these two together for efficiency's sake.
The art is decent, expressions convey emotions and landscapes are pretty. The CGI isn't awful either, but good lord they need to tone it down. The final fight between Gridman and Alexa began with a 2d sequence which was extremely impressive. Yet, the rest of the shows action consists of clunky CGI models beating each other until Gridman won.

Story
This is where it all goes downhill for me.
For those that have finished the show - the post credit scene introduces very many interesting ideas. These ideas place the show under a new lens, as each character lends themself as a personification of our 3d girl's psyche. Is Akane an embodiment of her selfish desires, while Rikka acts as a standard of morality and compassion that desperately struggles with co-existing alongside dark, abrasive desires of human nature.
Sike, if you wanted that all you get is robots fighting.
It feels like such a waste, an interesting idea and premise which is ruined by 7-8 minutes of mindless robots and monsters bashing each other. If the fights were there to serve as more than "move story forward and sell toys," perhaps Gridman would feel more satisfying and fulfilling as a show. Currently, every fight scene has no stakes, distracts from the rare interesting characters and is generally a waste of time. The potential to use conflict as important character development sequences is no foreign idea within all forms of media, so there is very little excuse for Gridman to simply shoehorn in mediocre CGI action sequences (outside of selling toys).

I am infinitely disappointed that such a good plot twist is wasted on such a shallow show.

I unhappily glare at this show with the familiar ire of "so much potential wasted." 3/10