Spare Me, Great Lord

This Chinese anime series gets more right than it gets wrong, and I quite enjoyed it. The setting initially struck me as a kind of strange Chinese version of X-men (a world where people with supernatural abilities appear and a society that somehow reacts to them). However, the anime series then moves more into the realm of fantasy (ransacking ruins, the undead, etc.). Lu Shu is a good enough character, though I am beginning to notice that the Chinese seem to prefer their male protagonists to be a bit of bastards (like in King's Avatar, Hitori no Shita: The Outcast, etc.), as Lu Shu makes fun of everyone around him. However, I do not see the problem as long as he is entertaining and this gives him a touch of some originality. Plus, the comedy aspect is good, benefiting from the rather interesting and funny premise of leveling by collecting points for the negative emotions Lu Shu evokes in others. In fact, you could say that the whole concept of how the protagonist's abilities work in general is quite original. I almost thought it was set up as a special RPG mechanic (perks, special items) with the minor addition of a Wheel of Fortune Lootbox. Apart from the main protagonist, there are a few other interesting characters I would like to know more about. The OP classmate, the not so OP classmate, the new school principal, the master swordsman, the protagonist's sister, etc., give me some positive motivation and inspire curiosity regarding the second season. I have to include the animation with the soundtrack among the high points. The standard of Chinese anime shows has been going up a lot in the last few years with the quality of animation that can match many Japanese studios. The Chinese animators are good at creating smooth fight scenes and some special effects and backgrounds, although, occasionally, they require some help from CGI. The soundtrack is also very good, especially the opening, and the ending was good too. Now for the things that did not work for me. First of all, the emotional aspect. A part of one episode is supposed to show the depth of the characters’ relationship and their history with each other, with some pretty appropriate music in the background, yet it still conveyed no emotion. In general, this anime series felt quite empty and did not elicit any deeper emotional response most of the time except perhaps at the very end. Another thing that I think could have been handled better is the pacing of the narrative. I found the beginning to be unnecessarily fast, while the second half set in the ruins dragged on too much for my taste. Anyway, to sum it all up, the first series of Spare Me, Great Lord!  is pretty good. I am curious to see the follow-up season, and whether the anime’s creators can keep my attention, plus, where it goes from here. 6.8/10. (02/24/2024)

The first half of this season was undeniably weaker; not much seemed to unfold in the initial six episodes. The main hero was in the spotlight, poking fun at everyone around him, racking up points for all the negative emotions thanks to his skills. If the great action scene from the first season hadn't been mentioned right at the beginning, I might have found myself wondering what exactly made this series stand out, besides the humor. Thankfully, the second half brought back the exploration of ruins, this time in the form of a treacherous jungle teeming with dangerous flora and fauna hungry for blood. And, of course, some foreign spies have infiltrated the ranks of the local adventurers, needing to be stopped for the greater good of the country (yes, it's a Chinese series…). So, we finally get a lot of fights, where fantastic shots and sequences often alternate with others that show that Chinese animators still have some room for improvement. Despite this, the fights are usually a joy to watch - colorful, powerful, and fast-paced, though sometimes a bit chaotic (especially the final fight with a certain red spirit). However, this doesn't really detract from the overall impression; I simply enjoyed the action. Once again, the music was flawless - well-chosen and striking. It perfectly enhanced the atmosphere and elevated the experience. Most of the jokes also landed for me, though some were pretty silly. Often, I found myself just enjoying the hero's antics at the expense of other characters, but it was clear that the writers had a sense of humor and enjoyed crafting the dialogue. So, what would I criticize about the series? I wasn't completely captivated by its story. I just didn't have that sense of curiosity about what would happen next. Similarly, in terms of emotions, it only worked partially for me. Although I did begin to appreciate the nice sibling dynamic between the central duo, that was about the extent of it. There weren't many moments that elicited strong emotions from me. In the end, the second season managed to entertain me, perhaps even a bit more than the first one, but mainly thanks to its second half. 6.9/10 (02/25/2024)