Steins;Gate 0 episode 3: it feels like quite a slow episode with not much happening, but cuts out a lot of fairly mundane stuff from the VN. Nicely sets up the idea of this false “comfort zone”. Still think the acid test is going to be how they handle the complexity of the various routes in the VN, but I like this too much!
EDIT:- have to add this as an edit rather than new post as it’s soon after the last…
Just finished watching the series Death Note. As long as you just allow the central concept of this “what if…” found this very compelling and intriguing with a ton of moral questions raised. First two thirds or so very good but then goes downhill a bit with new characters that aren’t very well developed and one-dimensional. I felt that the story ended in the right place in the right way. Liked the art and VA - music is very good (Light’s theme has hints of Tubular Bells?) although the theme music is definitely a matter of taste…
Shout out to Misa Amane who manages to be simultaneously ultra annoying/disturbed/cute, and Misa’s song which was very unexpected in placement and although short is a stand-out moment for me.
Glad I invested in this box set anyway. Next up for my cash I’m not sure, maybe Darker Than Black?
EDIT 2 - well I guess I have to edit again…
Steins;Gate 0 episode 4: I think this is the last time I’ll do a quickie review on a single episode as I’ll just be repeating myself. This is the first episode that I found a bit disappointing, not because of what was left in/out but what was so drastically shortened.
VN SPOILERS
Well, firstly we haven’t had the indications from the VN about the “epidemic” of encephalitis and Reading Steiner through the media and Fubuki. And the first really important one involving Okarin’s jump to a WW3 ravaged Japan timeline was shortened to about 2 minutes compared to a couple of hours in the VN. I think that long section of the VN is actually very powerful and it’s the first time we really see what’s at stake with Okarin’s refusal to use the Time Machine again.
Now i know that you couldn’t realistically spend an entire episode or two on that section, but it’s the first very good argument for reading the VN first IMO. And as it’s now out on Steam there are no when/if/maybe concerns about a long wait.
And to add that it can make a big difference for VN readers as to which routes they took on the first important choices that lead to different scenarios already.
Otherwise it was good but not exceptional, we have an important new character and one returning. It’s possible that the story structure has to be changed for the anime and we may see more of that shortened section inserted elsewhere, idk. Still very solid adaptation on the whole though. Anyway I want to give it a few more episodes before I share my thoughts again because things may be addressed WRT how they handle divergences, and maybe some will have read through the VN by then!