Okay, let's talk Strike The Blood. Specifically, episode one. I know, I know, it's anime history for some. But hear me out.
Episode 1: My Hot Take
My unpopular opinion? It's... fine. Just fine. Not terrible, not groundbreaking. Pure, unadulterated "meh."
The Setup
We meet Kojou Akatsuki, our reluctant protagonist. He's suddenly a super-powerful vampire. Like, accidentally-inherited-world-ending-power kind of vampire. Oops.
Then there's Yukina Himeragi. She's a Sword Shaman. Her mission? To observe (and possibly eliminate) Kojou. Classic anime setup, right?
The premise is alright. Vampire stuff, cute girls, potential world destruction. Checks all the boxes.
The "Action"
The fight scenes in episode one? A bit underwhelming, honestly. Lots of shouting and flashy lights. Not a lot of impact.
Kojou's still figuring out his powers. So he's mostly just confused. Understandable, but not exactly thrilling viewing.
Yukina does a bit better. But she mainly just stands around looking worried. Someone give her a weapon upgrade!
The Fan Service
Okay, let's be real. There's fan service. Lots of it. This isn't exactly a surprise.
The wind seems to have a personal vendetta against schoolgirl skirts. And Kojou's luck stat must be through the roof.
I'm not judging (much). It is what it is. But it does detract from any potential plot development. Little bit.
Yukina: The Tsundere Alarm
Yukina is textbook tsundere. Cold on the outside, maybe slightly warmer on the inside. You've seen it a million times.
She's dedicated to her mission. But also, she blushes easily. The struggle is real.
I'm not saying she's a bad character. Just…predictable. Give her some unique traits, please!
The Cliffhanger
Episode one ends with a cliffhanger. Shocking, I know! Something mysterious is going on. Related to vampires. Probably.
Will Kojou control his powers? Will Yukina complete her mission? Will they fall in love? Stay tuned!
It's enough to make you want to watch episode two. Maybe. If you're really bored.
Final Thoughts (Maybe I'm Wrong?)
Look, Strike The Blood has its fans. And that's great! Everyone has their own tastes.
Maybe episode one just didn't grab me. Maybe it gets better. Maybe I'm missing something.
But for me? It was just a standard start to a fairly standard anime. Pass the popcorn, I guess?
So, am I the only one who feels this way? Or are there other Strike The Blood skeptics out there?
Let me know in the comments! Let's argue (nicely) about anime.
