[DreamSword]

Currently up through episode 36(+the Rider Soul specials) of Ghost, and comparing this chunk to the first chunk I watched... it has its ups and downs.

For one, the pacing has definitely gotten alot better. Even when a given episode isn't a two-parter, the episode atleast feel as though they were drafted that way, rather than in the first arc where almost every episode felt like two episodes cut and glued together.

Character arcs have also gotten a bit more involving. We get a few more highlights on Takeru's' flaws as a person, the Ganma get a nice expansion in characters like Cubi(bring him back), and we also get who I consider the true Secondary Rider of Ghost, Alain.

And the overall theming of the show... while I admittedly know very little about Buddhism, in terms of the values of life and trying to achieve unity through empathy? Yeah, the show is certainly trying on that front, even if I feel the execution is a little sloppy in some regards.

But on the other hand... The plot in and of itself isn't all that engaging for me. Not offensively terrible by any stretch, but it's rather hard for me to get invested considering how blatantly toyetic alot of aspects are. And not in the good way.

For example, much as I like Alain as a character, I am most definitely not a fan of how every time it seemed like he was going to have a big moment, it would get immediately cut off by Makoto hogging the spotlight with Deep Specter.

There's also the bit that everyone memes about: Takeru dying repeatedly. Like, yeah, I get what the show was gunning for in terms of that, but that's the sort of thing that you get away with like, once. Twice if you're really good. And since this so far has not been a show that's super resonated with me, I just kinda feel apathetic about the whole thing.

In the end, my overall feelings about the show haven't really changed. I still just think it's okay so far. I can say this though: I've been liking alot more than I have Decade.

Speaking of which, Ghost having his own version of Decade Complete was about the last thing I expected, but atleast it looks cool.