Spiral: Bond of Reasoning

Spiral was an interesting show. The story grabs you right away, spins you around and confuses you (in a positive way of course) It really makes you want to keep watching to find out what happens next. Unfortunately the story doesn't keep up with it's great start. It starts to slow down and less questions get answered. This is my biggest disappointment with the show, if the story had kept up with the beginning it would have been an absolutely incredible show. The art work is mediocre and at times poorly done. The colors seem kind of dull. Thepurple irises always stand out from everything else in the show. I felt the sounds and music worked well with the show. I enjoyed listening to the opening theme as well as the ending theme. There is a lot of piano played throughout the entire series as well which adds a feeling of uniqueness to the show. The characters in the show I thought were the best aspect. Narumi was fascinating to watch throughout as he solved and figured out puzzles and traps. Hiyono and some of the blade children were well developed especially Rio, Kousuke, and Eyes. We learn a lot about their personality and care about them almost as much as Narumi. I for one love puzzles and that made many parts of Spiral very fun to watch. Narumi solves a few detective cases early on, giving a feeling similar to CSI. It then changes to figuring out traps and outsmarting the opponent which reminded me of Death Note. If you enjoy problem solving or puzzles, You will definitely enjoy watching Narumi in action. Overall I liked the show and wish I could have rated it higher especially for how much I enjoyed it early on. The series as a whole had one particular point it was trying to make and it's easy to understand in the end but I felt let down overall. The ending didn't really answer any questions or even leave possibilities open, it seemed too focused on making the point that it detracted from the reason I watched the show. Also the progression of the story and the answering of questions went so slow that I started watching only for the puzzles and stopped caring about the outcome. But I do recommend Spiral for anyone who enjoys puzzles or mystery/problem solving type shows. Otherwise it's still a good watch, just don't expect it to be the greatest thing ever.

When I finished the first episode, I couldn't help myself to continue on. This anime probably has one of the best beginnings I've ever seen. The plot rapidly unfolds about the relationship between Narumi and the Blade Children, as well as Hiyomi (the main female protagonist).The audience was entertained with how Narumi used logical deductions to solve crimes, which even the police are having a hard time with, and life-threatening situations designed by the Blade Children to 'test' him. Some romance were evident in the early part of the series, which blends in nicely with Narumi's somewhat inability to socialize. Having said that, the series hasa couple of major drawbacks. Towards the end, the story somewhat deteriorated into filler-like episodes. Moreover, many mysteries were not explained to the audience (who are the Blade Children, what is Narumi's relationship with them, etc.), leaving the audience (me at least) somewhat unsatisfied with the ending. Overall a decent series, but the ending could be much better.

The thing most people don't realize about Spiral, and the reason, I think, it has such a mixed review, is that the manga and the anime go hand in hand. Questions that are not answered in the anime are in the manga, points are brought up in the anime that aren't raised in the manga etc. Most importantly though is the fact that the Blade children's past is meant to be very ambiguous. There are questions that are NOT meant to be answered because they would ruin the mystery of the characters or the show as a whole. In my opinion, it is one of the mostrealistic animes out there, with the most realistic reactions. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm a huge anime fan, but we all know animes have bizarre cop-out reations that don't really make sense but we love and don't mind anyway. I admire this anime for having very human, in-character reactions for their characters. The characters grabbed me and sucked me in right away. I was particularly grabbed by Kousuke and Rio, as well as the other Blade Children, and their psychological depth. Also, everything--each mystery or challenge presented in the storyline--has a very intelligent and interesting solution. Not to mention, that Ayumu is proved to not be the perfect, all-powerful, superbrain cliche he could have been. He has his own flaws and weaknesses and human misperseptions. It's also a very pleasing art style and that's always a plus. Overall, it's really the best anime I've ever come across; not perfect, by any means, but wonderfully enjoyable as a whole.

When spiral first started out, I thought, "Wow! this is great! and im lost in a sea of confusion..." lol yes folks, spiral can be somewhat confusing, but you'll get use to it soon enough... The story line is great and rather complicated. It seems like a nice little simple story from the outside, but really, it is a rather complicated and crazy. Sorry, not allowed to give spoilers so i cant say why its so complicated but you'll find out soon enough in Season 2 ~.^ and if you dont know it by then, then you can come complain to me and ask me whatyou dont get kay? Anyways, the only part i do not like about the story line is that everything starts out half way and they throw in characters left and right and they change some character's names and it also does not match up with the manga....i was like "whats going on here?". Yah, so for all the people who are reading the manga, dont even bother to TRY to relate it to the manga...it wont work. Just a little advice. Other than that, the story line is fine. The art was really great and all, but some of the voice acting really sucked!! like some of the voices were really girly when they were suppose to be the voices of guys (uhg!! lol) and Eyes's voice actorfor the English version wasnt all that hott either. Man....it sounded as if he just hit pubertiy (sorry Eyes-kun, i really hope your not reading this like you said you would, no offense!! gommeno!! ai wo ni >.<'' lol no joke oaky?? seriously, ai wo ni) As in for the characters, they were all really really great! Some of them have some pretty twisted personalities (not saying who, find out everyone!!) and that just makes everything oh so much more fun!! yay!! XPPP *throws tons of bombs* In the end, the movie was VERY enjoyable and my over all rating is a 9. This season wasnt all to great cause they didnt work on some of the episodes like i had hoped they would. But oh well!! All's well and great cause the second season will be out soon enough and we'll be able to see how things take their wild spin like they always do....and here is just a little something that might help you understand why the creator of this anime ends it the way he/she did (i cant remember if it is a girl or a guy=.=''' lol) FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NOT FINISHED THE ANIME!!! Do you know who is leading the three blade children?? he has silver hair and is British....but...my question for you is...WHY is HE the leader?? it cant be just that he is smart because they are all smart....there has to be some other reason right?? FOR THOSE WHO HAVE FINISHED THE ANIME!!! Do you remember how someone purposely kills himself (the blade children tried to help him)?? what did he say before he killed himself and why?? hmmm...i think that is a big give away and that there is more to the eye or ear can see or hear dont you think?? also...a little info on the second season providing that is follows my guidelines. The info is MY NAME!! It is a big give away........DUN DUN DUN!! whats going on now?? and who knows what is actually happening to the blade children?? who knows who they are?? who is keeping it a secret from them?? find out in the second season!!