Bem
Synopsis
Young detective Sonia Summers has been transferred to the outskirts of the port city Libra after stirring up trouble with her superiors. Libra is separated into two sectors—"the Upper," the center of wealth and politics, and "the Outside." The Outside is home to crime, corruption, and curious incidents involving monstrosities or youkai. Each case that Sonia works on seems to implicate the involvement of these mysterious creatures. Sonia crosses paths with three peculiar humanoid youkai—Bem, Bela and Belo—who seek to protect humans and fight against the evil youkai that terrorize them. Living as "Youkai-Ningen," they are excluded by other youkai for their human-like lifestyles, and rejected and hurt by humans when they reveal their true forms. Despite the hardships they face, these three Youkai-Ningen secretly live among humans, continuing to pursue their dreams of one day becoming human as well. [Written by MAL Rewrite]
Audience Consensus
Audience reception is mixed. Many viewers appreciate the character concepts and music, but the rushed plot, underdeveloped world-building, and shallow social commentary detract from the overall experience. The ending is particularly criticized for being unsatisfying and failing to resolve key issues.
Strengths
- The opening and ending themes are well-received and contribute to a noir atmosphere.
- The main characters are likeable and their desire to be human is relatable.
Weaknesses
- The story is rushed, underdeveloped, and lacks sufficient world-building.
- The plot is inconsistent, with unresolved plot points and a weak final battle.
- Many side characters are one-dimensional and lack meaningful development.