Samurai Deeper Kyo
Synopsis
In the year 1600, at the fog-covered battlefield of Sekigahara, a fierce battle was waged by two exemplary swordsmen. One was Kyoushirou Mibu, a skilled and noble warrior in possession of the unique powers of the Mibu Clan. The other was the thousand-man slayer, with eyes and hair the color of blood, "Demon Eyes" Kyou. Their legendary clash was cut short when a meteor from the heavens fell down upon that battlefield, leaving both to vanish in its wake. Samurai Deeper Kyou begins four years after that battle, when a gun-wielding bounty hunter by the name of Yuya Shiina hunts down Kyoushirou—now a perverted, traveling medicine-man who has built up a large debt. On her way to claim his bounty, they are attacked by an inhuman monster that seeks to devour Kyoushirou. This encounter awakens "Demon Eyes" Kyou, whose mind has been trapped inside of Kyoushirou's body ever since that fateful battle. Thus begins a grand tale of legendary two swordsmen and the discovery of their secrets.
Audience Consensus
Audience reception is mixed. Some viewers enjoyed the unique historical take, cool characters, and soundtrack, while others found the story convoluted, repetitive, and ultimately disappointing. The anime's quality declines in the latter half, with animation and character development issues contributing to a mediocre experience for many.
Strengths
- Unique take on Edo history with twists.
- Cool protagonist and badass-looking characters.
- Good character development.
- Impressive artwork and animation (initially).
- Excellent soundtrack with memorable guitar riffs.
- Fluid alliances and good/evil dynamics.
- Story line characters and plot
Weaknesses
- Story is a mixed mash of things that doesn't sit well.
- Repetitive and boring fights.
- Villains are defeated then more pop up.
- Animation quality declines, becoming limited and quaint.
- Story becomes repetitive, frustrating, and filled with exposition.
- Bland characters with little development.
- Inconsistent protagonist personality.
- Poorly ensembled supporting characters outfought.
- The story and fights could of been better.