Maria-Sama Ga Miteru (Season 1)

Also known as “Maria Watches Over Us” review. There are 4 seasons of this, I will only review the first.

First off, I was very much tricked into watching this thinking it would have yuri. I mean, I did end up watching this right after I watched Strawberry Panic, so I guess my expectation of it was similar. However even to this day, I still cannot bring myself to complete this and I’ll tell you why.

It’s centres around a new student, Fukuzawa Yumi, to a catholic all girls school. This school has something called a “soeur system” which is basically older and younger sisters paired up. Cold, collected second year student, Sachiko Ogasawara takes an interest int he clumsy, self concious Fukuzawa Yumi (sound familiar?) and makes her Sachiko’s younger sister.

There are also various side-story’s and side pairings, but I’ll get into that later.

I’m first going to tell you why I don’t consider this to be shoujo-ai/yuri.

This was by far, the most frustrating anime for me to watch. Now I’ve sat through subtext before. I’ve gone through subtext and there were quite a few I enjoyed. This was not subtext, for me, this was just false hope.

Nothing happens. Now at first you think “well maybe after 4 seasons SOMETHING will happen.” Nothing happens.

I urge you to honestly stop while you’re ahead.

Let the rant begin.

Overall Rating: 3/10 (More explanation below, but contains spoilers)

Yuri Rating: 2/10

SPOILERS! SPOILERS! PAST THIS POINT. VERY ANGRY SPOILER RANT ABOUT TO HAPPEN

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Shitsurakuen (2010 – 2012)

“Paradise Lost” is the direct English translation, however it is mostly known as Shitsurakuen.

Is starts off with an optimistic, strong-willed girl Himoto Sora. She has just transferred to a school where males are more “dominant” and actually “own” girls. It’s a virtual reality game, that is a bit too real. The girls are “weapons” in this game and they battle each other (not like THAT you DIRTY MINDED PERSON, YOU). Her best childhood friend Tsuki goes to this school.

Using a special glove to draw weapons from the girls’ bosom, and battle each other. If the weapon gets hurt, the girl feels the same pain. The only exception is death, if the weapon is completely broken, usually the girl is just severely injured and unconscious.

Only males get sent this glove. Except for Sora.

As she learns more about this, she acts all “knightly” and vows to try and save as many girls as possible from this chauvinistic system.

I would categorize this into the shoujo-ai and harem genres, as you can probably guess she has many many girls she’s quite nice to.

The ending is mind-fucking (By ending I mean chapter 23….but Chapter 24 is messed up too so…)

You can read the English translation of it on mangafox, here.

Art: 10/10

Yuri Rating: 8/10

Overall Rating: 4/10 (more detail as to why below, but contains spoilers)

 

WARNING WARNING MAJOR SPOILERS PAST THIS POINT