The first episode/movie of this show was spectacular. It really sets the stage for the rest of the series. I just watched it and couldn't resist so I read ahead in the manga. I'm 85 chapters in (and will catch up) and unfortunately it's tough for the story to really live up to the highs in that first volume (where we reached at the end of this long episode).
We'll see but the anime has done a very good job with the adaptation from the manga. They haven't skipped much (if anything) and I've liked the little details and pacing elements they've added so far. It gives a bit more emotional impact to some of the scenes in the manga. I'm not sure exactly where the show will end in terms of finishing which arcs, but hopefully we get more seasons of this in the future and a more complete adaptation as the pace definitely slows down after this rollercoaster episode.
The ratings for this show are very high right now and imo definitely inflated due to how amazing the first episode/movie is/was with a #1 ranking in MAL currently. I think that it'll definitely go back down to Earth a little as the rest of the story at least in this first season will not be able to top those early moments seen in this first episode. Still it is a fantastic show and adaptation nonetheless and I'm very much looking forward to this every week.
Oh damn. I just finished binge watching the entire first cour after stopping at Episode 2 and letting things build up. Jesus H. Christ. This was an amazing adaptation. I honestly didn't mind the pacing, and thought that the studio did a great job with it, especially with things that required a big exposition in the books. The studio was able to interject little explanations that gave us just enough info rather than the big info dump. Some of the slower parts of the books, the studio sped through which I thought was a good decision. The next set of volumes are much more interesting than the third for sure (which covered the beginning of the Demon continent).
And Eris is still my favorite. She's a little rough in the beginning, but she grows and gets so much better as we continue on. I loved the background music for her in the earlier episodes which had a "horror movie" sound to them. LOL. I absolutely can't wait for the second cour to hit.
Another BIG issue that I've encountered is that I now want to re-read (or is it re-re-re-re-re-re-re-read at this point?) the novels again. I just finished doing a re-read like 7ish months ago, but I want to go back AGAIN. LOL :D
While I can see why people would complain about there being a "new Seventh" due to where the anime (and the first volume of the LN) left off, it is actually handled amazingly well in the Light Novels right afterward and on (like almost immediately). It actually adds a lot more to the story and mystery, and does not get old. I questioned at first for a little bit but it has not gotten played out. The mysteries and situations in the next volumes of the LN are much better than the first volume's imo.
I highly recommend reading the next volume (which is my favorite so far) if you liked any of the mystery and drama aspects of this first season. The villains, situations and conflicts are way more intense in the following volumes which honestly blow the first volume away. It's one of my favorite LN series.
Anyway as for the anime adaptation, it was very nicely done. Animation was a bit suspect in this last episode and Rolonia ended up looking as busted as she did in the LN illustrations (literally a cow). Still, it got me hooked to the series.
Please god, let there be a second season or have the light novels become officially licensed for translation...
