For those that may have not known Danganronpa is based off a crime game where you collected clues as the main character and guessed who the killer was.
After watching the first 3-4 episodes I was thinking maybe the whole revealing all the clues in a trial would be entertaining. But it really fails to execute. I feel like there's almost no tension at all. Maybe because there's too many characters, maybe because they don't spend any time getting to know the victims but overall the court aspect (being intended as the highlight and most interesting part of the show) has no excitement at all. There's none of the tension and high-stakes that a court-type show would have. When they try to reverse the situation it's executed so poorly that what would've been a critical point in the case and scene has no emotional punch at all.
I'm not sure why. Maybe it's because there's no empathy for the characters? Maybe it's because the dialogue? Or maybe it's because the voice actors? For whatever reason it just fails to deliver. I can't put my finger on it and spell it out. It doesn't work as a court show. It doesn't work as a mystery. What's left then to look forward to the show?
About the only reason I want to see the show is to see who's gonna win in the end. And if they fail to do that..then there's nothing really going on with the show except maybe the unique art? Perhaps if I had played the game I would enjoy it but from what I hear they take a different approach. In the game you collect most of the clues and try to deduct everything on your own. In the anime everything is revealed to you at the trial- which would've been fine except the anime doesn't execute a court type of show really well either. I feel like this show is a complete and utter flop.
I think the first one or two episodes was the best. You really felt for both the main character and the murder victim. I felt really bad and a bit sad for the victim as well the main character. But ever since then, in the last deaths I felt nothing. It's not entertaining...there's not enough time nor is everything shown to make you try to guess who did it... but the court-side of it is just as boring.... maybe it's cuz they're rushing everything? Maybe if they ran the anime through the eyes of either the victim or the killer...it would've been more interesting instead. The whole court-case and 3rd person narration puts the audience at an emotional distance from the victim and the murderer. You don't feel scared for the victim because they don't reveal anything about the victim's perspective until the trial in 3rd person..from another person. You don't feel bad for the murderer..or the accused..because it doesn't follow them either. All anime chooses to show is a few clues, and the aftermath of the murder, and them discussing the clues without really getting to know the victim, accused or murderer at all. Sure they discuss it...but it's not the same...there's no emotional attachment..there's no tension.
In retrospection, I think has gotta be the writer's or director's fault in adapting it. They could've made this show really interesting. If they had followed CSI or Law and Order format.... it would've at least help build some interest in both the victim or the accused...and make you wonder what really happened until the end. But the format they choose to go with ....sucks. xD It's too bad. The first 3 episodes were excellent.
I'm tempted to drop it. I don't hate the show. But the show doesn't do anything for me either. I'm indifferent. The only reason I'd stick with the show is out of curiosity to see who makes it to the end...