Post by Bytor on Nov 18, 2012 23:30:59 GMT -5
-Details-
Genre: Drama
Company: A.C.G.T./Genco/Media Works/WOWOW
Format: 13 Episodes
Dates: 8 Apr 2003 – 8 Jul 2003
-Visuals- 8.0/10
This may be the shortest critique I have ever written. Simplistic, somewhat crude at times, sometimes a bit vague and blurry in the backgrounds and certainly somewhat cartoonish for so serious a show. Having said that I simply don't care. The show is so good on so many levels that the visuals simply don't matter, they could have been stick figures and I wouldn't have cared.
-Characters- 10/10
WOW, Wow, wow. This is on the one hand so tough, and on the other such an easy review to write. The difficulty lies in the fact that for the most part each episode is pretty much inclusive. Kino and Hermes (the Traveler and her sentient motorbike) are the two constants and they sometimes are the main characters and sometimes they actually take the back seat, and honestly, that's OK, as the various other cast members are all simply wonderfully portrayed. This is a story of human nature, with all of our faults, all of our misconceptions, all of our prejudices and all of our compassion It shows us at our best, at our worst and as we most often are, strong willed, stubborn and yet sometimes unsure and afraid of what the ramifications of our actions may be. In all of this Kino observes, sometimes interacts and sometimes decides to make a change but overall simply watches as humans act as humans. This is the story of us.
-Story- 9.5/10
There is, for the most part, no cohesive story, instead it is the story of Kino and Hermes explorations in the various countries and cultures they encounter in their travels. And although this may be a determent to some I assure you this perceived lack of cohesive story is certainly not a fault. This short series of vignettes makes this a hard score to give, but i found it to be so well done that instead of a weakness it becomes a strength in the sense that each episode, for the most part, is self sustaining, I just wish there were more episodes!.
-Overall- 9.5/10
An incredibly cerebral show highlighting quite a few of mankind's weaknesses, strengths, brutality, compassion and love. The only, and I do mean only complaint I have is it is a short show, had this been longer and as well written throughout this would certainly have received one of the highest scores I have ever given out here.
