I watched the first episode, and I dare say it was packed with enough content that I can skip my usual 3 episode rule on a first impression. (A rule I've been attempting to disabuse myself anyways.)
Izetta: The Last Witch is a historical fantasy in which the continent of Europe is on the brink of World War 2. The countries and setting will seem familiar and alien at the same time； Names and places are different from what they should be, but not unrecognizable. The grand kicker is of course given off by the title - magic and witches exist.
The show opens with a short, but not very plot revealing, glimpse of the blonde heroine Finé, the princess of Eylstadt, witnessing the red headed witch, Izetta performing magic. Sudden flash to the future and we're thrown into a chase scene full of political intrigue. If you keep up with my site, you know I loathe to give any spoilers in my first impressions, so Imma gonna stop here. That being said, this sudden switch is important as it shows a certain restraint and narrative planning that I am going to make the argument suggests the show has a lot of potential to be great.
They could have continued with this scene and done some real en media res stuff focusing on the witch and magic, but they just give you just a glimpse. Then the creators instead show us political intrigue immersed with the action and drama of the chase. The world this story exists in is revealed, not through lengthy boring exposition, but rather, sprinkled within any action taking place, or as engaging political banter.
There is one scene of interjected world building, but even that is done more as a propaganda historical piece that further moves the setting and plot along. You can compare this scene to the full short episodes of world building that RWBY does. In respects to RWBY, while engaging, most of them aren't particular creative. Given the genre Izetta finds itself, I suppose one could argue that making a propaganda piece wasn't that creative either; however, when combined with the flow of the rest of the show, I'll insist that it was well placed and paced.
And as usual, I'm often taken up with characters and characterization. Through the dramatic chase scene, and the well written politic talk, our princess, Finé, is built up to be a strong princess willing to take risks for her duty. There is no pleading for her life, no crying or clumsiness, or any other princess tropes. Rather she is portrayed much like anyone would prefer out of their lead females in today's social climate; however, the setting rebels against this modern tough princess archetype. In pre world war II princess aren't meant to be tough and worthy of ruling a kingdom. On more than one occasion, characters try to pigeon hole her into being a "beautiful girl" or merely a "tomboy" her worth determined by her birth right or uses of her body. Finé is aware of this, politicking her choice of words and using it to her advantage as needed. There is one occurrence where this falls apart, but she uses her station altruistically, which some will find as a different strength. You'll see what I mean if you watch. So far, while not completely fleshed out, I happen to like Finé for what she represents and who we can see in the first episode.
There is one scene I found unnecessary, though I'll try to rationalize it for you. There is a shower scene shortly after the chase in which Finé talks to herself of her duty and the harsh reality of where she finds herself. There are some nude camera shots, that I hope don't keep finding themselves into the show. Nudity for nudities sake is not what I find to be the pinnacle of fine story telling. If I attempt to rationalize, one could say that because the scene never went to overboard as some anime can, the writers were attempting to show Finé as vulnerable. She is stuck in a bad situation, and in talking to herself, her nudity represents her without any of the court dresses or jewelry, without her body guards. Its just her, struggling with what she needs to do. I'm stretching to make this fit; We havn't seen her go through enough to really need that kind of scene, even more so, the self motivation speech was pretty standard stuff, and nothing moving. I'm stretching to say that the nudity visually added to the narrative impact.
Lastly, and this is where visual metaphor did add to the emotion and where I hope the series continues to shine in its subtle uses of the period: Finé finds herself being lectured by an enemy character. She is wearing a cloak belonging to an enemy Germania soldier. The cloak doesn't fit, being way too big, and she is sitting. The antagonist is lording over her, haughty and condescending. The oversized cloak suggests she is this little girl, captive to not only the antagonist, but to the war around her. She is the representative of her small nation, the cloak standing in for the would be invaders. One has to appreciate little tricks like this in a show.
Anyways, I've waxed on, but the episode was entertaining, with good characters and dialogue. I'll continue to watch this simulcast. Its on Fridays, and if you want to join me, I'll be hanging out watching late in the discord channel we've recently set up: https://discord.gg/Z8u2XFN
We also now have a full webpage besides this blog: www.fuseguproductions.com/late-night-otaku-1.
Its my hope to build this "brand" of sorts into a full community for people who can't engage more actively with fellow otaku. Especially when your only way to watch our hobby of choice is late at night when no one else when dare be awake or interact.
Thanks for reading and じゃまた
