When I came across this series on Crunchyroll, where it is known as 'Glass Maiden', I'd not heard of it but the description made it look interesting and I fancied watching something a little different. In the opening episode we learn that the show's alternative title is quite literal when a woman is seen turning into glass and causing a fire; while the police are investigating she shatters leaving no remains. The series follows the activities of a detective agency that comes into possession of one of the glass women; this one however is different to the others as she doesn't die soon after her appearance, this is because she was taken to a doctor who somehow knew how to treat her. As the series progresses we learn that she and the other glass maidens where created from ordinary women by a sinister organisation that plans to use them as weapons.
I enjoyed this series as the cast were interesting; Shu, the protagonist was suitably serious and the rest of his detective agency were suitably interesting; I particularly liked Manami, the girl who provided much of the show's comedy relief. The villains Kito and Kyrie were delightfully evil without being hammy. The story was quite gripping and the science fiction didn't descend into excessive technobabble. The willingness to kill off one or two apparently key characters raised the sense of danger as does the willingness to hint that apparently good guys are willing to switch allegiance under the right circumstances. The final confrontation between Shu and Kito is spectacular in a way that can only work in animation; had such a scene appeared in a live action film it would seem ridiculously unrealistic but here it was just cool!
While the series isn't a classic it is a shame that it isn't better known as it has a good solid story, plenty of action, just the right amount of humour, is well animated and at just twelve episodes doesn't outstay its welcome or contain excessive filler episodes.
These comments are based on watching the series in Japanese with English subtitles.
I enjoyed this series as the cast were interesting; Shu, the protagonist was suitably serious and the rest of his detective agency were suitably interesting; I particularly liked Manami, the girl who provided much of the show's comedy relief. The villains Kito and Kyrie were delightfully evil without being hammy. The story was quite gripping and the science fiction didn't descend into excessive technobabble. The willingness to kill off one or two apparently key characters raised the sense of danger as does the willingness to hint that apparently good guys are willing to switch allegiance under the right circumstances. The final confrontation between Shu and Kito is spectacular in a way that can only work in animation; had such a scene appeared in a live action film it would seem ridiculously unrealistic but here it was just cool!
While the series isn't a classic it is a shame that it isn't better known as it has a good solid story, plenty of action, just the right amount of humour, is well animated and at just twelve episodes doesn't outstay its welcome or contain excessive filler episodes.
These comments are based on watching the series in Japanese with English subtitles.
