Chained Soldier justifies its excessive and controversial fan service with its unique powers and deconstruction of gender stereotypes. However, the unnecessary inclusion of additional fan service in Chained Soldier detracts from the overall enjoyment of the show. Chained Soldier's use of fan service highlights the industry's reliance on this trope.

Warning: The following contains spoilers for Chained Soldier episode #5The nuanced plot of the overly explicit new Hidive series Chained Soldier might convince critics who have the least amount of tolerance for this type of content to partially accept problematic tropes such as fan service. However, Chained Soldier's use of fan service is so excessive that it ironically justifies this form of controversial storytelling in almost every other anime series in existence at its own expense.

In anime, fan service usually only works for those who are specifically attracted by the use of this controversial practice. Anime-lovers who...