B: The Beginning (2018–2021) User Reviews

A good show that could have been even better

[Rectangular_businessman · 7/10 · 6 October 2018]

B: The Beginning is a strange combination of two completely different type of stories, alternating the elements of a relatively down to earth thriller with the kind of battle scenes one would expect to see in a fantasy fighting anime (Albeit darker than stuff like Naruto or Dragon Ball Z) often giving me the impression that I was watching two completely different series merged together.

I guess that dissonance might be the cause of why this series didn't get the recognition it would have received under other kind of circumstances, since "B: The Beginning" has plenty of great elements: The animation and the designs are very good, it has an excellent atmosphere, the music is nice, and the characters are likeable and interesting. The only weak point is the connection of the seemingly unrelated stories of Keith and Koku, which sadly isn't strong enough as it could have been, And honestly, even when the figth scenes involving Koku were quite well animated and fun to watch, I honestly would have preferred if this series focused only on Keith and the mystery plot. if that was the case, I'm sure this show could have been a big success among the anime fandom, in a similar way to "Death Note".

Solid Anime, Recommend!

[maxb198 · 8/10 · 4 March 2018]

If you liked Death Note, although not as great, this anime has some interesting twists and supernatural points to it that will entertain you. Some small plot holes, but overall very well put together, you can tell they had a very decent budget set aside for this as opposed to some of the recently released anime in Japan in general. Conclusion: great way to pass time and definitely a must watch for anime lovers!

Great Modern Anime

[androsx070 · 7/10 · 10 November 2018]

B: The Beginning is very in-keeping with modern television. Excellent production quality, an intriguing title sequence (like in GoT or Westworld) and a score which is both quality and well suited to the genre. The story is engaging with an interesting blend of crime-drama, gore, and the supernatural. Why I imagine many people would draw comparisons to death note. You may do this if you wish, but you'll be disappointed, they are very different stories, and admittedly this is not as good as death note, but let's be clear, few stories are. There are a lot of questions this anime fails to answer or does so too late for the audience to really appreciate certain parts of the story. A second season exploring the lore would certainly be helpful, but for what it is, 'B: The Beginning' is an enjoyable and fun series. I urge you to give it a go.

Squeezed

[eobeau · 7/10 · 13 March 2018]

It was really good and had a solid story line but they squeezed it into 12 episodes and missed out some important bits that needed to be shown.

Be prepared to be glued to your seats!

[adam-962-370230 · 9/10 · 4 March 2018]

I would come out and say that this is one of the better anime shows currently airing on Netflix. As an avid fan of horror and mystery, I felt that this show resonated with me and kept me anxious and anticipating. This show suffers from a lot of things happening at the same time that you start to lose track of a few key plot lines. But it does not lose traction and the climax is satisfying enough to tie all the loose ends towards the end of the last episode. The characters are some of the most well written ones in recent anime history. The two main characters, Kieth and B aka (Thirteen) have enough depth to them to make the audience feel their despair. Kieth in particular battling his past and inner demons in search of the truth reminded me of Spike Speigel of the Cowboy bebop fame. The way he is laid back and the complex decisions he makes through out the series is almost similar. I got cowboy bebop vibes when ever Kieth was on the screen. The other characters Lily and the two main antogonists of the show are no slouches either. You genuinely feel their motives and the force that drives them. I would give the characters 10/10.

As a big Anime fan, I felt that this show ticks all the boxes. Production was really good, animation and soundtrack were expertly executed and to top it all off the story was really engaging. What more can you ask for.

Its great a show!

[kennyT-19987 · 7/10 · 19 January 2022]

A great anime to watch, but there a lot of paused silence and drama for a crime story.

The characters are really well fleshed out but still the watch is quite long.

I only silly thing I found in this anime was the usage and disposal of encoded/ encrypted clues showed, its childish.

Considering the demographic of a vast audience who are normal citizens and not some math prodigy, I don't see the need for elaborating was so obvious for behind the scenes.

Is it some convention in Japanese anime for the writers to include the main villain's large scale drive factor 'despair' as key? , if so I can't relate to that extended emotion here in the western world as a way of life.

Despite all of this, I still love this series and it a great time to watch this anime.

Ignore the haters, this a refreshing take on anime!

[writingabout · 10/10 · 6 March 2018]

Alright so, I made an account just to review this since I saw the hate it was getting. Ignore all of the noise, sit down and watch this amazing series.

B: The Beggining took me by surprise, I saw Netflix had released a new anime and since Devilman was a nice surprise I decided to watch it. And oh boy I am so glad I did, B is carefully crafted and feels more like an actual series than an anime at times, sure, the over the top fight sequences with cheesy anime music are there but the direction is certainly something new.

I don´t want to say anything else than go watch this now, anime fan or not you might REALLY enjoy this.

A show that needs more hype

[efee_puiyi · 7/10 · 10 December 2023]

There are several motivations to watch this anime. First of all, this show takes risks that can never be seen in any anime. The main subject is really interesting. Furthermore, the main visions behind the main topic are not similar to other animes. The language that has been used is more lifelike, I assume. The second cause is the characters are very well-written. To give an example, the detective who is a ''real adult'' has real-life concerns. In animes, I like its association with the real world. Nevertheless, the story has superpowers too. However, it doesn't affect the fact that it is real. Lastly, the ending music is the best song I have ever heard in a while. Frankly, its meaning is better than most of the animes. Hence, I advise you to listen to it very hard. Taking everything into account, there are many reasons to watch this show.

It's a dark and sad journey

[andreshuerfanoh · 8/10 · 23 March 2021]

Pretty interesting, smart and somehow extremely sad is an interrupted childhood tale, there is no rush enjoy the ride.

Interesting characters and plot

[larmo · 6/10 · 1 July 2021]

I enjoyed seasons one and two of this series very much. The plot is interesting, and the writing is adult. Some may find a little too much gore in various scenes, but I think it is in keeping with the overall adult themes. The writing for a energetic female police officer is very amusing, and she has no problem telling people to keep their hands off parts of her body. My only reservation about the series, is that there are only six episodes in the second season, and I feel that viewers are left with a "cliff hanger". That may not be resolved if additional episodes aren't produced.

Clever, thrilling, leaves you wanting more...

[lindsaykdavenport · 9/10 · 18 March 2018]

Smart, we'll written, and enticing. Each episode brings a twist and draws curiosity and hunger for what's next. Well developed characters and back story.

Loved the first season, but then it lost its way

[heath-jeffrey · 7/10 · 4 January 2023]

The first season was pretty amazing. Plenty of intrigue, action, personable characters, varied motivations. And the overall storyline was solid, if not quite living up to the potential it seemed to have. 7.5 or even 8 out of 10 for me.

Unfortunately, the second season was a complete mess. Some characters made decisions that ignored either their character or the rest of the story (eg. Ignoring friendships and trust that had built up in the first season); there were multiple plot 'twists' that broke from the rest of the story, seemingly thrown in, unplanned, for the sake of a twist rather than plot development; and the story doesn't even have an ending.

Detective drama without the mystery

[cacanindinb · 5/10 · 1 April 2018]

There are numerous plot points, parallel and intersecting story arcs, and murder mysteries to be solved past and present. But the show doesn't slow down to develop the characters, let them breathe, or provide the viewer any puzzles to ponder. Instead, new conflicts are introduced as quickly as they are solved, and nothing feels like it's at stake.

Fitting Rating

[gladysmutie · 6/10 · 22 February 2024]

Season 1 is a 7 Season 2 is definitely 4 or lower. This show is one of the weaker ones which is sad because it has so much potential. In the end it's really weak and the execution is really underwhelming. It has some good episodes and others are just meh. Honestly, you need a lot of wit, patience and guts to watch it till the end. I'm halfway through the last episode as I write my review but I trust my judgement. I don't see anything changing in 12 minutes. Also the animation is a bit not good. You don't know if the character is smiling, angry or giving a crazy look except the main one, Keith.

This is just the begining

[phanthinga · 8/10 · 16 January 2019]

B: The Beginning is another good Netflix original anime series next to Devilman Crybaby and a warm return of the mature crime genre that seem to be very underappreciated in today anime scene when now it all about what kind of creature or race the main character will turn into in another world or who is the best girl/boy of the season. I think this anime got a great potential to be a long running series and with the the after credit of episode 12 a second season may not be so far away in the future but as much as I enjoyed the story and it top notch animation I still think the plotline about "Adam and Eva" super cliché and it will be much more interesting if the director and the writer decided to focus solely on Keith and dedicate a whole season on his past live cause he is the soul of this anime not those edgy wannabe Jesus kids

Season 1 is a masterpiece. Season 2 is just fairly watchable.

[Achyut_Prashast_Singh · 9/10 · 15 April 2021]

B: The Beginning's intense and dark tone signaled at something like Death Note, just with lots of action and lesser episodes. It eventually proves to be a gripping action thriller which does have an occasional slow pace but never feels dragged or boring. The season 1 is so gripping that you can easily binge the whole thing in one sitting without feeling like a drag. The music is wonderfully used throughout, the characters are written with subtlety and the action sequences are outstanding, with bursts of emotion underscoring the suspenseful, twisted story.

Season 2 is also engaging, but eventually fails to keep up. It mostly feels unnecessary in hindsight, story seems bland and characters don't shine as much as they do in the first season. The final episode feels a bit of a drag and the ending is a little underwhelming. But the focused writing is a reason why it never feels bad or disappointing as a whole. It's fairly decent if you keep the expectations in check since the animation quality also remains top notch and it overall looks picturesque on the screen. Gone, however, is the tension and the urge to quickly jump to another episode, unless you know you can finish it in a 2-hour sitting given the number of episodes.

All in all, it's nevertheless a worth-watching action thriller anime that touches a lot of mature themes and presents them well on screen. While I give season 1 a solid 10/10 for literally everything it offers from action to twists to characterization, I give the season 2 an 8/10 since it's somehow gripping enough to be watched, although it's ultimately pretty forgettable and doesn't end as expected. But if you're ready to keep your expectations limited from the second season, you're in for a solid treat. I just hope they improve on the writing front if the makers are planning another season somehow. This show has great potential to become one of the greatest anime shows of all time, and the first season alone proves that without fail.

9/10 overall.

Surprisingly Good

[CartoonMan2020 · 10/10 · 9 April 2021]

Like most netflix anime I thought this one would be pretty bad bad, but I was surprised to find a hidden gem that turned out to be quite binge-worthy. It's an interesting mix of fantasy and real world; similar to Death Note (the Anime) with a touch of sci-fi that makes it interesting. It has good animation, writing, directing, and voice acting. Overall, it's a good show to watch while you wait for other shows to come out with new stuff. Thumbs up!

Netflix makes good decisions sometimes.

[Lukasmj · 8/10 · 13 November 2022]

The Royal Investigation Service (RIS) is on the trail of a mysterious series of murders. An alleged serial killer commits gruesome murders in the country of Cremona and always leaves a signature at the scene of the crime: the letter "B".

Joining the investigative team is ex-cop Keith Kazama Flick, who is hot on the trail of Killer B along with young detective Lily Hoshina.

I saw the anime a long time ago and can't remember much about it, but for me "B: The Beginning" is one of the better Netflix animes.

The mystery of the killer is well written and the fights are well coordinated and animated.

In general, the series creates a good atmosphere.

Would love to have more of this!

Disappointing

[baumhenrik · 4/10 · 15 January 2021]

The first two-three episodes looked interesting and caught my attention but then everything gets lost in a confusing storyline that wasn't that exciting and the characters where pretty much boring.

Another good murder mystery anime

[WeAreLive · 9/10 · 25 November 2018]

B: the beginning is about this detective called Keith Flick who is figuring out who is killer B and what are his motives. Is killer B really a cold blooded killer?

Meanwhile, Minatsuki has a plan up his sleeve to get rid of Keith and Killer B. But he also has an old friend of Koku's (Yuna) as one of his minions. Will Koku be able to save. Find out in the anime.

Overall this anime was pretty good and I can't wait to see what does season 2 have to offer.

I watched the Netflix dub and it was mostly good my only complaint about it is that in the flashbacks except for Kirisame most if not all of the boys sounded way too much like women dressing up as boys which caused some them to sound girly in pitch.

But other, then that it was good anime with so much suspense and plot twists. I highly recommend it because you will be in for one heck of a ride.

Great

[elmoboss-89427 · 9/10 · 7 March 2018]

Throughly enjoyed it once I started watching I spent all day finishing the series.Season 2 needed

Very captivating thriller!

[ilene-81488 · 10/10 · 2 April 2018]

This show was so good! I thoroughly enjoyed the suspense and action. I was kept on the edge of my seat, so to speak, throughout the whole series. The storyline was a little complex but the twists were pretty entertaining. If you're a fan of mysteries & thrillers, I definitely recommend watching this. Though it is a tad bit gory & brutal, so it's not for the faint of heart. All in all, I am eagerly anticipating the next season!

I love mysteries

[yargitme · 10/10 · 28 March 2020]

This anime is so good bc it has mysterious and horror to it go watxh it fr

Frustrating but passable entertainment

[cjp2157 · 4/10 · 6 June 2018]

If you need something to pass the time and you've watched all the anime classics, B: The Beginning may help you avoid complete boredom.

The biggest problem is that B pretends it's something more than it is. It is an OK anime with an interesting story and action that isn't bad. However, it tries to be something intellectual and philosophical and fills too much time with exposition or a character giving a speech explaining a theory or legend or reciting a philosophical rant.

B acts like there is a mystery to be solved but never gives us anything coherent to ponder, try to figure out or get stumped by. So the entire time you are just waiting for things to happen or different plot points to be revealed. The main characters Keith and the mythical "B" have some potential. But the show tries to stuff over 10 characters, various subplots, an entirely new science, a mythology into 12 episodes while also giving some minor world building. there's not much room to develop any characters or get you invested in what's happening.

So by the end, you're lucky if you care what happens to the main characters (much of which is predictable).

So if you need to kill time and want dubbed anime, give it a shot. Otherwise, there is much better out there. All of the characters are standard anime tropes that have been done much better elsewhere. That being said, without revealing any plot, there are some cool characters that I wish were explored and some cool scenes that actually had my attention.

Please REWATCH from S1!!

[KahlilHerring · 9/10 · 28 March 2021]

Just like others here, S1 seemed very confusing to me on the first watch, and netflix didn't help by making us wait 3 years for SIX more episodes. Because S2 is so short, I did the due diligence to re-watch from S1, and boy I was not paying attention on my first watch, or I was too enamored by the concept of it, I basically speed-watched off excitement.

Not only is S1 good, it is a very strong mystery, especially going into S2. Character development, action,and loose ends (other than last episode) are tied up and executed in a very tight knit fashion. I'm guessing because they only had 6 to do it. If you aren't paying attention from the start, you will be very lost, so was I, but the show stayed interesting enough for me to finish, which doesn't happen often when I tune out from a show usually. S2 is well-improved, stakes are increased, and it's exciting to actually see the "Jet Black King" story play out, and the tension in S2 is a few notches above S1 if you know what's going on. Very underrated anime, and I think the low ratings are from those who didn't pay attention, as I also rated S1 relatively low off confusion. Glad I went back though, and everyone else I feel, should give it one more shot.