Muv-Luv Alternative (2021)

[マブラヴ オルタネイティヴ]

Season 1

Director: Yukio Nishimoto
Studio: Yumeta Company, Graphinica
Starring: Koichi Kamiki, Karin Nanami, Miku Ito
Episodes: 12

Synopsis:
Following the failure of the Alternative V plan to evacuate the Earth to save humanity from the rampaging alien menace known as the BETA, Takeru Shirogane finds himself transported back in time and takes the opportunity to try to push the cancelled Alternative IV plan ahead instead.

Impressions:
So we're going to make an abridged adaptation of the third story arc in a series of visual novels when the only other material from the franchise to have been animated was a mostly unrelated spinoff. That sounds like a winning strategy. If you haven't already played the original Muv-Luv games (such as yours truly), you're going to have a hard time. I think even with all the necessary background, the plot would still come off as rather convoluted. As a spinoff, the adaptation of Total Eclipse had the advantage of not being bogged down by a lot of baggage and even that was a mixed bag. Besides the tangled plot, you have character relationships you're just supposed to accept by fiat as you haven't gone through the previous two iterations of the world with Shirogane. You get some of the characterization but not nearly enough to feel particularly connected with them. The latter part of the series introduces a mildly interesting plot, but it's a bit of a jumble like everything else. When we actually get some mech combat, it's pretty good, but that's about the only saving grace of the series. It's not enough for me to even recommend it as a take it or leave it deal, though. There's going to be a second season, but I won't be there for it. If I ever find myself more curious about the story, I'll just check out the visual novels and I'll recommend you do the same. Pass on this.

Rating:
Avoid It