nailorhan

I'll start with this: Common Side Effects has an absolutely incredible foundation. The concept is brilliant, the atmosphere and the execution is stunning. The animation, art direction, and overall directing are top-tier, and the music is phenomenal. Everything about this show screams masterpiece in the making.

But for the love of all things good, please slow down. The pacing is so rushed that it completely undercuts wht could be a groundbreaking series. Right now, it's like being served a gourmet meal but being forced to scarf it down in seconds.

I'm giving this show 1 star not because it deserves it, but because I genuinely hope the creators take this to heart. This could be oneof the best sci-fi thrillers out there if it just allowed its story and characters to breathe. Unfortunately, Arcane Season 2 has the exact same issue-an amazing foundation that never quite reaches its full potential because it's sprinting when it should be walking.

To be clear, this is a premiere review based on the first two episodes. Maybe things will improve later, and I really hope they do. If the pacing were fixed, I'd rate this show so much higher. But as it stands, it's frustrating to see something this promising hold itself back.

I never expect anything from the storytelling from these anthology series. In my personal opinion, animated anthology shows like Secret Level should primarily be watched for their animation. While the narratives can vary in quality, the true magic lies in the artistry and creativity each episode brings to life. The Pac-Man episode excels in this regard, delivering a visual feast that proves the potential of animation as a medium. That's also the reason why i would never give an episode with Hyper-Realistic animation a high rating: Hyper-realistic styles can be so fixated on mimicking reality that they forget to innovate, explore surrealism, or push boundaries in ways only animation can.

For anyone passionate about animation, this episode is a must-watch-a reminder of why the art form deserves our undivided attention.

That said, it's truly obnoxious how some people complain that it's "nothing like the video game." Of course, it's not the same! The purpose of reimagining something in an anthology series isn't to copy and paste the source material-it's to take creative liberties and explore new possibilities.