Ajin: Demi-Human

Ajin is a real adrenaline-fueled rollercoaster! It is a dark, mature, and incredibly addictive thriller. The combat strategies will leave you jaw-dropped. It’s one of those anime series that initially divides viewers due to its 3D CGI animation style, but if you can get past the first few episodes, you discover one of the best psychological action thrillers of recent times. The series' greatest strength is how it breaks the hero cliché: the protagonist, Kei Nagai, is extremely calculating, cold, and at times borders on being a sociopath. And don't even get me started on the villain, Satō—easily one of the most intimidating and cunning characters in anime history.

I find the grandmother who helped Kei all this time both endearing and amusing. Kei finally realizes that Satō is going to cause so much chaos that leading a quiet life in the countryside will be impossible for him. What a great season finale; it leaves me absolutely itching to start the second season right away.

Probably the best chapter so far. The way Satō uses the "reset" is a real-life hack turned into a military strategy. It’s pure cinema. And that exit... that damn exit, this old man scares me.

Satō's plan seems flawless. The scale of the conflict is growing exponentially, and I can't help but marvel at this villain's twisted mind; he has completely surpassed my expectations.

We’re finally learning more about the Ajin. I’m struck by just how manipulative Kei can be in order to maintain his quiet life; still, I can’t wait for him to master his Ajin—I have a feeling it’s going to be insanely powerful.

I don't understand Kei; he's truly an iceberg, just like his sister said: he's heartless. I feel a little sorry for Nakano.

Sato is an evil genius, and I thought he was a good person at first. I don't think the government is prepared for what's coming.

Is this the calm before the storm? This chapter lowers the action by two notches, however, it leaves you in suspense about what Sato might be planning.

The grandma was so wholesome from start to finish. Kei and Nakano make a great team overall, and everything goes badly for Tosaki even when he tries so hard. It’s almost sad.

The action in this episode was great, especially the fight between the Ajin and the humans and how tactical everything feels. It also shows what kind of monster Sato is, not only as a villain but also as a fighter.

Every plan is starting to come together as we reach the season finale, and Sato’s plan wasn’t even about using the IBM. I think the 3D animation works pretty well this time.

This episode has some good exposition. Kei is also getting really manipulative as he tries to keep his peaceful life. There are a lot of plot points to follow, and I wonder how they’re going to keep up with everything.

Kei really feels like he’s losing his humanity more and more, or maybe he wasn’t human to begin with. I don’t really like Tosaki’s character that much, but he works great as an enemy. The ending is kind of bizarre.

I like the introduction of the new characters; they feel like they’re going to be important. I’m kind of annoyed by the kid’s attitude, though.

Sato is always planning, and part of what makes this anime great is that you have to figure out what his plan is. This episode was slower than the others and had a lot of dialogue, but it was still pretty good.

We already know who the final boss is. The massacre in the lab is an action spectacle. The best part is the clash of ideologies: Satō wants war, and Kei just wants to be left alone; it's crystal clear that he's willing to do anything for his peace of mind.

Brutal, simply brutal. The scenes in the lab where they experiment on Kei are hard to stomach. But when Satō comes to the rescue, all hell breaks loose. This is where the series completely grabs you and shows you that it's not going to hold back.

You can see how Kei still tries to hold on to his humanity, but he is also losing part of himself in the process. I’m glad they show both Sato’s cruelty and that there are still some humans with compassion. There is also a lot of exposition, but it is well handled and spread throughout the episode. This is definitely one of the best episodes, especially the fight between the phantoms.

This episode feels so cruel. Everyone around Kei is cruel, and the way they dehumanize him is especially harsh. Even with all of that, he is still trying to stay human as best as he can. Sato peak villain again.

The old man in the cap seems really cool at first, but his vibe is super unsettling. The episode plays with your mind because you don't know who to trust, and Kei and Kai's separation hurts a little.