DARLING in the FRANXX
Oshimeter
Synopsis
Inside massive mobile fortress cities, the last remnants of humanity cling to survival, kids are bred to pilot mechs in boy-girl pairs, and nobody questions any of it. That's the world of Darling in the FranXX. Hiro was supposed to be a prodigy pilot, but he can't sync with his partner and gets benched, which in this society basically means you have no reason to exist. Then he meets Zero Two, a half-human girl with horns, fangs, and a reputation for getting her co-pilots killed. She's dangerous, uncontrollable, and for some reason, she's the only one Hiro can actually pilot with. Their connection kicks off the central thread of this 24-episode series: what does it mean to be alive when you were literally made to be a tool? The romance between Hiro and Zero Two is the emotional core, but the show also builds out a full ensemble cast of pilots dealing with identity, jealousy, and the slow realization that the adults running their world might not have their best interests in mind. If you liked the existential weight of Neon Genesis Evangelion or the relationship-driven mecha action of Eureka Seven, this hits a similar space with a more romantic, emotionally direct approach. Studio Trigger and A-1 Pictures co-produced it, so the animation swings between sleek and expressive. The opening theme 'Kiss of Death' by Mika Nakashima sets the tone perfectly: melancholy, intense, a little desperate. It's a love story wrapped in a dystopia wrapped in a mech show, and the early episodes hook you faster than you'd expect.
Episode Guide
Characters
Zero Two
Zero Two: a mysterious, powerful Parasite pilot with horns, known for her striking looks and fierce personality.
Ballard Tia
Ichigo
Squad 13's leader, Ichigo, is a top student and Hiro's childhood friend, piloting the Delphinium FRANXX with Goro.
Lauda Brittany
Hiro
Once a prodigy pilot, Hiro now struggles with failed synchronizations and a sense of belonging.
Shipman Matt
Kokoro
Gentle and considerate, Kokoro is a Madonna-like figure to her team, piloting the FranXX Genista.
Hayami Saori
Gorou
Easygoing pilot Gorou (056), childhood friend of Hiro and Ichigo, partners with Ichigo in Delphinium.
Berry Morgan
Miku
Cheerful but selfish pilot Miku (Code:390) hates losing and partners with Zorome.
Apprill Bryn
Mitsuru
Prideful and sharp-tongued, Mitsuru rivals Hiro, aiming to surpass him as a FranXX pilot.
Neves Emily
Zorome
Emotional and impulsive pilot Zorome, often mocks teammates, sees Hiro as a loser, and longs for adulthood.
Reynolds Ryan
Ikuno
Calm and collected, Ikuno prefers reading to social interaction, piloting Chlorophytum with Mitsuru.
Clark Leah
Futoshi
Futoshi, code 214, is a bread-loving, easygoing pilot unexpectedly prudent, befriending anyone.
Shepard Blake
Community Feed
Loading…
I loved darling in the franxx. The visual were absolutely amazing. The character development was great. The fights scenes were badass. Everything about it was perfect, well almost perfect. I only have 1 quick question, why did 02 and Hiro have to day, I hope that most of the fan fictions are correct based on the ending that both of them get reincarnated and meet each other again and fall in love and give us all the ending we hoped dor, but I also hope everyone gets reincarnated and create a new friend group again, which may be selfish of me. Other then that I really have no complaints. I loved it and still do. It's one of the few animes that actually made me cry, laugh and feel joy with the characters. It's also my first ecer anime so it's very special to me.
The best anime I've ever watch
Gfghhjh5xdf
Darling
Pretty unusual but I like it!
This has a special place in my heart cause it was my first romance anime I watched, without even knowing it was romance before I started
It was fantastic i love it
A spectacular finale. The animation remains beautiful, paired with a stunning soundtrack. While the ending is a bit bittersweet, it ultimately leans toward hope, leaving an open conclusion that softens the sorrow and highlights the sweetness.
yeah, my eyes are sweating again. One of the best anime endings. Just wish the action was toned down for more emotional moments--The fights still feel a bit stiff, but honestly? Still a 10/10. Don't skip the ending song! Watch until the LAST SECONDDDDDDD!!!!!
Makes me really anxious about how they’re going to wrap this up with only one episode left LOL. Story is strong, but the action still feels a bit cliché and lacking punch( every single time)—especially this close to the finale. Emotional scene was well handled as always.
Pace was slow, but it suits the heavy mood. The first half hits emotionally, but the second half shifts too abruptly and kills some of that momentum. Still, it’s an important episode—definitely not skippable.
intense, but the execution doesn’t quite match the depth of the story. Some scenes even feel reminiscent of classic anime. I mean I can see the effort to add more depth to the story, but this kind of depth won’t land for everyone (including me).
Drops a lot of reveals, but the pacing slows things down. Informative, but not the most engaging—skippable if you want a more viewing experience in overall. The second half does feel like it goes a bit too far and overcomplicates things. 5/10.
This episode is a bit rough for me—too much information dumped in a pretty boring way. The pacing is fine, but the execution feels unoriginal. You can’t skip it if you care about the full story, but if you’re here for Zero Two… yeah, maybe.
Almost choked watching the beginning—Kokoro! Mitsuru! That was way too fast! I can see what’s coming, but it still hurts (sobbing). The pacing and turning point are perfectly executed. Even the ending song hits at the right moment. 10/10.
Some genuinely mind-blowing moments in this ep. Story keeps getting more interesting, you can finally see what sets it apart from other mecha-anime. A lot of mysteries are revealed, but the pacing stays controlled—no rushing, just solid, just on point.
This Ep leans back into the mystery side. I like how the story reveals its secrets gradually instead of just handing you answers. Pacing and music 10/10, and the shifting points of view are handled especially well. 12/10!!!
Action scene didn’t really work for me—not bad, just feels a bit unoriginal. You can see the influence of classic anime pretty clearly here. It’s still important for the story, but probably my least favorite episode so far. The 02’s childhood scene did save this episode a little
First half slows things down a bit after the last intense episode, but the second half? It delivers. There’s even a bit of a Romeo and Juliet vibe here (just me thinking that? lol) Definitely not an episode to skip—even if no one probably would.
Omg my baby 02!!! This epsuide hits hard. The visuals is intense with strong use of light and shadow. The monologue echoes back to episode one, and the snow scene is genuinely emotional. Yeah, my eyes are sweating, definitely just “sweat” I swear...
DARLING in the FRANXX
More DetailsRadar5
Choose what you want to review:
a single episode or the full anime.







