Moriarty the Patriot immediately gets my attention just from the premise. Taking one of Sherlock Holmes’ most famous enemies and making him the main character is already a pretty damn good hook, but what I like even more is that the anime commits to the idea. Instead of giving us a standard villain, the story makes him someone who genuinely believes he’s doing the right thing. Victorian society is completely screwed up, the rich can basically get away with anything, and the people at the bottom are expected to accept it. If the law refuses to punish people abusing their power, he’ll create his own version of justice. And honestly, I’m into it.

The main character is easily the biggest reason I enjoy this series. He’s calm, ridiculously intelligent, and always seems to be thinking five steps ahead. Watching him put his plans together is probably my favorite part. There’s something satisfying about seeing an elaborate scheme come together and realizing how much thought went into it. My only problem is that the show sometimes makes him a little TOO smart. Once you understand how capable he is, some situations lose tension because you already know he’ll probably have everything under control. I’m sometimes thinking, “Okay, so what’s the catch?” and then there really isn’t one.

The early episodes also follow a pretty repetitive formula. Someone gets screwed over by an awful aristocrat, nobody with authority wants to help, and our protagonist comes up with an elaborate solution. Bad rich guy does something horrible. Protagonist makes a plan. Rich guy gets what’s coming. Repeat.

I like this structure at first because it establishes his philosophy, but eventually I wanted the larger story to move forward. Most villains are SO obviously evil that there isn’t much moral conflict. I’m rarely wondering whether they deserve punishment. Most of the time I’m just like, “Yeah, screw this guy.”

That takes away some of the grayness the series could have had. I would have liked more complicated villains who made me question whether the protagonist had gone too far. When the target is basically cartoonishly evil, it’s easy to support whatever happens to them. Still, I really like the social commentary. The problem isn't just a few bad nobles. The entire system protects people with money and status, giving the story more substance than just “smart guy kills bad people.”

The supporting cast is solid, although some side characters feel more like pieces on a chessboard than fully developed characters. I wanted more time with them. And then we get to Sherlock. This is where the show starts getting REALLY interesting for me. The contrast between the two is exactly what I want from a Moriarty story. One is controlled and calculated, while the other is chaotic, unpredictable and seemingly impossible to read. Watching two ridiculously intelligent people approach problems in completely different ways is just fun. My only complaint is that it takes a while to get there. I understood the setup, but I was definitely thinking, “Okay, where the hell is Sherlock?” Once that side becomes more important, the anime gets much more exciting.

Victorian London looks great, and the anime has a dark, elegant, almost theatrical atmosphere. The clothing, buildings, foggy streets and dramatic lighting all fit perfectly. It has a strong visual identity.

The soundtrack fits the mood too, with a dramatic, theatrical feeling that works well with the elaborate schemes.

Pacing is mixed. Some episodes fly by, while others feel like the same formula with different characters. I think the series could have reached the larger conflict faster.

What I like most about Moriarty the Patriot is how it changes the perspective of a familiar story. This isn't really a mystery where I’m trying to figure out who committed the crime. I already know who’s behind the important stuff. Instead, I’m watching the person responsible and thinking, “Okay... how is he going to get away with this?” Honestly, that’s way more interesting than I expected. The protagonist isn't a traditional hero, and I don't always agree with what he does. But I understand why he does it, and that makes him compelling. The anime makes me question whether someone can fight an unjust system without becoming just as bad as the people they're fighting. Sometimes it nails that idea, although the villains can make the answer too obvious. But when it works, it REALLY works.

Overall, Moriarty the Patriot is a stylish, clever and pretty damn entertaining take on the Sherlock Holmes world. The repetitive structure, uneven pacing and underdeveloped side characters hold it back, but the atmosphere, social commentary and battle of intelligence keep me interested.

Definitely not perfect, but there’s more than enough here to make me want to keep watching.