Anime 20507 Noragami Reviews Filter Check 1

All of us have seen that one series or show or book that didn't seem to know which direction in which it was going. Noragami, however, manages to pull off all of its elements perfectly without even batting an eye. Keep in mind that this is my first review so anything I’m about to say may be incredibly biased or just inexperienced as a whole. With that said, let’s begin.

Story: 9/10

The story of Noragami begins with Hiyori: an average high school girl who has a fated encounter with Yato, a homeless god, but we'll get to them later. Hiyori, being the angel of a person ... she is, pushes Yato out of the way of an incoming bus when he suddenly runs into traffic. This results in not only an accident and her being taken to the hospital, but from then on she gains the somewhat troublesome habit of losing her physical body and taking on a similar form, but travels around as her soul seperated from her body. Deciding she can't live on like this, she begs Yato and pays him in advance to restore her back to her original form, and thus, the two connect and Hiyori is abruptly introduced to the world outside of our reality.
At least, that's what the show would have you believe from its broad overarching plot.
Noragami consists of several plot lines that all mesh in beautifully with each other both in terms of pacing and execution. It wastes no time in moving the story forward, save some of Yato's comic relief and character introductions here and there. It even has some realistic darker undertones thrown in smoothly. They make sure you understand the weight of loneliness and just how invisible those who are not of the living can be, how painful it is to be forgotten and wanting to be remembered. Having read the majority of the manga so far, the anime followed it quite well, had it not been for the filler arc that took up the remaining 3-4 episodes. But for the most part, I enjoyed the story very much and hope that it will follow the manga if it were to receive a second season, which is HIGHLY FAVORABLE.

Characters: 9/10

The main reason why I love the characters of Noragami is not only how diverse they all are, but it seems to have a Hiromu Arakawa feel to it; no character is used solely for fanservice or comic relief in spite of their first appearance. Every person in this series is well fleshed-out, developed, and not one-dimensional in the slightest, though that's what you may get the impression of in early episodes.
Yato, our main character, is somewhat of an underdog aside from being homeless and having a strange fashion sense. He is definitely the real propeller of the show, providing us with not only mystery, insight, and of course, more comic relief than you can shake a stick at, but just such a fun time watching him in general. There wasn’t a moment I didn’t appreciate his presence on my screen. What’s not to like about a bratty, teenage looking god taking up job requests for only 5 Yen? Much about him is still to be revealed, though they’ve given us enough to go on for right now. His viewpoints on humans and life as a whole is somewhat irritating yet fascinating due to his experience of both and naturally, having lived for thousands of years as a vicious war god who has somehow faded to an insanely silly and docile version of that is still unkown. But to end his profile, Yato is a great character who differs from the typical shonen hero who still has plenty of development to go and is an amazing joy to watch at any given time. And personally, my favorite character of the series, so bias warning there.
Next up is Hiyori. I definitely don’t have as much to say here, as she is a pretty bland character until she meets Yato and gets caught up in the world of gods and evil spirits. Before that she is just the average high school student who goes to school with her friends, has a loving and rich family, and is just normal overall. Her most defining trait is without a doubt, her extreme levels of kindness that most female protagonists seem to ooze with these days (hence the reason why she pushed a complete stranger out of the way of an oncoming bus because she’s a female and therefore is /just /that /nice.) But of course, she isn’t simply that customary for no given reason. Her main purpose is to serve as more of a window into the hidden reality we see that is so different from our daily lives, since she lives the everyday life that most of us do either as well or similarly to a fair extent. She reflects more of the confusion and shock the average human being would feel upon having a million revelations thrown into her face via Yato, and I suppose if you really don’t care for her she could be more of a wish-fulfillment character into an alternate universe. Unlike other leading characters, she’s determined and knows when to take the initiative when the situation is tight. But alas, she starts out as the badass female lead and then ends up getting damseled like some million-dollar-prize in the last couple episodes, which I hate with the burning passion of a million suns. But moving on.
Last of the main three is Yukine, Yato’s sarcastic, stubborn fourteen-year-old Regalia who serves as his weapon for 98% of the show and also adds some more comic relief to (but mainly against) our poor underdog god. Out of those already mentioned above, he undeniably undergoes the most drastic character development in the entire show and /all of it/ is so, so, so satisfying. It surprises me how much hate he gets from the fandom, though not only is that a) more personal bias, b) not the time to bring this up in a review, and c) a time to complain about the fandom giving him crap, but I thought all of it was well justified, mainly because it is so simple to see what it is he wants, where he’s coming from, why he wants all these things that he can never have. Plus he actually acts similarly to how an actual fourteen-year-old boy with raging hormones and inner angst would. The show finally starts to get into a rhythm of a plot with his introduction, which is majorly important as well. The only complaint that I would have is that I felt that the episodes just took a /little/ too long having the buildup to his extremely Paramount conclusion, though it was so intensely satisfying in the end that I completely forgot about it. It added a sense of desperation to the entire thing, which, when I think about it, is not necessarily a bad factor now. But of course, since he is a part of this show, he is a brilliant and extremely adorable character to watch if you can understand him, which should not really be a problem at all.
The rest of the supporting cast is also great, each to their own with their own stories, pasts, and different sides, but are all also incredibly fun to watch as they give the show so much colour and variety. The only reason why I wouldn’t give the character aspect a full-on 10 is because of Yato’s rather-late-introduced arch-nemesis from thousands of years ago (who just happens to be a filler character because of the unfortunately short length of this series right now) and Hiyori’s demotion of “Prize to Be Won After We Win Because we Love Her”.

Animation: 8/10

I definitely don’t have any complaints here. For the most part the animation style is typical Bones fare, with the art looking approvingly alike to that of the manga’s. Each character design is bright and interesting to the eye, from Yato’s cat-like blue eyes and strange scarf to the brighter colours of the giggly Kofuku and the other personified gods. Scenery is also well done and detailed, though I wish there were more fight scenes included because this is where the animation /really/ shines through. (Yato’s Rend attack in particular, and mainly since this little cut is re-used multiple times in each episode.) Naturally there are times when the quality would dip here and there, but it does its job and doesn’t fail to please. Solid 8 here.

Sound: 10/10

The soundtrack for Noragami was composed by Taku Iwasaki, the genius who had previously created OSTS for the famous Black Butler and Soul Eater, both of which were known for their very prominent themes varying from rock ballads and pop to Victorian-era themes. Most of the music is light-hearted and a bit repetitive in its loops, but it sets the mood extremely well and never feels out of place. It occasionally mixes in a few classical Japanese themes into it too, and that never feels unnatural either. The battle music is the main point in this entire OST along with a few other tracks that will make you go, “Oh, this played when ______ happened and it sounded awesome!” because honestly it is just that great. No complaints.
As if it could possibly add onto the already existing 10, the voice acting of Noragami is simply SUPERB and there is no other way I can say it. The casting of the actual god Kamiya Hiroshi as Yato was an absolutely perfect choice that would be practically impossible to imitate by anyone else. I wasn’t used to hearing him play such a wide range in a single role, but I have faith in that man. I got used to it, and he was simply amazing. In fact, even if I didn’t have any interest in Noragami’s story I would still watch this anime just because this guy is present in the cast. I don’t even think I need to mention Yuki Kaji, but I will anyway just for the fact that he pulls of Yukine’s pre-teen angst and personality so intensely well that I almost burst out sobbing the second he spoke a single line. Both of them are really what pull off the characters and that goes for the rest of the cast too. Having seiyuu regulars such as Sawashiro Miyuki, Fukuyama Jun, and Daisuke Ono were all great choices as well, and again, no complaints at ALL. Don’t even talk to me about the OP and ED.

Enjoyment & Final Verdict: 9/10

Now, even though I’d like to call it as such, Noragami is not perfect, as is anything else out there. But though it has its problems, I was never once bored or dissatisfied with this show to a large extent. The only thing that would make this bump up to a ten would be the confirmation of more to come. Though the anime had its happy (if not rushed) ending, there is still so much manga content to be animated, including the /incredible/ arc focusing on Bishamon, Yato’s other arch-nemesis from centuries ago, but now’s not the time to mention that. Noragami is a great blend of comedy and the supernatural, a character-driven show that really gets you to feel and has a tone that tends to capture. Beneath it all are underlying tones of darkness and grief, but still manages to put on a lighthearted tone when it needs to. But all in all, I had a great time watching the ride and grew attached to it. This anime will most definitely have a little reserved corner in my heart as one of the greatest animes of the Winter 2014 season and I’m looking forward to the possibility of a future season. And with that, I leave you.

“May our fates intertwine.”

Noragami Full Review

Have you ever felt that you wanted an anime with relatable and well-written characters, coupled with an interesting story filled with action and comedy? Well, look no further, because Noragami is here.

Story (9/10):

Noragami’s story, I would have to say, be a rather unique one. I say so because the anime spends a lot of time in the beginning introducing you to the characters, and make you wonder, just where is the main story? When are they going to get on with it? However, that’s where this anime shines. The overarching story has been there the whole time – blended well with the character ... developments, which provides an even stronger impact when it reaches the climax. So, what is Noragami mainly about? I would say that it is the relationships between our characters, and what they did to solve them. Why did I give the story a 9 out of 10, then? This is because of how relatable these stories are, and of course the valuable lessons it has taught us – Appreciate what you have.

Characters (10/10):

I have one word for Noragami’s main cast and side cast: “Amazing”. This was perhaps one of the few anime where the cast support and play off each other so well, that makes it not only seem realistic, but also a joy to watch as well. Not forgetting, the characters by the end of the series have totally changed from what they used to be in the first episodes.

Yato is a God who doesn’t have a shrine built for him, and so grants people wishes for 5 yen, in hopes that one day, he’ll finally get enough money to built a shrine for himself. In the anime, Yato is more like a fatherly figure to all of the other characters. Sure, he fools around, but he always does what’s best for the group, even though his reasons are not seen immediately. That’s just like how a father is, isn’t it. One who doesn’t always seem to be there with you but supporting you quietly.

While Yato is like a fatherly figure, Hiyori is the motherly figure. I would say that she is the exact opposite to Yato. She looks at things mostly on the surface, but she is always there to support both Yato and Yukine, often reprimanding them for their actions. But why is this so? It’s because she cares for them, just like a mother would. Additionally, in the beginning of the anime, most people would think that Hiyori would be this damsel in distress; basically a useless character that needed saving by the guys. However, this is not the case, as we see she can capably handle herself in fights, and sometimes even be the one to help out both Yukine and Yato.

I’ll be spending a little bit more time to talk about Yukine. I would say that Yukine is probably the most controversial character in the series. There has been a lot of hate towards him, but I’ll have to say that the hate is unjustified. Why? Yukine is a teenager. Merely a 13-year-old boy. Of course by that age he would know from right and wrong, but from 13 to 18 years of age, it is known as the rebellious age. You know what is right and wrong, but you still commit the wrongdoings anyway. Why? Because it is fun to disobey the rules. Rules are meant to be broken, right? Everyone, or almost everyone has been in this stage before (unless you’re under 13 of course). That is why Yukine was acting the way he was. However, the problem kicks in when his rebellious nature is coupled with the longing to belong somewhere. This is yet another trait of the teenagers. In school, just as Yato mentions, everyone wants to be popular right? Everyone wants to have the most friends. The point here is that Yukine is dead, and he cannot interact with them. Yet the living, which can have almost everything and anything that Yukine doesn’t, complain and do not appreciate it. Chasing after something he can never obtain… That is what made Yukine lose his mind.

Art (9/10):

The art looks really beautiful. You can notice this especially with the character designs (just look at Yato’s eyes) and during the fight scenes. The destruction of the phantoms after Yato’s killing blow looks amazing. I do have one little gripe though, they reuse the same animation when Yato does his final move every episode. Yes, I get that that’s because it's the same move, but it would be great if they could vary that up a bit.

Sound (9/10):

The soundtrack is great since it matches every scene perfectly, whether it being a scary scene, or action scene. I have to give credit to the phantom’s voices, for being so creepily fitting. Of course, our voice actors are amazing as well, being able to bring both the comedy and serious voices when they are required.

The Opening and Ending are both really, really good; There’s no way you’d want to skip that.

Enjoyment (9/10):

The only problem I have with Noragami, is perhaps the wait every week. Just as something interesting was about to happen, the episode ends. In other words, I enjoyed it immensely. This is mainly because they know when to inject comedy, and when to make it serious.

Overall (9/10):

Noragami is a really amazing anime. It not only provides great characters, but awesome stories that are highly relatable. Coupled with beautiful art and soundtrack, this anime is a must watch.

Ever needed help with something from a higher being? Was there ever a moment where you decided to seek help because you couldn’t get the task done yourself? There’s an answer to that now: Delivery God Yato. The catch is that he does require a fee for his services. Yet, the guy gets his hands dirty to the point and is the solution to your problems.

At first glance, a series about a God trying to be a deity of worship seems something that’s hard to take in by heart. Rather, Gods are usually depicted as being powerful, omniscient, and shines with brilliance. That’s what Yato ... tries to be anyways someday. As someone who is barely known in the real world community, he’s far from that. Yato’s job of helping others for a price as a God is something that doesn’t seem so appealing at first. His goal is apparently to build a shrine of worship and have his name being recognized by everyone. He doesn’t have many followers nor does he have the ability of omniscience. Yet, he does have the ability to draw attention towards him, especially Hiyori Iki, a high school student who almost witness him get into a car accident. Fate has it for them when Hiyori saves him but not without her life being changed forever.

By traditional standards, high school girls saving a supernatural being isn’t new to the anime industry. Yet, Noragami shines with its own charms on various terms. For instance, we have a young girl who is selfless, brave, and eager to help others in need. She puts others before herself and her actions often speak louder than words. Despite her life being seemingly changed forever, she doesn’t blame anyone for it but rather hope to use her new abilities to continuously help others. This brings her in terms with the n narcissistic God, Yato. Their relationship is odd at first with the duo often complaining and arguing about seemingly events of little importance. Despite that, they are surprisingly entertaining to watch in particular Yato. He makes the time fly fast with his characteristics as a God by helping others but not without a price. (Charging 5 yen for a completed task) It stands out for the fact that Yato helps others for his own personal gain rather than just ‘doing the right thing’. With this set up, you can guess why Yato and Hiyori often gets into debates. These are often comical because in some ways, they are compatible. Hiyori is no shadow to be stepped on despite her kindness. She is able to stand up for herself and take responsibilities. Similarly, Yato has a natural sense of humor with a sense of himself. Sometimes, his behavior reflects human emotions such as regret, jealousy, and solitude. Despite being so different, Yato and Hiyori has a special relationship viewers will feel attached to.

On other hand, there’s one character where viewers will find less appealing at first and hard to get used to. Meet Yukine, a wandering spirit that Yato made into a weapon for his job. To appreciate Yukine will be difficult as he acts just like his age as a brat. He isn’t mature for someone his age and neither does he have a tolerable sense of humor. Despite being a spirit, he acts like a human such as his perverseness, curiosity, and even suffers from kleptomania. It is somewhat acceptable at first to understand where he came from – a child whom missed the opportunity of a normal life as evidenced by some flashbacks. Yet, his present actions does not constitute to justify his reasons to do collateral damage to others. Yukine becomes a character that is developed by deconstruction. Rather than having him remain like a brat, he undergoes through phases and reflects his change in a way that he seems like a whole new person. Noragami depicts his character at his best with this change that shows development in a way that is humane, credible, and stands as a visage of redemption.

Despite the show focusing a lot of in characters, the plot is also attractive with its themes. Various themes explored in the series includes suicide, bullying, revenge, and temptation. As a fantasy series, it colors these themes in a way that is both humorous but at the same time feel so real. It sticks with the premise as well throughout its duration to explore concepts involving dealing with Phantoms, beings of the supernatural world that inhibits in the world of the living. Most of these features in a format of the‘monster of the week’ scenario. However, it is important to note that every monster or conflict explores a concept to send a message. As the plot is unraveled more and more, we also find more about Yato’s past which seems to be ominous. One particular character holds a deep grudge for Yato in a cat-and-mouse like game throughout the series. It sparks curiosity to viewers as Yato’s past life as compared to his present. But with new friends, it also sets up a contrast between the two stages; it makes Yato view his weapons as a different light, perhaps as friends rather than just tools of war.

Perhaps fitting with the stories’ concepts are the spirits involved. After all, this show does present it in fantasy form with the way spirits behave around humans. The rather obvious trope of the spirits revolves around their behavior as nearly all of them behave in an aggressive manner. As malevolent as they can be, these spirits are to be tamed with Yato as the delivery God. Even though it has a serious premise, the comedy coming from Noragami can be described as healthy. Rather than lifeless fan service, we get Yato whom presents himself as a character of charisma that invites laughter. Some of his lack of social behavior is marked with comedy thanks to his failures in the field. To support even more of the high dosage of humor are characters such as Kofuku, an energetic girl and acquaintance of her beloved “Yatty”. On the other hand, there’s Nora, a girl of many mysteries that brings in a moody sphere of gloom and doom.

The artwork of Noragami is simple yet consistent handled by Bones. Taking place in modern world means that nothing should be out of the ordinary. Yet, we get those spirits decorated by malevolence as harbingers of destruction. Background designs also makes its point with the suburban city combined with traditional Japanese themes such as shrines and altars. The character designs sparks curiosity such as Hiyori’s tail. Yato’s artwork design also looks interesting with his electric blue eyes, tough attitude, and jersey that comes with a scarf. The weapon (Shinki) that he uses is attractive with its stellar design. That’s not the only weapon the show focuses on though. Later in the series, we witness other powerful weapons in the form of whips, guns, and even earrings all decorated with a sense of fantasy vibe. On a more negative note, Yukine’s design matches those of a rebellious teenager with his blonde hair and smirk that seems to reflect loneliness.

A strength that brings the action packed scenes of Noragami would be the soundtrack. The OST elaborates on the solid movements of the characters. No movement is wasted and all of them matches consistently with its well-coordinated orchestra. The OP song by Hello Sleepwalkers is highly decorative with characters from the cast colored by an unique form of artistry. The voice mannerisms mostly matches such as Yato’s sarcasm, Hiyori’s maturity, Yukine’s childishness, and Kofuku’s cheerfulness. Nonetheless, do appreciate the OST. I bring this to attention again as headphones are a must to enjoy this at fullest.

Noragami will offer everybody a chance for enjoyment. It will deliver action, drama, comedy, and fantasy at your footsteps. Being a more character driven show, its small yet small cast of characters delivers credibility related to human behaviors that are explored in a relatable way. The soundtrack will blow your mind along with its high dosage of comical power. It’s not just the way dialogues are spoken but how it connects to the character and story. Speaking of the story, Noragami does take a bit of patience to get used to but in the end is worth it to reap its rewards. On a more negative note, a story arc involving Yato and a particular character who has hunted him down for her entire life doesn't resolve. The length of the series prevents the anime from creating a resolution for its pace. Still, this show to me is a dark horse and something of a gem, a sparkling jewelry you won’t find at any shrine but here.

Okay, I believe that many of you have heard of the term that is widely used in anime reviews, book reviews, moview reviews, etc. Yes, it's the "Don't judge a book by its cover". Apparently, that idiom applies to Noragami as well. Why? It’s quite simple, while the anime has a nice cover, a nice premise, and also nice previews (which came out several of times before the anime aired) the anime itself isn't nice at all. Then, is it bad? No no no, not at all. It isn’t nice because it's actually above nice . It-it was amazing, way beyond expectations. Of course i'm ... not going to say that without preparing a reason before hand. *cough* Lets begin then.

Story : 9/10

(If you haven't, please read the synopsis above first then continue reading). Okay then, simply put, the story is about a god named Yato; his weapon,Yukine; and a schoolgirl which is a half phantom, Hiyori. There isn't anything complex about the story, though it could be described as a unique. The plot is great, well executed and also well paced, though it feels like it's rushed a bit at some point. But it seems that doesn't really affect the enjoyment since it's pretty much unnoticeable anyway. The individual elements of the story is also a surplus, for example the action. Action in this anime is a no joke at all. Battles are very fluid and isn't pointless no matter how you look at it. Please don't group this anime with those typical shounen action anime with battles in every episode throughout the anime from the beginning till the very end. I don't say this often, but the thoughts on my head while I was watching it was like, "really cool", "awesome", "amazing", "we want more, we want more". All the battles in this anime has a meaning and also a lot of emotions . Though, there aren't that many battles since it's not the sole main aspect of the story. Another element of the story that you'll be getting a lot if you're going to watch it is the relationship progress between the characters which spans until the last episode. And, although the anime doesn't have a comedy genre written in the information page, there are actually comedies in this anime and they're are really funny. There's also little a romance in it, but maybe too little.
Oh, maybe it's too a little too late to say this but the anime is dark themed. The main time of the anime seems to be evening till night. Also, sometimes the phantom are really scary with many creepy eyes in its dark body, creepy voice of multiple people saying a sentence together telling a certain someone to desperately commit suicide. That’s not a bad thing though.
After going through a lot of battles and conflicts with a lot of emotions, the ending was really satisfying. Maybe not that satisfying since it causes the anime to end and made a lot of people demanding more and more. :P But still, an ending is an ending, and i'm going to say this again ~it was really satisfying.

Characters : 8/10

Another great aspect that made this anime better and better is the characters. The characters in Noragami are all well rounded. The different types of personality of the three main characters was great. I'm sorry if I used too much good adjectives in this review since it's undeniable-ly(bad English of mine) great in many ways. Yato is strong, badass and looks pretty stupid, but he gets serious when something happens to Yukine or Hiyori. On the other hand, Yukine is a rebellious boy, something like a delinquent who isn't really grateful of Yato's decision of picking him as his sacred weapon. He gets ...*spoiler*. Then there’s Hiyori. A human who turns into a Half-Phantom because she tried to save Yato from getting hit by a bus, but made herself getting hit by it instead. Hiyori is a nice and cheerful girl who likes to tag along with Yato and Yukine’s godly activities. She can’t stand the idea of the the two getting hurt. Supporting casts are pretty good too, but i’m not going to go too deep into it. (Watch it by yourself okay?)

Art : 9/10

The first thing that popped in my head when watching the first episode was ‘Beautiful’. The studio responsible for this beautiful artwork and animation is Bones. If you haven’t heard about it, it’s the studio well-known for many great and popular shounen anime, like Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood, Darker than Black, Soul Eater, Eureka Seven and a much more. And... if you’re not familiar with any of those, I’ll tell you how it’s very pleasant for the eye. Fluid eye-catching battles, nice character design and, beautiful breathtaking backgrounds is what you’re going to get from Noragami. So, that’s how it got a 9/10(great) score from me.

Sound : 9/10

Really nice OP and ED. The OP is called Hello Sleepwalkers, which is a a rock themed song. The artist is a band named Hello Sleepwalkers and the name of the song is Goya no Machiawase. I don’t know about the band before and I just found out about it from watching Noragami, but hell it was really good. And, the ED is called Heart Realize by the famous group of musician in the anime industry, Supercell. The quality of the song is superb.
Voice acting are great too. Seiyuu’s voice really feels like it matched the characters’s personality. The background sounds also fits the atmosphere. I really like the battle’s background music which is really unique. Of course, sounds are undescribable by words so, please watch it by yourself to hear it.

Enjoyment : 10/10

Oh, those good times of waiting every week for a new episode. I enjoyed this anime fully with all of my heart. It get’s me anxious every time and I really want to know what’s going to happen next. There are some episodes that has a great comedy and made me laugh out loud, some that has great battles, some that has a lot of emotions and affects my emotions as well, and the last episode that made me say “please don’t end!”. Of course, I’ll be hoping for a second season since there are plenty of story material waiting to be animated, but I guess hoping to much could lead to bad day if it doesn't go your way. But overall I really enjoyed this series. 10 points from me :D.

Final Words

Noragami or ノラガミ is a great action-shounen anime that has a great story and not-pointless battles and also a little comedy. If you liked those genres, then without doubt, you’ll like Noragami even more. I highly recommended it to everyone looking for a great series to spend their time at.

Its really honestly a shame that this anime isn't more popular than it is. I find more and more its harder to get into action animes when you've watched so many that let your hopes down in the last two episodes. Nowadays, anime seem to either wow me to tears or bore me with uninteresting characters set in a plot that's way too cool for the likes of cardboard characters. Or your get anime that is just plain worthy of throwing to the depth of the internet where you could care less whether someone actually gives any shit about. Forgettable. Noragami for me wasn't any ... of those. Not even worthy of putting into the wow me to tears section. What this anime did for me was made me think - and that's why this anime, in my opinion, is definitely one of the best Ive ever seen this season.

To be totally frank, I'm not usually one for the typical shounen, and tend to like the dark more gritty animes. I usually watch these sort of shounen ones when I just can't find anything worthy of my tastes. But oh boy, was I glad to have picked up Noragami. This anime really sets in the terrifying mind set of being forgotten by all the people around you, and what one must to do be remembered and to feel wanted by those people. I found each time Yato struggled to maintain himself, through being remembered and worshiped, my heart would go out to him and I felt the pain of being lost and old and forgotten.

-I'm not going to rewrite a synopsis, so if you really want to know all the nitty gritty details, read it at the top-

The story revolves around God names Yato, his regalia and a half phantom, Hyori. I learned to love each and every character in this series - each having good character and executing realistic choices int he plot of this anime. The blend of Japanese folklore was very visually interesting, and I always seem to enjoy those types of anime with underlying subtexts and messages.

I tend to dislike when Main characters are treated badly by the rest of the cast, just because they seem to give off a weak or annoying sort of aura ( even if us viewers know how bad ass they really can be) So i was very cautious with Noragami. It seemed like everyone thought Yato, the protagonist, was your typical bum and purposefully exclude him for only that reason, even if he was a god. But that soon turned around, in about the second episode. Sure, they still liked to tease the protagonist about his habits and how poor and helpless he was - but there was still a sort of underlying respect that each character had for him, and they grew to cherish Yato. Hyori for example, explains her dislike and annoyance in yato, yet still respects him and wants to be with him. Hyori is a typical female lead, who can actually hold her own and has a decent personality. I have a thing with helpless female leads that pisses me off to no end, so seeing a female character, strong and willing like Hyori, is a breath of fresh air.

The art is stellar. I tend to be quite nitpicky with art and Noragami was outstanding. The character designs were realistic, clothing appropriate and animations amazing. The colours used for the fight scenes and phantom deaths made you want to stare at the sequence for hours, analyzing the design of the star that seemed to explode out whenever Yato killed a phantom. The phantoms themselves were drawn organically lovely - but still gave a sort of creep atmosphere. The blights and eyes were done marvelous, showing the disgusting of infection. The blue hue all over yato gave him a godly aura, yet he still looked human from the blend of his modern clothing. I could go on but I wont. Just that the art of this anime seemed to never cut loops and always keep me interested.

The OST is absolutely amazing, bringing in traditional Japanese music with a sort of modern rap and hip hop themes. The opening fits extremely well, though it changes three times throughout the series. I didn't mind it at all, and actually enjoyed seeing the variety. The ending was cute, not that memorable but I did actually watch the ending, which I never do so that's saying something. The music during the fight scenes was intense, and got you into the mood of traditional style, not unlike the Yato god himself. The music for the phantoms was down right creepy, and suited the atmosphere to a T. And finally the music played for yato's silliness... was down right hilarious. The funky off tones of the beat made me giggle every time even if the situation wasn't that funny.

Yato in particular is a very interesting character to follow. Development wise, he didn't really change much outwardly form what originally saw. I would almost call it a sort of backwards character development, because we got to see how he developed into the Yato god he is now. Throughout the anime I found myself gaining respect for the god, seeing his struggle and triumphs. He mirrored it through Yukine, his regalia. Yukine had the most character development in this anime. We see him rise, to fall, to slowly rise back again. His personality was bitchy, yes, but with good reason. Characters who lash out for no reason, and all the cast seem to be okay with it is just plain bad writing, but Noragami gives Yukine a damn good reason for it and has the characters react to it positively, because of particular a reason as well. Forget about a hollow anime, this one actually bothered to give good, concrete reasons for a melt down, which I find animes recently have been lacking severely. The interaction between Yato's extravagant character and Yukine's major attitude was very interesting to see. Both grew closer together throughout the anime making me yearn for more scenes of Yato and Yukine interacting.

This anime gives a perfects blend of action, comedy, supernatural and mystery that will have you itching for more every episode. The anime is well spaced, even though it diverges slightly at the end from the manga (if you bothered to read it) - but still keeps it fresh and fulfilling. I would recommend this anime to anybody, and hope you enjoy it as much as I did - this anime will always have a special place in my heart.

Five yen is all it takes to get your wish granted. (If only that were true).

Noragami is a series that I really enjoyed and felt good watching. The saddest part being the fact that it only had 11 episodes and honestly deserves a lot more. I am left hoping for a sequel that I am certain will not disappoint.

TL;DR

Story: 6/10
Art: 7/10
Sound: 9/10
Character: 8/10
... Enjoyment: 9/10
Overall: 8/10

Good points:
+Very good male and female protagonists
+Diverse range of character personalities
+Comic humour
+Touching, romantic scenes
+Good actions sequences where it counts
+Great OP and ED themes

Bad points:
-Lack of overarching conflict
-Underwhelming antagonists

You will love this anime if you love:
1. Cute scenes that makes you feel like this --> :3
2. Shounen action sequences
3. Cut-the-long-story short romance (like seriously, enough of those long monologues, romance should be short and sweet)
4. Swordfighting/Slashing YEAH!
5. Comic humour

Story: 6/10

Noragami is split into three main arcs. The first being an introductory arc which tells you all about the 3 main characters, Yato, Yukine and Hiyori and how they came to meet, the second arc being the main conflict with Yukine's corruption and the third arc (lasting only 3 episodes) being the final battle against Rabo, the killer god of calamity.

The first arc is full of comedy and funny parts thanks to Yato's very lively and exaggerated personality, Hiyori's kick-ass moves and Yukine's cute reactions. The three share a chemistry that would make anyone comfortable watching through all of it, even if there isn't much of a plot line. All we have is the trio doing odd jobs and trying to earn money to build a shrine (+1)

The second arc is where the first main conflict kicks in, where Yato and Yukine's life is threatened through "corruption" of Yukine's soul. Yukine becomes stubborn and violent and ends up blighting Yato so much that Yato nearly dies. Yato however, refuses to give up Yukine or punish him, and instead sacrifices himself in order to show Yukine his sins. The plot line is quite gripping, so I'm giving full points for it (+3).

The third arc is where Yato faces off with his long-time old partner Rabo, who is still clinging on to the wicked wishes of people. Yato, however, has changed and shows Rabo who's boss in a very action-packed sequence. The main inconsistency though is how Yato kept on saying that Yukine "might die" against Rabo's power, but clearly, even when Rabo absorbed all the Phantoms for power, Yukine was nowhere near dying, and Yato was essentially still going strong. I thought that Rabo was generally underwhelming near the end and had little or no plan at all against Yato. Doesn't he know how strong Yato can actually be? He ended up saying "I actually wanted to die, btw", and I was like... uhh ok. Meh. (+2)

So altogether, there were only 2 main plot lines, but they were quite okay independently. There was no overarching conflict, although the anime does hint to a second season because of the mysterious Nora that we still don't know much about.

Art: 7/10

I thought that art was clean and smooth. I didn't like the way the phantoms were being drawn though. The shapes and sizes of the phantoms were also really random, and incidentally just resembled about anything the artist thought about (frogs, stingrays, snakes, crabs) basically based off random animals in general. But everything else was nice, especially the animation of Sekki which I was totally hooked to, as well as the abilities of all the other Regalias as well.

Sound: 9/10

Sound for the anime was definitely top-notch. I loved both the OP and ED themes, and the back ground music for both the touching scenes and action scenes were really good. It never bore me at all, so it was a job well done.

Character: 8/10

It's only a 11 episode anime so I can't ask for much, but I thought that character development fleshed out definitely could be improved. Only Yato's past and backstory was even touched upon, but that was interesting enough to keep me watching. I wished they had put more backstory to Yukine though, maybe what Yukine was like when he was still alive? There was, however, a lot of character growth in Yukine, so I think that makes up for all the lack of backstory that he had. (+3)

Though Yato is my favourite characters (just because he can hack N slash), I want to specially mention Hiyori as well. She's generous, kind, full of love and compassion and understanding. She makes sacrifices, shows appreciation, gives hope and is just this stable rock that completely compliments Yato. I think Hiyori is an excellent female lead in this anime and she NEVER felt annoying like so many other female characters that I come across. She can also kick ass, so that's why she's awesome. (+2)

The other supporting characters were also very interesting. We have the Bishamon team, the Kufuku duo and the "Tenjin and his concubines", all of whom really help with the whole comic element to the anime. The character personalities are very diverse and interesting, and definitely a pull factor for this anime. (+2)

As for the antagonists, Rabo was interesting at first, but honestly he became very shallow toward the end. Only Nora was a point of interest in the entire anime, but she also didn't do much but tempt Yato to use her. Although the anime never really explained why Yato didn't want to use her, as if using a Nora would corrupt his soul or something, but this is something that I am assuming.

Still, I thought that the character interactions and relationships were very well crafted. This was one of the few animes where I actually LOVED the main characters for who they are and felt a sense of emotional attachment to them just because of that bubbly feeling inside. Aww. Especially all the cute face rubbing and general cuteness of all the characters. :3 (+1)

Enjoyment: 9/10

The comic element to this anime is really good. And I love it because it doesn't even pride itself as a "comedy" genre, but it made me laugh a lot more than other comedy animes that I've watched, just because of the really good characters and solid slapstick. One particularly funny part was when Yato was flying downwards and talking to a guy who was falling off a the top of a roof for like 5 minutes and Yukine was like, "Hmm this seems like a really long fall, dont'cha think?" (+3)

Other funny parts include almost every interaction with the Kufuku duo and every time Yukine gets into a rather awkward position with Hiyori. (oh yes and Hiyori falcon kicking everyone in her way). The anime also got me very excited across each episode, and I honestly didn't want to stop until I reached the end. It wasn't that it was very suspenseful, but that it was very engaging and I knew that it would not disappoint my taste time and time again. (+3)

There was not a single time when I felt bored watching this anime, and I think that's a plus point. The pacing was just right. Not too fast and not too slow, they really emphasized on the parts that made you feel for the characters. (+2)

I particularly loved the Sekki activation scenes, it just gets me every time. (+1)

Overall: 8/10

A very good job well done to the creators of this anime. I think it was ALOT of potential to be honest. Now that all the main characters are fleshed out, all they need to do is develop them even further, expand to the rest of the supporting cast, dump all of them into a convincing plot narrative/conflict and you will get an amazing sequel.

The perfect balance of spiritual conflict and slice of life comedy.

Story - 8/10 Noragami is another installation of a trend of recent series that are trying to incorporate youkai battle plots with a light hearted slice of life/comedy/romance element, and surprisingly Noragami is able to pull it off. Without giving away any spoilers, the story is quite unique because it is able to find a great balance between series scenes and funny moments. The drama and action are enough to keep you enticed, and the RomCom isn't so overbearing that the side stories take away from the main plot. The only part of the story ... I didn't care for was Yukine's arc. I thought it was a bit too dramatic and lasted too long, but if you can get over his annoying immaturity for a few episodes the rest of the series is great.

Art- 8/10 the artwork of Noragami is pretty good, with a unique op and closing to boot. The fighting scenes aren't over done, the scenery has great detail, and all the characters have unique characteristics compared to the typical anime types.

Character -10/10 The best part of Noragami is the characters, literally the only one that wasn't a 10/10 was Yukine. However, I realize he had to have more drastic development than other characters so I'm still giving this section a 10/10

Enjoyment/Overall - 8/10 overall I thought Noragami was a great series, and has a lot to offer everyone. It is funny, exciting, and heartfelt at times without having too many filler episodes. My only complaints are the distribution of episodes to certain arcs, and the fact that the series itself is only 12 episodes. I feel that if it had been given 25 or so, there would have been more time for better plot development and the ending wouldn't have felt so rushed. But alas 12 is all we get, and I would recommend this series to anyone, and especially those who like sword play and spiritual world genres.

So, I think it's important to write a review on this, since I may have a perspective that a lot of people don't really have on this one.

Noragami is about Yato, a minor god of calamity who can't get a shrine of his own, and is kind of a bum, who lives with other gods. He also can't seem to keep a servant spirit, because they all run off because he's too poor, and they want a higher lifestyle. Enter Hiyori, a girl who has an accident that causes her to slip in and out of astral travel. This is very dangerous for her, and ... so she ends up befriending Yato who promises to find a way to save her. Along the way Yato battles lots of demon monsters who are corrupted spirits.

To many people, Noragami is just another shonen. Battles and action sequences, and some light comedy. And to many people that's all it will be.

But at it's core, Noragami is a spiritual piece. It contains elements of Buddhist (and Shinto) teachings that make up the core of this anime.

The main premise of this anime is all about the Buddhist concept of Karma, and Sange. Sange is the act of making spiritual contrition: being freed from the burdens of one's mistakes, and harmful acts, by truly being sorry and remorseful.

Noragami, is at it's core, a story about people who do willful, harmful behavior, and then when the karmic burden becomes too great, realize the error of their ways, and truly and sincerely redeem themselves.

It's an extremely powerful, and deep story in that sense. For many people, they won't get that, they will see gods, and demons, and spirits, and ghosts, and a girl who does astral travel, and think it's all about battles, and another shonen. People have even oddly compared it to Hataraku Maou-sama! (the Devil is a part-timer!) simply because Yato has a part time job. But it's while there are some similarities in the comedy aspects, in Noragami, Yato's "job" aspect truly is a very minor, almost glossed over aspect of the story, and the anime itself is about much deeper concepts.

Noragami has a lot of different elements in it. If all you want is action and battles, hey, it has that, and enough to keep you entertained. If you want romance, it has bits of that too. And if you want character development it's loaded with that.

But if you want something deeper, there is an extremely deep spiritual element too. And that, to me is really the heart of Noragami. All else is just window dressings to provide entertainment. But it's the spiritual development of the characters, and the overall deep spiritual meanings that make this one special.

Up until today, i've never heard of Noragami. It is relatively new but if my friend haden't asked me to watch this with him i probably wouldn't have seen it for a while. That being said i'm glad i took a couple hours of my time to watch the whole first season in one night. I didn't think much of it at first, it looked cool but I personally didn't think it was going to be anything special. This show surprised me ALOT, this a great anime with very little flaws.

Story (9). The story is great, I love how it took time to develop ... the characters and relationships without sacrificing action or excitement. The drama between the characters worked good as well very rarely being boring. In the first few episodes I thought the show was going to go one way, and it evolved a great deal molding into a fantastic plot without holes. The story picks up quickly as well, getting right to the point in the first episode and then continuing from there. There are no major plot twists, but there are alot of unexpected actions that happen causing my interest to grow. The story takes time to develop the character relationships and still have a central plot point, then in the last few episodes it introduces the main antagonist. At first glance this wouldn't really work well, but when you see the drama between characters you understand why it was structured like this and you see how it actually works. Each episode isn't just about the drama though, episodes typically have excitement and an obstacle for the characters to overcome while progressing the story simultaneously.

Animation (10). Oh lord, this animation was spot on perfect, bones did a fantastic job making the show look gorgeous. All the characters have vibrant colors and unique and pretty designs. The environments look good and clean as well. The CGI effects aren't overused at all and look perfect where ever they're placed. Water and rain effects look fantastic and blend really well with the overall animation. This is a very colorful series, having unique and bright but real looking characters and creatures. The Phantom creatures look bright and beautiful, very unique as well. The action scene choreography is done perfectly and looks very smooth and fluent. Overall the animation is spot on perfect, everything is pretty and interesting to look at while not being over done.

Sounds (9). This really goes without saying, the sounds are all crisp clean and very interesting in the case of characters using special powers or other supernatural creatures as well. The soundtrack works very well too, the music binds perfectly with fight scenes and doesn't eclipse the action. The intro and outro songs are very good as well, nothing amazing but they set the tone well and I didn't mind listening to it every episode.


Characters (8). The main characters, Yato, Hiyori, and yukine all worked very well and served as great protagonists. Yato is a very likable guy and is humorous as well. He is also a badass and shows that he truly cares for his friends. Hiyori is very good as well, her voice acting performance was great and she brought alot of emotion and depth to the show. Yukine came off initially as annoying, then he grew on me and by the end I liked him alot. This show does a great job at making you care about all three main characters and being concerned about what happens to them. Another thing the show does well involves the antagonists. Being introduced late in the series normally it would feel like they're shoehorned in. In the few episodes they were there they actually made great villains with a decent back story. They really gave Yato a struggle and the show does a good job at making you hate them. The supporting characters were very good as well, they didn't eclipse the main cast but at the same time they all had great unique personalities and brought a great presence to the show. They all got equal screen time for the most part and they had some funny, intense and subtle moments. It doesn't overcrowd you with a shit ton of supporting cast it nails just the right amount. The show also does a great job at developing the relationship between the main characters, they all have really good chemistry and you really get the sense that they're friends. The relationships evolve and change as well and it's very interesting to see unfold.

I just really liked this anime, it surprised me alot and i was glad with the results. The story had good closure as well and had a good subtle ending. It also gave me excitement for the next season. This show is light hearted and funny but at the same time carries a decent amount of emotion and action at the same time. I wouldn't say it mixes the action and comedy but it does a great job at distinguishing it and at the same time binding it together. The episode endings didn't leave me demanding more but i was very interested with the story.

I highly recommend this show i enjoyed it alot and it was very solid all the way through, if you liked my long review (I'm sorry) please give it a thumbs up (:

I had heard great things about this anime so I decided to give it a shot. I went in with an open mind. Overall I thought the anime was well done but not without it's flaws.

Story: I've mentioned in a previous review the Action/Romance genre dilemma. Basically you get one or the other, rarely both, sometimes none. I feel like both story elements (action and romance) could have been done better. What this anime does have in large quantities is anime-style slapstick comedy.

Action: Most of the action (really until the last episode) is very boring. The main enemies for most of the series are ... glowing, psychedelic lobsters/crabs/frogs called "phantoms". They are poorly drawn and are in no way intimidating or scary. They really serve no purpose other than to pop up and serve as target practice for Yato. To make matters worse, they insist on having Yato recite the same 3-4 line speech before he executes a sword slash (btw, 1 hit kills these phantoms) before cutting to a prolonged death sequence for the phantom. It feels like filler. Two things save the action aspect anime. First there are other struggles besides slaying these mindless drones. These other struggles are interesting but will easily bore someone who wants Attack on Titan or Darker Than Black fight scenes. The second thing the fight at the end. I won't spoil anything but it's actually pretty good and I wish they hadn't waited till the end to introduce it. If they got rid of the giant floating creatures and replaced it with God fights this anime would have rocked.

Romance: The other side to the coin is the romance angle. To be honest, this anime forgot that it was only 12 episodes long. The pacing made Hiyori seem clingy and Yato seem completely aloof until about 3/4 through the season. My biggest problem though comes back to the 12 episode limit. It's really hard to make two characters bond in that amount of time, especially when there is no mutual struggle to bring them together. Basically Hiyori lives a normal life as a student and Yato tries to earn money. No Death game, no Invasion, no Titans. What saved this series is the possibility of a second season and more character development.

Sound: Those fucking Phantoms. It's like they lifted the voices from Star Wars and borrowed Jabba the Hut's voice and layered it with a Jawa's. It's really awful. They F'd up the phantoms. I was also very plus minus on their sound track. The action sequences use this industrial/electronic theme that's unique but imo not too pleasing on the ears.

Art: It's Bones so the quality is pretty good. When I said the Phantoms were poorly drawn it wasn't from lack of skill, it was the creature design and style. Maybe it's just me but they looked super silly.

Overall: I kept an open mind and, despite my complaints, I actually wasn't too disappointed. This is a 12 episode PG-13 anime and it entertained me.

Bones and a supernatural shounen? This just might be amazing...

Unlike previous works of Bones that may prompt one to think of the magical works of Fullmetal Alchemist or Zetsuen no Tempest, the concept of Noragami is rather peculiar; it takes the concept of deities and the supernatural, and places it in a shounen atmosphere. Such concepts have nevertheless been done many times before, however, Noragami takes a strange twist on it. Yato is a rather poor god (being a newcomer), and in order obtain respect and fame he must earn it through favors. On his path to fame, he encounters Hiyori Iki, a seemingly random ... schoolgirl. Hiyori notices Yato in danger (he isn't usually noticed) and "pushes him out of the way of a speeding bus; unaware of his status as deity." This ultimately causes Hiyori to become a "half-phantom" and thus becomes a major driving factor for the plot in the series. Unfortunately, Noragami (in this aspect) lacks strong plot and premise. There are many inconsistencies that seem to arrive, and many questions unanswered. For example, why was it possible that Hiyori could see Yato in episode 1? The anime itself makes a rather ridiculous example of how deities and phantoms from the "far shore" are unnoticable, and later it becomes a huge plot device. Such holes continue when one considers the lack of proper backstory of many side-characters, such as the later revealed incidents with Bishamon, Nora, or even Kazuma. Without a proper amount of content, one has to question their true relevence aside from being plot devices or canon fodder. Unfortunately, Noragami totals at a whopping 12 episodes, so there isn't much time to provide for such things. Luckily, Noragami doesn't take up the challenge of compressing so much into a miniscule amount of episodes, as seen many times before by previous failures.

The primary focus of Noragami seems to be the characterization of Yato's trio of: himself, Hiyori and Yukine. Because of this, the pacing of the story seems to be quite slow, and one could easily get lost at the shift of plot's goal. The whole thing does seem a bit messy; however, Noragami does manage to maintain great characterization. The driving factor of this anime seems to be Yukine, a wandering spirit who still has regrets from when he was still alive. This is (more-or-less) due to the fact that he died while still young. Upon reunion with the world, his "regret" is slowly shaped into "jealousy," and as a spirit, these emotions do not come cheap. These concepts of his "regrets," and the "punishments" regarding them really starts to ameliorate the plot; Yato is left with the trial to properly discipline Yukine, while concurrently trying to maintain his own ideals and respect. From this point on, the series itself takes quite a bit of an emotional turn, and the darker pasts and truths of the characters are revealed. Noragami does a great job with the aspect of "regret," and utilizes the supernatural aspect of the anime to further the emotional progression. Unfortunately, Hiyori herself doesn't develop into a substantial character, but fills the role of both an inspiration to the others and an essential advocate.

Whether Bones has done a good job with the animation is quite important, as Noragami is (despite the lack of emphasis of it) an action anime. Ultimately, it seems like Bones really delievered quality content. A good representation of how this is portrayed is shown in the first few minutes of Noragami. A girl named Matsumi is seemingly being attacked (quite reminiscient of schizophrenia), and Yato descends as she pleads help from the gods. Yato slays a rather menacing looking phantom by a means of many flashy jumps and slices. The animation in this scene in particular is very much like many of the other battle scenes in the anime. It's done quite well, and very much gives an impression of a typical shounen with many action scenes. Noragami also suppplies an array of impressive swordsmanship shown throughout the series, delivering what many who were interested in Noragami came to see. Unfortunately, Noragami isn't entirely action, as it seems to be a minor aspect of the series. Most of the anime scenes fail to live up to a continuing expectation of colorful looking phantoms and artsy buildings as seen in the opening. It should also be noted that the consistency isn't regarded too highly in terms of animation, but it's honestly hard to complain when Noragami was produced in 2014.

Regarding the opening, the selection of music was quite appropriate throughout the series. After an introduction of various closeups and 3D gimmicks, Yato is seen around a rather surreal city while "Goya no Machiawase" plays, a J-rock song that seems to maintain the mood of a typical shounen. The ED in particular, "Heart Realize," a standard J-pop song, captures a much more realistic mood of Noragami; Hiyori is seen searching for Yato and Yukine with an umbrella in a rather frigid, yet exciting atomsphere. Supercell in particular did a nice job of introducing Tia, a young Nico Nico singer. Her voice needs more exposure to the anime industry, as with Noragami, I am now a fan of hers.

The voice acting, in retrospect, is quite conventional. Yato is voiced by Hiroshi Kamiya, a very credible voice actor who won best "Best Lead Actor" and "Best Personality" at the Third Seiyuu Awards. Many viewers may be familiar with his work in Attack on Titan as Levi. The other seiyuus can be held into equal respects, as Maaya Uchida, who acts as Hiyori, won Best New Actress Award in the 8th Seiyu Awards. I'm quite impressed by the voice actors' level of ability, as the amount of emotion needed is essential for success. Without the proper voice acting, it wouldn't be proper to call Noragami a "tear-jerker," while it certainly does hold the title. Unfortunately, the voice acting can only do so much for the series.

Noragami is an anime that had some mediocre plot points, but shapened it up with its great production and characterization. Its pacing is slow, but correct, as it manages to slip in its high points. It's a bit unfortunate that Noragami received only twelve episodes; it could have easily become something special in the anime industry.

Noragami is a supernatural action series with a hint of romance produced by Studio Bones. Along with Shinichiro Watanabe’s Space Dandy, Noragami signaled the current wave of productivity from the studio in 2014, after a slump of low productivity and shows with lukewarm reception which lasted a few years. While not all the shows in this new wave are gems (or even good), Noragami is a keeper. Though it does stick rigidly close to genre conventions, the show casts a wide range of appeal, and effectively hits every one of its targets. It is frequently funny, continuously engaging, and on rare occasion even a little ... creepy. Most importantly, however, Noragami has a lot of heart.

The story begins when Hiyori, a kind-hearted teenage girl, starts having out of body experiences and meets a down on his luck god named Yato. Where most gods have shrines or attendants, Yato goes around doing odd jobs as a ‘delivery god’ charging 5 yen for his services. Hiyori requests Yato to find a way to stop her out of body experiences, Yato agrees but says it will be an extended task and will take some time. In the meantime, Hiyori gets drawn further into the world of spirits and gods as she joins Yato and his newly acquired and rebellious Shinki (spirit servant/assistant for lack of better term), Yukine, on their various assignments. All the while, Yato’s dark past is slowly catching up with him.

Noragami is a nicely paced, well-rounded show. It deftly switches between action, drama, and comedy on a regular basis, and does a remarkable job keeping the tone consistent even as it shuffles back and forth. The somewhat episodic nature of the show works well to frame the world in which the story takes place, while giving the cast a plenty of time to develop, and allowing the main plotline to slowly reveal itself over the course of the series. The dialogue hits just the right balance of exposition and character interaction, allowing for explanations which further develop this world and how it works, while never really feeling tedious or dry. Dramatic and comedic moments flow naturally, giving a very good sense of who these characters are and how they interact with one another. Even when the show delves into darker material, it usually does not come across as jarring or unnatural, although sometimes a bit forceful and melodramatic. Really, the execution of the plot and all its elements is quite exceptional.

The strong execution here is very important because the plot, and even characters, in Noragami aren’t anything particularly special on paper. Sure, its world of gods and spirits which exists side-by-side with the world we know is well developed, but it is hardly an original concept. In fact, the setting is one of the most commonly used in the medium of anime; recent shows like Beyond the Boundary and Kami-sama Kiss feature similar settings, and really, they’re only the tip of the iceberg. Having a character such as Hiyori go down the rabbit hole, metaphorically speaking, and entering a world that she is not familiar with is hardly a fresh idea. Neither is Yato’s goofball with a dark past backstory, or half a dozen other plot elements in the show. And yet, the material somehow shines in spite of this. The skillful yet sincere storytelling makes the plot intriguing and emotionally engaging, keeping the viewership invested in the characters and various plotlines even though it is essentially material we’ve seen multiple times before.

Most instrumental to the show’s success is the chemistry between the three leads. Hiyori is a bright, compassionate, and friendly young lady. She’s naïve and unknowledgeable of the mystical world, yet she’s proactive and responsible, always trying to help and understand those around her. In stark contrast is Yato, who seems to be purposely negligent and irresponsible. He’s laidback and only occasionally takes things truly serious, despite his aspiration of being a famous and widely worshiped diety. Unlike Hiyori, Yato can be apathetic to those around him and lets things run their course, even if they lead to disastrous ends. Completing the trinity is Yukine, the confused and defiant spirit of a young teenage boy. Having died at a young age, Yukine is constantly dissatisfied with his situation, and hardly heed the advice and warnings of those around him. He’s also envious of those who have things he does not and cannot have, namely a normal teenage life and friends. These three very different individuals form a makeshift family which is the emotional core of the show. They argue and hurt one another, they console and comfort each other, they have awkward misunderstandings and share laughs. Despite all coming from varied backgrounds and having clashing personalities, there is a genuine connection between the three, one which can sometimes bring them pain, but other times bring them a sense of comfort and acceptance. It’s a connection that is formed through odd circumstances, but one that runs deeper than it might originally appear, and one that the three depend on as the series progresses. The threat of this connection being broken is what makes the antagonists so menacing, and the main plotline so rewarding, even though it is built on a cluster of overused tropes.

Noragami is produced by the prolific Studio Bones, and as such, the show looks expectedly stellar for the most part. The character designs have a bi-shounen/bi-shoujo flavor to them, but thankfully have the best aspects of such designs. They’re attractive and expressive designs, and each character has their own distinct body language. The animation is quite good majority of the time, especially during action sequences. There are a few noticeable technical hic-ups and budget restrictions, but overall it is a very good looking show. It sounds just as nice, with well composed music which is implemented effectively. It’s not a soundtrack that is going to stick in your memory or be considered one of the all-time greats, but it supports the show’s content as all good soundtracks should. Likewise, the voice work from the Seiyuu is solid across the board. There isn’t really a performance that stands out as great, but it is an admirable ensemble effort.

What Noragami lacks in creativity and originality, it makes up in execution. This is director Koutarou Tamura’s first stab at a full-length TV series, having only directed individual episodes or served as assistant director in various project previously, and it is quite an admirable one. It is clear that the staff behind this project cared about producing a quality work, and they succeeded in doing so. Noragami won’t go down in history as a game-changer or anything of the sort, but as it stands, it is a great genre piece.

So back in January of this year, Noragami was one series I was really looking forward to. Sadly I only got to watch the first few episodes before having to turn off my internet and prepare for moving; and even after said move I only got around to watching it recently. Now since this series is adapted by a monthly manga series, I decided to read the manga portion that was covered in this anime and give my thoughts on it then. I honestly don't like comparing two forms of a series side by side, because I do believe that each one is a different ... experience for the reader/viewer, but it is really just a force of habit by now I think.

The story for this anime can be split into 3 parts (4 if you count the ova); the first part focuses on the first few episodes, introducing the main characters Yato, Hiyori, Yukine and the a few of the supporting cast to make reoccurring appearances throughout. The second part, personally I feel being the strongest of the series, focuses on Yato and Yukine's relationship, hints at their individual pasts and ultimately solidifies the bond between them and Hiyori. And the third part being an original ending not pertaining to the manga itself but once again drives home the message of keeping those you care about close and always thinking of their best interest. Unfortunately, the fact that this is only a 12 episode series means that a lot of loose ends aren't dealt with and left up in the air; the whole explanation of Yato's past and Yukine's death, the state of Hiyori's body and a few other things that I won't mention for spoiler reasons. The story does however accomplish making you love the relationship between the three protagonists which is still pretty good I would say.

Probably the biggest draw for ANYONE to this series would be the animation and music! The characters move and act very fluid and the scenery and action sequences are just eye-candy galore. The OP, ED and OST are all great to listen to and set the mood of each episode almost perfectly. The show also has a TON of well known voice actors; Kamiya Hiroshi, Yuuki Kaji, Jun Fukuyama and Miyuki Sawashiro just to name a few.

Adapting the characters from the original story is where I have mixed feelings. For starters I would say that they made Yato and Yukine both more likable compared to the how they are portrayed in the manga; Yato is just more funny and isn't trying too hard to be the 'strong, mysterious-type' while Yukine is shown to have more of a kinder side compared to just being a 'shitty brat' when first introduced in the manga. That said though my main problem comes from the lack of depth into characters pasts and what their goals and drive are. Again, this is the fault of only being 12 episode long so I can understand that, but I feel for anime only viewers who don't read manga could very easily be left feeling unsatisfied.

My final 'verdict' is, I REALLY like this series; Anime AND Manga together. Like I said before there are a few problems story wise and if someone wants the whole thing wrapped up nice and neat in only 12 episodes then that someone will be disappointed. But is someone just wants an interesting series with supernatural setting, funny and amusing characters, well animated action sequences and a potential interest in a new manga afterwards than I would recommend this one to you. These are just my thoughts and if anyone feels like giving any feed back feel free to comment on my profile; I would greatly appreciate it.

Everyone's been in situations where someone asks them "How are you?", and you reply with "Fine", when what you're really feeling is far from fine. Noragami works in very much the same way, it comes off as a very cheery show, but holds so much more emotion behind what it shows at first glance.

The story is nothing special; an unknown God called Yato tries to gain recognition by answering the prayers and calls for help from people. Things happen to Yato and people around him that branch from that, which would be fine usually, but nearly everything that does happen to him and his friends ... arises from something from Yato's past, which is never even explained. It doesn't flow very well, but at least it is entertaining.

The art style is very nice to look at, with character designs unique and animation that flows. It is very reminiscent of Bleach in fact, having the backdrop of a city/town, where Phantoms (Hollows) reek havoc on the town at nighttime, and Yato and fellow God's fight them. The fights aren't ever anything original, but they do look nice for sure.

The OP and ED are both very good. It's rare that I won't skip through an OP and end the video before the ED, but Noragami got me to sit through them, which is pretty impressive. The music throughout the show is something I've not experienced before... It's just so strange... With automated singers against very new-world synths, I can't say I always enjoyed it, but it was at least it's own style, and something Noragami will be remembered for.

The character's are what make this show so good, and if it weren't for their development throughout the show, I'd have dropped it easily; disregarding it as another generic action/comedy. I don't know how they managed to fit such intricate stories to Yato and Yukine, but you really do feel for them when things get dire. Hiyorin (the damsel in distress) isn't as fleshed out as the boys, but with another season, I'm sure she'd get her own spotlight.

I really enjoyed Noragami; it's simply a lot of fun to watch. It has a great combination of comedy, action, story, packed with great visuals and a unique soundtrack. The only thing I have to say that dissapointed me was the plot and the 12 episode length. Another season with a plot that had more focus would really help this show become top-notch. Either way, this is worth your time whether you want a comedy show, an action show or an emotional ride, because Noragami fits into every category.

Noragami. What a stellar season it has been. After watching 12 episodes of this mindblowing anime, i can say it is one of the best of 2014 Winter anime.

At first, when you read the synopsis, you would probably think this. Yea, its one those demon or phantom/ god anime where they try to kill each other or this anime seems almost like a copy of Soul Eater. Well, Noragami takes that idea and throws it in the trash. Noragami's plot is very intriguing and really interested me.Being a huge fan a supernatural or superpower animes, Norgami gives everything a superpower anime fan wants. Tons of ... action balanced with funny and serious moments. Not only do they pace the anime very well (considering that this is a 12 ep anime) they also balance out the romance and comedy to the point where one does not completely overwhelm each other.If you are looking for a very well placed and interesting plot, then give this anime a shot.

As for artwork, i can say that Noragami had superb artwork. Of course, being in the 2014 season, its not a surprise. But I can say that i really enjoyed the fight scenes being animated, especially towards the end. Each episode had no drop in the quality of animation and art is one of the strongest departments in this anime. As for sound, theres not really much to tell besides the fact that they had awesome OP and ED along with excellent voice acting.

As for character, i believe this is the best, if not, the ultimate reason why Noragami lives up to its potential. Each character is very likable with thier own special personalities. I'm actually impressed with the writers because they managed to dish out character transformation in such a little amount of episodes. For example, without trying to reveal spoilers, each character had some sort of insecurity or past that they did not like, but then thanks to friends, they overcome these insecurities and learn from them.

Overall, I really enjoyed Norgami as whole. Its satisfied everything that I enjoy watching as an average anime watching lover. If you enjoyed reading this review, give a thumbs up and feedback is always appreciated!

I had heard about the rave hype from social blogging sites and was curious to check out this anime myself, and so I did. Although the run was very enjoyable and fun-filled, I was left with the same feeling when I began the series to when I finished it.

Story: 5/10
Although the interaction between other characters and learning more about the Shinto belief was interesting, there is no over arching climax or exposition throughout the anime. There may be instances of character development, but that's about it that the anime (at this point) seems to provide. However, I really want to stress that the story gets ... better and starts to pick up where the anime ended, so basing the overall story on the anime is too quick to judge. After finishing the anime, I was immediately hooked and motivated to read the rest and I was glad I did! The story got so interesting that I can't wait for a new chapter and second season to come out soon!

Art: 8/10
I'm actually quite amazed by the art. The action scenes are filled with fluidity which greatly appeals to me, and I've also taken time to observe the backdrops/backgrounds which the production seems to add a lot of intricate detail to. I'm very fond of the mangaka's style also.

Sound: 7/10
Although there are some tracks that stand out than others such as 'Conversation Heart' (one of my favorites tracks from the OST), the rest are pretty mediocre at best. It does help paint the atmosphere for the viewer, which I believe the production did a pretty good job at.

Character: 9/10
I must stress in all sorts of storytelling from novels, to television shows, and to even anime/manga: strong characters are able to carry a weak plot, but weak characters are unable to carry a strong plot. In the case of Noragami, what I believe truly kept viewers going and what carried the story till the end were the characters. Not only does Yato serve as a comic relief in the anime, he is also displayed with a range of dynamics that make his character very interesting than other protagonists, the same can be said about Yukine. Although I couldn't really stand Hiyori at first because she seemed very Mary Sue-ish, I knew I had to bear with it because she served as a major character within the anime. I was very interested in the characters that I had often forgotten about the plot of the anime at times. Even though the story was bit subtle, the character development of both Yukine and Yato caught my attention the most. I was so interested and involved in their development, it helped to connect with them.

Overall, 9/10. It was a fun watch and I hope to see a second season soon because it was very interesting. After reading the manga, I'm sure more people will definitely appreciate it more than they do now, and a second season will definitely increase its viewings. I really recommend to those who have rated the anime poorly to read the manga. The manga elaborates more on the plot and the story begins to pick up after the anime. Although the pacing may be a little sputtered at times, the plot is very interesting. Not only does the story pick up, but it also begins to explain things such as Yato's past, more history/lore pertaining to Regalias and Ayakashi. All in all, if you weren't satisfied with just the anime, I really recommend reading the manga up-to-date.

Noragami.
To put it simply, Noragami is a story about a jobless, jersey wearing self-proclaimed god named Yato.

Story: 7
Noragami is a simple story that revolves around Yato, a self-proclaimed god that dreamed to have million followers and dozen shrine spread all across the country and to fulfill that dream, He is willing to grant any wish that people gives to him.
Noragami didn't cover much material from the manga in this first season, In this season, the story pretty much introduced the existence of God, Human, Divine Instrument and Evil Spirit and focused on Divine Instrument which is a former human..

Art : 8.
The art of this anime ... is similar if not the same with the Manga which is a good thing, because the manga had a good Character design and drawing style.
The animation was pretty much solid, based Bones of course.
but, since the original material itself didn't had any flashy movement, It's hard to say that the anime had pretty Amazing animation.
The only time when I found that the animation was amazing is near the end at Rabo Arc which is anime original.

Sound: 8.
With Hiroshi Kamiya as Yato and Yuki Kajii as Yukkine, this series had a pretty solid cast of voice actor, It does increase the enjoyment of the viewers because most of the cast fit perfectly with the character.
The soundtrack had a pretty unique touch in it that rarely found in any other anime and some of it stands out even more from the rest of it.
And the ending song of this series is one of the best ending song in my opinion, I could listen to it all day long.

Character: 7
Noragami didn't had a big cast of character, their character vary but I can't call them colorful, since most of them share the same trait which is 'comical', though being comical in itself is not that bad (at least for me).
To be honest, due to the very little material that this anime adapt, we didn't get that much development to the character, we just a get a little hindsight about each character past here and there without any deep exploration in it.

Enjoyment: 8
Simple Story, good animation and art and a catchy soundtrack, the enjoyment I got from watching this anime is pretty high, the comedy was hilarious and spot on, the plot is quite straight forward and fast paced, a good action here and there, and No overdramatized drama.

Overall : 8
It's truly a series worth a shot If you're a fans of Supernatural anime with a good action and comedy.

Whenever I decide on an anime to watch, there are a few things I take into consideration. Sometimes it depends on my mood, sometimes I want to check out a show that has been reveled by the general populous to be good, or sometimes it is based off of the show I watched previously. Based on all of those things, a certain show called Noragami popped into mind. I needed a fun, exciting action anime to free myself up from all the romance/SoL stuff I have been watching lately. In this regard, it succeeded, but this is only a small part of what makes up ... Noragami, whether it be good or bad.

The thing that struck me right away when watching Noragami was it's setting. It's setting is very simple yet very captivating. The world of Noragami isn't packed with so many mechanics to the point that it makes the viewer confused, but gives it enough depth to make me immersed in the world Noragami presents. The thing is, like many elements of Noragami, it doesn't get expanded to the level that I would like it to be.

One thing that I really liked about the setting in particular, as well as other aspects of this anime, was how it portrays sin. For example, I liked how the phantoms were more than just random creatures for the MC's to kill off. They themselves symbolize sin, as they cause the humans in the anime to do sinful things.

Other than the setting, however, the story barely stands up to be anything above average. A lot of this is due to the fact of this being a 12 episode series. Other than Yukine's story arc, which I found to be the best part of the entire anime, almost all of the other plot points are not given much focus, to the point where I am left with more questions than answers. Why did Yato turn from being a god of calamity to a delivery god? Why did he kill one of Bishamon's regalia's? Why does Kazuma, one of Bishamon's other regalia's, feel like he owes Yato? These, along with so many other points of interest, are left with no conclusion, making the viewer gasp for a second season that we may or may not get.

Furthermore, we have the less than exceptional bad guy arc that takes up the last three episodes. The main antagonist has nothing much to him other than the usual "I do bad stuff because I'm evil" motive, which could have been solved with a better explanation of his backstory. Also, he gets introduced way too late into the series, giving him even less of an impact that he already had. That, coupled with the fact that the main herione is, once again, the damsel in distress, and you have the recipe for failure.

Speaking of, let's start off the characters with the main herione, Hiyori Iki. For a good majority of the series, she is actually a good female lead. Before the shit bad guy arc, she had a strong presence in the anime, even if the presense slowly depleted as the anime chugged along. She is shown to be a very compassionate, selfless character who will do what she is able to do to help her friends, namely the two male leads, through the problems they face. I do wish she kicked some more ass like she did the first few episodes, because my god, that drop kick on that phantom's face was badass.

Next, we have Yato, the peniless, shrineless, god. Yato is a bit of a mixed bag for me. Although he did grow on me as he started to develop as the series progressed, I really did not like him during the first half of the series. He just kind of came off as an asshole for the most part, talking about how people should die if that's what they want, even knowing full well that the phantoms were the main cause of the characters problems. However, this was also the fact that made me like him later in the series. He believes that doing all the work for others to face their sins leaves little impact, and he rather gives them the incentive to face their sins, while the person with the problems has to face the brunt of their problems themselves. I know I didn't explain this very well, but I hope you get what I mean.

A prime example showing this side of Yato is Yukine, Yato's regalia. Yukine, while not the most likeable character by a longshot, has the most character development out of anybody else in Noragami. He is someone who is more driven by his emotions rather than common sense (which makes sense considering he is a young teen at a "dangerous age", something that the other characters bring up every so often). This makes him do some reputable things, tying back to the whole theme of sin mentioned earlier. Yes, his whining was annoying at times, but it was justified to an extent, and his stellar development and climax of his arc more than makes up for it.

So, the main cast of Noragami is good, but really not anything special. Each character has positive and negative points about them, but at the end of the day, they are at least enjoyable to watch. I can't say the same about any of the other characters, however. Like the many unexplained plot points, the side characters had enough personality to get me interested, but little development or even screentime to get me emotionally attached to them. I would love to know more about Nora and why she is so attached to Yato, and I crave for more depth into Bishamon's character and her and Yato's bitter relationship, but I didn't get any of it. Once again, another aspect of the show ruined by lack of time.

Animation-wise, there isn't much negative I can say about it. Bones has always had a nice mark of quality both art and animation wise, and Norigami is no exception. I personally liked the use of more dimmer colours to emphasize the season of winter to the fullest. And even if the character designs didn't have many different colours used, especially in Yato's case, everything else design-wise was easily above average. Also, the explosions created after a death of a phantom looked extremely cool.

The soundtrack, while nothing too spectacular, was refreshing while keeping the tone of whatever scene it was used in. More electronic music was used, which was very different to what we normally hear when watching battle-shounen, and it worked quite nicely.

And of course, I can't write a review of this show without mentioning the absolutely phenomenal opening theme. If I had the chance, I would totally see Hello Sleepwalkers perform. It was just that good. The ending was very good as well, even if not to the level of the opening.

As far as battle-shounens go, Noragami was a cut above the rest. But, there are far too many problems with the show for it not to be much more than an enjoyable watch. If there were to be a second season to this show, it has the possibility to tie up all the loose ends that were left at the end of this anime. Still, it has enough value to be recommended to people who like more action-related content, and I know that there will be people who like this show more than I do. But when looking back, all I wanted was a fun, action anime get my mind off all the romance shows I have been watching as of late, and for that purpose, it did just fine.

Noragami, or Stray God, starts out with a typical shonen feel. However the show quickly begins to unravel into something completely different. A show with a great setting, unique world building, and interesting characters that all create a flavor of its own.

*Story/Character-------

Hiyori Iki is a fairly average girl with an interesting secret. She loves pro wrestling. Though her secrets stretch further when one day she sees a man walking in front of an oncoming bus and she pushes him to safety. As she speaks to the man, her attention is turned to the front of the bus where her body now lay ... separate from her. Later, after regaining consciousness in a hospital, she’s surprisingly given a clean bill of health and told to get some rest. The reason why she made it unscathed is revealed later that night when the man she saved shows up in her bed.

Turns out the man she thought she saved is actually a god. Yato is a dysfunctional god that has no shrine to call home and does odd jobs to fund his dream of having one. He points out to Hiyori that her spirit is now half way dislodged from her physical self and may detach at random. After later running into corrupt spirits named phantoms, she’s informed that the destruction of her tether (that comes in the form of a tail) will cause her to pass on from the living.

While Hiyori is a crucial part of the series, as the eyes for the viewer to this interesting world, the scope of the story branches further from there. Yato turns out to have quite a history as a god, though many characters may come to find it shocking. Then there’s the many gods of this world and their use of “equipment” called Regalia. Regalia are spirits of humans that have met an early and unavoidable death. Once a god gives them a name, they form a pact with the god to be used at their discretion. This is further expanded in the relationship they carry and the burdens they can ultimately place on one another.

Combining all of these elements with a really great cast of characters proves to be a truly enjoyable experience from start to end. I really liked Yato’s silly and dysfunctional personality, then meshing that with the far more enduring plot elements that come into play late in the show made for a really dynamic character. Supporting him in the entirety of the series was Hiyori, of who I absolutely adored as a character. She didn’t follow any tropes and really stood out as a lovable and level-headed character. Then there’s Nora, who had a great deal of mystique about her that just made you crave for her to show up.

As expressed above, the real treat in this series was the way it fools you into thinking you really know the characters. They did well in designing a false sense of lightheartedness that later is transferred to a dark, gripping, and serious underlining plot. When it hits, it makes you want to see what’s next around the corner. I also really enjoyed the more technical aspects that make up the gods and their relationship to the Regalia.

*Animation------

From start to finish, the folks at Bones Studio manage to create a beautiful and realized world. The characters have a great deal of detail and life to their movement that really sells the storytelling. While there was some use of CG for Phantoms, the style in which they utilized makes them blend into the world and never become off-putting. Quite a bit of the action and combat scenes also look fluent and pleasing to watch.

*Sound------

Another element that makes this series stand out is the music. With a very unique and modern vocal track that is as stylish as the animation itself. I couldn’t help myself but feel caught up in the more action oriented segments when the vocal tracks kick in. It also helps that the opening “Goya no Machiawase” is a great track that I listen to regularly.

An amusing story about a nearly forgotten god, his punk sidekick, and a charming half-dead girl that hangs around them.

★★★☆

I never watch a show with preconceptions. I don’t read reviews, watch teasers, or even follow what’s being released. Old or new, I check out what looks interesting, read a description, and look up its rating because more likely than not it’s going to be decent. I’ve been burned before, but trying anything new is a gamble. You have to play the odds because we don’t have all the money and time in the world to sample everything.

It’s why IMDB for movies is a much safer ... bet than AnimeNew is for anime. Movies appeal to a far more diverse demographic than anime so the ratings combine into an accurate, almost objective measure of how good a movie is. Unlike IMDB, everyone on AnimeNew gives their favorite shows 9’s and 10’s without stepping back and saying, “Is my favorite show really a perfect 10 or am I just being a fanboy?” I have favorite shows, too, but I can easily admit when they’re shit.

When I choose to give something a rating, I’m balancing two things: if it’s objectively good and if I’d recommend it to you. I don’t want you wasting your time because I don’t want some asshole wasting my time either. I’ve been disappointed by a lot of 9- or 10-rated shows so I make it a fucking mission to not disappoint you.

That’s why I have a hard time rating Noragami. I liked this. A lot even. I thought it was well-written enough with good animation. It was funny, the characters were charming, but I can’t in good faith directly recommend this to you.

It’s set in modern day Japan. Our hero is a nearly forgotten god that takes up menial work to stay relevant. He does everything from cleaning bathrooms to killing evil spirits. To fight them, he needs a soul which he can turn into a weapon. He becomes friends with a girl who can basically do astral projection (leaving her body as a ghost). The forgotten god, the soul weapon, and the half-dead girl are the three main characters.

I didn’t know Noragami was hyped or even considered an action show. I watched without expectations, and realized it was a character story. Our hero wants to become a famous, well-worshiped god. His soul weapon is a punk kid who gets angsty a lot which was annoying, but he gets a lot of character development. And the half-dead girl hangs around, and keeps them together. They meet other gods, the rules are fleshed out, concepts are introduced, and there’s a nice action scene here and there.

The plotting isn’t the most engaging. I wasn't left craving the next episode, but I certainly wasn’t bored. The quality of the writing is subtle. There isn’t a scene I can point to and say “THAT'S QUALITY RIGHT THERE, BOY.” It was the little moments that added together to make this show better than most.

Instead of recommending it, I'd say give this show a shot. Two or three episodes maybe. I won’t blame you if you’re not feeling it and drop it. There are no plans for a season 2 so if you end up liking it like I did be prepared to accept unresolved plot lines.