Streaming: Crunchyroll
Episodes: TBA
Source: Original
Story Summary: In this alternate history, it is the 64th year of the Meiji era. The Tokugawa Shogunate controls resources and technology, exerting authoritarian rule over the country. There are, of course, groups working in the background to bring about the fall of the regime – as well as those tasked with ensuring its survival. Sawa Yukimura works for an organization called Nue, a group of executioners working on behalf of the government to put down any possible rebellions. Yukimura’s goals are more personal, however; after her brother was murdered by one of the dissident groups, she uses her considerable power in hopes of obtaining her revenge.
Impressions: I already feel like alternate, supernatural history is becoming a theme this season, don’t you? However, whereas Mars Red seems to be taking a more highbrow approach toward telling its tale of the undead and their infiltration into Tokyo, Joran is already proving itself to be a more gritty and pulpy take on the idea. While I think some might debate which approach is better, I tend to think there’s enough room in the pool for both kinds of stories.
Joran wastes little time in establishing the grotesque turn the world has taken. Not only are there beasts of somewhat dark origins stalking the streets as night, but so too are there beastly secret police arresting those who speak out against the government. There’s that old saying, “Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely,” which comes to mind whenever I hear about places with long-lived, unchanging regimes. When the people you lead don’t have the ability to kick you out of office, I think it’s natural for some (especially those who crave power, rather than those who consider it a duty to which they’re beholden) to use whatever means necessary to hold onto whatever power they have. Japan in the world of this anime may have a surface sheen of technological advancement, especially for the early 1930’s, but wrapped within its tight, terrifying walls are a suffocating populace with very little ability to effect change. It’s a world that’s beginning to rot.
I find it interesting that our POV characters are the ones supposedly working to preserve this seemingly autocratic government, because the way they’re framed feels antithetical to the type of social and moral authoritarianism at play. Their hideout appears to be in the basement of a brothel, and one of their membership literally a sex worker – not necessarily the type of places and people that tend to enjoy a lot of freedom and prestige beneath the jackboot of the moral police. But perhaps this might be the perfect cover operation just for that reason. I also have my suspicions regarding whether Sawa Yukimura’s quest for revenge will remain quite so straightforward, and that the story may not remain quite so pro-establishment. But I can only speculate.
This premiere definitely brings with it a host of unanswered questions and mysteries, and so I have to ask myself – is what’s provided here enough for me to want to learn about the answers to those questions? I can be a simple person, and based on this episode’s visual coolness alone, I would probably answer yes. It’s enough for me to at least give the series a chance. I just hope that in addition to the interesting fight scenes and Yukimura’s dramatic, bestial transformations, there’s perhaps some more plot substance to look forward to.
Pros: The line quality of the characters takes on a sketchy, wild quality during major fight scenes, as Yukimura embodies her white crow persona, which is striking. I also like the alternative type of technology that’s featured; it’s clear that technological advancement has occurred, albeit very differently in this universe, and that component lends the episode an interesting, distinctive style (I know I’d love to have an umbrella crossbow!). There’s some definite “rule of cool” at play, and I’m enjoying that.
Cons: The allegiances we as the audience seem to be led toward clash somewhat with those of our main characters. I imagine this is intentional, but it does lead to some questions about what message the series is intending to put forth. It makes me uneasy, even though I could be completely off the mark.
Content Warnings: Violence (cutting and dismemberment by swords, gunshots, grenades, etc.). Body horror/transformation. Visually obscured sexual content.
Would I Watch More? – I’m leaning strongly toward yes; I’d at least give it a few episodes for its plot to become more apparent. While I don’t typically get too hung-up on plot details, I feel like the characterization and character drama is fairly basic stuff, so I think it’s really begging for some other kind of forward action.