Never has a show captivated me as thoroughly as Made in Abyss. It's not perfect, but that's to be expected for something that strays so far from what you'd expect from a fantasy setting. While the typical high fantasy is fun, there is no other setting as captivating as the abyss, from its detailed ecology to the mysteries within that make sense yet are incomprehensible. Almost every aspect of the entire series is a delight, and for that reason, it takes the spot of my favorite work of fiction. Mild spoilers ahead!
To start with the negatives, the most glaring issue, and the one that (rightfully) turns people away is the fan service. It's unneeded, it's uncomfortable, and you can skip it without losing anything. Thankfully, it's just a small portion of the show, and is usually very brief. The other biggest issue is pacing, and both seasons drag a bit in the middle. (Dawn of the Deep Soul is solid pacing-wise all around though.) Aaaaand yeah that's about it. Onto the positive.
Most of the characters are simple, but they serve their roles well. Riko doesn’t get enough credit imo. She serves as the emotional anchor of the series, always keeping an upbeat attitude, and finding beauty in even the grisliest of circ*mstances. Her optimism and curiosity for the inner workings of the Abyss are infectious, driving the story, and being the glue that holds the gang together. She may not have a lot of strength, but she's tougher than nails in the grand scheme of things. In contrast, Reg is her opposite, struggling with identity and anxiety, despite being nearly indestructible. Without Riko, Reg would just be a lost child in the belly of the netherworld. He's good kid who just needs a push in the right direction. Despite being a robot, he's the most human out of the main characters. Nanachi is the true brains of the group, and probably one of the best characters. Their backstory is gut wrenching, and it's easy to see how they attached themselves to Mitty so quickly. Their dry wit juxtaposed to their inner sensitivity makes it easy to pick them out as a favorite. The person behind their suffering, Bondrewd, is a lot more interesting than people make him out to be. His actions are abhorrent, but he isn’t doing them to hurt people; He's doing it for science, and giving your entire self to science is the highest for of love to him. It's a twisted view on such a precious emotion, but the fact that he does care about the children he's mangled makes him all the more horrifying. These are just the tip of the iceberg of all the colorful personalities you'll find in the show.
The show is brimming from top to bottom with love and care, and there's a purpose for most things in the narrative, even if you don't realize it. The reason why all of the horrible things that happen to the children in the show isn’t a negative is that it serves a purpose and cannot be removed from the story. It isn’t suffering for the sake of it; There are complex ideas about longing, survival, value, love, and connection at play. That may not be everyone's cup of tea, and that's okay! But I love the fact that it doesn’t shy away from the horrors just because the MCs are children. The naïveté and youth of the kids are meant to contrast the ancient cruelty that lies within the layers of the Abyss. However, just because the Abyss may be ruthless doesn’t mean that there isn’t whimsy to be had. Quite the contrary. The natural world building is rich, and there's a lot of thought put into the ecosystem and how it works. One important aspect is the force field, which serves as the lifeblood of the chasm. Without it, light, nutrients, and the biology of most creatures wouldn’t be possible. It's an abstract thing that weirdly makes sense. Each layer brings a new set of mysteries that pull you in deeper, giving you the sense that the Abyss itself might be a creature. Aiding the world building is the stunning visuals and music. Almost flawless.
I could gush for hours, but I’ll wrap this up by saying this: Thank you to the staff who made this show possible. Your hard work is greatly appreciated.
