An all-rounded sci-fi anime that lives up to its reputation of a masterpiece

Synopsis: Okabe Rintaro, is a self proclaimed mad scientest. He works in his “lab”: a cramped apartment with a grumpy landlord. In this lab he makes gadgets and gizmos with the help of his friends mayuri and daru. One of their most prized possessions is the microwave which can act as a time machine. As more members join their lab and new inventions are created, Okabe realises the costs of his actions

About the anime :

Plot
The show does take its time to build relationships between characters and explain the concept behind the time travel and world lines. The 24 episodes can be split into 2 distinct parts. The first 11 episodes, while nothing exciting happens, are comical and entertaining. The lines were witty and we can see the group in experiment phase, testing out whether they can send thing back in time with their microwave. Although the story might be a bit dry, it was entertaining to see the group dynamics and we are introduced to the main characters. The anime will not make this introduction clear right away. It also created some suspense of the doings of an evil organisation, something which Okabe fantasises about but turns out to be true.

Episode 12 is the turning point of the anime and it starts to get serious from here. Things become complicated as well as this is when the time travel is actually put into place. Hence, there may be times when you need to go back to comprehend and understand the plans. the aim and objectives are clear but the methods as to how they go about it are a bit complex.

Despite the scienec-y nature of the show, it maintains the emotional aspect as well. This makes it stand out from other shows that focus on time travel. There are scenes which can move you to tears. This is all because of the strong foundation planted in the first half. Be prepared for startling revelations and finding out these secrets is what will motivate you to keep watching till the end. There are many conflicts in the show, small ones and a big one at the end, and we see Okabe having the dilemmas all the time. Even though characters like Faris and Rukako are supporting , they do have depth to them and their own purpose that gives them a stake in the lab.

If you enjoy the show and wish to pursue it further watch the 23 beta episode which leads to the start of steins; gate 0

Characters
The characters are really well written. They are all unique in their own way and each of them have something to bring to the table. From a science prodigy to the founder of the moe culture to even a boy who looks like a girl. However, okabe was the centre of the show consistently throughout the 24 episodes. He is definitely an intruguing character. His imagination is wild and even though the monologues he has with himself are dramatised, they somehow made the show exciting and suspenseful. I truly enjoyed it. However, his mad scientist label just isnt a facade. He actually is a mad scientist who would go through any means to achieve his goals. We also got to see major character development for okabe. When push comes to shove, especially when it concerns his friends, he certainly rises to the occasion. He is not your average hero, he can't run, lacks charm an is even called a pervert. Nevertheless he sheer will and determination helps him face adversity. He saw the good in everyone and that's what made him open up the lab to so many people. It was wholesome seeing the close knit community and everyone tagging along with okabe’s plans no matter how absurd they may seem.

A special thing that I liked about the characters was that we get to see them not only the present when the show is set but also when we hear about them in the future. This made the show more interesting and we can see the characters from multiple dimensions.

Animation
The dull animation makes akihabara a gloomy and dystopia city. The show is also set in the summer to be prepared for the constant sound of cicadas and dragonflies. Even though they might act as backdrop to the summer season, cicadas are a symbol of resurrection and transformation. Cleverly added to fit the effect of time travel and the transformation that it brings. The scenes of time travel and transitions were also well done. The ost was very fitting for the show. The piano in intense moment really added to the mood and the op was a banger.

Parts that I liked [major spoilers ahead]:

Power and ethics
Okabe is a nobody, just a teenager passionate for science and has a big imagination. However, he holds the power of changing world order, the thing he fantasied about. Rukako's and Faris' story showed the the extent time travel had. Sending an email back In time can have great consequence. Hard decisions was something Okabe faced constantly. The show emphasised the severity of this power, especially through Suzuka's character who enlightened them about the future. A line that stuck with me was “controlling time is like controlling the world”. It reflects a larger issue of big research organisations gaining power and starting wars.

The show also mixed elements of time travel with fate: no matter how many time Okabe went in the past he couldn't save Mayuri since her fate was set in stone. This one stood out to me. Okabe's frustration was clearly seen here and his agony was just heart breaking to watch. In the end is his peak was when he has 2 lives resting on his shoulders and he had to make a sacrifice. This shows the tricky side of time travel that Okabe did not realise when he was still trying to build a time machine. We can finally see his resignation when he chose not to go back and save Kurisu (in the 23ß episode). He was tired of seeing his friends die.

The cast started out with experiments with bananas to time leaping and changing world line. It occurred by chance, how many other discoveries are made in the real world. There was not much focus was given to SERN, we just know that they might start and WW3 in the future. Nevertheless it made for an enigmatic enemy.

Boy-girl relationship
Romance isnt the main genre of this show but it did show some valuable lessons. The whole episode of Rukako wanting to date Okabe showed us that platonic relationships are ok. Rukako liked Okabe but he felt that wearing a suit and going on fancy dates is just not him. in the end Rukako became happy just being his “pupil”. Although that episode was awkward and cringy, it was cute to see Rukako’s admiration for Okabe. The friendships were sweet and innocent. There is a fine line between caring for someone and loving them romantically and the show managed to thread carefully along it, especially when it came to Okabe and Mayuri

The only romantic relationship was Kurisu’s and Okabe’s which was beautifully developed. In a way it was cliche: Kurisu was annoyed at Okabe when they first met. Yet, she stood by his side regardless of which world line he is in. This is symbolic as even thought her memory is wiped out every time a D-mail is sent her trust and support for him never changes. Their parting was so emotional. Their relationship wasnt rushed and we can see them gain affinity for each other throughout the series. I was surprised that okabe confessed even though Kurisu showed that she had feeling for him first. Another relationship consistently shown in the show is Daru’s and his 2D girls but that is a story for another day.

The show has a lot to unpack and it is a memorable journey. The wholesomeness and seriousness was tied together nicely and plot twists make the show exciting at the same time.