I was a bit excited about this show based on how it started. There's a world with magic, but those who are able to use are seen as monsters, for they survived and encounter with humanity's main nemesis. The protagonist has a very clearly defined goal: to find Radiant, the place where these odd creatures come from, in order to destroy it and prevent nemesis from invading and destroying
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I was a bit excited about this show based on how it started. There's a world with magic, but those who are able to use are seen as monsters, for they survived and encounter with humanity's main nemesis. The protagonist has a very clearly defined goal: to find Radiant, the place where these odd creatures come from, in order to destroy it and prevent nemesis from invading and destroying humankind.
Even after seeing first-hand how normal humans mistreat Seth (the protagonist) and Alba (his mentor and mother-figure), we get an even more heart-wrenching moment on the third episode in Alba's flashback as we see young Seth being beaten and almost killed by humans who saw him as a monster simply because he has horns and can do magic. That episode really made me feel for these characters, and it was impressing that Seth was a good person who, despite all that he has suffered at the hands of normal people, still wants to protect them.
By contrast, we see in the second episode that there are magicians who do not have the same outlook as Seth and Alba, and who want to take advantage on normal humans, as well as seek revenge. That duality really made the world of Radiant more relatable and interesting.
Alas, that is where it all stopped. After the third episode the show took a deep dive into nonsense. Seth meets members of the Inquisition, who appear to be the antagonists who pursue and seek to eliminate sorcerers. "Why?" you ask. The so far (episode 6) the show's answer is "just because." There isn't a concrete reason for the Inquisition to hunt down sorcerers indiscriminately. It would make sense if they only went after wrong-doers. However, they arrest the naive Seth who could not control his broom and "crashed" into the Inquisition's ship. They had arrested Melie (the red-haired witch) because she did not have her documents with her. And I believe they were going to arrest Doc because he was carrying the remainders of a Nemesis.
In the first couple of episodes the show clearly sets that sorcerers are the only ones who fight the Nemesis. Not once did the show state that the Inquisition does likewise, only that it is out to get sorcerers for no reason. That is simply not a good way of building up the world. Having a villain with no real motive is boring. Sure, the Nemesis are monsters that destroy everything in their way, but, so far, they seem to be mindless creatures. The Inquisition, however, only seems to be out to get all sorcerers, despite the fact that they are the only ones able to protect humanity from the Nemesis.
Also, from the fourth episode forward everyone becomes incredibly one-dimensional and over-the-top idiotic. Those in the Inquisition boat seem incompetent of handling two young magicians and a goofy human. Then they arrive at the flying wizard mecca of Artemis Academy, which Doc forces Seth to become a citizen, knowing fully-well that that will cause Seth to be in enormous debt, which will be transferred to Doc as he had already gone through that process with Melie. Sure, it was very interesting when the cat leader of Artemis brought out the city's defense against the Inquisition, but that's about it. Everything in that town is incredibly goofy for its own sake. Melie, Seth, and Doc all become extravagantly wacky, boisterous, and unbearable to watch.
At the end of episode six, Yaga, whom Alma sent Seth to encounter, decides to take Seth as a pupil, for we know that he is special. It seems like the show may or may not get better, but so far it has been incredibly disappointing, especially after such a great set up.
TL;DR first three-episodes gave hope of a good series, but the show ultimately falls flat on one-dimensional characters and over-the-top tropes
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