Makai Ouji: Devil’s and Realist
Reviewed by Mitsugi:
I was originally lured into watching this anime because it is directed by Chiaki Kon, the director of Higurashi no Naku Koro ni, an anime I enjoyed quite a lot. I should have learned my lesson after watching Umineko no Naku Koro ni that Chiaki Kon is capable of being involved in some not quite so good anime.
The story centers around William Twining who is a wealthy and very intelligent noble, who attends a prestigious school. After William’s uncle goes bankrupt, William is unable to pay his school tuition. To avoid this catastrophe, William searches his house to find something of value to pay his school fees. What he finds is a gate that allows him to accidentally summon Dantalion, a demon, who identifies William immediately as the reincarnation of Solomon and the “elector” the man is able to announce a replacement ruler of hell the ruler of hell, Lucifer, has fallen into a slumber and the other high ranked demons of hell are seeking a replacement to rule over all of hell. Soloman was a powerful figure in hell in the past that had abused demons to conquer and rule over his nation. None of this is really very important to what happens in this anime.
Makai Ouji suffers, as much as any, from the anime “gloom”! (dum dum de dum!) What unfolds are two episodes of story setup, eight episode bishi romp, rife with man love, dumb comedy, and unbelievable and yet totally expected circumstances that are the embodiment of some genre of anime and two episodes of wrap up in which the selection for the ruler he hell is settled.
Things that occur in the middle section of this show:
One at a time, William learns that everybody he knows in his life is a demon (shocker!), even his family butler who has been with the family since William was born.
There are lots of “almost kiss” moments between Dantalion and William
Male demons that look like girls frolic around and beg to be named king of hell
Male demons all fighting over William for his affections
Really senseless school events such as festivals and boat races suck up screen time
Let’s get right down to what this show is really about: Boys love, bishi love. This show doesn’t even really do that well. For people who watch this show to see a romance blow up between two men, this won’t happen. There are moments in the show where Dantalion will say to William “Command me” or “I won’t ever leave your side” but this aspect of this show never really blooms and for this reason, I think fans the the show are asking for a second sesason to be made. Lord help me.
Where a second season to be made, the one benefit I would hope for would be a heavier emphasis on one part of the series that actually could be interesting, the war between Heaven and Hell. This is teased a lot but unfortunately it never really gets around to it. It would be nice to see this in a sequel were it to happen.
[starrater]