3ET: Gokokoku no Brynhildr

"The truth is, we're making up the plot as we go along."

Studio: Arms

Director: Imaizumi Ken’ichi (Katekyo Hitman Reborn, Yuugo Koushoujin)

Writer: Kitajima Yukinori

Main Cast:

Oosaka Ryouta as Murakami Ryouta

Taneda Risa as Kuroha Neko

Character Design: Karasu Hiroaki (Maoyuu Maoh Yuusha)

Music: Tokisawa Nao

I don't think anyone involved with Gokukoku no Brynhildr has any idea what kind of story they are telling. On one hand, yes, there is a basic plot about a boy named Murakami Ryouta trying to help some witches who are on the run from an evil research organization. The reason he is doing this is that one of the witches looks just like his dead childhood friend, Kuroneko. There was also something about looking for aliens, but that has quickly fallen by the wayside. Instead, it's heading for a harem route with the childhood friend, the paralyzed loli with an attitude, and according to the artwork, a couple of other female archetypes. With that said though, having a complete mess of a plot is not my biggest problem.

My biggest problem with Gokukoku no Brynhildr is the way it tells its mess of a story. For example, the death of Ryouta's childhood friend is handled quite clumsily. Instead of having a pure flashback with no narration, which would have made Kuroneko's death that much more shocking and effective, Ryouta has already told the audience that she is dead. That makes the scene have precisely zero tension and about as much emotional connection. Another example of a poor decision is where a witch is killed when her magical release valve is pulled while she begged for her life. Even with no context this scene was disturbing, now just imagine if she had been introduced as a character. It's a missed opportunity, and one that could have been done with the time that was instead wasted on school trips and cake smoothies.

Holy shit, which eccentric millionaire funded this astronomy club?

The other thing that bothers me is how conveniently things happen in this show. Let's take a look at episode three. Oh no, the pills the witches take to not die a horrible death burned up in a fire! Good thing Ryouta has a previously unmentioned photographic memory and knowledge of the pharmaceutical industry so they know where to find more of the pills. But wait, what about the security? Well, it's a good thing the witches have a friend who is a super hacker that they can call upon. This kind of shitty formulaic writing wouldn't get a passing grade in a freshman level college writing class. Oh, and giving each girl a sad handicap, like Kuroneko's memory loss, doesn't endear me to them, it annoys me because I see it for what it is, a cheap way to make me care. 

When writing is this bad, there is only one thing left to do. Fail it. I don't know if Gokukoku no Brynhildr could be fixed without fundamentally changing the story. But, there is just so much wrong with the execution that I'll never really know. I'd stop short at calling it a stupid show, the way the characters prevent deaths foreseen by the paralyzed loli are quite clever, but it's definitely not one where a lot of thought was put into its construction. And that's why I'm not watching it.