After the First: Code: Realize Sousei no Himegimi

Synopsis

On the outside, Cardia may seem like a simple yet pretty young lady, but upon her skin lies a dangerous poison and a secret that man seek. Upon being captured by a group of soldiers, Cardia finds herself not only getting involved with an eccentric group but also finds herself on a path to finding out more about her father.

First Impression

The first thing that catches the eye about the series is the overall steampunk design of the setting and characters. It is not often you see this kind of style, and the way it was implemented was both clever and visually interesting. The general concept of the story is also another point of interest for the story, especially on the part of Cardia. With the way her story was presented, it showed quite a bit of potential for the series. However, with the way the other characters are presented and the obvious romanticization of the first meeting between the leads, it is clear that the series cannot escape certain tropes and cliches of shoujo and possible reverse harem works. For the most part however, the series is interesting enough to continue with but clearly holds certain predictable elements such as Cardia’s relations with the males.

General Impression

It’s clear to see that much thought was placed into the progression of the story as well as the implementation of mysteries for each character. The story manages to find a good balance between the drama and the action while also slipping in some calm moments for breathers. The strategic works and the way that each episode shift to different characters may seem to make things go off track but in the end the story somehow manages to tie things together. However, there are still the cliche moments with the stories of the characters and the concepts of the villains so there is a slight miss on that part. In addition to this there is also the general trope of Cardia being the kind figure like many, many other female protagonists but props to her for being more productive. Overall, the story, characters and overall concept of the story of the series make an interesting mix.

Conclusion

There are a lot of good points to be found on the plot but with a rather generic design and predictable villains for the most part, there are some parts that may come off as cliche and in line with certain tropes. On the other hand it may be on the perspective of this writer but still, as interesting as this series makes itself out to be, there were certain moments that were hit or miss for the most part.

Rating: 7/10