News & Interviews for B: The Beginning: Season 1

Audience Reviews for B: The Beginning: Season 1

• Jul 01, 2021

  I enjoyed seasons one and two of this series very much. The plot is interesting, and the writing is adult. Some may find a little too much gore in various scenes, but I think it is in keeping with the overall adult themes. The writing for a energetic female police officer is very amusing, and she has no problem telling people to keep their hands off parts of her body. My only reservation about the series, is that there are only six episodes in the second season, and I feel that viewers are left with a "cliff hanger". That may not be resolved if additional episodes aren't produced.
  Larry M
• May 28, 2021

  B: The Beginning is visually stunning with an interesting mix of fantasy and crime drama. The story was easy enough to follow, but I was often left wondering if there was a sister series that I had not seen yet- if this was a prequel to another show (a "Beginning", if you will). Some of the story line is presented in a way that makes you think you are missing something, and it really wasn't until a few episodes in that I started to get an idea of the whole picture. It is the type of series that you should watch at least twice, which isn't terrible because it's a pretty decent show and worth a second watch!
  

  Megan B
• Apr 10, 2021

  B THE BEGINNING has elements of fantasy and noir forensic procedural. These genres kind of work together. I can't say any one element really comes to the front, such as the genres, the plot or the characters. there're some moments of intrigue, characterization and over-the-top anime tropes but none of them are explored fully and sometimes one element can slow down the others. It's entertaining, not exceptional.
  Eric W
• Apr 09, 2021

  Overall a rather dull story that's neither original nor particularly good. It cribs heavily from far better shows, thinks it's far smarter than it actually is, and spends an inordinate amount of time telling rather than showing. The only positive is perhaps the art direction and the fight scenes, but it's of little consolation when the majority of the 12 episodes is just characters providing exposition through dialogue... usually in a very limited number of interior environments. CSI is more engaging than this crap!
  Chris W
• Sep 20, 2020

  This was a refreshing change from other animes and the 2 storylines running at the same time was great.
  

  Isaiah P
• Jun 24, 2020

  Solid 90%, in the context of what actually exists in the world. In terms of standards of idyllic possibilities probably 80% +/-. Sorry that it took me so long to discover this especially since its better than the bulk of anime that has come out in recent years, Netflix or otherwise, and probably top 5 Netflix anime properties (I think with this I have seen all NOS anime). So I ended up thinking it was pretty great and was retroactively confused about its ratings and reception. Maybe it is low expectations that kept me from starting it and set me up for appreciating it, but conversely I think a few factors for this also set up people for under-appreciating it. 1. Bafflingly, the trailers misrepresent it as a cat and mouse, catch a gruesome, psychosexual serial killer who keeps getting away with gruesome psychosexual murders murders. Not something that I am attracted to or appreciate unless it has something genuinely, exceptionally amazing to offer. But this isn't what the show is at all, and... 2. ...if the trailers are what attracted you to the show you are destined to be disappointed even if you also like the actual genre of the show which will necessarily impact your rating and opinions, and... 3. ...personally, I didn't know in 2018 that the nightshade of putridness had become a disingenuous ticket-generating machine for its owner and that 50% critic score is as meaningless as 100%, so the low scores also kept me away. About the only thing accurate from the trailer is that the serial killer and detective referenced are important characters. The rest of the genre picture that the trailer and the synopses are painting is immediately undone in the first episode. More accurately this show is an alternate history near-future containing preternatural human analogues pulling strings of an intricately machinated conspiracy for carrying out...TBD. Plot is compelling and engaging, with mythology that is admittedly a little thin but interesting enough and functional and world-building and backstory are good to very good. Animation and music are totally competent and with the preponderance of shows and anime in particular that dump energies into occasionally successful artistic expressions at the expense of quality plot and characters I will gladly take the trade- off. The characters on the show are cogent, plausible personalities with consistent actions and motivations which is a minor miracle among most anime. (small exceptions for one character that for plot reasons has to be intolerable when interacting one specific other character, and also a clueless old fuddy duddy archetype who is just standard. The anti-social genius is genuinely anti-social and while it would take actual geniuses to write or truly appreciate actually genius characters his specialness plays out in in convincing and important ways. That's a major miracle in the context of all the shows purporting genius characters who are transparently the result of writers who are vastly ignorant, actually stupid or merely bad at their job of writing and counting on profoundly ignorant passive consumers for their audience. If the world of anime was as overfilled with superlative exemplars like the world of literature in general then this might not make the cut. But if you like anime and the genre this one of the very best you will find.
  Michael W
• Oct 30, 2019

  Lost my initial review having to confirm my email, since I'm making this account to submit this meaningless review. And since It's not worth retyping it, here's a summary: This was some super edgy, over the top with predictable clichés (especially troupes), absolute garbage of a show. Not even worth being background noise. Having seen over 500 anime shows, there are now only two I absolutely dislike (this one and "Aldnoah.Zero"), which sure says something about it being a 2018 show and all. What drove me to watch it all was because I have been checking out every Netflix original anime series. Each one before this one has so far been from decently enjoyable to epic. Then with this poorly done trash... Again, not worth redoing my whole opinion. Poorly done show with just BS concept after BS concept, with little to no explanation/background on any of it, being stacked to feign some kind of random plot. That's the gist of it.
  Ed R
• Mar 19, 2019

  Love this show can���t wait for season 2
  Caleb H
• Feb 12, 2019

  honestly, this is one of the best animes I've watched in a while. the way it blends the two story lines together, while still keeping them as their own stories. and the fight scenes, jesus christ, the fight scenes. succinct and startlingly beautiful. the whole show is just beautifully animated, with a beautiful score and a beautiful story.
  
• Jan 15, 2019

  Good animation, good fight scenes. The story could have been amazing but it feels not fully thought out
  

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