This review of the Netflix anime series B*****d!! Heavy Metal, Dark Fantasy season 1 contains no major spoilers.
Netflix continues to grow its library of animated content with Shit ! Heavy Metal, Dark Fantasy, a new series based on the 80s manga of the same name. very influenced by Dungeons and Dragons and heavy metal, this fantasy epic quickly became one of the most successful manga series of all time. So it’s no surprise that Netflix put their dirty mitts on the popular source material, but what’s shocking is that they haven’t updated the classic for modern audiences. This series contains countless examples of brazen fanservice that borders on soft p*********y and some decidedly misogynistic tendencies that simply cannot be ignored.
If we have to put aside (for now) the highly sexualized aspects of the series, this thirteen-part anime works like any other standard series in the genre, with big magic fights, scantily clad women, and a whole series of demonic characters. monsters to defeat. This particular series is set in a dystopian future, where the kingdom of Meta-llicana is at war. Just to note, yes it’s a reference to the rock band Metallica and no it won’t be the last musical nod. To protect himself, a high priest named Geo sealed a reincarnated wizard into the body of a child, ready for that day. They must free this evil wizard in order to save themselves from annihilation, though they cannot control the demon once it is freed.
The ageless wizard known as Dark Schneider is the hidden wizard in Lucien, an innocent and harmless boy. To unleash this beast, Lucien Yoko’s guardian (there are those musical references again) must kiss the boy, just on the lips. And they insist the kiss must come from a virgin (this show is obsessed with virgins, by the way.) The kiss releases Dark Schneider from his slumber. He arrives as a ripped and naked god, with powers unmatched. The wizard is hesitant to participate in the carnage and only helps Yoko because she has been taking care of Lucien for all these years. After effortlessly decimating all of his opponents, he vows to conquer the world, killing anyone in his path.
As the series progresses, Dark Schneider battles an array of monsters and competes for the hearts of many half-naked women. Here the show enters unsettling territory, with some dated and problematic take on women and relationships, not to mention the many highly sexualized sequences that give the show its eighteenth rating. Take for example a scene involving magical slime that only melts Yoko’s clothes, and then the look of anger on Dark Schneider’s face when he discovers his virgin lover was first seen naked by another man. This is just one of many scenes that lower the show’s respectability, promote sexism, and distort opinions about female behavior.
The target audience will more than likely be delighted regardless. The show has a big theme music, bloody violence, and dazzling visuals, but overall it’s pretty generic. If you are looking for action-packed adult entertainment, I recommend The Legend of Vox Machina instead, which I reviewed earlier this year.
What did you think of the Netflix series B*****d!! Heavy Metal, Dark Fantasy season 1? Comments below.
You can watch this series with a Netflix subscription.
The B*****d post!! Heavy Metal Season 1 Review, Dark Fantasy – a highly sexualized anime with dated views first appeared on Ready Steady Cut.
