Shy - Season 1

Shy, AKA Bocchi no Hero Madoka Magica, follows the journey of a timid heroine who confronts the darkness lurking within human hearts. While the portrayal of the heroine's shyness isn't entirely lacking, it fails to truly captivate or endear me as a viewer or root for Teru/Shy. Despite this, it's still somewhat enjoyable to witness her gradual growth and struggles. On the heroic front, the series offers an interesting blend of classic comic book heroes, mahou shoujo, and perhaps even a hint of super sentai. However, this fusion doesn't quite hit the mark—it comes off as rather peculiar and fails to fully engage or compel. The exploration of battling darkness within the human heart is executed reasonably well, particularly evident in Pepesha's arc in the second half. Visually, there's evident effort, though the inspiration behind it is clear. While the story initially left me lukewarm, it gained momentum in the second half, becoming more enjoyable and leaving me genuinely curious about the upcoming second season. In terms of characters, I found the antagonists more intriguing, with their unique qualities standing out (I had a similar experience watching D.Gray-man). Yet, I also managed to find favorites among the heroes, despite one being an alcoholic and the other a bit of a tsundere. Overall, Shy is a decent show in my book, earning a solid 3 stars or rather 6.3/10. (18.12.2023)