Let me say right off the bat that I have no idea about the novel. I haven't read it, but I don't think it's that different either. So I'll just talk directly about the anime.
The core concept is solid, but many elements feel overly forced. This is supposed to be an elite school, yet everything seems to unfold exactly as Ayanokoji wants. That shouldn't be the case. If this is truly the school for the "best" students, then outcomes should not revolve around a single individual so consistently.
The anime heavily relies on the familiar "lazy genius" trope. However, no human being can realistically excel at every field simply by being gifted while putting in minimal effort. Throughout the series, Ayanokoji is the only character who is consistently glorified. His monologue at the end of the first season was effective and captured the essence of his character well, but after that, the narrative keeps repeating the same idea without meaningful development.
There is a fundamental issue in how the character is written. Ayanokoji always finds the solution, yet deliberately remains in the background, claiming he does not want attention. This motivation feels shallow and unconvincing. If avoiding notice is truly his priority, then attending the most prestigious school in the country makes little sense.
Overall, Ayanokoji had the potential to be a compelling character. Instead, he is written in an overly exaggerated and simplistic manner, ultimately turning him into a one-dimensional and, at times, almost ridiculous figure.
That is all I have to say about the main character. This issue directly affects the overall plot as well. Because the protagonist is written in such an exaggerated manner, the story ends up repeating the same narrative patterns over and over. Unless there is a significant change in direction, this cycle will likely continue in future seasons, leaving the anime with little real progression.
As for the supporting cast, Koenji initially came across as an intriguing character. However, he suffers from the same fundamental issue as Ayanokoji. His motivation is unclear, and his persistent indifference lacks narrative justification. After three seasons, there is still no meaningful development to his character.
I feel similarly about most of the other characters. The anime initially sets certain expectations, but rarely follows through on them. As a result, many characters remain shallow and forgettable. While it is not as extreme as Solo Leveling in this regard, it still fails to give the audience a compelling reason to remember or care about its cast.
The female characters present an even bigger problem. The series has gradually fallen into the harem trope, where nearly every female character becomes defined by her attachment to Ayanokoji. Beyond that, there is little substance. Horikita appears to be an exception for now, but it is likely she will eventually be treated in the same way. While the anime may not openly present itself as a harem, it follows the same narrative structure as classic harem series.
Harem anime, as a genre, is inherently exaggerated and shallow, and I do not consider it-nor have I ever considered it-a legitimate form of literary storytelling.
The animation quality does little to redeem the series. There is a noticeable decline from the first season to the following two. While the later seasons are not poorly animated and remain technically acceptable, they fail to add any real impact or elevate the overall experience.
In short, these are my overall thoughts on the anime. It certainly has the potential to be better. Some of the issues I mentioned may be addressed or better explained in the original novels, but as stated earlier, this is an anime review, not a critique of the source material.
The first season was genuinely enjoyable and offered a surprisingly engaging experience. In terms of watchability, the series does manage to keep the viewer's attention. However, beneath that surface appeal, it ultimately feels hollow and lacking substance.
Overall rating: 6.7/10
Thank you for reading.
