Written by: Samrat Nakarmi - 2022011, Grade XI
Posted on: 22 March, 2021
In the vast world of entertainment media such as anime, few have left their mark as a really good horror story in my opinion. When the show aired, not much was expected from ‘The Promised Neverland(TPN), however, it shattered all the barriers and has left its mark as one of the best horror anime in history.
The beauty of TPN is that although it is of the horror genre, it is not bound only by that. It also consists of mystery, suspense, and thrill which further amplify the viewing experience. All of this combined with a well-written story is what made the show so loved and popular. The story begins in a place called “The House” which is portrayed as an orphanage where many children live until they are “shipped” to their to-be parents. The House is managed by the caretaker who everyone calls “Mama”. Mama is depicted as a loving mother who cares deeply for all the children in the house and is equally loved by them. It seemed as though everything was alright until one night when one of the many children was “shipped” to her new family. Our main characters Emma and Norman find out that Mama is not actually the caring and loving mother they thought she was and that the world they were living in, which they believed to be normal, was far from it.
This is where the show truly starts to shine and shows why it truly one of the best. The mystery of who Mama really brings fear to Emma and Norman as they investigate her. And when Mama noticed that they had realized, the cat and mouse game began. “How do they hide from Mama? How will they escape? Can they win? What even is this place anyway?” All of these questions start to form in every viewers’ mind as they watch Emma and Norman entering situations of life and death. The fear of not being able to escape, being caught, running away keeps everyone on edge. And when the mystery is revealed little by little, jaw-opening moments occur which really makes you want more and more. The thrill of the chase, the mystery of the story, altogether make its horror amazing.
The horror is astounding as it is, but that's not all that makes it great. The show has really well-written characters whose development we see throughout the show. The way they handle knowing that their mother is not who she says she is, their strategies, and their feelings of escaping with everyone, all can be felt which really makes them so interesting and makes you want to root for them. Furthermore, the direction of the show as well is outstanding. The choice of sounds, scenes, lighting all are fabulous. And most of all, the voice acting was over the roof. You could feel the emotions of the characters through their voices. Their feelings of fear, joy, horror, and relief all being flawlessly voiced sold the show to many people and along with a great soundtrack, the show has made its mark as one of the best.
This is a type of show that should be experienced by yourself rather than learning about it through various reviews. It is something that cannot be expressed in words and should be watched to get fully immersed in the show. Personally, I rate the show a 9/10. It is an amazing show with many great moments. It has some nitpicky parts which could be called flaws but that is just my personal opinion. Overall, ‘The Promised Neverland is a really outstanding show and I recommend everyone to watch it.
