Bastard!! -Heavy Metal, Dark Fantasy- Review
Bastard!! Heavy Metal Dark Fantasy, the new summer anime 2022 release from Netflix, is what you get when you mix:
- D&D spellcasting
- Old-school Metal
- Adult content.
Bastard tells the story Dark Schneider, the 400-year-old Dark Wizard who before being sealed away, was on a quest for world domination, only so he could have all the world’s women to himself. Yes, Bastard!! is that type of story.
Dark Schneider was defeated and sealed in his next reincarnation, a 14-year-old boy named, Lucien who was adopted and raised alongside the 15-year-old priestess, Tia Noto Yoko. Tia was taught the spell to release Dark Schneider from Lucien, if she or the kingdom of Meta-Licana were in grave danger.
It just so happens that, that time is now! The Four Divine Kings, former disciples of Dark Schneider, are on a conquest of the world and Meta-Licana is next on their list. Tia must awaken Dark Schneider with a kiss from her virgin lips.
Dark Schneider is a bastard, asshole, and womanizer.
Watch My Bastard!! -Heavy Metal, Dark Fantasy- Video Review below!
If you want to learn more about Bastard!! before jumping in, I covered the Bastard!! manga and the Bastard!! OVA, here.
Should you watch Netflix’s Bastard!! Anime?
Bastard!! -Heavy Metal, Dark Fantasy- isn’t for everyone. It’s not a straight-up fantasy adventure. It’s comedic and extremely violent.
The action focuses on spell-casting as opposed to sword fights, so battles consist of spell duels where characters chant words (typically metal references) and shout their spell name before it explodes onto the screen. Even when characters have swords, they’re not usually trading steel, but using magic sword attacks.
Bastard!! is filled with adult content; there is an element of ecchi; Dark Schneider loves sex and woman, even enemies seem to have the uncontrollable urge to let Dark Schneider have his way with them. Expect scantily-clad outfits, innuendo, and tons of groping.
Netflix’s Bastard!! -Heavy Metal, Dark Fantasy- Part 1 gets a 3 out of 5
Bastard!! was good, but a little bit too much for me at times, with the adult content. It’s pretty true to the source material (manga from Kazushi Hagiwara), so it is what it is. Ecchi isn’t my thing. If it’s yours, more power to you.
I enjoyed my time with Bastard!!, and while it ends on a nice cliffhanger, this is only part one of this first season. The second cour will include 11 more episodes, which should wrap up the current arc.
Bastard!! made me laugh, and has an interesting story with decent characters, but since the action is pretty much all spell-casting, it left me feeling a bit unsatisfied.
That being said, I am still interested in watching the next cour and hope Netflix renews Bastard!! for more seasons.
I go into more detail in my Bastard Netflix Anime Video Review.
