Gun x Sword Review

Overall Rating 7.0 out of 10 - Great at times and lacking at others.

I recommend watching.

This show is rather unusual experience stitched together from very different elements rarely found in a single show. I liked some things and not so much other things.

The best character is Van himself. He and cynical view of the world is very relatable. He lives his life on his own terms, often doing strange things that only make sense for him and puzzle other people. He does not try to help people and in general just stays out of trouble. However, he is also skillful and willful. If he feels like it, he is able to solve various issues and beat even strong opponents. There is one thing that motivates him and that is taking revenge against Claw for killing his wife. Issue of his wife, Helena, almost the only thing that turns apathetic guy into an angry and forceful one.

I find Van very relatable. In many ways he resembles me. Even in small details such as preference for black colored attire and putting a lot of sauces on my dishes. I too live my life on my own terms. I am often apathetic about a lot of things and there are few things that can truly interest me.

Claw is probably the most unconventional antagonist in history of anime. Despite killing wifes of Van and Rey, he is some kind of strange hippy pacifist who cultivates plants, breeds dogs, feeds birds and so on. He does however kill people even on screen, extensively on accident. That perhaps hints that he is not entirely honest with us.

Claw has dream of making world a happy place and uniting people, something a winner of Miss Universe would typically say. He also has an organization of very dedicated zealots who are willing to even sacrifice their lives for the dream of their comrade. 

However not everything is sunshine in Claw's cult. His followers are closer to brainwashed cultists then to free people, but they are not depicted as mindless zombies, but rather as people who believe this is for the best. 

Some of Claw's followers grew to question if his plan would indeed make world a better place and not just destroy it. Many of these were mercilessly eliminated by those who remained loyal to him. Claw killed one himself after he attempted to hug him, claiming to wish to make peace.

In characters of Van and Claw authors contrasts two fundamentally different approaches to live. 

Van narrow-mindedly sticks to his own wishes, desires and self-interest without considering any greater good or such. However, as Van continues, he ends up attracting many different people to his group, who either grew to like him or just happen to have their aims aligned with his at any given time.

In contrast Claw claims his plan is best for everyone. All his supporters fanatically believe that most of them suffer from some inferiority complex and near worship Claw. In pursue of this plan they ignore needs and feelings of pretty much everyone who is not part of their hivemind like community.

This contrast between individualism with free association on one side and hive mind community on the other is the most interesting part of this anime. As a staunch individualist, I am fully on Van's side.

As for less than interesting parts, then many side characters, especially in early episodes are not likable. Originally, I even dropped it after watching first 5 episodes. That gets better over time. Claw himself is only introduced in the middle of the show (episodes 12-13), he is mentioned in the first episode but only by name.

Setting is more often unpleasant than not. Some episodes are set in nice locations, such as that tropical island with mansion (episode 7). However, most episodes are in some lawless towns with thugs, crazy or unsavory characters.

Van's crew is overall OK. Wendy is nice and funny, so is her turtle, especially because of all the efforts she puts in taking care for Van. Priscilla and Rey are also likable. I did not like the El Dora old guys in their own episode but felt better about them when they joined Van in second half of the show. Of course, Yukiko is the best as I like maids.

Some people from Claw's crew are likable, for example Fasalina. Gadved is OK as well.

Overall, it's a show worthy of your time. I can recommend watching.