Toji no Miko Review

Overall Rating 6.3 out of 10 - Decent show that begins really well and ends rather lackluster.

I recommend watching.

Cute girls, Japanese culture and aesthetics, pleated skirts, stockings and swordfights. A formula of near guaranteed success. That is why I was very enthusiastic about this show. Finally, something not feminist, subverting working formulas with unworking ones and such. Pure female exploitation for male enjoyment.

Beginning did not disappoint. Several episodes in plot made such an original and creative twist, it definitely looked like a success story that can earn something around 8 out of 10. For the first quarter to 1/3 of the show, Toji no Miko kept delivering more twists and turns of this rather compelling narrative. I deliberately avoid giving details here as experiencing this as its progress is the best this show has to offer. 

Then came the big reveal that explained all that happened and why it happened. It was not only too long, as they talked several episodes straight, but also rather disappointing. It's not that core plot idea was bad it was rather creative actually. The problem is the role older generations characters played in all that.

Closer to the middle focus shifted from cute young girls to their parents and grandparents. These older people were settling scores with each other, and younger people were merely pawns in their schemes. This older generation teaches younger who is eager to learn never sit well with me and it did not so here as well. Alas, creators of the show like it far too much and spent too much time on that.

The show is officially a one double season, but in practice first 12 episodes get its own conclusion and final battle, followed by full second season that goes from there and offers an interesting boost to the story. Once again core story is solid a be it less dramatic. It's the same old generation problem that got even worse in second season as now old women directly boss young girls to do heavy lifting as they sit in comfy office chairs. 

Older generations are former sword maidens, who screwed up when they were on duty. Now managers they essentially send their kids to fix their mistakes and fight not only aradamas but also rival fraction of sword maidens who disagree on methods and principles, typical boomers. To make matter worse a number of older generation women are really detestable. Younger girls have nicer personalities on average but that too varies. Sayaka is best girl at least according to my taste.

Overall ideological bend of the show also does not sit well with me. It's all about preserving ancient ways and honoring old stuff while opposing modernity.

That said aside from the problems outlined above, it's a decent show. Diverse cast of girls will allow anyone to find one to their liking. Fights are nice with occasional surprise twists. Main antagonists are complex, compelling and interesting. On summary it floats above waterline, even if barely.

Overall, I can recommend watching it. This show has its flaws that are several episodes long at times, but it also has strong points. Middle episodes are worst as well as epilogue.