Eden of the east is - excuse the French - a complete mindfuck trip. It starts off as interesting, to turn to complicated, then makes a turn to twisted, to suddenly turn to the answer to leave you with a feeling of "now what?" and "What's next?". This is, however, not a bad thing. If I hadn't known... These words made me think of the opening where Noel Gallagher - You know, the lead guitarist from Oasis - sings "it's all that I ever known" in the song Falling Down. This opening wasn't used for the whole series in the States and Canada though, so don't get confused if you know the opening as Invisible by Leah.
Anyhow, if I hadn't known there are two films that are sequels to the series, I would had been completely messed up now saying that the series didn't end in a bad way. The feeling it leaves makes you want to know what happened next, after all. I have yet to see the films - The King of Eden and Paradise Lost - so I can't say if Eden of the East as a whole with films are good, but as a series it's good as a mindfuck anime, making you watch the films.
I don't know how to better describe this series. I don't like being confused - as my friend Ms. S who I started watching the series noticed without a doubt - but I got sucked in with every episode after Ms. S went home. It's a bit hard to marathon, because of the information you have to process though, so we were definitely trying out a hard mission when we began. (I'm sorry, S! If I had known, I'd suggested something lighter!)
In the end of the day I give this show... I keep wondering if it should be 4.5 or 5. I have never felt so confused about where to put something at a scale that hasn't had to do with my health. But I guess we should go with the lower score. For now. Better be safe than sorry. (laughs)
I do recommend this show, I really do. It's a mix of emotions, mystery, mindfucking events and some very nicely censored naked people. Definitely something you should watch just to watch it. You know, how you should read classics for the sake of classics - watch Eden of the East solely for watching it! And you might enjoy the ride while at it. But as this is an anime with a grown up feel, I do warn for it to be a bit heavy, as I previously have mentioned.
Before ending this review, I am going to have you watch this clip below. It's a music video which will give you an idea of what you get yourself into when you watch Eden of the East. Or not. It's the alternative music video for Oasis' Faling Down. It's animated by the studio who animated Eden of the East.
