First half: The concept of Synduality and what has been done with the "IP" may be more interesting than any of the content within it. There is this 24 episode anime series, a book, 2 mangas, 2 "light" novels, an eclectic soundtrack, a live service multiplayer extraction shooter, ancillary content, and marketing material (and perhaps more). This is a lot to pull together... and yet it all seems unfocused, disconnected, half-baked, and then pushed out the door and subsequently forgotten. Why go through all the trouble? Regarding the anime, I'm presently halfway through the series (which was originally presented in two 12 episode parts). While I'm (mostly) enjoying it, the further I get into it, the more it makes me reach for that enjoyment. The story and writing (at least, how it's presented in the show) isn't good. If you squint, you can make out interesting concepts, fun characters, lore, and other aspects of world building. While none of it may be original, that doesn't matter if it's executed well. So... is this anime executed well? No... but it's not terrible, either. However, there are terrible moments. There are a lot of bad OOC and lazy "deus ex machina" scenarios. Other shifts occur, as well - For example, in one moment an enemy is deadly and in another, 25 of them are used as comic relief (versus an incompetent character, at that). All this typed, the anime isn't all cons. The cons have more contrast because the show features a lot of positive elements, even if they're not executed in a polished manner. I enjoy many elements of the show, the theme, music, and some of the characters (even if they often behave OOC). I wish all the content under this IP spent more time in the oven and was managed better. However, we have what we have. As an aside, this show is branded as Disney+, which I find amusing as it contains overt sexuality, including unusual (and questionable) scenarios/references. Second half: Is it just me, or does this seem like a different experience? It could be me. The second half of the show (the next 12 episodes), while not perfect, is a marked improvement over the first half. It feels more cohesive and hits more beats. While imperfect and featuring a number of the same flaws, this portion of the show fares better. Perhaps there was something in the air or I haven't been sleeping well, but there were a lot of emotional moments here. Not just the manipulative cheap shots. This is one of those shows I wish I could go back in time for and reshape into something that better realizes it's potential. The world is filled with "what ifs" and "coulda' been contenders". We have what we have. At the end of the day, I suppose I don't regret watching this show. To repeat an opening sentiment, if you're not going to do it right, why go through all the trouble? No, the show isn't good. But I like it and wish it was better. There's something here. A number of elements resonated with me. There were a lot of interesting topics/themes introduced (or, at least, I saw them, even if they weren't there) - sadly, none of them were explored (in a satisfying manner). This all sounds harsh... and yet I've a soft spot for this show. Hmm.