Summary
Record of Ragnarok is a ferocious but enjoyable experience.
This review of the Netflix anime series Record of Ragnarok season 1 does not contain spoilers.
With Netflix increasing its market share in anime aggressively in 2021, fans will be extremely excited to hear that Record of Ragnarok has hit the streaming service. Based on the manga, the adaptation has fiery sensationalism to make audiences thirsty.
And you can understand why; the story involves a 1,000-year review by the arrogant Gods, who decide whether or not to keep the human race on earth or remove them from existence entirely. The Gods take part in this review every 1,000 years, and on this occasion, they’ve decided humans should be extinct.
However, there’s a fatal twist; a Valkyrie who is tired of the God’s arrogant nature tells them to allow the humans to prove their worth and suggests they fight. The Gods believe they are too strong for the humans and agree, and the final battle begins in an arena setting. One God versus one human over many fighting bouts — defeat is death. If the humans win more rounds than the Gods, then they keep their existence.
Even as I write the premise, it sounds ludicrous but also satiably interesting. The Netflix anime series enjoys thrusting forward urban legends in the story, even toying with Zeus and the banished Adam. There’s plenty to play with, mixing mythological, religious, and spiritual elements to create intriguing battles.
But it’s not as simple as one fighting bout after another; the story deep dives into each character and where they get their strength from — Record of Ragnarok season 1 manages to merge subplots into the action-filled chapters. The appeal is obvious; it’s a cyclical underdog story — can a human defeat a God?
Spanning 12 chapters, you’d think season 1 would surface many bouts, but the story takes its time, ensuring that the concept can be fleshed out for further seasons. It’s not only about the fighting, but what it means for each character; their loved ones, acquaintances, and how they manage to perfect their fighting art. From swords to fistfights, Record of Ragnarok does a sublime job in keeping it fresh, mixing with different specialties; different Gods and humans represent a unique type of fight.
And there’s no point in questioning the longevity of this concept; watching legends face off against each other in a well-flourished anime is an automatic appeal — Netflix’s Record of Ragnarok is a ferocious but enjoyable experience, and I cannot wait for the second season.
