black clover

I picked up Black Clover again after a long hiatus (four years or more). I'd forgotten why I'd stopped watching at the peak of an epic story arc, but it didn't take long for me to remember. Would I recommend this anime to anyone? The storytelling is mediocre, and the side-characters are often one-dimensional. Tropes and themes are played to death. Narration pervades the show. Whenever a character does something, you can count on them to tell and show. Every episode begins with a two-minute long trash reel consisting of the exact same lore told from episode 1, followed by a lengthy recap. Sometimes you're hit with a lengthy recap right after the midway break in the episode. Lengthy flashbacks frequently interrupt the flow of an episode. Despite that, the main characters are likeable, and the fight scenes are epic and beautifully animated. Ultimately, I don't know whether to recommend this or not. You'll just have to try it out and see for yourself.