At this point saying this adaptation is not worth watching because of the character designs alone is unacceptable. Still It is true and I agree that this adaptation started off on an awful note. The 80s adaptation outdid itself with so much incredible anime only content that this will always be haunted by it. But for as long as the arrow of this adaptations quality is it has been curving upwards since the start. This season ended with me raising my fist and smiling with a tear as Reinhard walked proudly. Because this is a beautiful story. Not only that I felt the massive improvements since the troublesome start. The staff has improved by making the characters more expressive the music more moving and the CGI better overall. Some moments cant compare to the 80s adaptations way of doing things. At the same time this series has gotten so much better that it is commendable. The staff made it clear in an interview that they wanted this to be their own adaptation and not just a copy of the previous one. As a result I have been able to see and appreciate the differences between them. Putting more of a focus on Obersteins dog and Yang Wenlis clumsiness has been nice to see. On the dark side characters like Poplan and Dusty have been so rarely used its a tragedy. However that is because the 80s adaptation brought them to life with much of that anime only content I mentioned before. The characters of Poplan and Dusty from the 80s adaptation are exclusive to that and not the fault of this adaptation. On the bright side Machungo actually talks now instead of saying the same line over and over again. Additionally something this adaptation has done that surprised me is their approach with Julian. I remember not really liking his character that much in the previous one. Now he is among my favorite characters here. Of course hardly anyone watched this. Anitubers wont tell you about this or other great seasonal anime currently airing such as Megatonkyuu Musashi and theres no surprise there. Even those that watch a lot of seasonal anime skipped this to my annoyance. Ive seen mostly fans of the novels and 80s adaptation following this from what I have seen. That is a shame. Why does all my favorite modern anime have to be like this? Its a great time to be a fan of Legend of the Galactic Heroes. Watching the staffs interpretation of Yang Wenli who is one of my all time favorite characters has been a good time. Oberstein is at the top of this list though those character designs still offend me at times. I laughed at Ruperts new hairstyle and Hildas brother looking like Tales from the Crypt was bizarre. There is something radicalizing about this anime that really makes me appreciate it more. Its not the high impact of the action or melee battles that really move me. Its the ideas that are presented through the characters and their complex writing. Getting to see two of my favorite characters sit down and talk politics makes for some of the best moments in this series. Despite the huge cast so many of these characters are memorable unique and larger than life. Politically and surprisingly so this anime teaches a lot to the viewers who try to listen and understand. A historian wrote this story and its fascinating how he pours the lessons of our own history into this. Interestingly he said he felt possessed when he wrote the novels in an interview about this and Tytania recently among others. Speaking of Tytania I would recommend it. Its the spiritual successor to Legend of the Galactic Heroes with another Yang Wenlilike protagonist. It isnt as good tragically so though still a decent watch. I watched a lot of anime this season and they are only beginning to end at this point. Unless Megatonkyuu Musashi manages to surpass it this will become my anime of the season.