Ive been putting off this anime for the longest but boy am I glad I finally got around to watching it. I remember seeing a few episodes on TV when I was a kid and ever since Ive been infatuated with the series but I never got into it for some reason. Now that I have let me tell you why you should too. Lets start with everything the creators did right. The writing was superb. The pacing was steady the dialogue was clever and the carefully placed plot twists were on point. I was constantly interested and engaged in the story and its characters. That was another strong point the characters. Each one was unique likable and relatable. When it comes to anime I usually have a distinct favorite character or a character type I tend to levitate to. But in Samurai 7 each character had their individual charms and it was impossible to pick a favorite. I found myself connecting to them rooting for them and feeling for them. I was invested in pretty much all of the protagonists. While Im on the topic of characters I have to say as frustrating as they were the antagonists in this show were written well too. They were heartlessly cruel and not the cliche Im going to announce to you exactly what I tend to do so you know how to stop me. There were times when the main characters were in such a bind I wondered how they were going to get out of this one alive. That means the villains were no joke and I applaud the writers for making them realistic and an actual challenge for the protagonists. As great as the writing was I had some qualms with the show as few as they may be. First off was the unnecessary romantic subplots in the show. Without saying too much there was only one couple I had no problems with as it did not interfere with the plot and lets be honest they were made for each other. Another was the occasional lazy animation which I wont make too much of a fuss about since its an old show and the fight scenes were great which is all that really matters in an action anime. The soundtrack was good but not enough for it to be memorable. Although I do love the opening and ending themes. Overall Samurai 7 was a great show and a roller coaster of emotions conflict and action. Its packed with rich storytelling shocking plot twists and important life lessons all unfolding in a simultaneously futuristic and feudal Japan. The show never misses a beat and will surely leave you satisfied with its bittersweet ending.