Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

B: The Beginning: Season One Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf September 23, 2020

2018’s “B: The Beginning” is hoping to distinguish itself in the crowded world of Japanese animation by offering fans of the subgenre a byzantine story to follow. What appears to begin as a police thriller about a vigilante serial killer soon spins off into a hundred different directions, covering myth, sci- fi, fantasy, kink, and action. There’s a lot on the show’s plate, and the production team isn’t completely interested in untangling many of its plot threads. “B: The Beginning” is artfully made and impressively expansive, but such ambition doesn’t result in a clear, concise understanding of the characters and their goals, which would be of great assistance to those untrained in the anime way.

“B: The Beginning” opens with a murder scene and ends with a battle between biologically engineered characters wielding memory like a weapon (joining the actual weapons their limbs morph into). It’s a wild ride from the relative comfort of cops examining clues to a semi-apocalyptic showdown, but this is the extremity of the series, which likes to pack roughly three seasons of characters and exposition into 12 episodes of sleuthing and fighting. The action is stylish, as is character design, which provides a distinct look at the merging of human and robotic parts, and the production plays with film noir and fantasy anime imagery (also indulging some needless fetishes with female characters, focusing on rear-ends and upskirt shots). There’s plenty to look at with “B: The Beginning,” with the visual event always more compelling than the unfolding saga of the titular vigilante and the police force on his trail.

Disc 1

Episode 1 (26:19) In the Kingdom of Cremona, an entity known as Killer B is on the loose, putting the Royal Investigation Service on the hunt for clues. Lily is a member of the squad, witnessing the return of Detective Flick, a respected but troubled sleuth who’s ended a leave of absence. When a top-secret stealth tank is stolen, the RIS is called into action, trying to locate the vehicle while an enigmatic criminal organization uses the event to lure Koku, a winged mystery man, out into the open.

Episode 2 (24:37) A local politician is murdered, leading the RIS to suspect a larger criminal event is being planned for a charity ball held at a ritzy hotel. Discovering the creation of a deadly gas, the team sets out to find the culprits, with officers covering the event, searching for suspects. While enjoying the peace of violin restoration, Koku senses something amiss, traveling into town to confront a member of Market Maker, the criminal organization behind the threat.

Episode 3 (24:18) Chaos at the charity ball begins, with RIS officers dashing around the building to protect civilians and locate the origin of the gas attack. Flick starts to see the method in the mayhem, suggesting Market Maker may be using such shows of force to cover for something bigger. And Koku battles with an enemy, learning more about his past in the process.

Episode 4 (24:23) Fueled by a personal need to solve the case of Killer B, Flick recalls a personal loss that sent him on a downward spiral of grief. Koku searches for more information concerning his past. Lily decides to pay Flick a visit in his apartment, hoping to share her take on the investigation, with other members of the RIS team stopping by for dinner. And RIS tech Brandon makes an unexpected discovery while decoding evidence.

Episode 5 (25:11) After an attack inside RIS headquarters, the unit is on edge, searching for a potential suspect. Tech whiz Kaela goes through Brandon’s devices and files, learning about possible exposure from within the building, sharing info with Lily. And Flick examines a critical clue in the case, realizing the Market Maker is up to something big involving the precinct.

Episode 6 (24:33) Koku and Flick finally meet, with the officer detailing a history of ancient gods and genetic decoding. The RIS team visits Flick’s old workspace to understand the enigmatic man, while Lily meets with his friend, a doctor who knows the pain Flick went through. And Koku begins to understand the importance of Yuna, an agent of Market Maker sent to kill him.

Disc 2

Episode 7 (25:15) An encounter with Yuna brings Koku back to his origin story, remembering his genetic makeup and father figure during a period of growth and trauma. Also exposed is Minatsuki’s role in the grand scheme of things. At the RIS, the hunt for Flick widens, with the head of the agency determined to find the missing detective.

Episode 8 (26:11) Lily visits Flick’s home, discovering that he’s covered the walls in a written code she must figure out. On a nearby island, Flick keeps a low profile while Koku understands his path of vengeance, with his past now on a collision course with his future.

Episode 9 (25:29) Hoping to crack the case, the RIS sends Lily to cozy up to a suspect, leading the unit down a dangerous path as she’s put into the line of fire.

Episode 10 (26:15) With Lily missing, the RIS starts to close in on a possible suspect, inspiring Flick to contemplate motivations as he imagines a base of operations for the villain.

Episode 11 (25:11) As motivations are revealed, Koku begins his journey to seek revenge on those who’ve targeted him. Flick also moves in closely to a suspect.

Episode 12 (26:59) Flick begins to understand the scope of potential evildoing. Koku commences a final fight to protect loved ones and destroy villainy.

B: The Beginning: Season One Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation does wrestle with artifacting, as banding is a common sight over the course of the episodes. Colors are appealing throughout, securing bright greenery and town signage. Character costuming is also varied, along with lighting sources. Animation detail is open for study, with the nuances and shortcomings of the art preserved. Delineation preserves frame information, with a good portion of the show set at night or following characters into dark spaces.

B: The Beginning: Season One Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix (Japanese or English language) supplies a forceful listening experience for "B: The Beginning," offering a heavy frontal presence that blends clear dialogue exchanges with sharp sound effects that showcase gunfire and swordplay. Atmospherics are appreciable, with city and precinct bustle, and weather changes also fill the surrounds. Occasional separation effects are also noted. Scoring and soundtrack offerings provide crisp instrumentation, exploring synth stings and squealy guitar riffs. Low-end contributes some weight during scenes of violence, but isn't forceful.

B: The Beginning: Season One Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Interview (23:59, HD) with director Kazuto Nakazawa was recorded at the 2018 Scotland Loves Anime film festival. Topics include production origins, influences, and his time with "western media."

• Test Film (1:49, HD) offers a look at the 2014 "Nakazawa Project," which was turned into "B: The Beginning."

• Textless Ending (1:57, HD) presents the end credit scroll without printed credits.

B: The Beginning: Season One Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"B: The Beginning" offers erratic writing, taking on too much as it struggles with clarity, electing to go deeper into world-building, and there's just not enough time to get through it all and create a rewarding, compulsively watchable mystery to follow. Asides into broad comedy and ultraviolence (again, primarily focusing on the suffering of female characters) only distract from the cause, and while "B: The Beginning" ultimately arrives at a destination (setting the series up for future seasons), it remains unclear if most viewers will be as enamored of the conclusion as the showrunners are.