I still cannot believe that I only recently became an anime fan. Like, was I really missing out on such great stories? Before now, anime was not really ‘my thing’. Lol, I literally used to criticize those who watch anime but that changed when I first gave it a try. The first anime I watched was Demon Slayer(although I don’t usually call it my first since I’m not done with it; waiting for last part) but regardless and honestly, it was a great start. That show is mad and I was hooked right from the beginning. Then Attack on Titan (I sometimes call this my first).
I’m now in my third anime, Parasyte: The Maxim. I did not even plan to watch this anime series. I saw an edit of Parasyte on Instagram but it of the Korean adaptation. I was ready to download it but a work colleague stopped me and said I should watch the anime own first, that I would enjoy it more. I listened and then downloaded the anime.
The Plot
Parasyte: The Maxim tells about an alien invasion, but not the kind involving spaceships and the rest. Here, small alien parasites fall to Earth, enter the human brain, and take full control of the human’s bodies. And the parasites eat other humans.
There’s also Shinichi Izumi. He is a high school boy whose life changes when one of these parasites tries to take over his body. But then something goes wrong, the parasite could not get to his brain and instead, gets stuck in Shinichi’s right hand. That parasite is later named Migi, and from then Shinichi’s ordinary life was no longer ordinary. Unlike other parasites who fully consume their host, Shinichi and Migi learn to coexist. The two of them develop a strange partnership where Migi provides super reflexes and combat abilities, while Shinichi supplies the body. But this partnership also drags Shinichi into brutal battles against other parasites who see him as a threat.
At the series continue, Shinichi is torn between being human and being something “other”. He starts losing emotions, becoming colder and more detached, the typical behavior of a parasite.
My Thoughts
This anime messed with my head, in the best way though. And not only because of the monsters and gore (although there’s plenty of that). It’s about survival, morality and the question Shinichi kept bringing up: What does it really mean to be human?
The parasites were terrifying, yes, but they were not painted as something purely evil. They were just doing what other species does, they were trying to survive. I think the scary part is how the anime turns the perspective and then bring up the question of if humans are really better than parasites. We destroy the planet, kill each other and exploit everything around us. At some points, it felt like the parasites were more logical and somewhat balanced than we are. That’s a very disturbing and uncomfortable thought, but what can I say.
And then there’s Shinichi’s transformation. Watching him change from that timid and awkward boy to someone cold because of loss and pain was really heartbreaking. The death of his mother completely shattered him, and it was from then his humanity started slipping. It was chilling to see him gradually become more like Migi – logical, detached and less emotional.
But the real star of the show for me was Migi. I did not expect to like a parasite that much, but here we are. At first, Migi was purely logical, everything was about survival, nothing about feelings. He protected Shinichi not out of kindness, but because Shinichi’s death would mean his death too. Yet, as the story went on, Migi became less of a parasite. By the end, Migi was not just a parasite but also a friend for Shinichi. What struck me the most was the moment when Migi choose to sacrifice himself so Shinichi could live. It was something I did not expect it from him. Though, I’m glad he didn’t die.
My Rating
Parasyte: The Maxim is a 9/10 for me. The pacing is right, the plot is also mad. It’s not as long as some anime giants (only 24 episodes) but every single episode leaves an impact. I would definitely recommend to anyone, even a newbie like me.
I would also appreciate an anime recommendation for my fourth watch. See you in the comment, thanks for reading.
