Pandora Hearts

Oz Vessalius was about to be initiated into the world of adults in a coming of age ceremony. This special occasion was interrupted when a group of strangers showed up and exiled him to a placed known as Abyss for a crime he does not know. He met a Chain called Alice or B-Rabbit. This Alice saved him by forming a Contract and they both managed to escape from that unusual place. That was when he met three other people, Xerxes Break, Raven and Sharon Rainsworth, who were also connected to the strange events. Oz was about to discover that worrying about some unknown crime he committed was the least of his worries. He now had to keep in mind that he has a Contract with Alice. He also has to find out what the organization Pandora is after and who were those people who threw him into Abyss, the Baskervilles. More revelations did not mean answers however. As he tried to delve more into the mystery of the Tragedy of Sablier, which seemed to have been the origin of the strange events, the more confusing his situation became.

This series is perfect for those who like making up theories instead of getting direct explanations about the story. Normally in most series, a character tries to find answers in the clues he finds as the story progresses. Pandora Hearts offers plenty of hints and... more hints, but that's it. There are so many questions that need answers that those that seemed important in the first three or so episodes become insignificant towards the end.

It isn't just a confusion of questions, theories, and clues however. I think it has dealt with issues concerning Oz's struggle to understand himself and how he has been dealing with other people. Before he was thrown into Abyss, he was content to keep everything to himself so he can avoid hurting other people or become a burden to them. The people he met after he escaped Abyss and the subsequent adventures he had forced him to reexamine his feelings and to reevaluate himself and how he ought to deal with his friends. I think he was still able to go through a more memorable coming of age ceremony than the one he was supposed to be given.

The 25-episode series has references to Alice in Wonderland. I like the outfits of the characters and the animation is okay. Most of the fight scenes involved one fatal stroke from a Chain, usually B-Rabbit, and the fight is over.

I like stories that don't spoon-feed answers to every question, however Pandora Hearts is drowning with questions and they overshadowed Oz's inner struggles. It's still a great series though and I wish there were more than 25 episodes. I'm giving this a 7 out of 10 rating.