Why Devilman Crybaby is Worth the Inevitable Existential Crisis You'll Have After Watching It

*same amount of spoilers you get when you google a show ahead*

Like most people who are out of work due to COVID-19, I'm watching more Netflix than ever. I've always enjoyed films and TV shows that are a bit different. So when Netflix suggested a show with a haunting photo called Devilman Crybaby, I was intrigued. I tend to gravitate toward storylines that make you think, cry, and question your entire existence. I got all three in the form of the dark graphic anime Devilman Crybaby.

The show revolves around the complicated and emotional relationship between two best friends, Ryo and Akira. It begins when Ryo suddenly reappears in Akira's life, informs him that demons have returned to recapture the world from humanity, and implores Akira to join his quest to expose them. What a reunion. Through a series of confusing and disturbing events, Akira fuses with a particularly powerful demon and transforms into a Devilman. Devilmen are beings that possess the physical attributes of demons but retain their human souls. After what I believe is an incredible underreaction to this event in his life, Akira agrees to join forces with Ryo, and the rollercoaster ride begins.

Like many episodes of Black Mirror, the world presented in the show is strikingly similar to our own. This familiarity deepens and becomes unsettling when the show hones in on what is arguably the most destructive human emotion, fear. As humanity becomes aware of demons, civility, and human decency are lost. This pattern is not an unfamiliar one. Exchange demons with any ethnic group of your choosing, and you have the majority of historical wars or genocides. The show unapologetically shines a light on this fact, to the point where I questioned whether or not humans were inherently evil. However, the show also hones in on how love has the power to overcome fear, creating an intellectually stimulating and thought-provoking dichotomy between the two concepts.

If that isn't enough to wet your whistle, the show also offers a surprisingly insightful commentary on the role social media plays in our society. With a tangible presence from the moment the show begins, social media is an invaluable tool that Ryo manipulates and exploits to further his cause. But the presentation of social media in the show is where it begins to get interesting. In real life, our interaction with social media is one-sided. In the show, the portrayals are almost always all-encompassing. Shown in rapid succession of one another, comments on social media quickly become overwhelming. More often than not, you can't fully read all of them. Additionally, it's a powerful visual representation of how quickly public opinion can change. This representation becomes particularly crucial as you reach the final climax of the show.

All in all, Devilman Crybaby is a heartbreaking, thought-provoking piece of work that shines a light on the best and the worst of humanity. With hauntingly gorgeous animation, surprisingly philosophical plotlines, and poignant commentary on social media, this dark fantasy is a must-watch for those of you with strong constitutions who are willing to stare the darkest parts of humanity in the face.

https://www.netflix.com/title/80174974