Mallow

I really wanted to like Elaina: The Wandering Witch. The premise had so much potential a traveler exploring strange lands, learning about different cultures, and reflecting on human nature. Instead, what we got was a series of interesting stories overshadowed by one of the most unlikable main characters I’ve seen in recent anime. Elaina herself has no empathy, no humility, and no redeeming qualities to speak of. She walks through tragic or emotional events with the detached smugness of someone who thinks they’re above it all. Every side character literally every single one feels more human and better written than she does. While others struggle, grow, or face moral dilemmas, Elaina treats the world like it’s her personal diary of “look how amazing I am.” One of the most telling moments was when two entire towns were hating one another, and instead of showing concern for the people suffering, she was more upset that she couldn’t write on a wall she even tried to make them fight again. It’s not clever, it’s not dark humor it’s just heartless. The show constantly tries to paint her as clever, accomplished, or mysterious, but all it does is highlight how emotionally shallow she is. There’s no introspection, no growth, no real soul to her journey. It feels like watching a tourist who takes selfies at disaster sites and calls it “experience.” episode 9 was the best episode. Lavender witch should have been the main character.