Assassination Classroom: An Appraisal, (And Why You Should Watch It)

A few days ago, I may have raised some eyebrows by placing a relatively obscure anime episode as my favorite TV episode of all time over several other acclaimed episodes, such as Breaking Bad's "Ozymandias". Today, I'll be reviewing Assassination Classroom (Japanese name: Ansatsu Kyoushitsu), a series which I have just finished watching for the second time.

I have to admit, the premise of this show is insanely ridiculous. However, I'll try my very best to explain it without being dismissed as a retard. The show is about a creature who looks like a yellow octopus, who blows up 70% of the moon and plans to do the same to the Earth in a year's time. However, insisting that "that would be no fun", he decides to teach Class 3-E in Kunugigaoka Junior High, a prestigious prep school where students are discriminated against for their grades. Oh, and I forgot to mention: this yellow octopus can move at a speed of Mach 20 (20 times the speed of sound in dry air), making him virtually impossible to kill, at first.

Surprisingly enough, this premise somehow works. The octopus, later named Korosensei (a pun on the Japanese word for unkillable, korosenai and sensei, meaning teacher) is, in my opinion, one of the most entertaining characters you'll ever see. Some reasons the series works as wonderfully well as it does include:

Korosensei  

This show would have never worked if the yellow octopus creature named Korosensei was an intense, menacing Big Bad. However, that is not a problem at all: from the very second he appears, he's a delight, casually taking attendance while students shoot at him with special bullets that are specially designed for him. One big conflict on the students' parts is that he is, well the best damn teacher they've ever had; he can create individual clones using his amazing speed, teaching each student in a method they'll understand best, and he miraculously raises their grades. He also goes to extreme lengths just to impart wisdom on his students (like going to a baseball game in New York, to advise a student named Sugino who'd given up on his dream). However, his biggest selling point is that he is absolutely hilarious; despite being someone who's nigh impossible to kill, he freaks out extremely easily, and it's always funny. For example:

http://www.youtube.com/v/isu_u0TqSIo?version=3&start=0&end=120&autoplay=0&hl=en_US&rel=0

However, I do believe his very best moments are the speeches he gives when he talks to his students; he has a genuine, heartwarming care for them. In fact, the only time he remotely seems like the "monster who destroyed the moon" is when any of his students are in danger. A lot of credit for the brilliance of this character has to go to Jun Fukuyama; his manic performance creates the perfect tone, and he is amazing throughout the entire series, whether he has to act like a badass, be a hilarious idiot who screws up constantly, or just be the outstanding teacher he always is. I think the best praise I can possibly give Korosensei is that I really wish that I had, or will have a teacher like him. Oh, and then there's his iconic laugh:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZUlv3lCYFU

Handles a Large Cast of Characters Incredibly Well

From the very beginning, this show had 30-plus characters counting just the students and their three teachers, due to the school environment. Many would think that this would result in a majority becoming caricatures or stereotypes, with only one or two being actually developed. However, that could not be further from the truth; each character is indeed distinct and unique, and while everyone does not get a limelight episode for character development, each of them does get a moment or two to shine. What's quite amazing is that in the backdrop of this great cast of characters, the main student trio of Nagisa Shiota, Karma Akabane, and Kaede Kayano can often be relegated to the background. Each person, as quite befitting for the assassination classroom, has their own role to play, and as time goes on, plays it incredibly well.

Compelling Character Arcs

Also, over the course of time, the characters are given some really well-handled character development. For example, Ryoma Terasaka, the class bully, goes from an aloof idiot who only cares about killing Korosensei, to a rather inspirational, well, idiot who gives some of the most rousing speeches in the series. Similarly, Karma Akabane goes from a sadistic arrogant genius to a person who genuinely believes in hard work and humility (although the sadism is expectedly still there), after going from 4th to 13th place in the first term final exams. In my opinion though, the character who develops the most is Korosensei, and in fact, I believe, he phrased it best: "How can I teach anyone if I myself didn't learn and grow every day?".

A Well-Paced Coming of Age Story

In spite of what its premise might indicate to some, Assassination Classroom is really more of a coming of age story, with a lot of comedy, and poignant life lessons. You learn to care and empathise with these students and these teachers; they go from misfits with extremely low self-esteem, to awesome assassins who also get better at their studies, and become good people in general. Koro Sensei is the one who gives most of these life lessons; whether it be to his students or a sniper, or his initially apathetic colleagues Karasuma and Irina (who's given a hilarious nickname which I will not spoil), he never gives up a chance to teach someone. What's miraculous is that the show never feels like it hammers its lessons home; it is conveyed in a tone that feels more natural than sentimental. In other words, we see a depiction of how awesome and productive a school environment can actually be, and how powerful the bond between a teacher and a student can be.

Brilliantly Natural Tonal Shifts 

Just like its main character (or perhaps, because of him), Assassination Classroom changes tones and emotions in a heartbeat. A sly comedic moment may become an inspirational life lesson for the students or it may simply be the set-up for the next dramatic story arc. Unbelievably, this show is one of the few I've seen which completely earns the tonal shifts, and never makes it feel disjointed or meaningless, although it possibly could have been at any point. Specifically speaking, the first season is rather light (although it ends with an incredible dramatic arc), and it is mostly very comedic and entertaining. Midway through the second and final season the show gradually becomes darker in tone, as some truths are revealed which are just as shocking to the viewer as it is to the characters. And then there's the ending; I've already revealed that the final two episodes of this show are among my favorite episodes of all time, and seriously speaking, the finale is one of the most satisfying ever. This show handles the changes in tone exceptionally well, and it's one of the biggest reasons why this show is one of my favorites of all time.

Three Dimensional Antagonists 


Unlike most anime, which seem determined to depict their villains as two-dimensional, heartless and irredeemable bastards, Assassination Classroom circumvents this problem by always showing and giving reasons for how these people became this way. It actually succeeds and makes the villains sympathetic in more ways than one. For example, although it is unanimously agreed that the students of the main campus are discriminating assholes due to their attitude towards Class 3-E, the show makes the point of explaining that the constant pressure and superiority complex that is enforced by the Principal, Gakuho Asano (pictured above) is the prime reason behind their attitude. The show actually doesn't romanticise assassins; they realistically show that assassins are not pawns who will kill any and everyone for money, and are people with real flaws and their own code. The fact that the show gives a lot of depth to its antagonists is one of the best reasons why it's rewatchable, and why finishing the show is such a rewarding experience to the viewer.

Verdict

As I've stated in the reasons above, this show is well worth your time. I haven't even delved into the other reasons why you should watch this show, such as the brilliant animation, the entertaining fight scenes, or the fantastic. The first seasons is brilliant, with every episode being entertaining and compelling in one way or the other, and you're guaranteed to laugh your guts out. The second season is just as amazing, but I do believe it hits the more complex and higher emotional heights. Even if anime isn't your thing (which was practically the case for me before I watched this show and Attack on Titan, another masterpiece), I do recommend this show wholeheartedly. It is one of the best shows I've ever seen, hands down.

Score for each season: 5/5 (First Season)
                                     5/5 (Second Season)
Overall score for the show: 10/10
Where to watch it: http://watchac2.com (I recommend the original Japanese with English subtitles, simply because of the fact that it sounds more natural and better than the English dub, and has better performances by the voice cast)

My Top Ten TV Episodes of All-Time

This is my list of the ten TV episodes that had the most impact on me; I should note that I haven't seen series like Six Feet Under, The Sopranos or Fargo. This list is just my honest opinion about the TV episodes and shows I've come to love the most.

*Note: Spoilers may be revealed, and when they are, will be highlighted in bold.




1) "Graduation Time"-Assassination Classroom (Season 2, Episode 24; Episode 46 of the show)


I was really reluctant at first to put this episode here, as I've only finished watching Assassination Classroom a few weeks ago. However, after giving it some time to settle in, I have come to a conclusion: this is, in my opinion, the greatest episode of TV I've seen till date.

Assassination Classroom is a show that I have really come to appreciate and love. I found the premise ridiculous, but after swallowing my pride and giving it a chance, it instantly won me over. This episode is the penultimate episode of the show, and one thing I found it has in common with my #2 favorite episode, is that it immediately starts the emotional rollercoaster from the very beginning. I won't spoil the episode, as this show deserves to be seen and experienced in its entirety (I will write a separate blog post later specifically about it). All I can say is the show itself is terrific, and this episode is the greatest example why. It is heartbreaking and gut-wrenching all the way through, and the execution of all the elements, from the voice acting, to the absolutely wonderful score, and the writing are flawless, and simply could not be done better.

I should note that I rarely cry due to films, and even more rarely to TV episodes; this episode made me cry for a good while after it finished, and I wasn't ashamed at all. For this episode completely earns every emotional reaction you will have to it, and I simply could not ask for a better episode to conclude one of the best anime of all time. (note: This is because the series finale proper, while also excellent, is more of an epilogue). In my mind, there could not be a more perfect work of art.
**EDIT: Rewatching the series and the episode a second time solidified its position as my favorite episode even more. It had even more of an impact on me this time, unbelievably. I really can't recommend this show enough.

2) "Ozymandias"-Breaking Bad (Season 5, Episode 14; 61st episode of the show)


This is an astounding episode, and up till recently, was also my favourite episode of all time. However, that is not a slight at all towards it.

Breaking Bad ended its run acclaimed as one of the greatest drama series (if not the greatest) of all time, and I wholeheartedly agree. The show was so unique and thrilling, and most importantly, it is one of the few shows I know that realistically depicts the drastic changes people can go through given the right circumstances. Ozymandias is the third last episode of the final season, and to tell the truth, the entirety of it is a masterpiece. The emotions run high from the very beginning, as an important character meets his demise, which leads to Walt making another tragic decision that eventually affects the people he loves. This episode kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time, and I literally had no idea what was going to happen next. Moira Walley Beckett's magnificent script deservedly won the Writing in A Drama Series Emmy, and for good reason, too. Bryan Cranston and Anna Gunn gave their best performances of the series on this show, and to me, that's really saying something. In fact, Walter's final phone call at the end of this episode contains the best acting in a TV series in my opinion. This was an exhilarating episode, and it is outstanding in every sense of the word.

3) "Remembrance of Courage Past"-Courage the Cowardly Dog (Season 4, Episode 13; penultimate episode of the show, although it really should have been the finale)

Courage the Cowardly Dog is one of my favorite shows of all time. It had quite the right mix of comedy, horror, and as can be seen in this masterpiece of an episode, the right amount of heart as well.
This is the second last episode of the show. While the show has had quite a few emotional episodes (the "Last of the Starmakers", which just missed this list, immediately comes to mind), this episode is probably the most emotional one of them all. It deals with Courage's backstory, specifically how he was found by Muriel after being "left" by his parents. The episode starts easily enough: Courage  has breakfast, with Eustace voicing his jealous disapproval as usual. However, he soon notices a "missing dogs" section at the back of the milk carton, causing him to have what TV Tropes would call, a Heroic B.S.O.D. We then flash back to his past and see his parents for the first time on the show. When Courage gets stuck to a gate after trying to catch a ball, they take him to a suspicious-looking veterinarian. Well, what happens next is heartbreaking: the vet, in order to prove an insane theory about how dogs can become super-beings by being shot to the moon, does just that to Courage's parents, in spite of Courage's desperate attempts to stop him. The scene of Courage crying while seeing his parents blasted off to space is one of the most tragic moments I've ever seen on a TV show: when he finally gets found by Muriel, the episode has enough emotional resonance that you can go from crying to smiling with Courage, which is quite an incredible feat. Courage also has a chance to prevent history from repeating itself with his second family and let me just say this: the final scene of this episode, could not be a more satisfying ending.

4) "Battle of the Bastards"-Game of Thrones (Season 6, Episode 9)

It was really a question of which Game of Thrones episode I would be placing on this list; the show is a masterpiece of modern TV, and I really had a hard time determining which episode would be in my top 10. This episode, though is my favorite of the series, for a few particular reasons. (*Note: Spoilers may follow*)
The episode, from the very beginning, has an epic feel to it. It starts with Daenerys finally coming back to Mereen, only to see it being attacked by the Masters, as well as the Sons of the Harpy. Her opening scene with Tyrion features some pretty good acting from Emilia Clarke, and Peter Dinklage. However, all of this almost gets overshadowed by her overwhelming victory over both sides, using her dragons to burn the Masters' fleet. This scene, pretty much like the rest of the episode, has amazing direction by Miguel Sapochnik, who helmed last season's masterpiece "Hardhome" (which I was tempted to put on this list as well). The fact that this is just the secondary storyline makes this episode more awesome.
But of course, the episode is about the battle between Jon Snow and Ramsay Bolton. The battle itself is a visceral, grand experience. I was practically on the edge of my seat the entire time, and what amplified the experience was Kit Harington's brilliant performance. His reaction to seeing a certain character get shot down by an arrow was intense, and harrowing, and he never gets overshadowed by the spectacle of the battle scenes, which was a difficult thing to pull off. Iwan Rheon was also brilliant and pulled off a magnificent swansong. The whole ensemble was great, with Liam Cunningham and Sophie Turner being other standouts. And then there's the ending: the final scene is amazing especially because of how chilling Turner manages to be, and I guiltily admit to cheering quite loudly as it happened. It's a spectacular episode, but you really have to see it .

5) "Remedial Chaos Theory"- Community (Season 3, Episode 4)


Ah, Community. One of the most underrated sitcoms ever, but in my opinion, one of the very best. It had compelling characters, unconventional yet hilarious humor, and is just a simply flat out entertaining show about people you grow to care about.
"Remedial Chaos Theory" involves Abed and Troy throwing a housewarming party. When they order pizza, everyone is too lazy to get up, so Jeff decides to flip a die in order to decide. As Abed repeatedly warns him, he inadvertently creates six different timelines, each time with a different person going to get pizza, with hilarity ensuing each time. There's a method to this madness; the repetition  works, and we get a fascinating character study, along with their dynamics being keenly explored in this episode. Of course, my favorite timeline is the one where Troy gets the pizza (pictured above); it results in a pretty depressing, yet darkly funny "Dark Timeline" where the group decides to become evil and steal back their lives. This episode is the very best example of quintessential Community; it is funny, heartwarming and simply not quite like any other comedy on TV.

6) "The One with the Prom Video"- Friends (Season 2, Episode 14)

Friends is acclaimed as one of the greatest sitcoms of all time, and if that statement included only the first five seasons, I'd agree in a heartbeat. I enjoy watching it, but I must admit that it did steadily decline as time went on, like most sitcoms tend to.
However, this episode came at a time when Friends was genuinely excellent and at the top of its form. This episode basically has two plotlines: one where Chandler and Joey get into a fight over a gold bracelet Joey got him (which led to an extremely funny scene with Matthew Perry and the couch pillows), and Ross trying to get Rachel back, who is still mad at him for making a list about her flaws and good qualities. Monica then manages to find a video detailing her and Rachel's prom night, which brings us to a great flashback to the 80s, full with bad make up and hairstyles. This flashback actually made sense to me in context to the story, as it would be perfectly reasonable to assume that sadsack Ross Geller would be head over heels for Rachel even then. During the tape, Rachel sees that Ross was ready to take her to prom if her date didn't show up; David Schwimmer's heartbreaking look when he sees she left is amazing, and you genuinely feel horrible for the guy. This episode concludes with one of the most iconic moments in the history of the series; Rachel embracing and kissing Ross. Although this episode may not seem like much because I doubt my writing has done justice to it, it truly is something special.

7) "Child Abduction Is Not Funny"-South Park (Season 6, Episode 17)


In spite of its rather ironic title, this may be the funniest episode of South Park I've seen. In classic style, the show takes a serious issue, inserts some extremely clever and often politically incorrect humor, and brutally satirizes it and makes it hilarious. The issue satirized in this episode is the rather overblown news-reporting of child abductions by news channels, and how the idiotic parents of South Park increasingly grow more paranoid by believing everything they see on the news.

While this is very funny, most of the humor comes from Mr. Kim, the owner of the "City" Wok restaurant, who, because of his Chinese heritage, gets entrusted to build a wall to keep outsiders out, and how Mongolians (yes, Mongolians) repeatedly thwart him. His various attempts at getting back at them hilariously backfiring on him is quite the sight to see. It is rather telling that the most sensible thing said in the entire episode comes from the mouth of a freaking child abductor, who points out the hypocrisy of the news channels for rarely the reporting positive things people do for other people and for exaggerating the negative; all this before he tries to abduct Tweek. That is how crazy this episode is. It's a brilliant piece of satire, and the best episode done by the show during an amazing run.

8) "Homer's Phobia"- The Simpsons (Season 8, Episode 15)


There's been so much love for The Simpsons and such in-depth analysis of it over the years, I really don't feel like my writing will contribute anything at all. However, I will make an effort. It's an incredible show, and quite easily one of the all-time great animated series (although I prefer anime like Dragon Ball or Assassination Classroom over it).
This episode tackles the issue of homophobia, and it does it extremely well; Homer meets a gay man named John, and bonds with him, and invites him to spend time with his family. In fact, Homer thinks he's quite a swell guy before finding out his sexuality (which, as hilariously pointed out by Marge, was too obvious to ignore). Homer's prejudice against John is subtly portrayed not as hatred, but something different from what he had always been accustomed to. He disapproves of Bart acting"gay" like John, and his paranoia grows. Homer's skewed sense of masculinity can be seen as one of the main reasons, and it is pretty realistic for the status quo at the time. The episode's ending, with Homer coming to accept John again, is really good when you see that the show is preaching an anti-homophobia message, and is urging the audience to do the same. The fact that The Simpsons tackled this subject at a time when barely any other show, let alone an animated one, wouldn't touch it with a ten feet pole, and tackled it as excellently as it did, is the reason why it's on my top ten TV episodes.

9) "eps1.8_m1rr0r1ng.qt"- Mr. Robot (Season 1, Episode 9)



Mr. Robot is one of the best shows on TV out there today. It fully deserved all of its nominations for the 2016 Emmys, and I'd say it deserved even more. This episode, when Elliot finally realizes his inner demons and an ugly truth about himself, is a brilliant episode. I can't say much about the show or its episode, cause I would hate to spoil the experience for those who didn't watch it, but I will say that you will be shocked and amazed.
Rami Malek and Christian Slater both gave amazing performances in this episode. This episode was greatly written and directed, and in spite of its shocking twist, it is amazing that it feels natural instead of a slight cop-out. The particular montage where certain events from past episodes are depicted from another point of view is the main highlight of the episode. The scene between Elliot and Mr. Robot in the graveyard features some of the best direction done last year, and it had a thrilling, unpredictable nature from start to finish. If you haven't seen this show yet, I highly recommend that you do. It is well worth your time.

10) "Final Atonement"- Dragon Ball Z (Episode 237)


I grew up watching Dragon Ball Z. It is arguably the best anime I've ever seen, and one of the few that have left quite a profound impact on me. It's an iconic show that fully deserves its reputation.
The main reason why I ranked this episode so low is because DBZ doesn't exactly work on an episode to episode basis; your whole focus is on the arcs and the villains as a whole, instead of individual episodes. However, the reason this episode is my favorite is that it works excellently well within its limitations and, because this episode provides some of the most poignant character development I've ever seen. Prince Vegeta, the peripheral anti-hero of the series, who antagonizes the main characters when he's not fighting like a badass alongside them, and (had sold his soul to surpass Goku), sacrifices himself to blow up the seemingly invincible Majin Buu, because the love he had come to have for his family had not been erased from his mind. What really gets to me are the moments before his noble act: his conversations with Piccolo about meeting Goku in the afterlife, and when he finally hugs his son, only to knock him out so that he couldn't stop his act. This episode was just beautifully written and animated, and proved to many detractors that DBZ wasn't just one mindless action sequence after another.