Review on "Pandora Hearts"

First, before we dig in, let's talk about how I got into this series—and I say series because I watched all 25 episodes and read all 103 chapters of the manga. It was recommended to me by a friend and I was curious because it is a sort of parody of the well-known story Alice In Wonderland. I will tell you now, I give the manga a 10/10. The anime not so much. And because I do not have love for the anime, I will speak of it first.

As always, I will start with its opening. The song is sorrowful and very victorian in style-telling you this is placed in a Victorian-like era. It shows of how a girl and boy are trapped, while introducing various characters, and the girl is shown fighting for freedom from chains and the boy is wondering through a hall of many faces. It ends with the two joining in the end to escape the darkness towards the light.

This gives you a pretty clear picture of how the anime should be. Train wreck, action-filled and depressing. However as the story progresses, the story veers off on another route‚ leaving the actual story of the manga and eventually coming to a happy ending—which contrasts the opening and the actual story itself.

Biggest reason why I hate the anime—literally half of it is basically a big plot hole and it ends happy. Pandora Hearts' manga has a rueful ending and can barely be called happy. 4/10 because if you just want to watch without reading, it's okay. If not, I wouldn't recommend it.

Now on to the actual story—which is the manga.

You go in and follow this character called Oz Bezarius (later known as "Vessalius") who, due to being young and curious, explores the mansion of which he is visiting for him to have his "Coming of Age" Ceremony to enter the Vessalius dukedom, stumbles upon a grave with a pocket watch which plays a sorrowful tune and causes him to see for the first time the bane of his existence/owner (more on that later) Alyss AKA "Will of Abyss" and "White Rabbit" (Alice In Wonderland reference #1)

After this his best friend who participates in the ceremony is possessed by later known as Doldee and Doldum (or Tweedledee and Tweedledum. Reference #2 and 3) who are chains, or demons who prey on humans and live in a hell-like place called Abyss.

With his possession, he causes a chain of events that lead to the entire dukedom of Baskerville casting Oz into the abyss, the reason behind it being that he shouldn't exist. While in abyss, he makes a contract with Alice (reference #4), The Black Rabbit, his demon/owner (again, more on that later) and escape abyss 10 years later where he finds his best friend again 10 years older and two others and discover all are contracted to demons, two of which are "Raven" and "Madhatter" (references #5 and 6).

After this, he learns that the Baskervilles are "evil" and they really want possession of him. While searching why, he discovers there is another person inside of him named Jack Vessalius who is a legendary hero that saved the world from complete destruction 100 years ago by killing Glen Baskerville who tried to destroy it, the crest of Alice and his contract will move like a clock and when it has returned to its beginning point, he will be cast into the lowest parts of abyss where there is no return—which is where the Will of Abyss lives and that Alice is not completely a demon and has no memories—thus putting them on their journey towards the truth of everything.

Skipping a lot of story, he finds a person who also holds another man inside him. His name is Reo (later known as Leo) and holds the legendary villain Glen Baskerville. After some chain of events, Jack takes control of Oz's body and tells the true story of the tragedy 100 years ago and of why Oz was cast into abyss, which, in summary, names Glen the hero and Jack the villain, Oz a demon and Alice and Alyss twin humans involved with the abyss that owned Oz as a plushie before he was made into a demon. Afterwards Jack takes advantage of Oz's pain and uses his power to collapse the world.

After this all this boils down to is Alice, Oz, and Alyss sacrificing themselves to negate Oz's power and save the world an they do—with Alice and Oz returning human and being reborn 100 years later being the somewhat happy ending after almost the entire cast dies. Not known to be reborn or not.

This story involves religion, insanity, loss, betrayal, faith, fate, suspense, dark, light, good, evil and all kinds of other good things. It can be a tear-jerker. Again, the amount of story I did not cover is astronomical. It definitely deserves a 10/10 and the art is amazing. There was only one plot hole and it was minuscule and in the beginning.

Would I recommend it? Yes. To all ages? Yeah. The gore isn't really too bad. I really enjoyed it and I hope if you read (or watch) you'll enjoy it too!

I hope you enjoyed this review and see you next time!

P.S: Other Alice in Wonderland references include Cheshire cat, the Queen of Hearts, Humpty Dumpty, Dormouse, quotes, the five birds and the Caucus Race, and much more...