Black Clover (2017)

What the critics said

There are no aggregate scores in the facts, so we skip the usual Rotten Tomatoes ritual. Instead, we look at what individual reviewers actually wrote. Alex Osborn of IGN called the first episode a solid introduction, noting it lays groundwork for an empowering story about never giving up. He found the premise unoriginal, which is fair, but the execution held up. Later, Shawn Hacaga of The Fandom Post admitted the show improved significantly by episode 170, saying he was glad it turned things around. That implies the early days were rough. Critics also praised the female characters, with Ivy Rose of Anime Feminist noting the series raised the bar for depictions of female leaders. It is a guilty pleasure, according to Jeremy Looney, who sees it as a by-the-books entry that recaptures older magic. A safe bet for newcomers, if not a revolutionary one.