Sentenced to Be a Hero

Short Synopsis: “Heroes” are just criminals sentenced to immortal penal legions, and our MC is basically Judas, all stuffed into a classic dark power fantasy.

Lenlo: You know, for what first seemed a pretty standard “Slay the Demon Lord” power fantasy, I was pleasantly surprised by Sentenced. I’m kind of into the setting that’s being painted here. Criminals forced into undying, resurrectable penal legions who lose more of themselves each time they are brought back, secret weapons making pacts, legitimately cool and unique monster designs based around this weird glowing fungus. The token loli isn’t even bad! Combine all of this with a pretty good, surprisingly colorful production, and you get a pretty solid first episode. The final bit has me a bit worried about how edgy it will be, but if it can rein itself in and keep itself from going full pariah revenge power fantasy, I think Sentenced could be pretty damn good.
Potential: 70%

Kunon the Sorcerer Can See

Short Synopsis: OP MC High Magic Fantasy Harem Show, but the MC is blind. That’s it. That’s the show.

Lenlo: I’ll be frank, this is your rather standard high fantasy OP MC power fantasy. Kunon opens on this sad introduction about how our lead can’t see, and thus won’t be able to do anything or be all that great a mage, but within two minutes we’re already operating fine despite the disability, and by the end he’s already surpassing his tutor. There’s nothing special here, neither in narrative nor production, so unless you just want a standard OP MC fantasy show to veg out to, I’d dodge Kunon. It’s not worth your time.
Potential: 5%

The Daily Life of a Part-time Torturer

Short Synopsis: What if Torturers had normal lives outside the dungeon, and were hot ikemen?

Lenlo: This show is kind of just… Weird? It tries to be lighthearted fun, using the juxtaposition between how happy these guys are and the pride they take in their job, and torture of all things. But unlike a show like ‘Tis Time for “Torture”, Princess, which does this successfully, Part-time Torturer actually plays the torture straight, even trying to make out the torturers as good guys because they only torture “villains.” Basically, it’s trying to have its cake and eat it too, resulting in the whole thing falling apart. I can’t enjoy the lighthearted bits because they are talking about torture and such all the time, and there’s no suspense around the torture because the show is afraid to dive fully into it for fear of making us dislike the leads, not realizing we already do. All in all, the show just… doesn’t work.
Potential: 0%

The post Winter 2026 Impressions: Sentenced to Be a Hero, Kunon the Sorcerer Can See, The Daily Life of a Part-time Torturer appeared first on Star Crossed Anime.