This is a show that had a terrible capsule description, in that you thought you were getting into the thrilling and exciting world of…negotiations! Yes, I can feel you getting all a-quiver as we delve into land sovereignty issues and treaty discussions. Fortunately, this series is nothing like that at all. In fact, it is a rather tense and terse drama about meeting and dealing with an extra-terrestrial who possesses enormous powers. This is “Seikai Suru Kado”, (stylized as “KADO: The Right Answer”).

This is a show that has an Episode #0 and I strongly suggest you watch that first. Now, it doesn’t do much in promoting the show, but you do get to see our hero in action, Kōjirō Shindō, and why he has earned such high marks as a negotiator in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. You also get to see the incident that propels him towards this uncertain future, when, while taking off at Narita Airport, the Kado, a gigantic cube 2 km a side, lands on the tarmac and swallows up the plane that they were flying in.

We then meet Yaha-kui zaShunina (at least it’s a better name than Qhuuikhuui or Treiml’zk or some other weird alien name), who is from the anisotropic. His desire is to help humanity move forward. But is that the only goal? Much is revealed when little is revealed (and how Zen is that?) Shindo acts as a negotiator for Yaha in trying to get concessions from the Japanese government and how to best implement these ‘gifts’ that Yaha has to offer.

But is Shindo being manipulated by Yaha? Has Shindo allowed himself to be blinded by all of this? I found this a very compelling series, the real cat-and-mouse approach to the destiny of the world. What really is that lofty goal? And with each gift that is presented, more conflict and confusion arises, not only within the Japanese government, but with the world in general. How can humanity best use these gifts and how will this change the very fabric and direction of society? There seems to be no Prime Directive with this one, as we hurtle to a rather strange and convoluted conclusion that compelled me to watch the last two episodes twice.

It reminded me of the ending of “2001”, in that things were left kind of open to interpretation as to the full conclusion of events. I want you to see this series, except for Episode 6.5, as that is a recap episode and can be avoided. The rest of it unspools in a superb political drama, as it is rife with deceptions and feints. It also holds up well to binge watching, which might be a better way to see it. The artwork feels rather CG, in that actions and reactions are kind of laggy, but it seems to fit in well with what they want to tell, potentially the robotic nature the future has to offer, but the presentation of the KADO and all the internal areas look magnificent, in how it seems alive, an entity of its own.

I would opt for the binging, as a lot of the problems that are encountered are propelled forward with greater urgency that taking it poco a poco. And as I have said, you may have to watch the last two episodes a couple of times to make sure you do not miss anything.

Much like Shindo and the rest of the world, you will have to adapt to the changing reality that is all about you.

On a scale of 1 to 10:

Artwork           7 (The Kado looks great; everyone else is a stiff)
Plot                  8 (Good reworking of a standard story)
Pacing              8 (Deceptive in its approach)
Effectiveness   7 (Ending a bit hard to follow and swallow)
Conclusion      8 (It ends, it really ends)
Fan Service     0 (A similar show would be “Honey and Clover”)
Bingability    9 (Things play out a lot better)

Overall           8 (Good story told well)

And remember, it’s first run until you’ve seen it. What is the anisotropic?