The Defective (2021)

Recommended if you like:

• Story set in futuristic world
• Space opera
• Bromance (the original novel is danmei)

What I Like

• The setting of the world is interesting. This is a rare space opera donghua with interstellar alliance, mind-link technology called Eden, numerous galaxies, space pirates, and space battle. In this world, there is Eden system that people can access through neural link. The Eden system monitor everything, including people’s mental health, adjusting hormon, etc to make people who connect with it free from stress, this make human life span with Eden system to be 300 years.
• The main character, Lu Bixing, has “empty-brain syndrom” where it was difficult for him to connect through neural network & pilot a mech. But he has overcome it & now become a school principal who dedicate his life to teach other “defective” to navigate this futuristic world. While Lin Jinheng is the ex-general of Interstellar Alliance who can control dozens of mech because of his superior neural network ability that can even ousted people’s connection to the mechs.

My Other Comments

• This donghua is a case where the original novel has grand world building and interesting story but the adaptation failed miserably to bring it out due to bad script and not-so-good animation. The donghua just isn’t good at explaining about empty-brain syndrome, the defectives, how the Eden system works & science in general when it is one of the main cornerstone of the donghua. The animation also change key scenes that define the main message of the novel. No wonder it has a not-so-flattering score on Biilibili when the people there tend to glaze other donghua. I still feel it’s watchable tho, albeit messy.
• I’m really curious about Lin Jingshu, the twin sister of Lin Jinheng. Too bad she doesn’t have much screentime.

Other Fun Facts

This donghua is adapted from popular novel by author Priest

Link to watch

Bilibili: https://www.bilibili.tv/en/play/1014088?s_locale=en_ID&from=COPY&jump_type=0

Youtube: