26 June 2017: I think I would like Atom: The Beginning more if it did not start at the beginning
Well, it makes sense given that it's the sixth of the "A Ten" series.
I feel as if I should enjoy Atom: The Beginning more as a matter of general principle. After all, it has such highly influential and historically important roots that I feel compelled to watch it regardless of its merits. Never mind that I'm only passably familiar with the original content, and have basically watched or read none of it. It's a backwards approach to things, to be sure. Nevertheless, Atom: The Beginning is airing now (well, soon ending now at this point), and getting into the franchise out of order seems okay since it's a prequel.
Ran isn't actually much younger than Motoko.
Unfortunately, the show itself is not particularly compelling. It is absolutely nice and fine, but also somewhat slow and not particularly engaging. I enjoy little bits of the series more than I actually like it as a whole. For example, I like how Motoko gallavants around in clothes which are clearly too small for her, and I like how Ran is quietly obsessed with electronics and building stuff, even though I think she may be a robosexual. I like how Hiroshi has Cyrano's nose and nobody seems to notice (except Motoko, subconsciously). And I like how everyone refers to A106 as A Ten Six.
Geniuses at work.
Unfortunately, not a whole lot happens in this show before it entered a tournament arc which I assume will wrap up the series next week or the week after with the show's final episode. It really feels as if Atom: The Beginning is a show that needs to run for 50 or more episodes, considering how lightly invested I am in it after 10 episodes. I'm almost positive I would enjoy this a lot more if I was more familiar with Tezuka Osamu's work. Does this mean any failings with Atom: The Beginning are my own? I suppose so. Like I said, the show does everything competently well, and there's nothing I can identify which I could accuse it of doing wrong. Nevertheless, it's a show I would have stopped watching quite a long time ago were it not for its heritage.
