Review of Year of the Rabbit

I think what gets me is that it's full out bizarre in some respects and then really amazingly well stylized for it's time-period. I think the really strange stuff just saps all the atmosphere out of the show and is in the end pointless to be set in any particular time period when it's so profoundly slapstick and goofy and yet have grotesque and blatantly violent and grim. For me there just isn't a balance that plays well all the time. The setup and delivery just threw me out of the narrative. This show I think would have been far better if it was played more straight without so blatantly throwing in so many gags and odd characters with completely unbelievable personas. Then there would be a better flow to the story telling. I liked it, but it feels a bit exhausting to watch. You have so many competing personas on the screen, the desperate girl who's fighting for women's liberties, the eager yet daft partner, the corrupt but competent detective, and the endlessly pursuant rival. It's a lot to cram into these rather short episodes. On top of all these conflicting characters you have a story narrative to follow. I would have liked if it was stretched out a bit to allow the characters to breath a bit and you can get familiar with them. Beyond that, it's still a really well done production, just wish it wasn't so compact.