There are currently three different entries of the Saint Seiya franchise available to stream on Netflix, so let’s clarify which is which. There’s the original Saint Seiya anime from 1986, which has received a new dub courtesy of Netflix; a prequel set over 200 years before the original anime, titled Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas; and a CGI-animated reboot titled Knights of the Zodiac: Saint Seiya, co-created by Netflix and Toei Animation. The CGI reboot premiered on July 19, 2019, and is what we’re talking about here.

For newcomers to the Saint Seiya universe (like me), all you need to know is that the goddess Athena is reincarnated every several hundred years. In the CGI reboot, a dark prophecy foretells the current incarnation of Athena, a girl named Sienna, will lead humanity to ruin. Our heroes must face down both Vander Guraad, a normal man who believes the world no longer needs gods, and the forces of Sanctuary, the knights sworn to protect Athena who have turned on her to protect humanity.

Unfortunately, there’s no way to discuss Knights of the Zodiac: Saint Seiya without first contextualizing why its ratings on sites like IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes are so low.

What Made Longtime Fans Unhappy?

With any reboot of a beloved franchise, changes are bound to upset longtime fans. The most major change here is that one of the four protagonists, a boy named Shun, is now a girl named Shaun. Writer Eugene Son stated this change was to balance the gender distribution of the main cast. I’d argue changing the feminine, sensitive, pacifist guy to a girl isn’t all that progressive, either.

However, I disagree that Shun was straightwashed, since he was never canonically gay. As a queer person myself, I understand how LGBT readings and interpretations of characters in media are meaningful. I think it’s okay to be disappointed by the change. However, I don’t think framing this as the straightwashing of a queer character is entirely fair or accurate.

The localized names are another point of contention. Seiya’s sister Seika becomes Patricia, though there’s no reason why she couldn’t keep her Japanese name like her brother. Many of the localized names are odd, such as Shaun’s brother Ikki becoming Nero and Hyoga becoming Magnus. Most secondary characters keep their original names. These changes might not matter if you aren’t familiar with or attached to the source material.

Looking at the ratings and reviews, the general consensus is that these changes ruined everything. I couldn’t disagree more. The reboot is a good starting point for newcomers who want a condensed, accessible version of the Saint Seiya franchise’s characters and themes. Its continuity is self-contained, so while some plot points reinterpret or reference parts of the original anime (which I’m watching thanks to the reboot!), no previous knowledge of the series is required.

Is It Worth Watching Anyway?

Absolutely! For starters, the original anime’s theme song was covered by The Struts for the reboot’s opening. Even people who don’t like the show agree this cover kicks butt. Secondly: it’s gorgeous! I’d put it alongside Miraculous and Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia in terms of visuals. The textures, effects, and character animation are detailed and full of life. The fight scenes are thrilling, mixing hand-to-hand combat alongside each knight’s unique set of special attacks.

Next: the show is rated TV-14, and it hits a mark that other Western cartoons – such as The Legend of Korra, Voltron Legendary Defender, and Young Justice: Invasion – missed for me. The characters regularly engage in superhuman battles, so they bleed. They cuss. Some die. Yet the show never tries to pass off excessive violence and suffering as mature or intelligent writing.

The point isn’t fighting for its own sake; the knights follow a code that forbids fighting for personal gain. Nor is the point to flaunt how much blood and shock value the creators could cram into a “kiddy show.” The plot runs on the power of friendship and means it. Seiya & co are only hurt as much as needed to raise the stakes. There are two or three particularly violent moments, which are effectively shocking without being gross.

Given the genre, many of Seiya’s fight scenes follow a predictable formula: Seiya faces a strong enemy, refuses to give up, then unlocks a new power. Plenty of other characters get in on the action, so it’s hard to complain when the combat itself is so stylish.

Overall, It’s Still Pretty Feminist

Lastly, I want to talk about Princess Sienna. I assumed a magically reincarnated princess of prophecy would have a static and passive role. I was wrong. She defies her fate and intends to save humanity with the help of our heroes. Some characters who initially attempt to carry out Sanctuary’s orders to kill her, like Magnus, come around and believe she’s serious about creating her own destiny.

Being seen only as Athena, and as a harbinger of humanity’s imminent destruction, takes a toll on Sienna. Her pain, though important, isn’t cynically exploited. Seiya, Long, Shaun, and Magnus recognize how adversely her position affects her and fight so she has a chance to prove the prophecy wrong.

That said, is this the most groundbreaking show ever, in terms of feminism or general tropes and plot? No. But does it need to be in order for viewers to have fun? Of course not. If the reboot didn’t meet your expectations, whether you’re a hardcore Saint Seiya fan or a new viewer who couldn’t get into it, that’s totally fine. But not everyone wants to or should watch it with an overly critical eye. Try to accept the reboot on its own terms before judging it.

Season 2 premiered on January 23, 2020. Prospects for a third season seem slim, considering the backlash for what I think are understandable, yet forgivable, reasons. I’d suggest watching at least the first two episodes to see what you think. As for me, I believe Knights of the Zodiac: Saint Seiya is a perfectly fun show that deserves a second chance from hardcore fans and more love from new viewers. With the season 2 finale’s cliffhanger in mind, I desperately hope there’ll be more.