REVIEW: ‘Helck,’ Episode 1 — “Helck The Hero”

The Demon Lord has been vanquished by a human hero. Now, to decide who will take up the mantle and lead the Demon Realm, a tournament has been called to find the strongest champion available. But when it’s revealed that the odds-on favorite is a human hero named Helck, the demon running the tournament, Vermillo, becomes determined to prevent her people from falling under the sway of a human in Helck Episode 1 from Satelight.

This series opener takes several familiar concepts and attempts to combine them in a way that forms something new. While this attempt does yield some results that could see fun and unique elements develop for viewers who stick with the series, Helck Episode 1 feels far too familiar in its presentation and narrative to stand out as an individual episode. Does that sound contradictory? Yeah, it does. So let me explain what I mean.

The potential this series lays out for future episodes comes in its main characters Helck and Vermillo. While Vermillo is initially opposed to Helck’s presence in the Demon Realm, it looks like the show is setting her up to have to accept Helck and his potential to serve as the next Demon Lord. If the series handles it right, this antagonist-to-ally arc that Vermillo and Helck go on could be interesting and fun to follow.

While the future of this duo looks promising, Helck Episode 1 delivers a less-than-thrilling introduction to the pair. Helck seems nearly perfect in every way as he overcomes all obstacles set before him, while also charming his fellow competitors. Meanwhile, Vermillo spends the episode screaming endlessly at her subordinate as she desperately tries to rig the tournament so Helck will lose. Her endless temper tantrums are intended to be comedic but never manage to be. With each explosion of her fiery temper, the character simply annoys rather than entertains.

Even Helck Episode 1‘s attempts to freshen up its plot near the end of the episode fall flat. In a bit of a twist, we get hints that perhaps the Demons aren’t actually the bad guys in this situation as the human realm launches a surprise attack on them. Even the nobility of how some demons respond to this invasion implies that the usual good/evil balance may not be what viewers would initially assume. While this serves as a fine plot point, it falls short of being truly interesting. The bad guy actually being good is a twist that sees plenty of play these days, making this hinted reveal less than noteworthy in and of itself.

The final element that fails to lift Helck Episode 1 from mediocrity is its visuals. The animation and character design here are simply fine. Nothing in the look of the world ever pops out, as the characters all feel like fairly standard fantasy fair. The animation is functional but never memorable. The displays of physical prowess that is scattered throughout the episode, as well as the many emotional outbursts that take place in this episode, come across as one would expect of a perfectly competent production.

Helck Episode 1 gets off to an okay start. While I can see where there could be potential in the show’s future, the present feels held back by the by-the-numbers presentation and some noticeably annoying moments.

Helck Episode 1 is streaming now on HIDIVE.