DARK MOON THE BLOOD ALTAR [Season 1 Episodes 1-2]

Alright, let’s talk about Dark Moon: The Blood Altar Season 1, Episodes 1-2. First off, if you’re into vampire tropes, high school drama, and a dash of mystery, this might be your vibe—but it’s not without its flaws, according to fans.

The anime, based on the popular manhwa (webtoon) by HYBE and Naver Webtoon, drops us into Decelis Academy, a school with a secret: seven boys are hiding their vampire identities. Enter Sooha, a new student who hates vampires (for reasons we’re still figuring out) and immediately gets tangled up with these mysterious guys. The first two episodes set up the tension between the vampires, Sooha, and a rival group of werewolves from another school, Sunshine Academy.

Now, let’s get real—fans are split. Some are loving the eye candy (seriously, every character is stunning), the catchy opening and ending themes (shoutout to the music!), and the classic “vampire harem” trope. One MyAnimeList user gushed, “Everyone is SO pretty, but they’re also very charismatic… The feeling of tension when both groups saw each other was so well done!” Another added, “I’m enjoying this series so far. I’m wondering what Sooha is.”

But others are calling it out for being too cliché. “Twilight: Harem Edition” was a common joke, with comments like, “If it wasn’t for tropes, this show wouldn’t have any content at all.” The vampire-werewolf rivalry? Super overdone, according to some: “Vampire and werewolf hating each other is such a stereotype writing.” Even the murder mystery subplot didn’t impress everyone—one fan said, “Nothing too crazy about this show yet.”

Production-wise, the animation is sleek (as expected from a HYBE project), and the voice acting (despite some audio glitches in the English dub on Crunchyroll) is solid. But let’s not ignore the elephant in the room: the pacing. Episodes 1-2 feel slow for some, with more focus on character introductions than plot progression. “This episode was pretty lame, I can’t lie,” one user admitted.

So, who’s this for? If you’re a teen looking for a fun, visually appealing anime with supernatural romance and don’t mind predictable tropes, give it a shot. The fanbase is already passionate, and there’s enough mystery (like Sooha’s hidden abilities and the vampires’ pasts) to keep you hooked. But if you’re craving deep storytelling or originality, you might want to skip this one.

Overall, Dark Moon: The Blood Altar is a guilty pleasure—flawed, but entertaining. It’s like that snack you know isn’t good for you, but you can’t stop eating. Will it get better? Only time will tell, but for now, it’s a solid 6/10: pretty, fun, but not groundbreaking.

P.S. The opening song is a bop—add it to your playlist immediately. 🎶

(Disclaimer: This review is based on fan discussions and early episode reactions. Your mileage may vary!)