I'm a Mighty Behemoth, Living as a Kitten with an Elf – Episodes 1-3

When I watched the first episode of Beheneko, I thought I was in for some junk food. This series presents itself with the triumphant presence of a bag of potato chips. Because I guarantee you've seen almost everything this series has to offer in other, better fantasy series.

We've already seen series where a character is reincarnated as an animal, fantasy stories with a game interface for acquiring skills, and blonde elf girls with breasts larger than their heads.

I was so bored during the first episode because the series does nothing interesting with its general premise, and the pacing is so slow. Yet, a whole lot is covered in roughly twenty-three minutes.

The problem is that everything that happens is done with the enthusiasm of a wrung-out towel. We're squeezing the most out of the scenes to reach the episode limit.

I feared this would be the kind of series that would be hard to review. The worst series I have to discuss are the ones that have nothing interesting to say. I'd rather watch a train wreck or something – at least that's trying to do something interesting – than a series struggling with tired ideas. I wish I could go back to the person I was before I watched episode two of this series.

Opening Credits

This series has something that sets it apart from the rest. I can't say I've ever seen a fantasy story where a main character so openly wanted to shag a cat. There's no vague subtext or entanglements when we get to episode two.

To those of you who felt weird after the first episode, I can only say that your feelings are justified. It's probably worse than you ever thought.

I thought people were exaggerating or overreacting to the occasionally strange scenes from episode one and even the first half of episode two. Yes, our elf protagonist, Aria, has a moment or two where she stares longingly at our main character's testicles and feels aroused by them because he licked her ear.

The moment they introduced the idea of interspecies breeding, they wasted no time justifying every conceivable fear. With the subtlety of a sledgehammer to the face, Aria explicitly says she wants her cat to grow big and strong so he can take her the first time. After watching this episode, I can confirm that I actually got up from my seat and walked away from my desk.

I needed ten seconds to think about how I got here. Even Aria's friend is surprised by her comment, but that's okay because less than five minutes later, she's just as infatuated with Tama for the most arbitrary reasons.

Elemental Cat Tama

Although our protagonist, Tama, has retained all memories of his previous life, he cannot communicate with anyone. Most people think he's an elemental cat who can use magic. Little do they know that this feline creature is far more intelligent than anyone else in the series, or is he?

Perhaps the series could have used a bit more quirkiness if Tama could talk to everyone, but he doesn't do anything you wouldn't expect from a normal cat. They could have made Tama a normal cat, and chances are Aria would still want to have sex with him.

I'll give the author credit for intending all of this as an overarching joke, but apart from the initial shock value, it's neither funny nor creative. Every time it comes up, I feel increasingly uncomfortable.

Maybe it's supposed to contrast with Tama's personality, a kind and virtuous knight. I don't mind him as a protagonist, even if he's a little bland, and I at least respect the fact that he has a solid sense of honor that he tries to uphold.

The author seems to have a basic understanding of storytelling, as the monster introduced in the first episode returns in a relevant way at the end of the third episode to create a cliffhanger. The supporting characters also seem fun, like the guild owner and his friend.

The sad thing is that despite some good moments in this series, I have to constantly remind myself that these moments are shared with a main character who isn't afraid to make it clear on numerous occasions that she wants to have sex with her cat.

Conclusion

I pray that the series is more than just that. I pray that there's something else that stands out in this series that I can latch onto. Because I don't think you want to hear how angry or annoyed I am about this series every week.

Or maybe you do, and that's why you voted for the show. If so, I hate you all, and I'll make sure to hold you all responsible for my therapy sessions. God, I wish I could go back to thinking this was just boring.