Lord of Mysteries: Why Its Beautiful Graphics Can't Hide Its Confusing Beginning

People are both excited and confused by the coming of Lord Of Mysteries, the widely awaited donghua based on the popular web novel Cuttlefish That Loves Diving. The show will start on June 28, 2025, with two episodes on Crunchyroll and other platforms. It promises to be a visual feast with a dark, complicated tale. It does deliver on the visual front, with animation that really shines out, but the slow start and too much material can be hard to sell to new viewers.

From the very first frames, I was really amazed by how good the animation was. The gloomy lighting, moving camera angles, and realistic 3D scenery make this steampunk Victorian world feel like a movie. It's evident that Chinese animation is getting a lot better, and Lord of Mysteries wants to be a big player on the world stage. But a show needs more than simply nice graphics to really get people interested, especially one as complicated as this.

The story moves very slowly, but the visuals of Lord of Mysteries are amazing.

The stunning animation might not be enough for people who are new to it.

The animation in Lord of Mysteries is definitely very good. The character designs are detailed, and the environs feel colorful, strengthening the ambiance of this universe replete with steam, dreadnoughts, and occult horrors. The studio that made it, B.CMAY Pictures, has really excelled themselves. The fluid motions and seamless processes make the environment come to life in amazing ways. It has a visual quality that makes you want to keep watching to see what beautiful scene comes next.

But this great visual quality can't make up for the bad story choices in the first few episodes. The first two episodes are said to cover more than 40 chapters of the source material, which is a huge amount of stuff to fit into just over an hour of screen time. It was like being plunged into the deep end without a life raft for someone like me who hasn't read the online novel. It's hard to take in all the world-building, character introductions, and power structure explanations that come at you so quickly.

The director has also said that there were problems with the pacing and that "painful compromises had to be made" in the first few episodes because of structural problems. They are sure that episodes from four onward will seem more solid, but the early confusion could discourage new viewers from really getting into the series.

Lord of Mysteries has an interesting premise that needs more time to develop.

Lord of Mysteries: Why Its Beautiful Graphics Can't Hide Its Confusing Beginning image 3

Zhou Mingrui's journey as Klein Moretti is interesting, but it's hard to follow at first.

The idea behind Lord of Mysteries is very interesting. It is about Zhou Mingrui, a modern Chinese guy who wakes up in the body of Klein Moretti in a different Victorian-era world. This universe is a mix of steampunk and Lovecraftian horror. People can get supernatural powers by following "Beyonder" paths and drinking potions. Klein wants to know how he got there and how to get back home, all while dealing with secret societies, fighting churches, and strange powers.

There is a lot of room for stories in this rich, complicated universe. People like the book because it has a complicated world and an interesting plot. But when you change a story that is so full of details, it's usually preferable to take your time. I wanted more chances to breathe, to appreciate the subtleties of the universe, and to relate to Klein's initial confusion. Because the presentation moves so quickly, even important information can get lost in the bustle.

Some early reactions from people who have read the book say that the fast pace doesn't get in the way of the experience, but I think it makes it much harder for new readers to understand what's going on. A show with such a unique power system and dark themes needs to build up slowly to really get people interested.

Will Lord Of Mysteries be as popular as Solo Leveling?

Lord of Mysteries: Why Its Beautiful Graphics Can't Hide Its Confusing Beginning image 4

The "Donghua" label and the fact that it is dubbed could limit its reach.

A lot of people have been talking about how Lord of Mysteries is like the hit Solo Leveling, and some have even called it "the next Solo Leveling." Both are based on popular web novels, and both have gotten a lot of attention. But there is an important difference: Lord of Mysteries is a "donghua," which means Chinese animation, whereas Solo Leveling is a Japanese anime. This may seem like a small thing, but it may have a big effect on how popular a show is in Western markets.

Japanese anime is still the most popular type of anime in the West, and casual viewers often prefer Japanese dubs. When it first came out, Lord of Mysteries had English subtitles, however Crunchyroll said the English dub would be "TBA." Some fans say that the absence of instant dub availability, together with "poor subtitles" and "lack of promotion" from Crunchyroll, could make it less popular. It's really bad that not many people will see it, because the animation is really good and should be viewed by as many people as possible.

Even though there were some problems at first, Lord of Mysteries has a solid base in its well-known source material and beautiful visuals. The director says that the pace problems will get better as the season goes on. If this is true, then this series might still be a great contribution to the fantasy genre. I hope that as the story goes on, it will give its complicated plot and interesting characters the space they need to really shine, so that new viewers can completely appreciate its one-of-a-kind vision.

Lord of Mysteries episodes come out every week on Fridays in the US and Saturdays in the UK on Crunchyroll.

Questions and Answers About Lord of Mysteries

Lord of Mysteries: Why Its Beautiful Graphics Can't Hide Its Confusing Beginning image 5

What kind of book is Lord of Mysteries?

Set in a universe that looks like Victorian England, Lord of Mysteries mixes steampunk, Lovecraftian horror, mystery, and dark fantasy.

Where can I see Lord of Mysteries?

You can stream Lord of Mysteries on Crunchyroll, Tencent Video, Muse, and WeTV.

Is Lord of Mysteries a donghua or an anime?

The word "donghua" means "Chinese animation," and Lord of Mysteries is one of these. It is made in China, although it is comparable to Japanese anime.