While I realize that the 10 scale is hardly the standard review system, it is the one I personally prefer.  It's a system that allows for some wiggle room for quality while also being relatively simple to follow.  So, in my reviews, it functions as my professional opinion.  It accounts for the show's plot, pacing, tone, art, music, and how well executed the whole package was.  In this scale, I do my best to ignore personal bias and focus purely on the merits and faults of whatever I'm reviewing.
 

This is how the 10 Scale should be interpreted:

 

0/10 - Doesn't Exist - Void:  An incomplete, horrible failure of a show that somehow found a way to be aired.  I cannot think of a single title that achieved this score for me, so this is entirely theoretical.  If I had to imagine what a 0/10 would look like, it'd be a home video panning over a collage of scribbles while a slurring drunk attempted to dub some lines written by a toddler before holding on a single shot because the drunk has walked away screaming obscenities and left the camera on that shot until the battery dies.

 

1/10 - Appalling - Garbage:  Like titles from "the void," a 1/10 is usually an incomplete or horribly managed trainwreck.  The standard sign of this score is a brazen lack of effort on the creator's part which can be seen as mismatched mouth synch, stuttering animation, or poorly done cuts.  There is little to no joy to be found here.

 

2/10 - Terrible - Jester:  These are titles that are as messy and tone deaf as garbage but have a passing grade in at least one critical category or one mildly amusing gag.  Ignoring that one aspect, though, there's little to nothing that's actually good about the title.  Most "so bad it's good" titles fall into this category.

 

 

3/10 - Very Bad - Charlatan:  You know who I'm talking about.  I'm talking about that one person in your life who acts like he knows what he's talking about or acts like a friend but always fails to deliver when you want or need them. When a title falls into this category it is likely only capable of saying "I am part of X genre" and nothing more than that.  These are shows that were likely born from a single idea and then forgot what that idea was somewhere along the way.  Inconsistent characters, poor pacing, amateur art, and virtually nonexistent animation are also the standard of this score.

 

4/10 - Bad - Class Bully:  This is that kid who knows just enough about whatever you're into to actively mock you for enjoying it.  Titles that receive this score are usually the most upsetting to even those who are content with the basic standards.  These are titles with plots and characters that are attractive and perhaps even engaging at some point but are then ruined by either a lack or care or creativity on the creator's part.  While there might be solid art or animation, the quality likely degrades as the show goes on or you see the same scene done again and again to save budget.  This is the kind of show that likely had something good going for it, but was eventually lost to the corruption of "the void" and its drunk creative staff.

 

5/10 - Mediocre - Wallflower:   Neither bad nor good, these are titles that simply are.  Titles of this nature are about as engaging as reading a checklist.  They know what they are, what jokes to tell, what genre standards to include, and what they need to just get by because it's been done over and over by other, better shows.  They usually have solid animation, a simple and easy art style, and maybe even a plot, but these titles never strive to be anything special in their own right.  Mediocrity is the goal each and every day, and there's nothing wrong with that.

 

6/10 - Fair - Simpleton:  This is where we hit a stage of either-or on the scale.  As I see it you either have titles that are solid in every way but stick too closely to the formula to be considered good or you get legitimately good titles that tapered off at some point.  Simply put, though, these are titles that can be considered good to some degree but fail to entirely engage the audience somehow.  Most of the time, though, these are the most common titles that get pushed out by the industry and just lack originality or the proper attention they needed.

 

7/10 - Good - Childhood Friend:  While simple and relatively common for the industry, like the 6/10, it always has something about it that makes it noticeable and different from the standard.  This can be anything as simple as well-paced comedy or particularly engaging characters, or as difficult as the show's attempt to deliver some kind of message.  There's always something different or even unique about them but are still simple enough to just sit back, get cozy, and have fun with without much critical thought involved.

 

8/10 - Very Good - Scholar:  A title that knows exactly what it's doing and is nearly flawless in term of its execution.  Everything from the characters, animation, art style, and music are on point for likely all but one episode.  While similar to the 7/10 in that it has something interesting or even novel to offer, 8/10 titles typically delve into their subject matter a little more because it's message or gimmick is what drives the plot forward and separates it from the 6/10s that often mimic these other works.  Engaging, fun, but a tad more thoughtful is the name of the game here.

 

9/10 - Great - Prodigy:  Like "the scholar" this score is reserved for titles that are nearly perfect if not actually perfect.  They accomplish what they originally set out to do, have a few twists and turns, and even defy expectation for the sake of telling a memorable and noteworthy story.  Flawless in its execution, these titles either excel at the standard or find a way to make a peculiar style look good and even engage the audience on an artistic level.  There is always room for improvement with these titles with moments here and there where you think "if only X happened, it would have been even better."

 

10/10 - Masterpiece - Deus Ex:  Admittedly, the difference between this score and a 9/10 is more often than not purely subjective.  It comes down to a matter of personal preference or hype-blindness.  Every now and then, however, there are titles that have something undeniably amazing about them--titles that display a mastery of not only the process necessary to create good anime but also possess exceptional subject matter.  These are titles that have something explicitly artistic about them, making them unique and possibly even timeless.  It's hard to describe what is necessary for a show to be worthy of this score, but it often boils down to a gut feeling, one that says this is a title worth honoring that anyone could enjoy if they gave it a chance.