Common Name: Jigoku Shoujo
Alternative Names: Hell Girl
Score: 8/10, 5/5
Length: 3 Seasons of 26 episodes
Genre: Horror, Mystery, Supernatural
Summary: There is a website spoken of if hushed tones and quiet teenage gossip that promises to send whoever's name is entered into will be sent to Hell. However, there are a few lesser known truths about the site and its use. First, only those with a strong grudge can access the site. Second, whoever uses this service will also condemn themselves to hell, but will still be able to live out their life unlike their victim. Finally, the site is moderated by one Enma Ai, the titular Hell girl who is tasked to deliver these souls to Hell by any means necessary. How she attained these powers and who she really is though, will remain a mystery though, even to her.
Review: Though it sounds like a single, silly horror story, Jigoku Shoujo found a way to stretch itself across three full seasons, and it does it pretty well for the most part. While yes, it starts as something like an episodic horror, it slowly grows into something more interesting and engaging as more and more truths are made known until there is nothing left to know. At least that's the case for the first two season; the third...leaves a lot to be desired. Putting that aside though, Jigoku Shoujo strangely became a rather enjoyable more than frightful, as the horrific becomes common place and practically cathartic at points. Though Ai, herself, remains fairly enigmatic, the audience grows to love her assistants who are as dedicated to her as they are each other. If you can tolerate seeing a dark and horrible image of humanity, you might just find the denizens of Hell to be far more likable and human than the people of the mortal world.