Genius bartender Ryu Sasakura makes the most incredible cocktails anyone has ever tasted. Seeking his "Glass of God", individuals from all walks of life visit his bar. With both a compassionate ear and a godly drink, Ryu helps people with their problems.

If I may be allowed a moment of terrible pedantic nerd rage, the definition of "bartender" given in this episode made me irrationally upset. Sorry, Ryu, but the word derives from the combination of "a straight piece of rigid material long in proportion to its thickness" and "one who tends or waits upon another", the synonym of "caring" has nothing to do with it. I appreciate what the show's trying to do, but no, that is not correct.

I've never gotten around to seeing the first Bartender anime, but I know that it was generally viewed as either a nice relaxing watch or a big waste of time depending on who you asked. I was both hopeful and skeptical about this remake/reboot/rewhatever. I was hoping this premiere might sway me one way or the other, but by the time credits rolled I still wasn't sure how I felt about it.

I like the premise, an empathetic and attentive bartender making the perfect drink to soothe the nerves of whoever walks into his bar, listening to their stories and offering comfort in a quiet yet earnest manner. Unfortunately, we don't really get to see that in action through this first episode. Instead we're stuck in the framing device of a couple of beleaguered hotel employees trying to find someone that can meet their boss' incredibly vague and frankly unprofessional demands for a hotel bartender. Savvy viewers will know immediately that Ryu is going to be the guy making a "Glass of God" by the end of the episode, but by the time we actually see him working, all we have time for is him making a low-alcohol drink to help Miwa unwind. That's nice and considerate, sure, but it doesn't really live up to the godly title.

Though that divinity may also be part of the problem. I get the appeal of a story setup like this, letting us peek into different peoples' daily struggles as they try to decompress and complementing that with a thoughtfully prepared offering to ease their mind, but that only works if the delivery is understated enough to feel believable. So making Ryu out to be not just a kind soul and professional bartender, but God's gift to alcohol feels like it's going too far. Grand visual metaphors are nothing new to food/drink-based series, but having Miwa mentally teleport to a serene lake and float on air after taking one sip of a highball feels like you're overselling it. It takes the focus away from whatever human connection might exist between Ryu and his customers and puts them solely on his peerless skill.

By the time I finished, I was still intrigued, though this is definitely the kind of series that'll turn away folks looking for thrills, chills or moderately exciting spikes in drama. In other words, not a lot happens. The part of me that loves watching culinary infotainment was pretty interested in seeing how Ryu does his thing, especially since the show's music and production values are really damn good. The part of me that looks for gripping characters and narratives was left a little more parched.

I know, that's a lot of complaining for a premiere that was, in total, just okay. I like the chill vibes the opening promises, and now that we've gotten our recurring cast and premise established, hopefully the next few episodes will give a clearer idea of what the show will really be like. I may not be much for drinking (it's not an ethical or religious thing, I just don't like the taste of alcohol), but I love anthology stories that try to capture something relatable and universal through different angles. There's certainly room here to be a charming, heartening experience, bu it's just not quite hitting the right notes yet. That said, there's something about the whole vibe of this show that I'm digging, and I want to give it at least another couple episodes to try and fully win me over.

And frankly, in a season this lacking, I'll take whatever I can get.