About midway through, when they get into the main character's backstory by cutting between her actual life and a shadow puppet play of an old Japanese parable, you really see the show's artistry shine. The show's core narrative is rock solid. The animation is superb. The characters are genuinely fun to root for and the twists in the plot keep you engaged. Heroes and villains and bystanders alike all have a compelling role to play.

If I could make one change, it would be to soften some of the more unbelievable stunts the main character manages to accomplish. There are definitely moments that stretch credulity, bleeding over into Shōnen anime. But its not out of line with your Cowboys Bebop or Samurais Afro or Champloo, so I'll bite my tongue.