The Evil Lord of the Galactic Empire – A Villain So Good It Hurts

★ Narrative – 7.5/10

At first glance, it’s standard power fantasy fare: reincarnated MC, empire politics, OP status. But what saves Evil Lord from generic mediocrity is its genre-conscious wit. Liam’s internal monologues are darkly comedic; he tries so hard to be a cold despot, yet his empire flourishes under his misunderstood “evil” reforms. The satire isn’t subtle—it pokes fun at both Star Wars-style nobility and Overlord-tier edgelord MCs.

Still, the series stumbles with its pacing in the second arc. Some political subplots are introduced with flair but dropped midstream. Side characters often exist solely to praise Liam’s “villainy,” making them more chorus than cast.

★ Animation & Art – 6.8/10

Let’s not sugarcoat it: this is where the Empire starts to rust.

The visuals hover around serviceable, with sharp designs during stills but noticeable stiffness in action sequences. Mecha dogfights lack kinetic thrill, and while the noble costumes and imperial architecture feel inspired by Legend of the Galactic Heroes, the execution is uneven. A few episodes suffer from awkward compositing and cut corners.

That said, character expressions—especially Liam’s smug grins and “evil lord” glares—are delightfully over-the-top, adding much-needed flavor.

★ Characters – 8.0/10

Liam is the show. His warped sense of morality is hilarious and strangely endearing. Watching him rationalize his accidental good deeds as “perfect evil” is a treat.

Supporting cast ranges from charming (his loyal AI butler, Marie) to one-note (a rival noble who exists purely to get owned). The heroine, Rosetta, is underdeveloped but holds potential—especially once her arc intertwines with the rebellion plot.

The most memorable character? The narrator. A mysterious omniscient entity that guides Liam with malicious glee. He’s the devil on Liam’s shoulder, and his smug commentary adds ironic contrast to the narrative.

★ Sound & Music – 7.2/10

OP “Darkness Crown” slaps with an orchestral-electro hybrid—equal parts grandiose and tongue-in-cheek. The BGM feels like a space opera trying to cosplay as a villain origin story, which oddly works.

Voice acting is above average. Liam’s VA nails the line between delusional villainy and accidental heroism. The narrator’s oily, godlike tone is pure velvet.

★ Themes & Tone – 8.5/10

Behind the jokes lies a sharp commentary on intent vs perception. Liam wants to rule with an iron fist, yet because he's just competent and logical, he's hailed as a just leader. This accidental subversion becomes the show’s driving satire. The anime dances between parody and genuine world-building, occasionally dipping into LogHorizon-level depth when it discusses imperial policies or ethics of leadership.