The Marginal Service
THE MARGINAL SERVICE
Foolhardy police officer Brian Nightraider is dismissed from the force for a history of reckless behavior that ultimately resulted in his partner's death. While wallowing in self-pity, the disgraced officer receives a curious invitation from the United Nations Immigration Bureau Special Investigation Unit. He has been recruited to join the Marginal Service, a secret underground branch of the UN tasked with handling Borderlanders. Indistinguishable from humans, Borderlanders are aliens that peacefully coexist in society. But now, a Borderlander terrorist organization has emerged, manufacturing and distributing a potent drug called Confu. With the Borderlanders' ability to regenerate and blend in as humans, uncovering the drug-trafficking ring will be no easy undertaking. However, the ragtag group at the Marginal Service are not one to back down from a challenge—even as their work exposes some unexpected figures as Borderlanders. [Written by MAL Rewrite]
Synopsis
Foolhardy police officer Brian Nightraider is dismissed from the force for a history of reckless behavior that ultimately resulted in his partner's death. While wallowing in self-pity, the disgraced officer receives a curious invitation from the United Nations Immigration Bureau Special Investigation Unit. He has been recruited to join the Marginal Service, a secret underground branch of the UN tasked with handling Borderlanders. Indistinguishable from humans, Borderlanders are aliens that peacefully coexist in society. But now, a Borderlander terrorist organization has emerged, manufacturing and distributing a potent drug called Confu. With the Borderlanders' ability to regenerate and blend in as humans, uncovering the drug-trafficking ring will be no easy undertaking. However, the ragtag group at the Marginal Service are not one to back down from a challenge—even as their work exposes some unexpected figures as Borderlanders. [Written by MAL Rewrite]
Characters
Main
Main
Main
Main
Main
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Supporting
Supporting
Supporting
Trailer
Reviews(3)
CrimsonKing25
June 27, 2023
If you've watched Men in Black, Super Sentai (Power Rangers), or even Totally Spies, you know that these shows can be a bit extra with their presentation and plot. So much so that it works. So when you look at The Marginal Service, it does look like a Saturday morning cartoon that doesn't take it self too seriously and might be fun. Here's my thing though: Make it good. Because there is nothing remotely good about The Marginal Service. I am really trying my best to remember what I even liked about this anime other than the idea of the summary. Not plot, the IDEA ofit. Because on paper, I think it could've been a decent or fun anime to watch that doesn't take itself seriously. And it doesn't but to a bad degree. I tried watching it thinking it was a parody of the shows I mentioned earlier but I can't wrap my head around that idea. Even calling it a parody is an insult to actual parodies. The only good thing I can say about it are the OP and ED songs. The characters (if you could even call them that) are nothing but caricature of archetypes, so much so that I could barely even tell you anything remotely interesting about them other than one is obsessed with protein. Zeno annoyed me to no end, I could care less about anyone else, and Peck, the mascot character was just the typical perv but a rodent (as if that's any better). Lyra is probably the only character I liked, not because she's best girl (actually she is best girl) but she's more likeable than the others. The plot itself was just not good. Half the time it was the cast getting into weird situations that either takes away from the enjoyment or it gets the point where you stop caring halfway through an episode. It's easy for me to just watch a show that doesn't take itself seriously and just enjoy it for what it is but this show just doesn't do it for me. The anime isn't bad that it's good or funny. It's just bad. I get that it was trying to be like a parody of American action tv shows, even borrowing some elements from Super Sentai. But it didn't work. With a lackluster cast of characters and a forgettable plot, The Marginal Service isn't even worth the time or effort.
