Ep 1. Above Aoi

In Ga-Rei -Zero- season 1 episode 1, titled "Above Aoi," the audience is introduced to the world of supernatural beings and the government agency tasked with dealing with them. The episode begins with a glimpse of a powerful entity attacking a family in their home, our main character Yomi, and her partner Kagura quickly arrive to neutralize the situation. The scene is set in modern-day Tokyo, where ghosts, demons, and otherworldly beings persist and the Tokyo Bureau of Measures is tasked with keeping citizens safe from the supernatural threats that exist.

Yomi and Kagura are members of a special task force known as the Supernatural Disaster Countermeasures Division, known popularly as the Black Shirts. The duo has been summoned to neutralize a ghost that had been terrorizing a family under mysterious circumstances. Upon their arrival, Yomi and Kagura immediately notice the ghost's unusual strength, and while Kagura tries to keep it at bay, Yomi has to seek out the source of the ghost's strength. The two eventually manage to overcome the ghost, and Yomi discovers that a human with supernatural powers was responsible for its increased strength.

The Black Shirts are soon called upon for their next mission. A series of supernatural manifestations have been appearing in different parts of Tokyo, and the cause of these anomalies is unknown. The team investigates each case, and the viewer gets to learn more about the characters and their backgrounds. The team members are revealed to have a variety of supernatural abilities, from demon summoning to psychometric readings, making the world of Ga-Rei seem even more expansive.

As the team tries to solve the mystery behind the supernatural events appearing all over Tokyo, they encounter several powerful enemies. The first such encounter comes when Yomi and Kagura run into a powerful spiritual lantern, which is possessed by a powerful demon with the ability to make people disappear. The team manages to overcome their initial shock and Yomi uses her powers to seal away the demon, but not before taking a visible toll on her.

The episode ends with the appearance of a mysterious figure, with a name reminiscent of one from Japanese folklore, who is also shown to have powers like Yomi's, revealing her motivations and perhaps shifting the show's focus going forward. The viewer is left wondering who the figure is and what she plans to do next.

Overall, episode 1 of Ga-Rei -Zero- sets the stage for a compelling and action-packed supernatural world filled with complex characters and a deep mythology. The animation is beautifully rendered, with intense action set pieces balanced with moments of quiet tension and attention to detail. The episode establishes the core concepts of the story, but there are still many mysteries left to uncover, making viewers eager to watch more.