Orb: On the Movements of the Earth

[Author: Alessio Zheng]

Studio: Madhouse

Licensed by: Netflix

Update: every Saturday

Background

Set in 15th-century Europe, in the kingdom of P, the “C religion” holds unquestioned power, and the geocentric model, the belief that the Earth is the centre of the universe, is considered divine truth. To question this doctrine is not just heresy, but a crime against God, punishable by torture or death.

First episode

Rafal is a remarkably intelligent boy who managed to enrol in university at the age of 12. Despite his passion for astrology, his adoptive father and his rationality push him toward studying theology, the revered and dominant field of study.

However, his path takes an unexpected turn when he meets a mysterious man who is believed to have been a sinner for conducting prohibited research and has since been forgiven. This man has a burnt face, a symbol of defiance against the prevailing religious beliefs. Despite his punishment, he hasn’t given up on his research and threatens Rafal to assist him, promising his survival in exchange for his help with observing the sky and gathering data.

Rafal, who could easily turn the man in, finds himself hesitant. His love for astrology induced him to learn more and he chooses to aid the man. That night, under the starry sky, the man introduces Rafal to a shocking theory: the Earth is not the centre of the universe – it moves, on its own axis, and around the Sun.

Personal rating based on the first episode: 8.5/10