I'm going to start out by saying that this series does NOT deserve the bad name it has. Yes... it is incredibly controversial, yes... I am disgusted at how frustrated I am that there wasn't more fan service.
Lets go:
Story: 7. While the story is, on the surface, unique. It is just another slice of life with a very unique twist. There's a yandere and tsundere character. One guy becomes the object of affection, the whole "will they/won't they" thing is replaced by "should he/shouldn't he?"
I think the reason I gave this show a 7 for story instead of a higher score is because, while it does a good job of it, it doesn't really give you a sense of moral ambiguity which I was kind of looking for. The whole, it is wrong but should it be, but it is, but why, and why not. It doesn't do a very good job of asking the *big* questions related to the subject matter, overall though, the story is much deeper than you would assume. No spoilers.
I laughed, I cried, and I got very confused in the pants.
Art: 8
Above average, better than a lot but nothing special. Definitely not a 10. The backgrounds are fully realized. The outfits and clothing are well put together, the character designs are quite good, the body fluidity and hair movements are quite life like.
Sound :9
I watched this as a blueray rip the sound quality was great.
Character: 7
Like I said in my story section, this series is very similar to many others with a very very unique twist.
That said, the characters are fully realized, they are not shallow or one dimensional. Each character has a deep backstory and and the show does a good job of fleshing them out over 12 episodes.
I enjoy that the motives behind the characters are left up to personal interpretation to a degree. The show gives you the backstory to work with and you let your imagination fill in the blanks. I would give this a higher score, honestly just for character development but it lost a few points for having standard tropes. The tsundere character, the shy character and the boisterous to hide her insecurity character... the backstory made them unique and enjoyable but they are pretty standard.
Enjoyment: 6
This.
Show.
Will.
Test.
You.
You know it's wrong to root for their relationship, you know it's wrong to get frustrated at Aoki for doing the "right" thing. The characters are developed in a way that forces you to reconsider your stance, or at least... in this one case, compels you to make a moral exception.
I would have enjoyed this series much more if it didn't cast doubt on everything I knew to be right and proper. Should a sexual relationship develop? Fuck no. Is intimacy with a 3rd grader and love possible? Do they deserve it? A character like Rin is so mature in so many ways and has been through so much that forced her to be beyond her years.
The whole series will challenge you... that's why it got a 6, even though I really really really enjoyed the series (including the short season 2 and the OVAs) for that and that alone I scored my enjoyment quiet low.
Overall: 8
If you can get past the subject matter and enter this series with an open mind. Do it. It is an emotional roller-coaster that will blind side you with left turns, flips and corkscrews. show less
That's my review.
You're welcome |