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Jun 20, 2022
I had high hopes since I'd heard that Lovely Complex was a classic, but I was mostly disappointed. The idea is cute and unique, but the characters act in such immature and unrealistic ways that it falls flat. The pacing is strange, where time passes extremely quickly but the romance progresses at a snail's pace. I found myself thinking that they both deserved better multiple times, which didn't really lead me to cheer for the couple. It also wraps up in a weirdly unsatisfying way that doesn't take into account the complications of the characters' futures. The art was boring and childish (some of the
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panels were very janky) and the soundtrack didn't stick out to me. On the bright side, the dynamic between the leads is very entertaining, the friend group is healthy and wholesome, and a lot of the elements of the pair's relationship (even beyond the height difference) are quite uncommon and refreshing. I had a few good laughs, but this show definitely lands at the bottom of my romcom tier list.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Aug 27, 2021
I honestly really enjoyed watching this show!! I'd say it's a very well-crafted and cute reverse harem that lacks sexualization and cliches. The characters are all very intriguing, and the different ways they join the group reveals a lot about their personalities and how they develop. The part I liked the most was watching the lead mature and strengthen, going from a brat I couldn't stand to a warrior I could esteem. There's lots of eye candy since the show revolves around one girl and like a million gorgeous guys, so that's definitely a plus.
As for what I didn't really like, there are a few
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things. The art was overly detailed in some panels and kind of wonky-looking in others. The music was a little bit distracting at times. The main issue I had was that the show didn't really have a POINT for most of the season. Why is she doing what she's doing?? It was fun to watch them fight and explore, but I couldn't really find the purpose for their actions. Oh, and as a final comment, it's listed as a "romance" anime, but think of it as kind of an Ouran High School Host Club situation... not particularly romantically satisfying.
Overall, it made me smile and wish for another season! I recommend!!
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Mar 2, 2021
I HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND WATCHING WatTheWut's VIDEO ABOUT NISEKOI ON YOUTUBE!! It's the best analysis of Nisekoi I've ever seen and it really puts the story into perspective.
Listen listen listen...
YES, most of the chapters after chapter 60ish and before chapter 200ish are filler. YES, I skipped many of those. YES, almost all the characters besides Chitoge and Raku get very little development. YES, the excessive cutesy harem members are frustrating, and YES, some parts were a bore or torture to read. HOWEVER, I love this manga, even if it's incredibly flawed, for one reason... Chitoge and Raku.
I absolutely adore their journey together. Even though
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it was dragged out way, way too long, the fact that they go from being enemies to best friends to lovers fills my heart with so much happiness. I love their interactions. I love Raku's small personality traits, like his love for fishing and soba, and how they gradually soften Chitoge's heart. I've never read/seen a story in which two characters come to match each other's energy so well, change for each other so much, and become true friends that know everything about each other before getting romantic. It's mind-boggling how the entirety of their high school years pass before anyone in the harem confesses, and I will say that that was particularly annoying, but I say don't let that deter you!
The best advice I can give is read the first 60 chapters or so. If you're team Chitoge, look up the chapters where Chitoge's the main focus, read those and maybe a few others if you're looking for more plot, and enjoy. It's best to not get lost in the complex and useless weeds of the bland harem, but I think there's a really comforting gem to be found in Chitoge and Raku's development. I always end up coming back to them every so often, and I definitely think their intensely dramatic road to love is worth a read.
P.S. The people that say that Chitoge's a violent brute and that it doesn't make sense for Raku to fall in love with her abuse haven't really read into the manga at all. SHE CHANGES SO MUCH, and HE INSTIGATES THE VIOLENCE 99% OF THE TIME (see the chapters where Raku has amnesia and is more docile, SHE DOESN'T HIT HIM ONCE). I agree that it's hard to believe that an MC could fall for a tsundere most of the time, but this story is not one of those cases in my mind. The punches are comedic, with bruises lasting for a panel and then disappearing. The ones that really count have a different vibe and there's a clear difference. Chitoge was thrown into a very uncomfortable situation with an extremely uncooperative guy and the two sort of break each other in at the beginning, but I don't think the way they interact is triggering or dumb in any way.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Jan 23, 2021
*NO REAL SPOILERS*
This show left me feeling more empty than anything else, but I did want to mention some things that I think are important to consider before watching Banana Fish. I found out about this anime on TikTok, through countless videos of people crying in pure agony at their screens after finishing the last episode. What I saw and read made me start the show thinking that it was going to be a heartbreaking BL, but I was quite wrong, and these misconceptions ended up kind of ruining my experience. It's not a BL; it's a dark and disturbing tale of gangs and trauma,
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with an incredibly strong and loving bond forming between two characters (which many INTERPRET as romantic). Don't prep yourself excessively for an ending that will rip you apart. I spent the entire series mulling over the fact that something sad would close the show, and I ended up not shedding a single tear because of how focused I was on the expectation of it. Just take each episode one at a time and enjoy each moment without thinking "everyone says that they cried buckets, I wonder when it's going to hit me too," because you'll just end it feeling disappointed.
There is an incredible variety of characters, with many being absolutely lovable and quite a few being anger-inducing devils (still dynamic and human though). The art feels a bit vintage, with the style being super sleek and an overall joy to look at.
The only real issue I have with Banana Fish is the dizzying depth of detail that it throws onto its audience at times. There are all these complex deals between governments and gangs and every character has a different motive that ends up changing at least once or twice, so I was left utterly lost multiple times. After rewinding certain explanations repeatedly and still not understanding them, I just gave up and decided to focus on the characters and what they did in response to these threats I couldn't comprehend. It might be easier to analyze for someone else, but it's definitely not something you can watch while doing another activity. It demands your entire focus.
Ultimately, I really enjoyed watching it. Even if I didn't get that liberating and violent crying session that I was lowkey hoping for, I truly fell in love with the characters. The music (especially the first opening/ending) pumped the story up to a whole other level. It was dramatic, unsettling, and bittersweet; I highly recommend it!
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Dec 1, 2020
This movie was quite difficult to watch. I was captivated at the beginning, truly enjoying the odd relationship that formed between this sweet, pushover of a guy and this horrible, manipulative bitch. I liked that he didn't seem even remotely interested in her, and I was genuinely hoping for the slight sexual tension between him and his male best friend to flourish into something more, but alas... they both fell head over heels for the saucy minx. I was utterly shocked and frustrated when he pulled these seemingly lifelong feelings out of his ass in the end and turned the personality I thought I knew
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into something much more impressionable and weak. The slap was SO WELL DESERVED and his actions at the movie's close completely undermine it.
I only have two positive things to say: (1) I guess it shows the true influence of manipulation/shallowness and really highlights how a toxic person behaves. It's one of those movies that leaves you more disgusted and disappointed in the characters than happy and bubbly, but at least it gives a little bit of insight on how the world works. People get into unhealthy relationships all the time, and you kind of see the thought process of someone involved in a similar situation. "She's pretty" turns into "I'll love her forever, no matter how self-centered, vile, and just plain cruel she is." (2) The art is AMAZING. I could rewatch this movie (and probably will) a hundred times just to look at the intricate pastel frames of post-war Japan. It's truly soothing to the eye and its visuals definitely win it a few more points.
I don't really have much else to say. It left me feeling kind of empty and made me lose a bit of faith in the human race, but it's very pretty.
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
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Jul 22, 2020
My thoughts on this series (rlly minor spoilers):
The story may seem unrealistic, but I think it makes sense with the personalities of the characters. A popular and sadistic guy, Kyoya, agrees to act as the fake boyfriend for a bubbly and airheaded girl, Erika, just because he is bored out of his mind and finds the situation amusing. A normal guy would never agree to that, but he honestly has nothing to lose, and she's so ditzy and desperate that she'd be willing to ask something as absurd as that, so I have no complaints in that regard.
What doesn't make sense to me is how
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they manage to enter a real relationship and remain together. Kyoya shows barely any affection for her and is verbally abusive to an extent that any reasonable person wouldn't be able to stand. While he does get better over time, and watching that growth is the thing I enjoyed the most about this series, he still says so little and acts so cold that I don't understand how Erika could endure it. I also hate seeing her worship him and having to watch her go from being reasonably upset with him to completely in love with him after he gives her the slightest bit of attention. I can't believe someone wouldn't get tired of being treated like a pastime instead of a lover for so long.
The rivals that appear are actually all good in my opinion, but there were so many! Usually there's like two, but I think Kusakabe, Kasai, Terapon, and Rena can all be considered rivals. It was interesting to see the main couple manage meeting others who seemed better suited for them, and I liked the way things worked out. The members of the main couple's friend group are all well-developed and interesting, even though some (like Kamiya) were really annoying.
What I did appreciate was the fact that there wasn't an insanely heartbreaking or heart-wrenching series of events. In many mangas, like Ao Haru Ride or Kimi ni Todoke, a member of the "main couple" starts dating someone else seriously and then realizes they loved the one they were originally with. Reading the chapters where the couple you've read about for so long is separated is literal torture, but I was glad to see that something like that did not happen in this series.
The art was really pretty and consistent, and I adored the post-high school ending.
In all, I feel like I kept reading the story just to see Kyoya's short moments of vulnerability and affection, and I was pretty satisfied with what I saw. It's a cute story about a very unlikely high school relationship and the struggle of growing up; not bad!
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Jun 28, 2020
I read this manga just after finishing "Ao Haru Ride," so I have something to immediately compare it to, and I want to say that this one was much, much better. Even though it's frustrating and slow at times, like high school love, it's still extremely refreshing and heart warming.
One of the main things that I enjoyed about the series was the lack of fan service and the focus on friendships along with romance. It isn't your average "shy unpopular girl and experienced popular boy fall for each other" story, specifically because the main character is a bit more than just shy. Because of
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her inability to interact with others and her constant overthinking and distancing, I came to believe that Sawako must have serious social anxiety. This makes the fact that she is able to form lasting bonds with people and break out of her shell exciting and sweet for the audience. She goes on an extreme mental journey where she learns to believe in herself and trust her peers, so we see more than just a crush altering her life.
I personally liked all of the characters and the ways they changed. As I said before, Sawako is quiet and innocent, but she's also strong from the beginning. Even though everyone was scared of her, she wouldn't stop trying to befriend them, and Kazehaya saw that. Kazehaya initially seems like the perfect hottie who is inherently nice and approachable, but he's also selfish and completely at a loss when it comes to being in a relationship. We get to see Ayane change from someone who sees no value in herself and is in abusive relationships just to pass time to someone who studies and works hard and gets nervous around someone she likes. Ryu stays quiet and balanced throughout the whole series, but we see his bottled up romantic feelings finally overflow through his bold actions with the one he likes. Chizuru is the only character that doesn't really makes sense to me, since she goes her whole life seeing a character as family and then sees him romantically out of nowhere. Nevertheless, she's still a supportive and air-headed character that provides comic relief and becomes more in touch with her feelings as the story progresses. Pin is hilarious and it's great that we get to see his relationships with his students develop and his true teaching abilities surface.
I really like the art, but I didn't when I watched the anime like five years ago, so it depends on your personal style preferences.
The main thing that I didn't like was how upsetting their misunderstandings and behavior were. I found myself screaming at the pages when the characters would just assume something and make the relationships they were developing take ten steps back in terms of progress. They have trouble expressing their feelings and being clear, which is true of teenagers in real life, so at least it makes sense. I personally didn't have an issue with how slow their relationships moved. It made each romantic moment between them more special since I had been waiting for them for quite a bit.
Ultimately, the story is light-hearted and fun. The audience sees teenagers fumble through their first relationships and then get hit in the face by the iron wall of college and their futures. They mature and change for the better, while also measuring their own worth and effort. I highly recommend it!
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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May 18, 2020
I really loved the first two seasons of Free!. Being a swimmer myself, I could really relate to the excitement of a race and how devastating some of their seemingly small errors were. I've also seen many, many animes in which the main characters belong to some club in high school and they create long lasting bonds that get broken as they leave high school and whatnot. Basic stuff. But season 3 of Free! is the first time I've ever gotten to see how the characters fare after high school, and I thought this was really interesting! Now onto the particulars:
Story (6): Bruh, the first
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half was all about a new character named Ikuya and his obsessive and borderline creepy best friend Hiyori. I couldn't care less about either of them, and I got really frustrated seeing Haru worry over and dedicate himself to basically a bitchier Rin. However, after their "conflict" gets resolved, the second half is quite enjoyable. Seeing Haru's ambitions grow as he realizes what he actually wants from swimming and what he wants to work towards really shows how much he's grown from season 1. We also see Makoto find his career path and make something of himself while still supporting his lifelong best friend, which is really heartwarming. The races are action-packed and exciting, so I have no complaints.
Art (10): There really isn't much to say. This is one of the best-looking animes I've ever seen, and I think their water animation got even better from season 1 (if that's even possible). I think Haru looks a bit more buff, which is realistic, and the other characters all have really reasonable proportions. I just loved looking at the water and the backgrounds.
Sound (8): I loved the opening. I listened to it all the way through for every episode. The ending's pretty good too, and the race music fits the atmosphere and builds the excitement.
Characters (7): Ok ok ok. There were a LOT of new characters this season, and I've seen many people say that there were in fact too many and all under-developed. I disagree. I grew to adore Asahi, even though we don't see too much of him. Besides Ikuya and Hiyori, I loved all the new additions, especially the monstrous swimmers with the record times. The introduction of characters much, much faster than Haru that truly dedicated their lives to swimming and almost lost their humanity in the process is honestly extremely realistic and called for. It doesn't make sense for Haru, who is described as being mostly "naturally gifted" with the ability to swim, to win every single race, so giving him some serious competition and seeing him struggle is very interesting and different. Makoto is still the same sweetheart, but we see him mature and find a path in his life, as I stated before. The only truly irrelevant characters are those back at Iwatobi High school. The new members aren't memorable, except the girl that likes pudgy men, and they distract from what I would consider to be the main storyline in Tokyo. I wish they had just popped up for one episode instead of being given so much screen time with little development.
Enjoyment (8): The only reason I didn't put this at a 10 was because of Ikuya and Hiyori. I just couldn't wait for their part in the story to end, and I was surprised to see that it actually did stop abruptly halfway through the season. I loved looking at the art and it made me miss swimming more than I can express (I'm writing this in quarantine). I wish there had been more about Haru and Makoto's college lives, and maybe some real and developed female characters, but I was more or less fine without them. I liked watching Haru and Rin get coached and compete for more than just a fun experience with friends. This turned into the real deal.
Overall (8): This came from just a culmination of all the bits I just talked about.
If you loved the characters and you love the art, just persist through the first half of the season and you'll see some great friendships strengthen and some real life goals arise.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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