I'm surprised this doesn't have a thread yet. I recently picked it up, and it's pretty good. The characters grow on you as they themselves grow (Hikari especially), and the show knows how to pull on your heartstrings. Already watched to the most recent episode and I'm enjoying it a lot. Of course, it has less engaging bits, and a few flaws, but I think it still qualifies as a great story that focuses on the themes of change and the relationships between people.
It takes a bit to get going but then it doesn't stop. I do have one thing to point out about the second part though.
Spoiler:
I like Miuna's character, but as far as character conflict in the second part goes, hers is a little bit... shallow compared to Hikari, Chisaki, Tsumugu and Kaname's. As a result, in the latest episodes the show has tended to be more interesting when it's focusing on the other characters and their relationships rather than on Miuna. Which I feel is a bit of a waste of her increase in airtime and more central role compared to the initial half of the story.
Granted, some of what's happening with her and with what she's thinking is still interesting, but most of the time it doesn't engage me as much as what's going on between the others and what they're feeling, maybe because Miuna herself also feels more childish and her dillemmas not as complex (and really, they're probably not, in hindsight). Her position is a little bit like Hikari's just at the start of the series that way, and I hope we get to see good development of her character soon, although there's also a lot to address and explore with the other characters still.
Not going to elaborate on my thoughts regarding the remaining main characters as they stand right now because I don't have the patience to write more walls of text, but their situations are all pretty interesting. Delicate even, and there are a lot of feelings in every direction that make their relationships very complex. That, and there are still quite a few character points we're no doubt going to see elaborated and ongoing character development (and room for even more).
But yeah. It's good. I recommend it.
Last edited by YeOfLittleFaith; February 18th, 2014 at 02:19 PM.
My pick for dark horse animu of Fall 2013? My pick for horse animu of Fall 2013. Second half's proving itself to be even better than the first, especially with all the buildup from the first part having slow-burn repercussions after the timeskip.
McJon01: We all know that the real reason Archer would lose to Rider is because the events of his own Holy Grail War left him with a particular weakness toward "older sister" types.
Very slow burn. All the foreshadowing. But yes, this is proving to be surprisingly good. I definitely wasn't expecting anything like it when I first heard of it and only decided to finally give it a try when I started hearing nice things about it.
I do not regret at all my decision to start watching it. It's shaping up to be quite amazing.
Well, I asked for Miuna development, we got Miuna development. It still felt like it dragged on a bit for the most part, but I thought it was definitely a step in the right direction as the episode progressed. By the end, it already seemed like we were seeing the resolute Miuna again that she appeared to be during the first episode after the time skip. This is good!
We also got some more insight into Tsugumu, no matter how small, which was appreciated. His character obviously has a lot of feelings bottled up and always shows very little of what he's thinking; when he does voice his thoughts or take the initiative, he tends to be pertinent and have weight to what he does or says. And in this episode, it was interesting to hear him talk about this, mention his characteristics where it comes to his own feelings, and what he consciously thinks about them.
The end of the episode threw me in for a bit of a loop!
Spoiler:
I had a growing feeling this episode was going to end on the slight cliffhanger of Manaka finally waking up, but I was almost convinced it was just a missed assumption of mine when it did happen! Though, the timing and circumstances were an absolute surprise, and actually got a bit of a laugh out of me.
Well now, our cast is finally reunited, so I'm looking forward to seeing where the story goes from here.
Oh, I also found funny that little scene when Chisaki came out of the water and both Hikari and Kaname got flustered/stunned from how appealing she looked.
I do wonder what Kaname'll do once he realises he, too, is loved by someone else than his love.
Its almost funny how everyone loves each other and gets loved by someone else yet again, it feels almost like the older 90's romcoms again xD
like how they even took it a step further by Miuna beeing loved by some NPC they never focussed on, too xD
Well. I didn't think this episode was as 'strong' when compared to some recent ones, but I can't fault it for not being interesting.
Manaka is still Manaka, as was said, and she even seems more lively than before. It feels kind of nostalgic that among the cast, especially since the Ofunehiki, Manaka seems to the one that's changed the most while also remaining the same the most. What's that they say, the more things change the more they stay the same, and Manaka seems to examplify that in both her character and her attitude towards things since waking up. I guess, but maybe I'm just looking too much into it.
I was somewhat disappointed we didn't get to see more of the immediate reactions of her and the other characters after she'd just woken up, or any particular exchange between her and Tsumugu once they saw each other. Though we still got some nice character interactions out of it.
Speaking of character interactions, the moments between Chisaki and Tsumugu were.... interesting. I'm not quite sure what to make of them yet.
At this point, it seems we're finally getting lined up for the climax, and I must admit I'm kinda concerned how they're going to resolve everything with the episodes they have left, but also excited to see how the emotions among the group will evolve from here and react with each other now that they're all together again. And to hear the answers to the mysteries of the Sea God, the surface and the sea.
OP changed a little this week! New bits made me wonder.
Last edited by YeOfLittleFaith; February 27th, 2014 at 08:20 PM.
I say Miuna's gonna win Hikari; not only is she best grill, the OP is also heavily focused on her and she's got dialogue lines in the op; thats gotta mean something.
No idea how the Tsumugu/Chisaki/Manaka/Kaname/Miuna's friend thing will turn out, or how i even WANT it to turn out, honestly.
It's not that I don't like Miuna, but read OP to see why I think her character has been underutilized and is genuinely not as interesting as following everyone else in the second part of the show.
Last week's episode changed that somewhat, but were was still some of that... 'mopeyness' in her character this week, so to speak.
Last edited by YeOfLittleFaith; February 28th, 2014 at 09:54 AM.
This show sure was cheeky, tricking me into thinking Manaka wasn't going to have an active presence in the second half by not including her in the OP. Only to have a different version prepared for when she woke up.
Not until two more episodes, at any rate. Unless I am misinformed.
McJon01: We all know that the real reason Archer would lose to Rider is because the events of his own Holy Grail War left him with a particular weakness toward "older sister" types.
Originally Posted by RadiantBeam
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