Genres: drama, psychological, romance Themes: ecchi, harem, love triangle, school, tragedy, yandere Objectionable content: Intense Plot Summary: Makoto Ito rides the train to and from school every day. However, at the beginning of his second term, he falls in love with a beautiful girl that also rides the train. Unfortunately, she barely knows of his existence. Her name is Kotonoha Katsura, and though they attend the same school, they are not in the same class. In an attempt to catch her eye, Makoto enlists the aid of a close female friend of his: Sekai Saionji. She helps him, despite the fact that she–unbeknownst to Makoto–is in love with him. Thus the three are bound in a love triangle of life changing proportions. Number of Episodes: 12 Vintage: 2007-07-03 to 2007-09-27
Well since you can read my review to see how I feel about the show, I’ll keep this short. I thought it was one of the best dramas I’ve seen in awhile. It was a great deconstruction piece, that’s very dark and really draws you in. Before you know it your addicted to it. I really love this show, it even made my top ten. But many of you guys will hate the show, because of it’s characters. That’s sort of the point, to dislike many of the characters, but still. If you can’t stomach certain characters that are realistic, yet despicable this show is not for you. However if you’d like to watch a dark drama, with realistic (and flawed) characters, with an amazing story to tell, this is it. And be warned, this show is rated mature on ANN for a reason.
Also the ending was amazing. Try not to spoil yourself, because it’s even better without knowing much about it. But the whole show was great IMO.
I did enjoy this show quite a bit, but I can easily see why so many people hated it. The characters are pretty unlikable, and are often just down right terrible people. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a series filled with so many selfish, uncaring characters. But the story is good, though it does have a few serious flaws at times. People who like soap operas should feel right at home with this one.
But regardless of all the shows issues, it’s worth watching just to get to the ending. This series didn’t make my top 10, but I would definitely buy it on DVD if it were ever licensed. I have the perfect tag line for DVD release “High School Has Never Been So Cruel.” LOL
Oh yes the show is almost like a soap opera lol. I wrote about that in my review. It’s very dramatic, but I tend to like that. Much better then being dry. Glad to see you enjoyed this series as well. ANd yeah it is rare to see a series filled with so many just plain unlikable characters, who are selfish, uncareing, self imporant, etc. But part of the series charm is it’s diverse cast of truly flawed characters. Reminds me of Shdadow Star Narutaru with that aspect. And I just have to comment again on the amazing soundtrack in this series. It’s filled with so mnay great songs.
Anyway this show so needs to be licenced. I want this on DVD. LoL high school is cruel. Oh and thanks for responding to my topic here .
Personally, I think more shows should have an ending like School Days! Could you just imagine Inu Yasha, Rumbling Hearts, or Ouran ending like this one…lol
Well if you only watched the first episode then you really don’t know what the show is about. It’s not your typical romance or harem anime, that’s for sure. get’s very dark a few episodes in. That being said, I was instantly hooked on the series 5 minutes in. So…And like I said before, this is NOT for everyone ;). Many people will hate it with all their being.
The thing that really bothered me about this show, was that there was only one really sympathetic character. Then you realize towards the end that she’s a COMPLETE PSYCHOPATH…LOL It was a shame, as I actually felt a bit bad for her.
Yeah that is true. I agree that she was the only truly sympathetic character. However that is sort of the point of the entire thing, to make you dislike them all. But in the end I did sort of feel sorry for everyone involved, they were dealing with things people twice their age can’t handle well, so it’s not really all their fault. Sure they made some mistakes, and yes most of what happened was their own doings, but after everything is said and done they were all human and caught up in something way more then they could handle. That’s why I feel sorry for them all, even Makoto
Good review Prede. It’s definitely raised my interest in this series. I’ve been wanting to check it out for a while now, this might just have given me enough incentive to do it sooner than later.
Also, pfft Zaku doesn’t like these types of shows… even if they are good. Zaku go watch Megazone 23. It ROCKS. PP and I give our seals of high approval!
Thanks very much Dragoon! I really hope you will check this out, because this is the type of show I think you will really like (that or you will want to kick me because you’ll hate it with all you being…lol. But I do think you will fall into the group that loves the show). It’s worth checking out at least, and stick with it for at least a handfull of episodes. There’s a drastic change in tone a few episodes in.
I genuinely disliked this show. It took me an eternity to get up enough courage to finish it, knowing ahead of time what I was in for. I can easily say that Makoto is just the worst character from any anime I’ve ever seen. All the characters are pretty hard to like, but he is just an awful person. [details=spoiler]He deserves exactly what he got in the end, and it brought a smile to my face when he got stabbed to death. I just wish that Sekai hadn’t had to pay the price as well for his ass-hattery. Or any other of the girls either.[/details]
I have a genuinely hard time actually suggesting this anime. On one hand, if you feel like you have the heart to withstand it I suppose I’d say go for it. Overall though, I just can’t give a recommendation for this to anyone. I didn’t enjoy it at all, watching it felt like more of a task than a desire.
Ah but some of the power of this anime is it’s ability to provoke such hate towards it’s characters. Yes Makoto is a terrible, terrible human being. But he is still a human being.
spoiler
I find the ending to be incredibly sad and disturbing. It chilled me to the bone. Anytime an anime can effect me emotionally I give it a lot of respect. I really did feel sorry for Makoto, and everyone involved by the end though. Sure he’s a horrible guy, but still. And I also must note he never hurt anyone physically, he neither attacked anyone nor killed anyone. Yet he died a brutal and terrible death. I’m not sure that the punishment of death is fitting for just hurting someone emotionally, and doing everything else he did. Truly a screwed up show, with screwy characters, but I just loved that.
But yes this is a series MANY will hate. It will definitely frustrate a lot of people. And I understand why. However there will also be a lot of people who really enjoy it as well. It’s quite clear where you fall though.
Frustrate is a good way to put it.
I loved it, but I know many who would hate it.
I wonder if there are many who would find it mediocre at all? maybe only those who saw 4 or 5 episodes. other than that your going to really like it (for being different, unsettling, uniquely paced) or really dislike it (for pretty much the same reasons.)
Wonder where Tommy is during all this? it is his fault I watched it a while back.
The first 2 episodes are quite normal, around episode 4 or so is when you notice things start to off into the deep end. And by the last episode you will wonder how you got there, from such an innocent start. Keep watching it does get better .
Also don’t spoil the ending, it’s better that way
I like what I’ve seen of the characters so far, so I will definitely keep watching. And due to my curious nature, I already know how it ends! :lol: But it won’t stop me from watching. I want to see how the story develops to that point.
Don’t worry - knowing the ending of something, be it a book/movie/show, never ruins it for me. I am more interested in the middle - seeing how a story develops and learning about the characters. Since I know nothing about the middle of this story, that is where the fun is for me.
Ok, Prede - I finished it!! Talk about raging hormones!! :laugh:
It was dark, twisted and sick. I loved it! The end was perfect for the series and Makoto deserved most of what he got. But, I too can see why many would not like it.
I also felt sorry for many of the characters. They really could have used some adult guidance, or at least someone a little older to talk to. But it probably would not have changed much. Kids will be kids after all!
I’m glad you liked the ending. It was an amazing, dark and twisted show. One of the best dramas I’ve ever seen. I enjoyed the realistic characters, despite having major problems with everyone. This is not a show where you root for one guy or the other. instead your just an inpartial observer, watching as things get worse and worse. Your like a scientist, and this is a giant experiment. Some people want their shows to have characters that they can love. This is not a show like that. Oh and good point. Some adults who could have helped them a little would have done wonders. Perhaps it would not have been a miracle cure, but it would have been better.
*MAJOR SERIES END SPOILER*
In the end I was even sorry for Makoto. I mean he is a terrible person, but he was still human. Did he really diserve to die? He made some terrible mistakes, he didn’t think things through, he didn’t care for others. But by the end I thought he finally understood that. It was kind of sad to see such a life wasted. All of the characters, their lives are ruined. And for what? This kinda stuff happens far to often in real life…only with adults.
Oh and for anyone who hates the slice of life/drama series that have become so popular as of late. Maybe they should give this a watch. As it courrupts that genre to hell. They might like to see that happen. A genre that was once so clean and propper (and unrealistic), has no become very tainted. Not since Shadow Star Narutaru have I felt a series accomplished that. And this did an even better job too. It shows a more realistic depiction of such commeon anime tropes. Sad thing is, those people who dislike stuff like that, probally won’t ever watch this.
Although this does pose a great question. Are deconstruction peices truly for haters of a genre? Or are they for fans of the genre? Something else entirely? Either way i am fascinated by theses types of shows.
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Could you just imagine Inu Yasha, Rumbling Hearts, or Ouran ending like this one…lol