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If you think the protagonist is lewd, low, uneducated… you are absolutely right.

However, if that’s the reason you are disappointed at the series, you would miss what the author wants to convey.

When your goal is to be a scientist, cure cancer, find antimatter, or address key philosophical issues, and find the meaning of your existence, the protagonist’s goal is to live a normal life. The tragedy is … even this goal seems unreachable to him. If you had thought about it, if you were living in that situation, with no parents, no money, no education, would you still have been able to achieve what you ... have achieved, and dream what you are dreaming.

Admittedly, the human society seemingly present striking inequality among individuals. Naturally, some appear noble while some despicable. Having needs, however, whether basic or transcendental, is a universal human condition. Imagining a person that never experienced love or happiness, there could be two possible outcomes: either he would become incapable of love or being happy, or he desires to be so. The former is the depressed giving up attitude, the latter the opposite. Both are unfortunate, understandable, and sympathetic. Both are manifested in the protagonist’s struggle. The story thus becomes his journey to discover what it means to love, to be happy, in a pursuit to love and happiness.

In this sense, the author’s message is existentialist. To live, to experience, to find out the meaning during this process, that is what gives our individual life meaning. When a person gets terminal cancer, he then realizes that living one more day would mean happiness to him, that normal everyday happiness is something so trivial that he had overlooked his entire life yet values to him the most at that point. Our protagonist, on the other hand, realizes this from the very beginning. To him, eating delicious food is luxury. Having a girlfriend that he can cuddle and play video games with would feel so good. He appreciates every opportunity to achieve those things, and keeps on hoping to achieve them. In this sense, he stays optimistic despite the depressing situations. Whether intentionally or not, he remained oblivious to the despair of this world and remained hope throughout the series. That is humanity in the highest form.

Be grateful to what life has given you. That’s what the series taught me.

The world has given up on him before he was born.

He was sacrificed for the sake of “common good”.

It had been determined that, for the happiness of the living, he must die.

But he lived. He kept on living. It was his will to live, and it was his will to defy his family, his people, his country.

Because he can. No one can make that decision for him. Not his family, not his people, not his country, not demons, not God.

... He is free. He is free to will. He has the freedom of will.

It’s pleasure to defy fate, defy the demons, defy God. You put me through this misery. I will overthrow it. I will prove you wrong. I will enjoy it. I will enjoy overthrowing it.

In this most humanitarian journey.

Astoundingly beautiful anime.

The story is about love, and it successfully depicted profound love across time between the two lovely characters. I really envy their relationship.

Animation quality is amazing. Great art style. Good music.

Plot is fine although I have a few questions unanswered by the anime. I find the overall concept novel and the story unique. I have no problem with the pacing either. Overall I don’t see flaws.

The characters are well designed. Each protagonist is special in a way, yet doesn’t feel unrealistic. The boy does not seem to hide that he’s attracted to the girl, yet his melancholy gives him this calm ... and comforting manner that makes the girl and the audience relaxed. The girl is antisocial yet feels comfortable around him due to his manner. The characters’ bond are formed due to each of them realizing and appreciating the other’s speciality and motivation, thus their love feels natural and grounded. Their faithfulness to each other makes the their love profound and their bond convincing, and make the story especially sweet, satisfying.

It’s personally one of the best romance animes ever made.

A story on the existential crises for both parasites and humans.

A surreal plot with a realistic core.

We are living in this world with constant encounters between self and others: human rights, animal rights, nationalism, racism ...

As creatures of nature, who has the right to decide which individual/race/species deserves to live? Is anyone at fault for existing? Is anyone purely innocent?

The story develops the perspective from an 'outsider', who lives as both a human and partial 'parasite'. Yes, parasites prey on humans, just as humans prey on other animals. Parasites are feared by humans, just as humans feared by parasites. In this world ... of nature's creation, what's the meaning for life? What's evil, and what's strong?

An inspiring masterpiece.

An underrated piece.

Well built atmosphere, possibly more emotionally invasive than you realize.

Impressive story with deep topic, and good pace.

Occasionally ridiculous moment which unexpectedly enhanced contrast.

Seemingly childish music, but again, enhanced the bizarre feeling, mixed with depression yet hope.

... I watched this several years ago, with no expectation. Then I realized this is a despariring yet encouraging story, with unexpected psychological mark left in my brain. The feeling simply came back to me from time to time, but I couldn't remember where it came from. I couldn't even remember if I watched it, or if it was just a dream.

Yes, maybe it's just a dream.