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Bakemonogatari

wasn't initially sure how much i'd enjoy this series at first, but then i was absolutely captivated by senjougahara's character. everything about her arc just fell into place so well: metaphors, scenery, music, it was utterly stunning. say what you want about this series, but it absolutely knows how to make a lasting impression on you with its honest and complex composition from top to bottom. the way that nisio isin writes is so esoteric in the best way possible, from araragi's stupid (not really) internal dialogue to senjougahara's avoidant rants about what kind of woman she is: it's clear to me that these characters will grow into something even better in my mind with the existing seeds planted by their respective arcs. it's got this cadence to it that scratches the back of your mind while feeding it beautiful metaphors and tense action and i can't ever pull myself away easily because of it.

something i'd like to mention about this series is that kanbaru is the best character. (i use 'best' lightly, interchangeably with 'favorite'.) that's all i have to say in this section. i like kanbaru

for all the endless praise i could give bakemonogatari, i'd also have to mention that, without a doubt, parts of nadeko's arc fall a bit short in comparison to everything else. it's absolutely not a bad arc by any means, but it does end up being the worst of the best because of its short length that didn't seek to serve a larger purpose like hachikuji's did. i know that's a bit obtuse of me though, and that i'll eventually come around on it.

all in all, i think about 95% of this season is absolutely perfect. those beautiful memories kissed by the sunset of each mundane day will stick in my mind forever, and they will be nurtured with me to grow into something, someone beautiful by the time the sun rises

Kizumonogatari

what's there to say? i want kiss-shot? obviously.
i really thought i'd hate this arc the most, to be completely honest with you. i never imagined that a loose end left mostly open ended due to its simplicity could become something so deeply touching for me, but god was i wrong. 'the simple loose ends are where monogatari succeeds, moron!' is what i'm telling myself and i don't think that could ring any truer than it is within kizumonogatari. just stunning, absolutely flawless. from the first movie i knew that this would be something special but i could never have imagined it would be this special. empty corridors, the hollow existence of nearly 500 years breeds the insane ego death of a woman bruised and damaged by her own hubris. it's a stunningly tragic tale that is absolutely going to stick in my heart for some time. my god, without delving too deep into spoilers, i've never seen a football pitch so stained with the blood of two sinners

i'd like to take a moment to talk about the music. in places, it's rough around the edges yet in others it's soft, with piano melodies curling around the comfortable embrace of the strings ensemble behind it. kiss-shot's theme here is tragic, bold, and twinkly and it's woven so well into 'tsumetai me'. tracks like 'toukatsu jigoku' push you to the ground, punch you in the face, take your lunch money, then scratch themselves on a rusty nail. and you know what? it feels amazing every time.

needed more kanbaru though.

Nisemonogatari

i think this one's a bit of a mixed bag. definitely not as solid as bake and shouldn't be put in the same conversation as kizu by any means. that being said, it shouldn't be scoffed at. for what it's worth, senjougahara's arc here is incredibly satisfying along with most of karen's. there's a bit of fat from it that could have been cut, though.. 7 episodes is a bit much even if it does represent karen's large ego well. tsukihi (my daughter) should have gotten at least one more full episode dedicated to her because she's such an interesting character. more of her speaking her mind please!! her platinum happiness is one of the best aspects of her character and it's done with such tact and i just want to eat that writing. it's so good.

a good amount of kanbaru. acceptable

Conclusion: Too Many Rabbits

throughout the time i've spent watching, two things have become apparent: one, that i am being handed the ingredients to craft a delicious meal and not three complete dishes, and two: that the ingredients themselves are what make the meal taste so good. i was foolish at first, thinking that there was something i was missing in all of this, that maybe i just wasn't getting it. no.. monogatari is about building upon your pre-existing knowledge and adding layers of story and symbolism onto those established metaphors. i started chasing all the rabbits and ended up catching none of them.