(This was originally intended to be a review stretching across the anime thus far. But having read the guidelines, it doesn't quite fit in as one.
Just wanted to share my thoughts. Please pardon the length of this post!)
I have just finished watching Ep 13, and I am reconsidering dropping the series. Reason being, it is a conveniently written plotline using OP characters thrown in for the author's specific agendas. Allow me to explain.
In episode 1, we are quickly introduced two stoic characters. The first is Haruki who possesses the ability to revert the world/reality to a pre-determined point in time, without her nor anyone else having any memory or awareness of having done so.
Having said that, we need someone who can circumvent its side effects (for plot development beyond the comical genre otherwise). Enter Kei, the protagonist who conveniently has the ability to remember everything. Simply, he is the only person in the whole conceivable universe who is aware once a reset is done. Being the only person who has knowledge of both the "known-future", as well as the present, allows him to change the future. That's a cool variation of time-travel plots.
But up till this point, you basically have two OP characters that can exploit their abilities beyond other characters. Don't get me started on how conveniently (#2) Haruki obediently becomes Kei's slave such that the plot can develop without the slightest conflict of interest...which happens right around....
Episode 2, where they also start putting their abilities to use. Fast forward, we need to enable a shy kid to express her heartfelt thoughts to her mum, let's conveniently (#3) throw in Tomoki who can broadcast messages into anybody's head. To further evoke emotions, we should have the mum reminiscent the past too. Let's then conveniently (#4) throw in Yosuke who can transfer abilities between two parties such that the mum acquires Kei's ability to remember.
At this point, you have an A-team that could wreck serious havoc. "Oh we get that. It's going to complicate things with Yosuke around. So let's conveniently (#5) have him uphold some moral conduct of being a law-abiding citizen"
At the end of episode 2, the known-future is shown to alter without Kei's intervention. A bit of thinking will present a hint that either someone else has similar abilities as Kei, or the ability of Precognition. That's fine by itself, as up to this point, you just need bigger "villains" that can out maneuver the protagonists
It gets worse from there on. Progressively, we are presented with a search-and-find scenario. Let's introduce the humble Nono who has the ability to possess neighborhood cats, so that she can conveniently (#6) provide intel to A-team.
Soon after in episode 4/5, we have another "villain" who eventually becomes an "ally" with the ability to erase. So yea, you can counter the effects of abilities themselves and reject all phenomena in the conceivable universe. I consider this a half convenient (#6.5) attempt, as with the ability to "do", there must be the ability to "undo" the omnipotence of the characters already in play.
Fast forward again, just before episode 13, i veered off to another acclaimed series: Steins;Gate. Even with minimal bias , the contrast is apparent. Rather than lauding Steins;Gate non-linear story-telling with all its merits, I would describe Sakurada Reset as reverse story-telling. Basically, it shows a lazy attempt to bridge the plot to your agenda by conveniently introducing characters for the sake of plot advancement, while having to keep up with how OP the characters are progressively getting.
At finally at episode 13, they (just had to) introduce an omniscient being, who pens the future into written volumes, as a representation of what could be the "final boss". So Kei is now up against Fate, as it is openly mentioned that everything that transpired, including the multiple resets to alter the futures, were part of a larger "script" that dictates it. I should also restate the fact that there are already 3 seers now, each with the ability of precognition of some sorts.
There's a saying that goes among salespeople: If you cannot convince your client, confuse them. If you cannot confuse them, con them. If I am allowed to praise Steins;Gate again, it would be the classy story-telling that toys with theoretical physics concepts while brewing a convincing romance along the way. Sakurada Reset on the other hand tries to impress by confusing the audience, which might have worked if all we wanted were convenient superheroes with bland purposes. |