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Aug 31, 2020
It ended. Thank god, this is the last time I'm ever coming back to this show. "Hero", what a misunderstood word. The show aims for charisma in a three piece while tripping over its own laces.
Gotta say, I was very excited about this show. The opening came out and it was such a good hit. The animation from the opening seemed better than average as well. However, after watching the first few episodes, man, what a letdown.
The soundtrack is interesting and fits the theme of this kind of crime-detective shows well, love the sometimes jazzy tones that really sparkle. The ending and opening
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are gems as well.
Next, the very very problematic characters. I understand the hype about Haru but I can't help but think he makes such a bad cop. He's judgmental (without enough evidence), idealistic (to the point of being a danger to himself and everyone else) and abrasive (diving headfirst with only his blind justice for armor). I'm not sure how someone like that became a cop, and why he wants to remain a cop if he can't even discern right from wrong in the best of times. The situations (under plot armor) allow him to appear infallible. Reality is rarely so kind.
As for Daisuke, I actually much prefer his character. Character trope or not, that rigidity of morals is something I admire and look forward to. He's not a bad person, it's just the way he was brought up: throwing money at everything. In fact, throughout the show, we see lots of instances where he destroys inanimate objects but keeps casualties to a minimum. However, I keep waiting for that moment of change. It doesn't happen by the way.
Their chemistry is nonexistent. Only fujoshis can look forward to those moments forcefully inserted from thin air. It's a show built on fanservice and a fanservice show it will remain.
There are great things about it (I do love the way they show the balance tally at the end of each episode to discern how much Daisuke has spent -- and the gradual decrease). Daisuke's voice actor is pretty good, considering that it's his debut anime.
But, the plot. Or the lack thereof. There are so many problems with the plot that I gave up analysing. You don't even have to squint to see it. Even if you close your eyes, you could probably hear it. I'm not expecting perfection, but at the very least, some realism would help.
Every week, I'm not sure what I'm watching, and why I should feel anything for it. The "heroes" are bad, the villains are worse. There are so many moments where I ask myself, "why did they do this", "why did that happen" that I just got tired of it at the end. Watching this show is exhausting, trying to forgive every mistake. I forget each episode after I watch it and have no desire to rewatch it.
Reviewer’s Rating: 4
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May 28, 2020
Amazingly enough, this romantic comedy series actually exemplifies all the things NOT to do in a relationship.
** there are spoilers ahead **
The characters are the worst part of the show. All of them do things that doesn't follow a personality and have no rhyme or reason. Out of nowhere, Oka is bitchy. Out of nowhere, Koko is angry. Out of nowhere, Mitsuo likes another girl. It's like their character switches for plot convenience (which is likely the case). From the get-go, we see that Koko is an obsessive, possessive, self-obsessed stalked who hasn't graduated from high school emotionally. At the start, while obsessing over
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Mitsuo, she stalks him, degrades him, and even assaults him. After getting together with Banri, you would think she improves but nope, she stays exactly the same. She obsesses over him, doesn't allow him to see girls, doesn't allow him to work, crying and getting angry over the smallest things and then victimizing herself to make it seem like she got the short end of the stick. I can't even count the number of times she said "I'm so stupid" and attempts to self-reflect, become a better person and then the next scene, we get her doing something ridiculous again.
I'm amazed anyone would look at this relationship and think it normal or desirable. It is straight up an abusive one. One great example is when Banri works at the party for Nana and gets caught by Koko while he was with Linda. There were so many things wrong with this whole situation. Firstly, she didn't allow him to work part-time. What right does she have to "allow" or not allow him to do that? Secondly, when she found out, she hit him and then apologized, making herself seem like the victim and making him feel sorry for her. In the end, he thinks he's at fault and grovels for her forgiveness (when there was nothing to forgive), making him reliant and dependent on her approval and love. Thirdly, the abuse. It started with verbal abuse but it quickly progressed to physical abuse. Sure, it was a slap at first, then it was a pillow, what's next? Soon, it'll be her phone, her bag, maybe even a knife if that was on hand.
Not even the word plain could describe Banri. He has no sense of self, no ideas, no character whatsoever. He's always hiding behind the mask of amnesia, which was another huge problem with the show. If they wanted to make it realistic, they should have not made it supernatural. How can someone forget the memories they made in the future just because they regained memories lost via an accident? When did doctors treat spiritual events as a norm and prescribe medicine for supernatural visions? What's with the "ghost" of Banri trying to make life difficult for him?
The other characters are not even worth mentioning. You would think 24 episodes would be enough to develop a few characters but other than the two main characters (they tried), the others had dismal, that is to say, zero growth.
The soundtrack is there. That's about it.
The story line was attempted. Again, that's it.
By the end of it, I just wanted it to be over. There's no way I could root for a couple with such poor character traits. Even if that was alright, I cannot stomach the idea of an abusive relationship being painted in such a positive light.
Reviewer’s Rating: 2
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Apr 30, 2020
Can't believe I found this so late!!
It's been a long time since I found an anime so truly worth watching. Since the classics, recent ones have been dry, cliche and overly dramatic, with little sense of realism. However, Kaze ga Tsuyoku surpasses all my expectations and then some.
To start, the score is an absolute marvel. Waking up at dawn, embracing pain, expressing light-heartedness and joy as well as hope and achievement. It brings all that to the table at such appropriate moments that you can't help but want more. The openings are optimistic and teases the team reaching their goal -- running at the
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Hakone while both endings are bittersweet and hints at the beginning of something new while ending something wonderful.
And the plot, oh man. The pacing is just right, there are tense moments (also assisted by the amazing score by Yuki Hayashi) and next comes the release of that tension. The crests and falls are so well built-up, giving you just enough levity to breathe and think through the actions while leaving you wanting to know more. Any drama that happens in the show is planned for and well-executed and it shows in the payoff. Motivations of the characters are evidently carefully thought through and nothing is half-assed. As human beings, you'd find yourself empathising with all, if not most, of the characters' plights, having been there at some point. Each action and even each phrase said by the characters fit their personalities and represent who they are. We don't get abrupt actions that make no sense. Character development is truly logical and realistic, and growing with the characters feel like a reward of its own. Seeing them change through this common goal and ambition is something I can fully connect with, having been a part of an event like this myself. It is life-changing, it is painful, it is hopeful and it is always bittersweet.
The realism of the show is one more thing to watch for. Having done some research on the event -- the Tokyo-Hakone Ekiden Race, it's safe to say the producers have also done their own in-depth research and stuck closely to real life and what can actually happen.
Production of the show is swell. Unlike many many other animes that assume watchers cannot think for themselves, Kaze ga Tsuyoku leaves you to connect the dots, fit the pieces together and follow the story through. Ultimately, when they do reveal any conclusions, it feels good to have proof that your theories are right and see them come into fruition on screen. And the execution is illustrious. From subtle details such as the creaking sounds that signal the destruction of Haiji's knee to larger scaled panels that display Tokyo's beautiful landscape and all 10 characters gathered together, there is no wasted scene, no wasted moment. Some animes have filler episodes that leave a bad taste in my mouth, but this one doesn't. Truly, take note of each scene, the details will blow your mind.
Finally, please don't look at it as just another sports anime that came out in recent years (and there has been quite a few). The life lessons that are embedded in this show far outweigh the short and sweet episodes that it brings. My only regret is that I want to see more of this universe, if ever possible. I'm not someone who usually writes reviews for shows or animes (this is my first actually). But I couldn't help wanting, needing, to express my feelings about this beautiful, emotional marvel of an anime that truly makes me question what it means to love, live and fight for something I believe in.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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