Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Come wa Machigatteiru (My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU; I'll just refer to it as RomCom) hit home for me on multiple occasions. I was never the most outgoing of people, generally keeping to myself while being somewhat bitter that others were having a social life without compare. The series' main character, Hachiman Hikigaya ("Hikki") is someone who goes beyond a normal social outlier. A self-proclaimed "bear" (in that he prefers the solo life and avoid being social) he is confronted about his behavior in his second year of high school. At the whim of one of his teachers, he is forced into a the Volunteer's Club where social life is forced upon him through the help of the only other member in that club: Yukino Yukinoshita. Dubbed the "Queen of Ice" by Hachiman, she shares a similar disposition but has a different outlook on it, providing fodder for arguments between then. It also allows for even more relatable circumstances among viewers. Two people, both with twisted views on society, are forced to work together and hilarity ensues.
The social outlier focus of the main characters allows for a special aspect of this show to shine - an outside look in on how high school students function (albeit in anime form). It's a viewpoint not often used and RomCom delivers with it. I greatly enjoyed watching how the characters dealt with daily life when faced with not just other people, but themselves as well. Their development may feel slow at first, but I take it as a more realistic way of getting to know them. When you meet people, rarely do they spill everything about themselves. Time and experiences open the doors to finding out about people. It appropriately follows how people who would be considered social outcasts (but not necessarily to an extreme) would be hesitant to get to know others and works very well with the story.
A comedic slice-of-life anime, the story focuses on how a socially awkward guy deals with being forced into interacting with others, especially girls. It delves into the world that many people do not see, and for obvious reasons - those people purposefully keep themselves hidden from the masses. Alongside the loneliness usually comes intellect, which sparks confrontations and promotes snarky humor. RomCom's story is well structured, appealing, and successfully avoid falling into the trap of being a generic high school romance. However, to me, it felt a bit derailed in the final two episodes, with very little happening. The last episode was a bit of a let down, actually.
Sarcasm and witty remarks are the major components of the show's humor and provides consistent entertainment. This is coupled with idealistic arguments and agitated banter between Hachiman and Yukino as well as with classmates. As would be expected, a counter-balance character to their hilarious debates is presented: Yui Yuigahama, the third main character.
As expected from a 2013 anime, the art and sound are great. The character designs are not overly-flashy or revealing (something common in high school romances) which allows for more appreciation of the story itself. Background music is consistently appropriate and enhances the mood of scenes and even the humor.
Overall RomCom is a highly entertaining show that not only provides effective humor, but relatable characters that enhance the quality of the show. With a believable story, people who have been through high school or are in it at the time can place themselves somewhere in the show. The show successfully avoids falling into the cast-iron romance mold and holds true to the comedy aspect with wonderful use of wit and sarcasm.
