My expectations of this show were rather low to begin with, since the rather odd title seemed to suggest that it was some sort of rom com spoof. Yet it turned out to be neither a rom com nor a spoof of anything. If I would have to suggest a more fitting title, it would be something like The Triumphs of the School Cynic. Because make no mistake: even though Hikigaya Hachiman hasn’t become a happy, socially well-adjusted or a romantically involved high schooler by the close of episode 13, it is his cynical analysis of the people around him that has saved the day (almost) every time. Instead of being rehabilitated by the haughty Yukinoshita Yukino, his violent yet caring teacher Hiratsuka Shizuka or the rather pushy but sweet Yuigaham Yui, Hikigaya Hachiman basically forces them all to acknowledge that his cynical outlook on life is the correct one. Or at least the most productive one.
Story
Although Hikigaya Hachiman’s usually brilliant and harsh social analysis (and the way his voice actor delivers them) makes for instant classic scenes among anime in particular or TV shows in general, these same scenes force an unfavorable contrast with those depicting the volunteer activities of the club. Although ‘Yahari no Seishun’ has to be applauded for making a serious effort at portraying a high school club that actually makes itself useful instead of just sitting around reading books or cosplaying (e.g. Haruhi Suzumiya) or just sitting around reading books or playing eroge (e.g. Haganai), much of the time consuming work involved isn’t all that interesting to see. Although I’ve rewatched some of the crucial scenes of this series many times over to catch all the hints and clues about stuff yet to be revealed, I haven’t really bothered rewatching some of the club stuff like the job for the fat born again shogun, the tennis match to help Totsuka, the intervention for the bartender student or much of the school camp / cultural festival / sports festival stuff. Except for the occasional conversational gem or funny part between Hachiman, Totsuka, Yukino and Yui these simply come across as by the numbers stuff. That’s what I mean by ‘plodding’ to describe some parts of this show. In my opinion, the ‘core’ of this series is made up of the following episodes or parts thereof:
- episode 1 (in full)
- episode 3 (3:34 talk with Yui)
- episode 5 (8:58 interesting character moment with Hiratsuka)
- episode 6 (in full)
- episode 8 (20:11 going home after camp)
- episode 9 (in full)
- episode 11 (11:22 conversation between Yukino and Hachiman, 13:05 Haruno and Hachiman, 18:30 Yui and Hachiman)
- episode 12 (16:48 Haruno/Hiratsuka/Hachiman followed by Yukino/Hachiman)
Characters
Hikigaya Hachiman should be considered as no less than the voice of the writers of this series: what he says is what they believe. Hence he is rarely proven wrong. The matter of factness with which many of the other characters treat him with contempt and even coerce him with violence or threats of violence, seems like a silent indictment of a crucial aspect of Japanese society: be chipper and cheerful, or else…
Yukinoshita Yukino seems more like a foil for Hikigaya than a fully fleshed out character. She is there to insult him and reject him, although it is never quite clear if the harshness of her words is always serious or sometimes playful or even affectionate. Since Hikigaya almost never retaliates, Yukino’s continued attacks end up making her look immature and spiteful, while Hikigaya’s pacifist stance towards her almost makes him look like her wiser, older brother. This seems like a waste of her character, I felt.
Yuigahama ‘says whatever’s on her mind’ Yui on the one hand serves as a bridge between Hikigaya and Yukino, but also subtly manipulates and even dominates them. No matter how much Hachiman objects to her calling him Hiki, she never stops doing so and he simply gives in. Likewise, she insists on calling Yukino ‘Yukinon’, once again in the face of strenuous protest. And she frequently invades Yukino’s personal space by standing really close to her or even touching her. Even though Yui seems so friendly (her voice actress truly infuses her voice with much heart-felt warmth), she can be very forceful if she does not get her way. Case in point: at one point she treats Hikigaya to a karate chop in his neck when he says something not quite to her liking. He comments that this really hurts, but Yui ignores that.
Music
Gorgeous. Both the intro and outro songs, the one time that Yui (episode 5 or 6) sings the outro as a ballad, the improvised song at the festival and some of background music. One particular piano piece is strangely reminiscent of early Victorian music, as can be heard in the 1995 Jane Austen serialization ‘Pride and Prejudice’. This made me wonder if Yukino and Hachiman could in some ways be seen as Elizabeth Benneth and Mr. Darcy from said book? There are certainly some similarities, although also some noticeable differences.
Art
Decent, although not particularly impressive. Yukino is often drawn as very grim-faced or sour.
The shape of things to come?
And now for the parts I have to characterize as ‘enigmatic’. Or perhaps they are simply loose ends that will be tied up in some (well deserved) future season? Since there are thoughts on what might happen, or perhaps should have happened, I don’t see these remarks as spoilers. Still, if you haven’t seen the series yet, these won’t make any sense to you. Here are the ones that stick out in my mind:
1. When Hikigaya is introduced to the ‘Volunteers’ Club’, Yukinoshita Yukino is the only member. Why this is, or whose idea it was to start this club in the first place, is never made clear. Was it also a sort of punishment devised by Hiratsuka-sensei? If so, what did Yukino do that was worthy of punishment?
2. The ‘battle royale’ for who can do the most service between Hikigaya and Yukinoshota, as declared by Hiratsuka-sensei in the first episode. In my opinion, Hikigaya obviously won in terms of the sheer number of solutions he both came up with and implemented, so there can really be no doubt who should be declared the winner. But is Hiratsuka woman enough to recognize this? And would Hikigaya actually make use of his one wish to order Yukinoshita to do whatever he wants? And would it be something unpleasant, or would he be magnanimous?
3. In the first episode, Yukinoshita accepts Hiratsuka’s request to help rehabilitate Hikigaya, but she makes no more than a half-hearted attempt at conversation and afterwards this promise of hers is never referred to again.
4. At the end of episode 7, Yukino says that she would not have thought that she would ever have been able to go back to the site of this summer camp. But exactly why this is, is not revealed, nor is this remark of hers referred to again in this season.
5. At the end of episode 8, Yukino seems distressed at the prospect of having to face her mother. But we never get to see her mother or find out anything more about Yukino’s troubles with her than that she is a rather forceful type who tries to make the other members of her family do her bidding.
6. In episode 9, Yukino’s sister Haruno reveals that Yukino knows that Hachiman was the one involved in the accident on the first day of school with the limo driving her. The suggestion is that she meant to talk to Hikigaya about this, but she never does except to confirm later that she really was not aware that this was him when she was introduced to him in episode 1. But she did discuss this with her sister, apparently implying that she meant to talk to Hikigaya about it. If so, what had she meant to say and why didn’t she? Simply because Hikigaya was a little short with her when they met again after the summer break?
7. Both Haruno and Hiratsuka describe Yukino as a very sweet, vulnerable girl. Yet she never behaves this way towards them whenever they meet. Nonetheless, it does not seem that Haruno or Hiratsuka are making fun of her by describing her character in terms completely at odds with the truth.
So where will they go from here? I, for one, am very curious to find out.
