This will contain some spoiler, sorry. xD
It started slowly, with bits and pieces of information. From past to present. Back and forth. Giving clues without revealing anything. The premise? Six children, a special friendship, an unspoken love and a twisted town. People have this ability called cantus, the power of telekinesis which is awakened once a child reached ten years of age.
Saki, Satoru, Shun, Maria, Mamoru and Rei were classmates and friends. However, due to some event, Rei disappeared, leaving no trace in the memories of the remaining children.
The turning point of the story happened in their summer camp when they were twelve years old. Five of them accidentally stumbled upon information that shouldn’t be available to them, thus, their bloody and painful adventure begin.
We live in a cruel world, indeed. Shinsekai Yori is a mirror of our world. From standpoint of society and norm, the concept of right and wrong, safe and dangerous, of what is acceptable and what is not. It made me see myself as part of society in a different light. Society always justifies its deed saying it’s for the greater good. Sacrifice a few to save many. Surely it works. Even I cannot deny that. *sigh*
When I started watching Shinsekai Yori, I had no expectation, whatsoever. Although I read the plot beforehand, I didn’t remember it much (since, as I said utopian and dystopian world aren’t new nowadays). First few episodes didn’t impress me, if I were to describe what I thought of it, I’d say it was strange, so strange. Surprisingly, as strange as it was, it kept me looking forward to the next episode. While I was trying to figure out the story, I was hooked beyond recovery. No words can explain how strange it was and how I was captivated by its beauty.
The story was mesmerizing. It challenges your belief, questions your sanity, confronts your inner self, and dare you to be free from what is accepted by norm and society. Wanting to change but unable to change. And because there will be always fear of the unknown, we tend to stay in our comfort zone.
I’ve always known that Satoru and Saki will end up with each other. I just knew it in my heart. But I also knew that there is something between Saki and Shun, a deeper bond that no one could break (even when Shun is gone, their soul is still connected). It was a red string of fate that transcends even afterlife. But I must admit I NEVER ever for once did see it coming for Satoru and Shun, Saki and Maria. It shocked the hell out me. Happiness, indeed (hahaha. Please excuse the yaoi fangirl in me). I was lost in that brief moment. It’s like I died and reborn again. I feel twisted, happy and satisfied. Why? Because it tackles love in the most indiscriminate way. It doesn’t matter if you’re a boy or a girl, or what gender you prefer your partner to be. You just love a person regardless of gender. It’s really liberating. Almost refreshing.
Satoru loved Shun, Shun also loved Satoru but he also loved Saki and Saki loved him, too. Saki loved Maria, Maria loved Saki too but she also loved Mamoru, that’s why she cannot abandon him when she needed her most. And after everything that happened, Satoru and Saki grew to love each other too. It was a slow but sure love. I believed that the love the five of them have for each other is beyond comprehension. But somehow, I understood. In the end, I realized that maybe, just maybe it’s really true that we will end up with the person that we’re meant to be. No matter how painful the road we would take.
I’m sure Satoru and Saki will name their child Shun if it’s a boy and Maria if it’s a girl. Because deep in their hearts they still long for them but still they are happy with each other and that the heart is really capable of loving more than one person…
So I say it was the most beautiful love triangle in the world.
Will I recommend it? Of course. Although, I think it isn’t for everyone. But if you would want something with a different touch, you must watch it. Dystopian world always has this mood that is melancholy. There were moments I needed to take a deep breath to control the emotions that was building up in me. Guess you really have to take the good with the bad, so they say. I couldn’t agree more.
