"Fate" is a word that is spoken a lot of times during the course of the series and it is fair to say that the themes and symbolisms that were presented were very much centered around that very word. You have these various and colorful characters that started out seemingly as cardboard cutouts in a normal slice of life anime but transcended into characters with weight and dimension throughout the second half of the series. The series started out as a very quirky anime that seem to have a premise of it being a comedy. However, this will all spiral into a very dark second half which put a lot of emphasis into the very dynamics of the characters with each other and what constitutes their own beings.
I actually liked that it questions the mode of living or what we see as "normal" in our own society. This goes to the concept of the "Child Broiler", a place in which children become invisible. In the series it was introduced as somewhat a place, but looking into it further I see it more as a concept. A place in which society knows do exist, but let it happen anyway. It boggles me what could this place exactly be, knowing that it revolves around the aspect of fate (or lack thereof). However, I know that it emphasizes on the ignorance of society. Other aspects of this would include a deconstruction of what constitutes a family really, a part of which I really love. The series serves as a paradox to break and fortify the very definition of "family". Another thing that I love about this show is that it is never scared to show sensitive matter to fully flesh out the characters (stalking, repressed sexuality, inner revenge, etc)
As I've said before characters, with weight and dimension comprise this anime. They are namely; Kanba, Shouma, Himari, Ringo and other minor characters which include Tabuki, Yuri and the very cute penguins. Each one of them is wonderfully written but for most part they may at first appear as unoriginal. One could only truly appreciate them when the series was finished.
The standout episode to me was episode 20 . I wouldn't spoil on what happens in that episode but it was memorable and emotional. It was similar to episode 11 of Madoka that in merely one episode, there is a huge amount of character development.
However, although the characters are amazing and the sound was not bad, I still find the story sometimes to be actually too fast-paced and the symbolisms were just too many that one could potentially get lost on what the actual theme of the story is. Some parts were also very unnecessary (although some are funny), because the end was very, very different from what it originally was upon the first impression.
However, it is a 9 to me because it was really, really unique. Amidst the mechas, romance and slice-of-life animes that surface in the anime-sphere this one truly stands out and becomes very, very memorable.
