*Comes out to stage, gets down onto one knee, mimes wiping the floor, taps wrist and shouts "It's Reviewing Time!"
That's right, it's an Anime about CM Punk in High School.
STORY- 8 (20/25)
CM Punk gets into trouble with his Sensei after submitting one of his Pipebombs as an essay. Sensei forces him to join an all-women club. Shoujo Club, too sweet! Not for our protagonist, who decides to be a jerk while dropping more Pipebombs.
Wow, so it's your typical light novel harem, just with CM Punk as the protagonist. So why 8?
Because Hachiman= 8-Man, that's why!
Jokes aside, the social commentary was very refreshing, though it slips back into humdrum Slice-of-Life at times. Bombastic introductions and climax make up for that and put this show firmly in the 8/10 zone.
ART + SOUND- 7 (17.5/25)
The Animation was unfortunately rather unappealing, even with the understanding that this was no big budget work. The music wasn't that great either.
However, the Voice Acting delivers in a big way. Eguchi was on point in his portrayal of Hikigaya, expressing his bitterness and nonchalant confidence with vigour. With the female main characters, their seiyuus do what exactly is said on the tin. Kuuderes act like Kuuderes and Derederes act like Derederes, providing realism to the characters. It certainly helps that Nakahara (Nagisa Furukawa and Juvia Lockser) was on board, though Eguchi has her well beat for best Voice Acting here.
CHARACTER- 6 (15/25)
8-Man Punk is at a canter the best character. Unlike most snarkers, he is more proactive in helping others. Hikigaya also stands alone with his high creativity, having his own distinct style in doing things. That is a leader I would follow.
Punk's flaws are also used strategically- to purposely rile the target audience a la Wrestling and to lend sympathy towards the characters he runs down.
Unfortunately his co-stars Yui Yuigahama and Yukino Yukino... yes, all this alliteration and repetition is making my head spin. Not a good sign.
Yui is your typical bubbly, airheaded protagonist. There's nothing wrong with playing it safe, that just means she's nowhere as intriguing as 8-Man Punk.
Yukino meanwhile is a more complex character, and not in a good way. Even though she wants to rule the world, Snow Snowden wants to be a Kuudere and Tsundere as well and yet she's in the shadow of Mai-san. Too many cooks spoil the broth.
Sensei, taking a leaf out of Azumanga Daioh, as well as the young Mirajane Strauss proxy were the entertaining characters in a sea of otherwise nondescript supporting characters.
ENJOYMENT- 9 (22.5/25)
CM Punk dropping Pipebombs on superficial teenagers? Yeah, count me in. Hachiman Hikigaya's deliveries were so convincing that he'd easily be mistaken for a real person. This was a hugely original way to circumvent the humdrum of typical Slice-of-Life and 8-Man's highly intriguing psychoanalysis, despite the "Love Comedy" in the title, was at the forefront here.
CONCLUSION- 75/100= 8/10, rounded up
Smack bang between 7 and 8 is an extremely fair score for Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Comedy wa Machigatteiru. The producers chose their battles wisely, and thus the amazing "Hachiman strategy" scenes are at the centre of attention. That does not discount it from occasional lethargy, but Hikigaya's experiences make viewing this make this extremely worthwhile.
