*If I don't have to do it, i won't. If i have to do it, i will do it quick!*
That is the main quote of our MC and i gotta say, we all had that as our main moto when we were teenagers!
To begin the sounds. The sounds were very good. They were befitting its theme and inviting us in. Also notable is that it had many Classic pieces like "Moonlight Sonata,The Air on G String" which were mainly used as a rip off since they didn't play any specific role. But that's not so bad.
This one has 2 openings and 2 endings with additional some wonderful but i would also call cliche OSTs. The OPs and EDs tho are just too well executed. Demonstrating our characters nature and situations they will face and also using great symbolism of how they interact and how they view the world. Brilliant work at both.
Continuing With the visual which were astonishing. Literally flawless. There wasn't something weird or bothersome (Except of the over Cute and extremely inviting KyoAni Style).The cloths were depicted perfectly and they were smooth. Another thing about the visual is how it presented some situation and mysteries by showing great depiction of reality via a series of pictures. I mean it explains 1 "situation" by pretty simple means and not in a way to mock the viewer but to simplify it. Their use was just well above an average show.
Story wise its as it states. We have our MC which literally is an unmotivated,low spirited,Teenager(appealing to the bone),with no attraction towards anything in life and high observation abilities and His company. As they go on into their lives they get to unravel some big and small mysteries. Tho the mysteries come out of normal everyday routine(but that's the whole shows meaning, that every mystery in our daily routine isn't caused without someone behind it). Also,they aren't always something big, but they are made in such a way to be interesting and exploiting some of the characters or used for their development. And its done great compared to other show before Hyouka.Also it handles great symbolism and realistic is on of its strongest elements. Also except Music rip off, the plot also mentions the 7 deadly sins and Tarot Cards at some point but its connection is extremely relevant to the plot and genuinely connected to the plot.(That just makes me think that the author actually put some effort on it and didn't wanna just rip off) This show knows how to work your brain while being all simple. Why? Because the possibilities are endless.It isn't playing fair since it doesn't give attention to any clue until that clue becomes relevant to the plot. But it does mention it as something unnecessary at the moment and as something that might never be of a use to us.
Just, Well played!
Last but not least, it messages are deep and realistic about how reality works and The most important part of the show is that its able to build some characters while making unbelievable realistic egos for them. So realistic that "It could literally happen in an everyday school" and also adding the fact of its magnificent presentation of things this is just divine.
--------------------------------------------Personal opinion and weaknesses--------------------------------
First and foremost, the overly cute and catering style of KyoAni might be this show greatest weakness. Although it can get pretty deep, its extremely hard to take it seriously. It's like running playing water fights in the summer and while running with your loaded weapon you will shout "I WILL KILL YOU ALL" but that's just terrific because you are just throwing water around... Secondly, from premise you already read about Chitanda and her bottomless "Curiousness". I will just say that you will either "Love her" or MOST LIKELY "Despise her". I can say pretty confident she is as annoying and useless as "Sakura" from Naruto. But to be honest as even Sakura has a big role to play , same goes to Chitanda,but also her role is abusing and bothering our MC who actually don't wanna do anything with it. That's a bad interaction and unless there was a big "Romantic feeling" so it could explain why the MC do her biding all that seems "Highly unlikely". But also many consider that fact minor. Also, as i said, it rip offs Classic music which is something bad here cause it doesn't do it right imo. Also, it has some scenes when its just way too hard to add depth to a simple mystery which is just Pretentious. It has many reference but they are well placed and seems natural.
Last and also a great shortcome is the fact that it lacks attractiveness. The only thing keeping you from leaving its the affection you must create for the characters and a small curiosity about the future events. Those 2~3 reasons to continue watching the show are actually pretty small for me and there were times i almost dropped it out of boredom and disinterest.
Well. In the end, Hyouka is one of those shows you will either love it or hate it. Just because of its nature. Either you will find it appealing and interesting or boring and unrealistic. For me it was the first one and it was a pretty good ride. But not sure if worth the time given, since there is literally only hints of romance and i can assure you if it had romance it would have been Top material.
Reasons to watch it:
-Man, the marvelous and educative idea of explaining the viewers about the Narrative trick and actually using it! (that irony was in another level)
-Excellent presentation, flawless art and astonishing music and symbolism throughout the show.
-I see that the author did a good research about Seven Deadly Sins,Taro Cards and many other stuff.That hints about the effort the author actually put into its work because the usage of those elements wasn't only superficial.
-The whole shows meaning is lying deep beneath the surface!
