When I first started watching anime, I was interested in nothing but action based heroism. Not that there's anything wrong with that, it's just that I grew to fancy various other tastes. I once came to a stage where I watched nothing but the heartbreaking anime that was over the top emotional. Again, there's nothing wrong with that, except I grew to fancy other tastes. By the time Boku dake ga Inai Machi came out, I had assumed that it was nothing more than another tearjerker.
Boy was I wrong.
BokuMachi is an anime that runs on a very simple premise: guilt. While the story itself isn't something that is overtly stellar, the themes running behind it are definitely in the spotlight. The entire time I was watching, I couldn't help but think what I would have done in that situation. There were times where I reflected on past situations where I felt guilty of something that was out of my hands and wondered how I could go about fixing it. To that end, the story was excellently executed. That is to say, I like it, but I don't love it. The show was entertaining, emotional, comical when necessary; and if that list is good enough for you to watch a show, then stop reading and go watch it. If you're still here, then know that with all the things it got right, I still felt that there could've been more.
And no, I'm not talking about the ending. The ending was fine, the underlying theme was portrayed appropriately, all I didn't like was the lack of character depth. I know that a lot of people might disagree with me on this, but I stand firm here. Hinazuki Kayo was cute and lovable, but was portrayed pitifully. In fact, every time I saw her I pitied her. I’m no expert on character development, but if the audience is doing nothing but showing pity for one of the main characters, you're doing it wrong. Unfortunately, the list doesn't stop there. Katagiri Airi is very much important to the story line and yet she isn't shown for half the show. I understand the emphasis on the MC’s maturity in thought and actions, but attention to other pivotal characters will most definitely pay off in the long run.
When I finished watching, I felt like I wanted to watch more, but watching anymore would ruin the impression that it had on me. Boku dake ga Inai Machi is very interesting, and my speel on it shouldn't deter you from watching it yourself. I only feel as though there was still another hidden gem that was left uncovered.
