Truth is somewhere there. Apart from being able to tell immediately who is the main heroine of our story, the title also refers to... a drink. The taste of the orange juice, sweet, savoury, but bitter as well. The taste of melancholy. The taste of memories. The taste of unrequited love.
It's not like Orange isn't just another shoujo about romantic school drama, another title indistinguishable from many others you've watched so far. But what's good about it is that it has a quality the majority of titles lack. And that's its ability to make the viewer feel empathy towards the heroine, to root for her when she's in struggle (not just the obligatory shipping empathy).
That, however doesn't make the show immune to some plot holes, such as:
- Naho receives a letter from herself and, instead of reading the whole letter, like a normal person would do (well, omitting the part where it's normal to receive a letter from your future self), she reads it bits by bits, parallel as the story progresses. It's understandable, since that would prevent unwanted spoilers and keep up the suspense, yet it diminishes the importance of the letter itself and uses it as nothing more than a medium for telling the story.
- The show is full of some very irrelevant conversations that are supposed to bring the slice-of-life vibe, yet they just make them look forced and awkward and like everyone is acting out of character.
On the flip side of things, the story is good and it's progressing good. Or maybe I'm just saying that because I'm a sucker for time-twisting stories (=.=`)
It gives the viewer hope that things can be changed for good, yet at the same time some things remain unchanged - be it because they must happen, or because Naho didn't do the right thing at the right moment. At the same time we're seeing character development: from the timid, indecisive Naho of the past, the heroine gradually builds up courage, although faltering here or there, half-driven by the weight of the letter, half-driven by the desires of her 16-year old self.
One downside of this show is the soundtrack. The music is somewhat off with the scenes and overall unmemorable. OP and ED are generic at best albeit they might prove entertainment for some watchers but personally not something I'd listen to twice.
If you are one to appreciate a romantic drama with a spice of time-travel and would be able to ignore flaws such as the above-mentioned, I recommend to give Orange a chance.
