With a return to zero, there will always be a part left behind. Whether this is in the form of a person, or even something intangible such as a reputation, there can never truly be a reversal. Oregairu is an example of a show where instead of a misguided student leading his life towards that of assimilation, he attempts to guide his relationships and progress towards the start, rather than the end.
Story: Oregairu's story is pretty simple. It follows school events throughout the year, and the hardships faced by the characters. While major plot points do not deviate from the average high school anime, it's the way that these story arcs and events wrap up that give Oregairu its charm. The show follows a pretty simple formula: introduce event, main character Hachiman is thrust into the spotlight, and the event ends with him self-sacrificing. While it may seem that this repeated cycle of self-sacrificing would eventually lead to a stale formula in the end, these actually serve to further develop the characters. At the beginning of the show, Hachiman is self-centered, and unwilling to involve himself in others' affairs. However, by the end of this season, you can see that he has transitioned into that of a martyr. This could not be done without the combination of character and occasion. While Oregairu's story isn't that special in this season, it's a catalyst that helps enrich the characters while keeping the show as realistic as possible.
Art: Assuming that you have not seen the second season's art, this season's art isn't too much to call home for. It gets the job done, but you can see that this art is much simpler than that of the LN, and is less impressive than the second season's art. Overall, the art just feels painfully average compared to other shows that came out around the time. I feel that with more realistic lighting/shading, this season could have come out better than it looks.
Sound: I love this show's music. I'm not going to lie. Background music is pretty memorable, at least in my opinion. I would prefer the second season's opening over this season's opening, but I do feel that both are very good song choices that capture the essence of this show very well. The ending song is a good way to wrap up the events of an episode, with its upbeat tempo, yet deep lyrics.
Character: Oregairu's characters are definitely up there when it comes to characters with the most potential. At the conclusion of this season, you already see a major shift within the main characters, and minor characters even get to shine - and not just with Ebina's fujoshi personality. While yes, Hachiman attempts to return all of his relationships back to what they originally were, it is his oversight that leads Yui to reversing the damage that he has done in most cases. However, what is most interesting about Hachiman is his self-sacrificing personality. At the beginning of the show, particularly seen in the summer camp arc, Hachiman's plans are more towards having others do the grunt work while he is the scheming mastermind. Towards the end, however, a shift occurs within him, and his distrust for others takes over. This distrust is what causes him to change from someone who uses others to one that uses himself to protect what he already has. With the other 2 members, their personalities are actually explained from the beginning, rather than Hachiman's aversion to others stemming from his natural awkwardness. With Yukino, we find out about her past, and how that has affected her current personality. Her past is what has created this icy façade that prevents her from getting close to others, and is further elaborated on with the relationship that she has with her sister. With Yui, we find that her cheerful demeanor is yet again another façade put on in order to fit in with her clique. Instead of a cast of shallow, onesided characters, Oregairu presents us dynamic characters that are able to change with hidden motivations that make up their overall character. Yui in particular seems to be the character with the most potential coming into season 2, especially with her true nature still being fairly untouched by the writing. My only complaint with the characters would be the side characters. With this season focusing on our 3 main characters, and getting us attached to them, it's no real surprise that the side characters are given less fair treatment.
Enjoyment: While the first season definitely focuses less on realism of characters and more of the development of these characters, Oregairu definitely is enjoyable. I loved the interactions between the characters, and the glimpses into these characters' true personalities. However, when compared to that of the second season, the relationships and dynamics definitely feel a bit less "real" in this season. With a reputation as the most realistic representation of high school relationships in anime, Oregairu's first season definitely serves as a premonition towards this overall ideal.
Overall: While not perfect, Oregairu shines in its deep main characters, the symbiotic relationship they have with the story, and overall being an enjoyable experience. That being said, this show is definitely something that should not be slept on. Especially at the time of writing, this show is more relevant than it will ever be, particularly with its painfully accurate representation of changing relationships, and also the fact that season 3 is on the horizon.
