Regrets, haunting memories lingering, sadness and self-pity. The transition to adulthood is a treacherous journey with plenty of roadblocks and slippery slopes. At first, two of our main characters seem on a parallel path. Rikuo firmly planted in the seat of self-consciousness and denying any value or merit to his capabilities. Shinako stuck in her past life in Kanazawa. Two driving forces, Haru and Rou find their way into the fold and make it difficult for Rikuo and Shinako to keep standing still.
A scene in episode four, as an example of a highlight of this series, was when Shinako viewed the cherry blossom tree from the back of the house. The surreal feeling of death lingering over the memories of someone is that you have this sense they are there with you and you look again and realize that you expect them to be there, to be somewhere. The scene captured this feeling so well. Another moment was when Minato says "I thought I'd never see her again". This moment of relief accompanied by bittersweet heartache burned deeply and in a subjective sense spoke to me as a viewer. It's clear that the writers have done an amazing job of adapting emotional appeal into this show.
The characters are all very realistic, in some ways maybe a little dauntingly so. Their hearts are on full display for us as the viewer and I personally found it difficult to approach the painful moments without being affected. The depictions get messier as the season progresses, about episode 5 or 6 is when it feels they start to unravel a bit. Their motivations, their personality, their interpersonal connections are clearly defined, whether that's through implicit or explicit means. Dialogue and monologue are both delivered exceptionally well.
If I could think of anything that holds this series back, there are a couple things. First may be the quieter moments. They are abundant, but I think in a way these moments are necessary because there is a lot that is unpacked through this series. Four episodes in and I had already felt like these characters were not only fully realized, but that I had been with them for much longer than that. This is not to say that the pacing is necessarily slow either, considering that there is quite a bit of exposition for each of the main characters. It all comes together naturally for the most part. The second would be the latter half's pacing and direction. We got numerous episodes where the main characters seem to stagnate in a situation that neither of them are particularly fond of. This arc would seem, by far, to be the weakest. While I understand the tension is building for the finish, it is painful. Maybe that pain was intended to be part of the experience of this show. To some degree it feels masochistic to enjoy such emotional pressure, but at the end of the day the adeptness of this show at driving these emotional beats can't be ignored. The characters start to lose their initial appeal in the process, making this approach a double-edged sword. While it may have done a great job of tension, it also risked the integrity of the characters. That being said in terms of romance, I find this show to actually focus more on the dramatic aspects than the romantic. I actually enjoy this approach. It does its best to place proper value and realism on the bonds of the characters.
I give the show a strong 8, I can't quite give it a 9 as there are some pacing issues that hold it back and direction towards the back half that could probably play a little less risky. I can definitely say if you're looking for a good sob, you will find a couple watching this.
