But there are things about Sotsu that I feel make it sit above being just simply "bad" as I feel there are things about Sotsu that are good, but the good is so weighed down by the bad that it just narrows out to be mediocre.
Story: 6/10. This is probably where a lot of my conflict lies because Sotsu does have things that work and has so much else that could've worked to the degree of being one of the best shows of 2021, but it flounders so much of it away that while what we get is serviceable and to a decent amount of people of Sotsu actually "great" it to me instead just feels like the perfect final that should have us moving to tears with every episode is instead just throwing it out like laundry.
I'm not saying that Sotsu's tale has no value whatsoever like some reviews here, but I don't think that much of an impact was felt when it feels like I should have a hole in my heart crying about how this should be one of the greatest animes of all-time.
Art: 7/10. Now I think art is not the be all end all of any production, the original 06 Higurashi has gotten much criticism for its art in recent years (which to me I feel it boasts more charm than a majority of anime this day and age) but none the less I understand it's an important part of the animation that people do want to be good.
And really Higurashi Sotsu's animation is good, it's decent and while I sometimes do think characters are "shiny" I still think that a lot of it fits within the story, while also in some ways resembling the original designs in small details where I could actually confuse it for still being apart of the DEEN anime. Which to me is a good thing.
Sound: 7/10. I mean there is nothing wrong with this sound wise I feel. Its music still is great, the voice actors are still showing why they are every bit the characters as they were since 06 and there is just a lot of good sound effects here.
I'm also very much looking forward to hearing the ending song again, which also was sung by a familiar artist of the original anime. It honestly had me in tears, fair play Passione.
Character: 5/10. Here's the thing they don't outright butcher characters as much as I feel they don't hone in them, Higurashi's cast to me has always been some of the most in-depth of all-time rivaling that of Evangelion and Berserk.
And what Sotsu is presenting is not out of bounds but just so caught in first gear it never picks up beyond that and to me, it's not so much that the anime is bad for it, but that it's frustrating because the meat of these characters is held back with repeated lines, rushed or dragging pacing or just overall trying so hard to showcase a side of the characters (Like Mion) that have never been seen before only to narrow it down to one point and stick to it.
This to me is just head shaking because there are so many instances where the characters look to be going into a direction that blows my mind, but for the most part, it's just by the books.
Although I do give points for how they handle 2 particular supporting cast characters that I honestly feel enhanced the story of Sotsu to the point I was rather moved, those who have seen the show I'm sure you know the two I'm talking about.
Enjoyment: 5/10. 15 Episodes and basically 60% of it is new content while a good 30% is just recapped content, that doesn't sound good and it's not good and frankly for something like Higurashi it should not be the case.
Overall I personally give it a 6 out of 10 but with a big amount of disappointment to go with it that could easily drag it down to a 5 out of 10 in spirit and I get where most reviews and fans are coming at with this edition of Higurashi and how it in many ways is just very flawed.
But I also understand why some could in fact see this as a great show as while I think the recaps drag this show down the most, it hits the beats that one who is watching this anime does, not amazing, but not to the point of declaring it's worthless.
And I respect anyone who enjoys this season and found themselves emotional with it as at the end of the day Higurashi I think should always be designed to make you come away with some emotional message.
