I have a feeling that most people who have given this series a high rating haven't finished it yet. I mean I went from giving it a 10 at the beginning a 6, almost 5 at the end. The reason for this is the time skip that happens all of a sudden at like chapter 27 or something. Should have stopped there. And I suggest you do if you want to believe the end is a little cliche but happy ending. I actually wouldn't have minded a tragedy ending, pretty much anything other than the way it ended.
Ok I'll leave the rest of the gripes to the end. The Story of Usagi Drop was terrific in the first arc. Daikichi was fumbling around in the dark as he tries to learn how to be a parent for the first time. He goes from dealing with Rin wetting the bed, to helping her out for a skip rope contest, to her loosing her first tooth. It was a heart warming and loving adventure and incredibly believable interaction between all of the characters. Some of my favorite scenes were between Kouiki and Daikichi as they had a great buddy buddy, almost father and son friendship.
The art stays consistently simple but cute. Almost an embodiment of the feeling the manga gives off. I have to admit though Daikichi's character design was probably my favorite.
Character line up here is superb. You have the adorable Rin, the loving but kind of clumsy Daikichi, the trouble making Kouki and a few other characters that actually have an interesting personality and development.
Enjoyment is an easy 10. That is for the first arc when Rin is a cute 6 year old munchkin:3 after the 10 year time skip, which comes out of no where and has no lead up at all, that is where it begins to go down hill ad where I suggest you stop and make up your own ending and future for the characters. From then on it's almost a predictable drama. At least the first arc had a feeling of discovery and adventure. The second arc was just...not a very enjoyable read. Sure it had some good parts. The downfall of Kouki was actually my favorite part of it since it was believable and a bit of a shock for the lighthearted series. But it all leads up to the akward and uncomfortable ending.
If you haven't finished but have started the second arc and aren't really enjoying it as much as the first, just go watch the anime and call it a day. If you have just started I suggest dropping it at the time skip. The following contains spoilers for the ending.
The ending was very uncomfortable for me to read. I found the fact of Rin liking Daikichi strange yet somewhat acceptable since it was just Rin's feelings and she may just be confusing them for other feelings. Also, it may just be a phase since she is growing up and seeing how all the "boys" in her class are not as dependable or cool as the "man" Daikichi. And that's what bugged me, she never really gave any of the "boys" a chance. She tried the date with one classmate, but it was obvious she had her mind made up the she wasn't going to enjoy it or pursue it. She simply closed everything off and had her sights set on Daikichi who has already gotten past the "boy" phase and is a real "man" already. The very ending is what made me so uncomfortable. I'll even pass on the huge age difference and just focus on the fact that Daikichi gave in so easily. 2 Years he needed to think and after two years of thinking if he should go out with the little girl who used to wet his bed, who he would wash in the bath and pick up form nursery, he ends up saying "so..should we get married?" Then Rin wants to bear his child??? I was actually incredible disappointed and rather disturbed at this. Having a child with the girls you raised as your child? No thank you. Maybe it's just me but that ending really f'd things up for me and I actually wish I never read past the first arc. I really thought even a tragedy ending for Daikichi would have worked better and Rin would move on and follow the teachings Daikichi shared with her. But nope just have a kid with your "kid" :D ........ :|
I find Usagi Drop to be two seperate manga. The pre-time skip that I loved, a lighthearted, fun, family oriented comedy and after the time skip where everything just nose dives. Maybe it's just the shock from finishing it just now, but I really don't reccomend reading past the time skip.
