I do like H & C, I really do. But your observation sums it up for me. The romantic merry-go-round and the melodrama was good and subtle at first, but after 2 seasons of nothing, its time to actually let something happen, not continue spinning the damn thing until it falls off.

>> Equitan: Heh, I remember your season preview and how hyped you were for Bokura ga Ita.

I still am pretty excited about Bokura ga Ita, just its a matter of sitting down to watch the thing. Slice of life is a particularly hard genre to get into because deep down you know its more of the "same", even though some of my all time favourites like H&C and Fruits Basket exist within it. I mean I’ve downloaded all 9 released episodes, so that must say something, either way I’m going to force myself into it soon.

>> Ten: But you must give Kokumono a try. I demand it! Well, I gently insist. =D

I’m tempted to give it a shot. I like the fact that it’s an underdog – no one was talking about it 2 months ago but now it seems to be gathering positive reviews everywhere. I’m hesistant with the bishounen though – Night Head Genesis and Kokumono would surely be too much??

>> Hige: I’d take emotionally ‘challenging’ endings over meandering non-events.

I quite liked the way it would breeze through characters lives during the first season, which wasn’t so much about romance as simply growing up and becoming the person you always dreamed you could be. Basically – I’m missing arcs like Takemoto’s journey around Japan. A lot of that was personally compelling to me, rather than now where it’s more of a well crafted but some-what disconnected romantic drama.

>> Martin: Even now the fallout from the fan hype still clouds viewers’ judgement.

>> Equitan: As for TMoSH, it’s *hugely* over-rated. I can pull up a big critique of the series if you need it xD

I’m hearing this from a lot of people, but then I’ve also watched the rock concert performance on YouTube and it looked amazing. I’d love to hear more of your thoughts on the show, Equitan.

>> Ten: I enjoyed the first ep of FLAG… But I’m very much intrigued by the inclusion of mecha to this not-quite-conventional military drama.

Yup – it seems like a very unique and interesting concept for a series from Sunrise. The fact it has adult characters is also a big plus

***

After writing all this I’ve worked out what to do; I’m going to download 2 episodes of everything I’m interested in and just marathon through the whole lot. Surely then I’ll be able to decide what’s good and what’s not.

The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya still doesn’t really appeal to me for some reason. Part of me wonders if I take the risk I might find something amazing, but like you say, it seems too otaku-aware. I might check out the western release if it happens.

All in all I really like Bokura. Perhaps that’s because I’ve always liked these down to earth relationship series. It could be boring but Yano’s background is interesting, and it’s nice how that gets revealed piece by piece. The series also does a very good of setting up subtle tension within the series. It’s better if I don’t say much but Bokura certainly has me at least believing that events might be anything but smooth. Of course, I could totally be wrong there but what’s important is that, like Kimi ga Nozomu Eien, the series *makes me believe* otherwise and that’s important.

Having said all that, maybe it’s just not your kind of series ^^

As for TMoSH, it’s *hugely* over-rated. It does start out in awesome fashion with a very original opening episode, and has a huge amount of potential, but almost all of it is wasted. In the end I find it nothing more than an average series. I can pull up a big critique of the series if you need it xD

I confess, I’ve only watched a fraction of the pilot ep of Haruhi. I’ll probably watch it later on. I guess I’m also curious to the huge popularity.

I enjoyed the first ep of FLAG. Well, it’s more like, I appreciated it better after rewatching it. I was a bit disoriented by the constant use of the camera and lenses. But I’m very much intrigued by the inclusion of mecha to this not-quite-conventional military drama.

My problem with Hachikuro is that it’s heading towards soapy angst, which irritates the heck out of me. Whenever I see Rika, Yamada, or Mayama, I have the urge to shake them and slap them into sanity. I think this is my problem with NANA too.

As for Bokura ga Ita, I’d rather read the manga than watch the anime. (I found the manga so-so.)

I got carried away with the post. ^^;

Haruhi Suzumiya in contrast is a breath of fresh air, but only within the constraints of its genre. Even now the fallout from the fan hype still clouds viewers’ judgement.