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Post by Skywalker on Mar 29, 2008 1:37:03 GMT -5
So Eric and I are currently enduring torture
aka: watching School Days...
Why? It's basically a cult hit in the anime community. INCREDIBLY controversial... and has the ability to warp your outlook on romance harem animes.
As a self proclaimed "otaku-in-training", I knew that one day... I'd have to endure this
And so far, 5 episodes in... yup, it's as bad as I feared
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Post by Eric T. Jones on Mar 29, 2008 2:14:47 GMT -5
After Aniket constantly chronicled his viewing and told me about how much he hated the main character, one thing lead to another and finally I went to a Wikipedia to get to the root of what's so controversial about this show (namely, the series finale).
So, I decided I would watch it just to see what happened and what was so infamously-censored.
At the 1:10 minute mark in the first episode, I saw an extreme close-up of a schoolgirl's breasts as she runs to a train, and I immediately knew what the rest of the show would be like. This would be something I would watch all the way through, no matter what, as I refuse to take something like "School Days" as entertainment.
Okay, the positives: it's all well-animated and well-written. It's authentic.
That's all sad, too. From the very title, "School Days" reminds me of the shows that I would hear about through commercials when I was 6, and my parents would yell "HELL NO I'm not letting you watch that!" The high school characters in this show- specifically its main character, Makoto- are presumably promiscuous but first and foremost lack any sort of class.
Makoto and his female classmate, as they pass notes rudely during a teacher's lecture and even more rudely will blurt out loud reactions if someone writes something stupid enough, will remind you of THOSE people in your high school class. Yes, we all have a Makoto and whatever the girl's name is in our high school.
At this point, I no longer wanted to see the show for its controversial ending, but due to its close approximation to a certain subset of American high schoolers, I'm still watching it in its entirety for insight (and, I'll admit, to feel better about myself for never coming close to being like these characters who are so VERY real). My worst fears and suspicions, one by one, are confirmed, and with each passing minute I get proven right.
Makoto also puts people like myself and someone else I know to shame- any youth honestly preparing to ask a girl out for an honest relationship will gag and puke at Makoto desperately reading a "how-to" guide... for all the wrong reasons. Not just him, but the girls are not so much better, never beyond conversational groping or a casual, extremely tacky kiss. Makoto is on his quest for that, and as the camera angles remind us, he just can't stop staring. He might do things for his date, but only to benefit his end- case in point being when he chooses the romantic movie over a horror, and expects to make out during the film. (I will note that his date looked somewhat bored)
The funny thing is, I can recommend this show for a different reason entirely. I'm sure it's more bearable than watching our own "90210" or "The O.C.", and it's enough to raise the eyebrows of parents- in fact, I think it should be mandatory viewing for all new parents with a huge note saying "This is your warning. DO NOT MESS THIS UP."
If anything, parents are missing from this show, as they are in real-life.
But like how a good message reaches all but the ones who actually need to hear it, "School Days" was intended for and was watched by the wrong audience, and that is the same sleazy, low-class teenagers depicted. This is a show to be endured and not absorbed, and for its intended audience, I will quote a certain website (the USCCB) and classify this as "O- Morally Offensive".
And I'm only past the second episode. This show has definitely got me writing.
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Post by Skywalker on Mar 29, 2008 2:28:14 GMT -5
Just completed Episode 6 And I'll admit, by anime standards... that was a decent episode. Sekai made a major comeback in my books... and Makoto... well he continues to dig deeper.
I'll probably watch one more episode tonight... any more and I'll be tempted to throw bricks at my computer (aiming for Makoto)
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Post by Eric T. Jones on Mar 29, 2008 2:43:45 GMT -5
Okay, after spending 24 more minutes with that jackass Makoto, I have the strongest urge to break my initial promise and just skip to the controversial series finale.
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Post by Eric T. Jones on Mar 29, 2008 3:46:57 GMT -5
Okay, I'm going to go for one more episode (the 6th one), and retire this for another unbearable six to go.
Never mind the fourth. The fifth episode with its numerous boob shots (and accompanying sound effects) were enough to get me boiling mad- Makoto still continues to be dumb, only now it's dramatically accompanied with a pop song. GREAT! WHAT WE ALL NEED!
Also, I'm getting the hint that this show is hypocritically doubling back on itself, pretending to condemn the promiscuity it just promoted (whether intentional or not).
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Post by Eric T. Jones on Mar 29, 2008 4:11:30 GMT -5
At the halfway point and where I'll stop; I am literally feeling sick to my stomach, and it might also have something to do with staying up until 2AM.
Obviously things climax and go down in flames, and we're left at a bit of a cliffhanger. Okay, you've established your new moral compass- now do us a favor and be consistent this time. I don't want to see another episode like the one at the pool with the effects and stuff ever again. Right now the series so far has me pushed so far over the edge that I seriously contemplate buying a gun to shoot my monitor.
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Post by Eric T. Jones on Mar 29, 2008 14:59:28 GMT -5
Well that was an amazing place to stop. Only a couple more of those hypocritical boob shots, and then the show is done with it entirely.
The biggest surprise?
Makoto and the people around him have some dimension added to them; I still don't appreciate the show for its sleazy first six episodes, but now, as I have finished 10 episodes, it's become genuinely involving. To an extent I know why I see these things all the way through, but I won't recommend anybody to force on themselves the sleazy first half of the series. ...so it's really up to you.
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Post by Skywalker on Mar 29, 2008 15:43:49 GMT -5
So, 11 episodes completed... just the infamous finale left. Thoughts?
School Days made a major rebound in the 2nd half. It was actually quite engrossing. So as of this moment Episodes 1 - 6 = 1/4 Episodes 7 - 11 = 3/4
So now it's time... to conclude School Days
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Post by Eric T. Jones on Mar 29, 2008 15:44:08 GMT -5
The tension mounts as we head to the finale. Things have gotten very unpredictable, and it's a shame that the show ultimately becomes an involving drama and a very effective cautionary tale as to the consequences of teenage promiscuity (Makoto and everyone have dug themselves into a hole so deep that I actually pity them), while it felt the need to put in all of those sleazy, tacky angles.
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Post by Eric T. Jones on Mar 29, 2008 16:15:26 GMT -5
Okay, anything "The O.C." ever did has NOTHING on this series finale. It's predictable but still very shocking to watch, with one of the most repulsive final shots I've seen.
That being said, the show would have rated ***1/2 from me for the ultimately relevant moral points made through the actions of its amoral characters (as well as the genuine drama as it neared its end), but due to the aforementioned problematic content, gets docked a full star. (**1/2)
Episodes 1-6 (1/2) Episodes 7-8 (**) Episodes 9-11 (***) Episode 12 (***1/2)
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Post by Skywalker on Mar 29, 2008 16:29:21 GMT -5
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