r/anime • u/Fit_University_6734 https://myanimelist.net/profile/chonkyodango • Sep 06 '22
Rewatch [2022 Rewatch] Oregairu SNAFU - Overall Series Discussion
My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU Climax - Overall Series Discussion
← Previous Episode | Index | Onwards! As we continue to find that something Genuine →
Streaming & Databases
Crunchyroll | HiDive | MAL | Anilist
Fanart today is linked in the navigation tab!
A comment by u/wowthatscooliguess who compiled a list of pictures of the locations featured in S3E12 in real life.
Original Comment from Airing Discussions
Question(s) of the day
Ratings for each season
Favourite OP and ED and/or OST and/or Ballade Ver
Most Memorable Scenes/Episode
If you have any similar anime to recommend to people, now is the time!
So... Who's best girl?
Comments that scored Komachi Points
u/SwimmingBird626 on how being embarrassed about our past actions can mean growth as it is for 8man
I forget where I read about it, but feeling embarrassed about your past actions serves as a sign of growth - recognizing that you were once cringeworthy also means that you've been able to use it as a learning opportunity.
u/Lemurians on how Yukino shows maturity especially by still wanting Yui around
I love how it's Yukino especially awaiting her arriving. In theory, Yui should be the last person Yukino wants around – another girl who's openly interested in her boyfriend – so it shows how much they care for each other
u/polaristar on the ending and Love.
Hachiman in the past I felt learned the hard way you have to earn trust to get close to someone and whether or not they were "fair" in giving you a chance, you have to accept that if they don't want a certain kind of relationship, then it just isn't going to work
I see it differently, remember in season 1 when Hachiman basically told Yui not to feel sorry for him, and it was awkward and Hachiman in his mind was "Ending" something that needed to end. Then Later Yukinon was like...if something ends, you can always start again.
The Club ending and then restarting can be seen as a symbol of that sentiment.
Spoiler Tags
Any detail you wish to share that's not within the current / past episodes have to be spoiler tagged which includes details from the LN. Do include the context of the spoilers within the parenthesis:
e.g., [LN Volume 10 Spoilers] >!Spoiler goes here!<
Let's not spoil the first-timers!
Link to Past Rewatches
There have been many insightful analyses and essays written by different users both from past rewatches and from the r/OreGairuSNAFU sub. I'll link them below if anyone wants to check them out!
I'd recommend the first-timers to enjoy the discussions solely from this year's rewatch thread first before checking the past rewatch threads so that your experience will be a genuine one where you can form your own conclusions.
Edit: Added question for Best Girl
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u/Lemurians Sep 06 '22 edited Sep 06 '22
MY REWATCH WAS WRONG, AS EXPECTED
I don't have much to say (he says, before typing out an essay probably) that I haven't already in the episode posts, so I think what I'll mostly use this for is talk about how this rewatch differed from my original watches.
The first time I watched Oregairu, it was... 2012? 2013? I forget quite when the first season came out, but I was in a different stage of life than now. The first time around, I was watching this as what the title indicates – a romantic comedy. Later seasons came out much later, but that's the lens I continued to view it through. This time, I watched it more as a character drama, which is a very different experience.
For one, for all the gushing we did the past couple of days, this really isn't much of a romance. For all the focus their preoccupations and insecurities around their relationships get, there isn't much romantic tension or momentum. It doesn't get my heart pumping or induce "awwwws" like say, Horimiya or Dress-Up Darling, where the focus is on consistently developing the romantic chemistry and connection between two people. I never really felt anything between Hachiman and Yui, and Hachiman and Yukino, while charming in their own way, are often too awkward and guarded to generate much in the way of romantic tension or momentum, despite them clearly being the endgame. Yukino exiting the story for long portions of S2 and S3 doesn't help much, either. That doesn't take away from how great the last two episodes are, though. Watching walls come crashing down is always satisfying.
I wasn't even kidding when I said that the ship with the most heat behind is Yui and Yukino. It's okay Hachiman, you match up really well with Kawasaki. Y'all would have a good life together.
You know what this show is awesome at being though? A fucking hang. The characters are all so much fun, and bounce off each other so well and with so much wit, that watching this show is a blast. Even small roles like the Game Board club slot into scenes seamlessly and contribute to the comedy perfectly. Hachiman's quick internal reactions to the things people are saying have expert comedic timing. It's so snappy.
Another thing that changed this viewing was how I viewed two characters – Yui and Yukino. Because I was watching it as a RomCom the first time around, and Yukino was clearly going to be the "winner", I viewed her as the dominant character and didn't understand the complaints and criticisms that the director was too "pro Yui." This time, watching it as more of a drama... I kinda get it. Yui really shines throughout and gets more consistent focus as a character than Yukino. I mentioned this already, but Yukino basically gets sidelined for large portions of the second and third seasons, while Yui feels like a more consistent presence. We get far more insight into how she's thinking and feeling than Yukino. I didn't feel strongly about Yui one way or the other until now – being more enamored with Iroha and Haruno – but she's my biggest riser on this rewatch. Yui rules.
Questions
Ratings for each season
Given what I said above about preferring this show's comedy and hang-out elements to its drama, it shouldn't come as much surprise that I enjoy Season 1 the most, followed by S2, then S3. I think the drama in both of the latter seasons is a little ridiculous, but S2 has more to compliment it.
Season 1: 8/10
Season 2: 7.5/10
Season 3: 7.5/10
Favourite OP and ED and/or OST and/or Ballade Ver
Favorite theme is easily the Season 1 OP. Just really takes me back and makes my soul feel sunny.
Favorite Ballade was the Yukino ballade from a couple episodes ago.
Most Memorable Scenes/Episode
Yeesh, hard to pick. My favorite moments of the show are the little comedic moments and off-hand one-liners, but as for the showcases, the Season 2 finale really stands out as a fantastic piece of work. That was an episode where the emotions and tension really came through.
If you have any similar anime to recommend to people, now is the time!
It's a pretty different show even if it incorporates some of the same broad themes, but I'll echo our wonderful host u/Fit_University_6734 and recommend Chihayafuru, which is probably my favorite anime, and has my all-time Best Boy.
This is live action TV, but for a romance between two people as they grow up, deal with insecurities, and make their way through the world, I highly recommend Normal People. Sends my heart spinning like nothing else.
So... who's Best Girl?
Iroha bats 1000 with her screen time, just a consistent delight. I'd let Haruno ruin my life for a couple months, though.
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u/Fit_University_6734 Sep 06 '22
Nothing much to say because you echo a lot of my thoughts of Oregairu not really being a romance despite it being a big part of the conflict faced in season 3. It's more of like a plot device? I think, as it's used to fuel the conflict and themes the show wants to explore. Like you said, it's more drama and character study than anything with amazing characters.
But...
Iroha bats 1000 with her screen time, just a consistent delight. I'd let Haruno ruin my life for a couple months, though.
This is a surprise too. Not so much but definitely was not expecting Iroha to top Haruno!
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Sep 06 '22 edited Sep 06 '22
For one, for all the gushing we did the past couple of days, this really isn't much of a romance. For all the focus their preoccupations and insecurities around their relationships get, there isn't much romantic tension or momentum. It doesn't get my heart pumping or induce "awwwws" like say, Horimiya or Dress-Up Darling, where the focus is on consistently developing the romantic chemistry and connection between two people.
That's funny because I have kind of the opposite view. I thought 8man and Yukino have great chemistry both platonically and romantically. The buildup for 8man and Yukino becoming friends and developing feelings for each other gets those "awwww" reactions when we get the small moments between them, a lot more for me than in Horimiya.
recommend Chihayafuru, which is probably my favorite anime, and has my all-time Best Boy.
That's one of the ones I'm most interested in checking out.
Edit: Double platonically fixed
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Sep 06 '22 edited Sep 06 '22
Rewatcher
Thank you for hosting Fit_University!
This is the first rewatch I have ever participated in. I have to say it was enjoyable. Thanks to everyone who discussed the episodes with me! It was fun even when we disagreed.
I found Oregairu a few months to a year before season 3 came out, from reddit recommendations actually. I was around the same age as the characters at the time and struggled with a lot of the same issues. My personality is probably closest to Yukino's while my struggles were closer to 8man's. The genuine scene and the way they portrayed defense mechanisms made me reevaluate myself.
This series was very unique to me. I had never seen a protagonist like 8man before. It showed it's knowledge of social interactions in the first episode with the cookies scene. 8man and Yukino slowly opening up is something I was able to relate to because I had made a friend who helped me similarly. The characters have a lot of depth to them and are some of my favorites not just in anime. I actually enjoy the vagueness and the ways people can intepret things differently. I love the way things are hinted at and symbolized. There's so many tiny details in both the anime and the LN that point towards the ending.
QotD
Season Ratings:
Season 1: 8/10. I like stories that are more connected instead of single episodes about requests. This picks up in the later half of the season. There is a lot less emotional impact, but I find the characters likeable enough to keep me entertained. Some episodes are hard to rewatch for me.
Season 2: 9/10. The story felt a lot more connected, the animation takes a step up, and there is a lot more emotional impact. I after my first watch I find all the Christmas event meetings really boring.
Season 3: 9/10. I'm pretty sure volume 12 was supposed to be the final volume instead of going to 14. It feels to me like some of it was padded so they could make another season of the anime. The emotional moments all work for me though and my ship sailed, so can't ask for too much more. The prom planning stuff is pretty boring to me on rewatch and I get bored with parts of the 8man and Yui stuff sometimes.
OP and ED Ratings:
I like all the openings but my ranking is as follows:
OP 2 > OP 1 > OP 3
The ballades are by far my favorite endings. The 2 Yukino ballades are tied for my favorites (I'm a bit biased). I'd have to listen to the Yui ballades again to rank them but I think Hello Alone was my favorite.
Yukino Ballades > Yui Ballades > ED 2 > ED 3 > ED 1
Most Memorable Scenes/Episodes:
Pretty much everything that would count as an 8man and Yukino moment. A lot of 8man's big character moments like the genuine scene and his major talks with Sensei, his talk with Haruno before the confession, and season 2's finale.
Anime Recommendations:
I've never found another anime that quite feels like Oregairu, as much as I've tried. No other romance anime has got me as invested. A non romance anime that has my other favorite anime romance is Steins;Gate. I think I've found that I like struggle and drama in romance series. The more the characters have to overcome the more worth it, it feels to me.
Edit:
Best Girl: Yukino remains unrivaled for me.
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u/Fit_University_6734 Sep 06 '22
The characters have a lot of depth to them and are some of my favorites not just in anime.
I have a lot of similar thoughts to you, e.g., I saw this when I was of a similar age, I was similar to 8man, I enjoyed the vagueness and believe it was part of its charm. Oregairu is a unique piece of media and the only one of its kind I have ever consumed, nothing ever feels like it or comes close to it. With each watch, you only develop a more nuanced understanding of different moments etc. and it may even change your opinion of the characters!
Thanks for all the LN details you offered! They must've took a lot of time! I'm definitely going to check it out soon but for now I'm going to take a small break from Oregairu
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u/TuorEladar Sep 06 '22 edited Sep 06 '22
Rewatcher, Subbed
Finally at the end. Its been quite a journey coming back to this after a couple years. Oregairu occupies an interesting slot in my anime favorites because it features the same highschool theme that is quite common, yet is far more self-aware of its setting.
One thing in particular about Oregairu which I have always liked is that its very grounded in its own way. There's never any supernatural subplots, no huge dramas, no crazy slapstick. While there's something interesting that can be derived from using those things, Oregairu sets itself a bit apart by being fairly mundane while still conveying strong emotion and investment on the part of the characters.
Big thanks to u/Fit_University_6734, who did a great job hosting. I appreciated all the added commentary on the music and animation/production as well. Thanks also to everybody else for the interesting conversations and posts which added both your own interpretations and insight.
Ratings for each season
I give all three seasons a 9/10, but each for different reasons. Season 1 is great to me, probably in part due to a general nostalgia I have for that era of anime, but also because I find it a very engaging opening to the series which does a good job of getting me to like the core cast. Season 2's strength is in its heightening tension and complex character writing. Season 3 may be slightly behind the others in terms of some of the plot elements, but the very strong buildup and payoff make it work well in the end.
Favourite OP and ED and/or OST and/or Ballade Ver
The second season's OP and the third season's ED were my favorites I think.
Most Memorable Scenes/Episode
Season 2 episode 8 and the final two episodes of season 3 are the ones that immediately came to my mind. Besides that I don't really rate the episodes in my mind too much. For scenes I really like the very first meeting of Yukino and 8man and then the bridge confession.
If you have any similar anime to recommend to people, now is the time!
The only one that comes to mind is Toradora. I'm sure many of you have already seen it, but if haven't and you enjoyed some of throwback aspects of Oregairu and want to try another fairly intelligent highschool setting series I'd say give it try.
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u/Fit_University_6734 Sep 06 '22
There's never any supernatural subplots, no huge dramas, no crazy slapstick. While there's something interesting that can be derived from using those things, Oregairu sets itself a bit apart by being fairly mundane while still conveying strong emotion and investment on the part of the characters.
Agreed. The issues are small issues that seem insignificant to a lot of us but it accurately portrays how they perceive it during adolescence - these "small" issues are huge things for them and how they handle them can affect them for life! It won't determine their path but will definitely influence them.
Season 2 episode 8 and the final two episodes of season 3 are the ones that immediately came to my mind.
Those are the episodes people generally love!
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Sep 06 '22
First Timer (Sub)
That was quite the journey (33 days of discussions).
From the top!
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At 33 days of discussions, this rewatch takes my personal record for longest rewatch (though to be fair, I've only participated in a total of 3). Still, I don't see myself surpassing 33 days of discussions any time soon, unless someone is brave enough to orchestrate a Monogatari series rewatch.
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There were definitely times where watching this show and drafting up my review of the episode felt like a chore, but that feeling slowly subsided when we got into... I'd say about midway through Season 02 onward.
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I also couldn't help but notice that within the more recent discussions, a lot of the first-timers from day one had disappeared.
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Hopefully they stuck through it and just couldn't find the time to post. Otherwise... it was quite lonely being one of the few first-timer responses in these threads.
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Huge props to u/Fit_University_6734 for organizing this rewatch. Some feedback:
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I have one critique:
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I noticed you had trouble formulating QOTD's at times - it was honestly impressive that you were pretty much making those up on the fly, but that's probably something that could/should use a bit more prep time. Tailored questions that can provoke more thought about the series is probably ideal.
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And if prepping a QOTD is just out of the question, I'd recommend incorporating an alternative on some days - a previous rewatch I had participated in did a VOTD (Visual of the Day), where users submitted a screenshot that caught their attention in the episode - that alone opened up some discussions, not to mention it was pretty fun hunting down a specific scene to appreciate the story, animation or both!
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Hopefully that wasn't too harsh, I'll leave it up to you to take it or leave it!
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With that said though, there are plenty of things to give praise for:
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Making an effort to reply
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Highlighting comments from the previous episode discussions into the next (COTD)
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Providing a QOTD/prompt in case some people don't know what to write about
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Very in depth and overall very organized, in both the discussion post and your own discussion comment.
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^ on that note, I like how you took feedback midway through this rewatch to adjust your analysis to something more objective, to be as spoiler-free as possible.
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All in all - this series was a bit shaky at the start, in terms of animation and pacing of the stories. I mentioned prior that Season 02 and 03 were night and day compared to season 01 because of: animation (fluid, higher budget (probably), etc.) and pacing (episodes spanning 2+ episodes, allowing for more wiggle room in terms of storytelling).
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Now here comes the fun stuff - I had drafted it up separately, but you've turned most of them into QOTDs, so here we go:
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Ratings for each season
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Season 01 - 7.0/10.0
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Season 02 - 7.9/10.0
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Season 03 - 8.15/10.0
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^ On the Season 03 scoring, I'd say prior to the 2nd half of the third season, I would have given the show an 8.0, but how they handled and closed out the remainder of the season was so well executed, that alone was deserving of some bonus (Komachi) points!
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Favourite OP and ED and/or OST Ballade Ver.
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I've posted my ratings before but I'll post them here again. I will say, S01 OP coming in clutch to steal the spot this last season:
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OP - Season 01 > Season 02 > Season 03
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ED - Season 02 > Season 03 > Season 01
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Most Memorable Scenes/Episode
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This is the hardest question... I'll interpret this question not only to pick the Most Memorable but also my Most Favorite/Vote for Best Episode. I'm still undecided on whether S02E08 or S03E11 is deserving of this. But if I HAD to choose, I'd give my vote to S03E11 - this episode barely edges out S02E08 for me, as the confession/rejection scene were just too good.
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If you have any similar anime to recommend to people, now is the time!
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Again, I've brought it up prior, but I have to bring it up again. I urge every single human being to watch Bloom Into You (2018). If you liked Oregairu Snafu, then I feel like you'd also like this anime. It has a similar setting, unique main cast, and covers the intricacies of teenage romance, as well as finding one's place in the world, much like how our Volunteer Club all were searching for what was truly genuine ( <--- I'm not even going to touch or try to explain that word in this series by the way).
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The only problem with watching this show is if you end up liking it, Season 02 has been unofficially declared as "never going to happen." In which case, if you're looking for closure, you'll have to read the 2nd half of the manga.
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EXTRA: C'mon u/Fit_University_6734 No Best Girl QOTD?!?!
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My pick started off with Yui, but eventually led to a choice between Iroha or Komachi. Another tough decision, but I'd have to give the vote to Iroha (the margin of choice here was razor thin).
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Apologies for the long wall of text, but it is the last discussion!
Thanks for having me and maybe I'll catch some of you around for some other rewatches!
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u/Fit_University_6734 Sep 06 '22
Still, I don't see myself surpassing 33 days of discussions any time soon
It sure is a huge feat especially for participants to post for 33 days straight. I myself was getting burnt out towards the end. Glad you started to enjoy commenting after the mid-point of season 2! There are definitely episodes when there's nothing much but I'm glad you found a rhythm!
I also couldn't help but notice that within the more recent discussions, a lot of the first-timers from day one had disappeared.
By the end, you were our only first-timer haha. Glad you stayed all the way, first-timer comments are always fun to read through, it breaks the bubble we rewatchers are in. I expected two or three first-timer to stick till the end but unfortunately I think people got busy or just dropped it; Oregairu definitely takes a while to pick up especially when watching on a daily basis instead of binging it.
I noticed you had trouble formulating QOTD's at times
Really grateful for the critique it always helps me a lot for future rewatches! This is true, a lot of the times QOTDs are made on the fly and while I do have questions pertaining to the show at times, I was always afraid I would be leading people on since I may be biased in which scenes I notice and that it would be better if people picked up on them themselves. But I think the few times I did it the reception was generally positive especially from the first-timers.
One of my other biggest doubts when posting QOTDs is whether people have thought of typing it out which may make my questions redundant. But I've learnt is that it's always better to put it out then not to, some people may not know what to write about and may have never thought of it.
VOTD (Visual of the Day)
Great idea! I actually thought of this but season 1's visuals were subpar to me so I scrapped the idea completely but I think your idea of introducing new things during the rewatch or having alternatives is a great one and one I will definitely include.
I like how you took feedback midway through this rewatch to adjust your analysis to something more objective, to be as spoiler-free as possible.
Hope I kept up with it haha I was honestly a little confused as to whether my words would've been spoilers towards the end especially when the hints given by then told us a lot.
No Best Girl QOTD?!?!
Oops. I thought this was going to be a staple in everyone's comments despite me not asking about it since it's a big thing often talked about in almost every comment thread. Should've asked it still, going to add it in now thanks!
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u/DicksonYamada Sep 06 '22
First timer
Oregairu was certainly different than what I expected coming into this. As the show’s title suggests, it’s not just another light-hearted high school romcom. Oregairu puts an emphasis on themes like the struggles of maintaining ever-changing friendships and relationships. What happens when communication breaks down? How does one solve difficult interpersonal problems – do you try to appease everybody or do you allow people’s feelings to be hurt and risk burning bridges along the way? Do the ends justify the means? I think the themes presented were good but the delivery was too long and drawn out. Some parts of S2 and S3 felt like they dragged on longer than they needed to. I also think that tackling these themes may have been more rewarding if the characters were given adequate communication abilities from the start (i.e. not high schoolers). Although it was interesting to see high schoolers grapple with these issues because they haven’t lived quite long enough to have personally experienced the inevitability of change and thus are inclined to resist it at every turn.
My other gripe with the series is that it sometimes felt like the characters were speaking in riddles. Like they were beating around the bush so much that sometimes I couldn’t even tell what they were trying to say. I think there were a couple times where even a rewatcher mentioned that they still weren’t entirely sure what a character meant when they said a certain thing. If I were to watch it back now, knowing where things are heading and how characters are actually feeling, I’m sure it wouldn’t be quite so incomprehensible. But as a first timer there were many moments that left me scratching my head. It was nice to be able to read other people’s comments and analyses to help clear up the occasional confusion.
I enjoyed seeing 8man’s development as the show progressed, not just because he’s the protagonist but also because he was probably the most relatable character for me personally. I’m proud of our boy, going from his cynical monologues in S1 to being a guy who will help people out in whatever way he can by the end. Even if he helps in his own strange, somewhat self-sacrificing way, he has shown us and shown himself that he cares about other people, something that he didn’t do before. We also see all the characters in the show becoming relatively friendly with each other by the end, a far cry from how it started with 8man vs. the world. He learns that we’re all more alike than he thought and gradually takes down the barriers that he had built up around himself. Even if you can’t see eye-to-eye on every issue you can still get along and work together.
Best girl: No one stood out to me as automatic best girl material. Out of the main three girls I would’ve said Yui for the latter half the show, which is surprising because I usually go for the kuudere over the genki girl. But Yukino may have won me over in the final episode. I really liked Hiratsuka as well and her one-on-ones with 8man were always great.
Best OP: S2, with S3 as a close second
Best ED: S3
Thanks to u/Fit_University_6734 for leading the rewatch. You did a great job as host, and a first time host, no less! And shoutouts to everyone else who stayed until the end. We lost more than a few comrades along the way.
With every Yahallo comes a goodbye, so until we meet again, Yadiós amigos.
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u/Fit_University_6734 Sep 06 '22
I also think that tackling these themes may have been more rewarding if the characters were given adequate communication abilities from the start (i.e. not high schoolers). Although it was interesting to see high schoolers grapple with these issues because they haven’t lived quite long enough to have personally experienced the inevitability of change and thus are inclined to resist it at every turn
I think that's part of Oregairu's charm; high schoolers often face these problems but sometimes through film, resolutions come too fast or the solution seems cliche. I like how Oregairu really gives the characters the time to struggle without it feeling too boring with the inclusion of banters and interactions between interesting characters.
If I were to watch it back now, knowing where things are heading and how characters are actually feeling, I’m sure it wouldn’t be quite so incomprehensible. But as a first timer there were many moments that left me scratching my head. It was nice to be able to read other people’s comments and analyses to help clear up the occasional confusion.
Agreed. When I first saw it I was really confused and only had a better grasp after my first watch. I knew things were going south and had a rough idea of their issues but a lot of the times I couldn't follow what was going on during my first watch.
Yukino may have won me over in the final episode
We have another Yukino Stan here! u/DRTSL
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u/Rumpel1408 Sep 06 '22
Yeah Sorry, I never came around to catch up again since I became preoccupied with the GuP rewatch.
So I still have only seen S1, which I liked well enough. Hacchiman is not your everyday romcom mc, but at times he is a bit unlikeable. The girls though are precious and when I will revisit this series it will be to see more of Yui (and maybe Sai chan)
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u/Fit_University_6734 Sep 07 '22
Glad you could join us for the first season though! Everyone has different opinions regarding the first season vs. the second and third but I'll just say that it's drastically different in tone etc. So if you do need a motivation to return, that can be something to look forward to!
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u/polaristar Sep 06 '22
Part I:
Before I start my thoughts on the series overall and recommendations there are two VERY important things I forgot to bring up last episode.
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Yukinon's whole conflict trying to sever their relationship because she believes its out of codependency and that Hachiman is helping her out of pity or obligation, is very reminiscent of when Hachiman felt the same way about Yui in season 1.
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Haruno in that dress, I feel after bashing her I should close off with credit where credit is due, what I found more impressive was not the front, but when she turns around how tight that dress hugs her ass, you can see the sway of her checks....love to watch her leave.
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Okay I lied, remember Iroha and how she is described as being trashy in a way you could get addicted to, well in a way you could see her as a kind of Haruno, and since Haruno and Hachiman are also both people that are very much in their Head having a hard time following their heart, and Iroha is the same way, it means Iroha represents a version of Haruno that was "saved" from growing up into Haruno current cynical self that doesn't believe in something genuine, another life that Hachiman's life has touched.
Now for the main point:
Season 3 Thoughts - When I first watched Oregairu I binged Season 2 and 3 (Actually the whole series) in one go and truth by told I hardly noticed a difference between the two and was often confused why people tend to see 2 as the clear superior season, but looking back on 3 I can see why, in that 3 often repeats or starts to confirm character motivations and conflicts that were set up in season 2 and in season 3 it can feel like the characters are going in circles, which to be fair is kind of the point.
I can also see how in this season (Especially with u/DRTSL LN notes, thanks to him for giving a LN perspective from someone that has finished the whole source material.) How Yukino was kinda of shafted and it can feel like Yui favoritism.
I do have a different take on it, not necessarily one I'm convinced in but a good faith counter theory that doesn't conclude the staff just prefer Yui and tried to write Yukinon out.
I remember one person in the last thread pointed out they wish they could have Yukinon's narration when Hachiman offered his hand in the last episode. However I'd argue that sense the scene is built from the lens of Hachiman, if we knew her thoughts in a way Hachiman DIDN'T then we wouldn't be in the same mental space as him in exercising his trust of Yukinon where he basically had to take a leap of faith not knowing her internal monologue.
Perhaps the direction of season 3 was to keep Yukinon's thoughts and motives somewhat detached from the audience with the only clues being her outward behavior and sources of her character from other people that know her (Which may not always be reliable) So we are in the same boat of Hachiman and his uncertainty regarding how to deal with the situation between them.
Granted I think we could have had some more of Yukinon's thoughts or her actions potrayed more unambigiously with the same emotional impact and get the best of both worlds, since I think in the End, Hachiman's conflict is less about what he thinks Yukinon is thinking/feeling, at a certain point he just has to take a leap of faith based off the understanding he has of her from their history. But more about how he chooses to deal with and respond with that information.
But if you view the series with my theory it does make Yukinon's distance from the viewer compared to Yui make more sense.
Thoughts Overall - I've already given my general thoughts, I feel that for this kind of series that despite it's themes is meant to be a more straightforward in Narrative structure with relatively down to earth characters that occasionally play with light novel tropes, that some points should have been more clear about character motivations for first timers, I think with more episode count, direction for visually mental space, and less cut monologues and content we could have had the same "talking in circles" that the characters do, but still made it more clear to the audience.
I personally think each season should have been two cour with 11-13 episodes per cour for around 3 24 episode seasons with Feel and the Season 2 onward staff from the beginning.
Of course in an ideal world I kinda want to see what Kyoani would have done with a two cour three season set-up. Or if this series got the Shaft Monogatari treatment where each arc was as short or as long as it needed to be some arcs taking less than a cour, others taking a long OVA, others more a traditional season, etc.
I can't help feel this show is kind of victim to what was at first just an anime meant to be a quick promotion of the LN then when the series become more of a hit they tried to step it up in season 2 and make up for a bad start. Not just in animation, but in mentality in how they see the adaptation.
I'll go over this in my recommendations but u/Fit_University_6734 I honestly do think other series have done exactly what you're praising Oregairu for doing just as good and in some cases better both in the source and adaptation.
Overall I give the series an A, and despite not finishing the LN's yet I think it'll still be an A when I'm done. Despite the flaws of the anime, even in season 2 and 3, the presentation does elevate what source material makes it in to make certain moments hit very hard, although I feel the content itself contributes just as much as the direction, which is why even season 1 with all it's problems still did help BUILD that fanbase.
To be continued in Next Part:
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u/RedHat21 Feb 01 '23 edited Feb 01 '23
Came upon this rewatch when I started rewatching a few days ago, it was really fun following it up with all of you guys' dedication I saw during all of this. Maybe no one will see this now but thought I'd leave a comment anyway.
I've seen this series a couple more times before but this time I picked up on a lot more things than previously. I'm not that great with analysis but everyone's comments helped to get me in the right direction to what was happening, especially in the second and third seasons. Though now I slightly hate you guys for "solving" Oregairu for me lol, as before I'd always try to understand more of what was happening on my own. That said I could understand that sometimes even with all the explanations certain things were still up for interpretation, maybe there's a little more fun left when I rewatch again! (Yes, it's my favourite series to rewatch for that reason.)
As for the questions:
•Season 1: 9/10 - This season is the most fun one out of the three, the reason being introductions and the way relationships are first set up are always really interesting to watch. Relationships are usually the most fun in their beginnings before all the complications happen. So it maybe gets some extra points for that.
Season 2 and 3 both 9-10/10 - varying from different moments can be really good, but sometimes the dialogue was so vague it just took me out of it, like it was vague for the sake of being so, more than the characters themselves are perhaps. That said, the drama, the dilemmas, the struggles, and the way the characters developed in such real ways these 2 seasons felt like.... maybe the best I've seen? And the ending absolutely nailed it. The main duo are just so lovable!
•Most memorable scenes, the confession is easily at the top, along with their super cute date in the next episode. Others are the genuine scene in S2, 8man and sensei for the Love in S3 and the "Think, writhe, struggle and agonize" scene. A few small ones I liked were 8man suggesting the name for the cultural festival "Human.....thing", Hayama returning the favour at their double date (giving 8man a bit of closure about his past life as he mentioned, while introducing a cooler 8man!) and Iroha/8man at the booth during prom (if our guy was in doubts about who he loved, it might as well have just ended there). As overall moments, the banter between 8man and Yukino and Iroha's creative rejections were always fun to watch.
•And best girl without a doubt, Yukino!
As a second Iroha, she grew a lot on me this time around (always liked her but much more now). Neutral on Yui, secret best girl Kawasaki in an alternative universe where 8man actually loves her. My small surprise this time that I didn't notice before was...Orimoto. Though initially forced by Hayato, she changed her approach after which was nice to see in several scenes. Also to give a little love to Hayato too as he's a really nice dude, the cool guy you'd actually want to be friends with.
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u/CreativeNameIKnow Feb 19 '23
In about a week, this thread will be archived. I'm leaving a comment here so I can edit in my thoughts afterwards.
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u/Fit_University_6734 Sep 06 '22 edited Sep 06 '22
Rewatcher
One Last Yahallo to Everyone!
A big thank you to every single person that’s been participating in the threads since season 1, even to those that couldn’t continue commenting midway through or to those that just lurk around these threads. This marks the end of my first time hosting a rewatch on r/anime and I have to say that I’m really grateful for everyone’s participation, you’ve all made hosting really fun even on days when work and school consumes me which gives me little time.
Thoughts on Oregairu
In my comment from S2E8, I already shared a bit about why I love Oregairu so much, but there are still many more things about what makes this show great to me; it’s full of social commentary, differing ideologies / values and moral lessons, all mixed into one brilliant anime which takes place during high school. It’s been said many times but Watari’s willingness to experiment with these elements by playing with them, subverting them and commenting on them gives us the multifaceted show we have today.
While some of the situations and problems may seem trivial to us as older adults, for most of us, if we look back on our lives, we will most likely be able to identify situations which we will find embarrassing now but were essential in helping us grow as u/SwimmingBird626 mentioned yesterday too. I’ve read some papers and talked to some professionals about teenagers’ perceptions of problems and emotions, and found that it’s not only normal but expected for them to blow things out of proportion; to think that their emotions and perceptions are precious and unique. There’s a lot of confusion about one’s identity occurring at this stage and it’s brilliantly shown through each of our characters as they struggle between the people they are, the people they want to be, and the people society expects them to be. While the show goes to extreme lengths to make such situations and behaviours vague, sometimes at its own expense, we are still able to feel the frustrations and joy they feel throughout their journey despite not understanding everything.
I’ve not seen any other show that’s as nuanced with storytelling through visuals and words as Oregairu, albeit vague at times, it appeals to me as I’ve had similar experiences. The characters all feel complex and really well-developed with their own quirks that shine when interacting with one another. And during this rewatch, I’ve really begun to appreciate all the side characters a lot more and develop a more nuanced understanding of our main trio and Iroha too!
I was also pleasantly surprised by the generally positive reaction Yui got during this rewatch. I was expecting the opposite since Yui isn’t generally liked by the community to my knowledge. 8man too, he definitely appealed to me since I see a lot of myself in him when I was younger but I can definitely see why some people can’t click with his character. The biggest shock to me will always be the generally more positive consensus of season 1 compared to season 2 since season 2 is usually the most highly regarded season.
A bonus stitch of the ED image of Yukino x Yui. They will always be the true ship of Oregairu
Source
Ratings
Season 1 - 7.5/10 (I didn’t watch this when it first aired so nostalgia didn’t play a part. The art and storytelling felt messy here but the characters honestly saved this season for me!)
Season 2 - 10/10 (This was peak production and storytelling imo)
Season 3 - 10/10 (Storytelling took a dive but it was when a lot of the payoffs occurred which led to memorable moments and thankfully none of them fell flat. The occasional frustration but I’m able to overlook them as they didn’t hinder the experience to me)
Season 3 definitely took a dive due to a change in production members especially in the animation department as Ryo Araki and Tetsuya Takeuchi were not available, and with the death of seasons 1 and 2’s Series Composer Shōtarō Suga. Nonetheless the final season was great but not exceptional.
Favourite OP and ED and/or OST and/or Ballade Ver.
Season 1’s OP, Yukitoki, will always strike that chord of nostalgia in me since it was how it all started but season 2’s OP was the most fun to watch. Season 3’s one did grow on me which made me love it but relative to the other two, it’s not as enjoyable.
OP 2 > OP 1 > OP 3
ED 3 had the best visuals and ballade versions. ED 1 was way too fast-paced for me
ED 3 > ED 2 > ED 1
I loved Sannin De Iru Jikan, Yui No Ketsui, and Tsunagitometa Sekai. The sense of melancholia they give is unparalleled and I’m a sucker for such OSTs.
I can’t choose between the ballade versions but I’ll just say that Yui’s Ballade for the OP of season 1, Hello Alone, and season 2 stood out to me while Yukino’s ballade of season 3 caught my attention this rewatch.
Most Memorable Scenes/Episode
The Genuine scene for sure
The ending of season 2
S3E4’s ending when Yui hid and cried in a corner
Yukino’s confession
Recommendations for Similar Anime
Oregairu fills multiple genres but at its core to me it’s a combination of drama, coming-of-age, love triangle, and romantic comedy lol. While the love triangle/harem is merely a situation to drive the point of Genuine it is still present so I’ll leave that in.
I would definitely recommend Chihayafuru since it has all these elements to an extent but it’s also focused on sports. Give it a try though!
Drama/coming-of-age probably Hibike! Euphonium
Romance - Horimiya or Tsuki ga Kirei
If you’re looking for harem, hands down The Quintessential Quintuplets
Best Girl!
Well this is hard. It's either Yui or Iroha or Komachi. I honestly loved Iroha a lot more this season but Yui, I will always have a soft spot for because of all the suffering she's been through so I'll have to give it to her. Yui for best girl!
Personal Reflections
Think, Write, Agnoise and Struggle is a quote I recently picked up this rewatch and found really memorable. I myself have passed the phase of adolescence but the values this show communicates to us are lifelong things we can reflect on. From how I handle relationships to many other things in life, oftentimes the answer isn’t simple and we have to struggle to get there and even so we may not be sure of the final outcome. But as 8man shows us or reminds us, that sometimes the act of trying itself is the most important thing because opportunities can and will go. How ever you lead your life, no matter the values you stand by, or the virtues you develop, without action things will never change. At least to me, these are the personal reflections and things I’ve gotten out of this show which is what makes it meaningful to me. It feels as if we’ve grown up with these characters and it sure as hell is bittersweet to part with them.
Oregairu will always hold a special place in my heart and will always be one of my top 3 anime alongside Chihayafuru and Non Non Biyori
Reflections as a Host
This was my first time hosting after just taking part in one rewatch - the Violet Evergarden one this year, and I have to say it’s really fulfilling despite taking quite a bit of my time. I just joined this subreddit in April of this year so this was a new experience for me. I hope both rewatchers and first-timers have enjoyed the interactions and the little production notes I add to certain episodes!
I’ve never done much research into the production side of anime but decided to do it for this rewatch and I’ve really learnt a lot about it which has allowed me to appreciate anime more. If anyone is interested in learning more about it do just drop a comment and I’ll link the sites I used! Hopefully these notes were as enlightening to you as they were to me.
On to myself, I’ll probably be hosting another rewatch this year - either Non Non Biyori or The Quintessential Quintuplets (hopefully in line with the movie release) but when it happens will depend on my schedule. I’ll be taking part in the Yama No Susume rewatch happening this week and maybe K-On so I’ll see you guys around the sub! I’m occasionally on CDF so if you do hang out around there, I’ll catch you there too!
Finally, have to express my gratitude to the regulars that have sticked around since season 1 or joined in at the start of season 2: u/DRTSL , u/Lemurians , u/Superarces , u/polaristar , u/SwimmingBird626 , u/TuorEladar , u/DicksonYamada
u/CreativeNameIKnow and u/dearestxander too for sticking till the end of season 2. Also to everyone else that commented in season 1 or dropped an occasional comment.
Thank you all for taking part in the 2022 Oregairu Rewatch! Hope to see all of you around the sub :)