Within this genre there are plenty of inspiring shows about finding a passion and committing yourself. About pouring all your energy and entire being into something, about the joy of creating something together. And this is another one of those shows. But what sets it apart is that it also deals with, after all that effort, being confronted with failure. Because of this distinguishing perspective (plus the fact that it's simply an all-round well-executed show), it deserves to be on your to-watch list.
Plenty of room is made for romance, or at least the way to a romantic relationship. Looking at the premise and after the first few episodes you might be reminded of other unsymmetrical relationships such as seen in "Clannad" (done badly imo), or "Toradora!" (done very well). Though the show can be classified as a romantic comedy, the romance, though prominent, is secondary to the other themes. That being said, it's handled gracefully and in tune with the bigger theme.
It features a cast of diverse characters, each of them providing a unique perspective and adding something to the whole and each with plenty of depth to explore. Each character and his/her story is unfolded at a good pace, never feeling rushed or forced, and in such a way the individual stories feel intertwined.
The interactions and emotional displays are not always subtle. Of course, it doesn't always need to be. To keep things light you sometimes want some comic book-style expressions. But in this case, at times, at moments where I felt subtlety was called for, lack thereof lessened the impact of said moments. When it matters most the show is still very engrossing and moving, but at times it could have used a bit more subtlety, be a bit more trusting of the audience to be perceptive and empathetic.
There's quite a bit of fan-service in the first few episodes. To draw in the viewers, I'm guessing. As I'm watching more anime, I'm starting to build an immunity to it. If it's your cup of tea, enjoy. If not, don't worry; as the show progresses the focus shifts to more important matters and you'll be less harassed by needless cleavage and panty-shots.
The show may need a few episodes to grow on you (it did for me anyway), so be sure to give it that chance.
