This review contains spoilers for both S1 and S2!

[TL;DR: It's boring. Last 6 episodes of after story are 10/10 but that's it. Decide yourself whether you are willing to watch the rest of 36 boring episodes]

I don’t wanna write a review for each season. So, this is my overall opinion on Clannad and after story.

So for first s1, the first few eps are fine. Nothing noteworthy actually happens. It's just them playing around the campus with some minor plot of restoring a club. It's alright. Mc's interaction with Nagisa's family is the only thing I remember and it was actually enjoyable. 



Fuuko’s arc is the first serious arc iirc. It’s… decent. This is also the arc where they show magic (light orbs?) exists in Clannad universe. We were shown glimpse of illusionary world and stuffs. It kinda sounded like BS to me as they did not explain how magic works in this universe exactly even until the end but whatever, I don’t really mind.

Next, I believe is Ichinose’s arc. It actually had some potential. Her parents actually worked on figuring out how this magic works. They said some bullshit like quantum theory and shits but hey, at least they tried. We are also showed with mc’s flash back and how he visited Ichinose before. I liked it. Again, the ending isn’t really that good or believable.

Next is Sunohara. His arc is probably the only saving grace for s1. Aside from his usual troll side, we get to see who he actually is and how much he cared about his sister. Frankly, I have no complaints. It’s a fine arc.

Next is Tomoyo, her arc is enjoyable. I personally like her character and her arc is fine too. It may not be as good as Sunohara’s but it’s still good. That basketball scene is the only thing I remember and it was actually very good.



Last arc I believe is Nagisa’s. This is the arc where we actually get to see how serious Nagisa’s illness is and how much mc actually loves her. Overall, it’s good ending to s1.

 Also among these, we are shown with mc's dad. I'll save that for s2.. So, even though, s1 starts very boring, it isn’t really that bad overall. I’d say it’s a 8/10 series, but I personally would rate it 7.8 or 7.9.

Aight, now as for s2, it starts off with Sunohara's arc. Just like s1, this arc is indeed as good as his previous arc if not better. Next are Misae's and Mukino's arc. They are okay-ish. They felt like fillers with little to no relevancy to the main story. I get that it's adapted from a VN but I still can't take that as an excuse for how un-connected every arc feels.

Enough ranting, because after around episode 10, after story actually gets "good". Everything from mc starting to work, getting out of his house, proposing the marriage, Nagisa's and Ushio's death, coming up in terms with his father are done very well.

I personally felt Usio's death is kinda forced. It felt more like "yeah, let's kill the daughter too cos it makes the story even sadder" and it actually did work. But I don't think none of their death's are what made after story "good". For me, it's the mc's reunion (kinda) with his dad, and daughter. Those 2 moments are enough for me to give this series a 10/10. But, objectively speaking the first half is only half good. I wouldn't mind giving this series a 9/10 but I did find some flaws and if it ain't for the last 6 episodes, S2 is just decent. So, yeah after story is 8.9/10 for me.