This is, without a doubt, my most spontaneous review ever - I haven't had time to process any of the feelings I just felt, nor to even reflect critically on the episodes I watched. However, that is the beauty of truly amazing art, to me - to be moved so thoroughly that there is hardly any room for thought, only pure emotion.
Now, I'm sure that in a few days I will feel less strongly about Kaguya-Sama: Love is War - Ultra Romantic, and that the recency bias and emotional impact will wear off - but while it remains, I think that there is value in recording my raw emotions to fully highlight the core strength of this show properly, that being the strong emotional connection it creates to its characters.
Each absolutely hilarious joke (I'm looking at you, the entirety of Chika and Miyuki's rap segment), each delightfully adorable interaction and each sincere character moment within Love is War truly builds up its cast as more than just some cute character designs, but as something much greater - in fact, I'd go so far as to say that Aka Akasaka has written these lovably stupid dorks so well that they have transcended their fictional status altogether: to me, the connection I feel to Kaguya, Miyuki, Chika, Yu, Ai, (sort of) Miko, and all of the other unbelievably likable supporting characters is more reminiscent of that I feel towards friends.
I think, though, what's even more impressive about Love is War is how Akasaka puts those friends in some of the most compellingly cute scenarios conceivable, yet somehow always keeps the audience from being bored - any lesser show which could be described as "Two teenagers refuse to confess to each other for three seasons of television straight" would, undoubtedly, be boring as shit; and yet, Love is War pulls it off so perfectly that it feels surreal. It feels surreal that I truly am so invested in this genuinely, ridiculously drawn-out game of cat-and-mouse, and yet I simply cannot stop watching.
And let me say, it has been worth it.
It has been so very, very worth it.
The climax of Ultra Romantic is, in many ways, what I would describe as the perfect pay-off - everything throughout the show has, in no subtle way, been building up to it. As Miyuki unveiled his grand plan before Kaguya, who herself had been plotting a desperate, last-minute plot to secure his confession, I genuinely felt as if the violent, passionate flame of desperation to watch their love blossom that Love is War had been feeding and stoking for so, so long was going to devour my mind wholly; the three season-long anticipation and build-up was truly like nothing I thought possible when first starting this unsuspecting rom-com so long ago, and yet when that balloon popped and Shuchiin Academy's legend was realised in the most ultra romantic way possible, nothing could stop the smile on my face and the tears streaming from my eyes - and when my friends shared their first kiss under a sky covered in the proof of their love, I didn't want anything to.
There is truly nothing I can say about this show that hasn't already been said - maybe I could bring some criticism into the discussion about how Iino isn't a very interesting character, or how the climactic clocktower dual-confession shouldn't have been intercut with the rest of the characters' shenanigans, or how the show's editing can sometimes undercut an emotional moment. But those would, inarguably, be lost in the wealth of praise I could also throw in the it's way - it's immaculate direction, incredible visuals, sublime soundtrack (Masayuki Suzuki please answer my calls), outstanding voice acting, impeccable comedic timing and so, so much more.
In short, I don't think there's any element of Kaguya-Sama: Love is War that could undermine it, no criticism that would harm it - this show is truly something special, and I simply cannot wait to witness what ultra romantic adventures that cheeky, adorable scene after the final credits teased that my friends would embark on next.