[The author], Negi Haruba, knows to well how to write a good harem and work out the issues which stem from the genre. All at the same time, he can handle a massive cast of a love interest with a great sense of direction with taste and charm. There are five sisters, or rather quintuplets, in which the story is centered around. The fact that they are siblings means they live together, and this aspect should, in theory, make the harem aspect even more of a challenge. At least, according to myself. It's not alike; you will meet the love interest in the next few or several chapters down the road. Every precious girl gets introduced from the first chapter. Also, the initial reaction is vital, in which case, the author does an impeccable job to capture the reader's attention and attract you toward those adorable and beloved quintuplets. All with their flaws and unique charm point, you will figure out as the story moves forward.
Story
The plot revolves around the quintuplets and our main character, Uesugi Fuutarou. It's about the siblings who are nothing but troublemakers and are close to flunking out because they are unable to study efficiently. Our unlucky or more accurately, lucky main is to be their tutor, to make sure they don't fail the whole class. He is the top of his course, so this should, in theory, be easy? Well, think again. He made an awful impression on one of the sisters and now, have to gain her, and everyone else trusts. It will not be a walk in the park; I can guarantee you that much. If you have seen any harem previously, it's normal for every girl to fall suddenly in love with the main character from the beginning, for no reason whatsoever, but the fact he is the main male. That's not the case for this harem; life is not so easy and smooth sailing here. First off, he needs to make the girls open up to him and grow a strong bond as he moves forward. Then the romance can begin to form, slowly but surely, haste makes waste, which is abundantly clear from the most harem. The genius back this one, though, takes his time, giving us good character background for every sister and building the foundation from there.As a result, each of the girls gets more or less the right amount of attention, making you grow quite fond of them, so you understand and appreciate them on a more deep and emotional level. When you start to perceive their flaws, both the good and bad, you will inevitably begin to consider any of the girls as "best girl" or something along those lines. They do have the potential; I won't deny it. However, since all of the characters are that great, and none feels wasted. You won't be able to help yourself and come to the conclusion that only a harem ending can satisfy you. This was entirely true in my case, and at the back of my mind, I do think the same. I can't imagine even one of those sisters get a sad end and fully accept it. There is only one real ending, can make everyone happy and fulfilled, and that's clear as day when you read it. Moreover, every bit of character development, the sisters go through gets shown in great detail. So, for instance, if you compare them to their start counterpart to now, there will be an apparent difference between them, and it's so beautiful and moving to see that.
When it comes to character drama, Negi writes in such a subtle and astonishing way. Each girl and even the main male gives us a life lesson in a way you wouldn't believe in a harem story. The Quintuplets manga is one of the few pieces of work you can go back and figure out new things. All the fantastic foreshadowing Negi has spread across the entirety of the story, which adds so much depth to any of the characters, really making them feel complex. No girl can be easily described with a few words. Plus, it makes just that more fun on a reread, which I definitely have to do for real at one point. Whatever people say, those of us who have read this work can't deny it's truly one of a kind harem and romance story.
Art
No problem at all with the art, it's beautiful and compliments the overall atmosphere this manga gives of spot-on. The expression the author draws for the cast makes them feel so alive, and it can tell its own story by merely that. Expressions are always on-point and carry such weight, value, and emotions at any given time. On top of all that, the background looks pretty good and nicely detailed. Negi is quite flexible with his art-style and is great at conveying emotions through facial expressions and more. There are no real bad points about the art-style at all. It looks wonky at times, but that's normal for most manga. What's important is that the stuff that deserves attention gets it and then some.Characters
I've already said my fair share about the characters, but to give a slight background to each of them and give you a better understanding of who they are, I will write out how I see them at first glance only to avoid spoilers. I've already touched lightly on the character. Still, to give a more heartfelt introduction to them, and help you provide a more accurate sense of who they are, I will write a short but concise description for them and some traits as well. For starters, Ichika is the "older sister" type and feels most mature of them. Nino is the cook in the family and loves her sisters so dearly. Might I also add, she is quite the overprotective of the siblings, which causes so many issues in the future and is some of the basis for her development later down the road. Moving on, Miku, at first glance, gives you this vibe of serene beauty and with confidence, but don't judge a book by its cover. Miku is one of the calmer among the sisters, but there is more to her as you read on.As for Yotsuba, she is the loving and caring, quite the energetic girl who has way too much enthusiasm and should share some of that with the rest of us. But there is more hiding under all that. Lastly, there is Itsuki, who is a big eater and loves food to bits. She makes everything look so tasty and savory. Itsuki's also the more serious and, in some cases, stubborn of the bunch. But like the rest of her sisters, she is just as delightful, beautiful, adorable, and entertaining. There are no bad girls here. Each girl you see before you get tons of development, some more than others, but Negi of all people don't let that drag his story down to hazardous water. I'll say this again, none of the girls gives off the same vibe they did at the start. They all changed for the better, and to see how Fuutarou affects their life and character is truly a spectacle to behold, you don't wanna miss out on. All in all, this description does not constitute justice to them; it's only to give readers an idea of what kind of view they can expect.
However, I left out lots of details and didn't dive too deep into spoilers. It's better if you figure the rest out for yourself, once you decide to read the manga. They are all likable and exciting, I don't think any of them are a waste and just missing one of them would make the whole story feel different. Lastly, the main male, Uesugi Futaro, while feeling like any other main which is typical for any harem, he's not simply that easy. He is quite complicated, and his personality is amusing. His interactions with the sisters are always funny and quirky, so they never get boring in the long run. To put it bluntly, he is the kind of character that says what's on his mind and is not shy or awkward around the girls, so definitely not your average main character, for sure. He is dense, like any other male lead in a harem. Still, it feels entirely different from other protagonists in the same genre. He gives you this sense he might not be as dense as he looks. Plus, his interaction with each girl is so distinct and creatively crafted. It's not as easy and straightforward like most harem works out there.
The Negative
While Negi did indeed built a great harem story with a charming cast of characters. Not everything is perfect. There were many questionable choices Negi did to progress the story, and some of the executions felt rather forced or just out of place. It's too hard to put into words without slipping into spoiler territory. Just expect some really WTF moments way later down the road. Even then, Negi didn't go too deep to the point it completely ruined the flow of his story and build-up. If I had to point some more things, then the pacing, well, this mainly applies to me. Tho I have to say its somewhat subjective topic. In any case, I wouldn't mind if the pacing was slightly slower, and we get more arcs that follow through with a continuation from the previous situation. Instead of starting from something fresh. Though this was rarely a super problematic issue for me. Now when it comes to the anime adaptation. The first season, to put it bluntly, does not do justice to the manga it deserves. Few episodes looked good through and through, courtesy of studio Shaft. Anything they touch comes out looking amazing.Regardless you won't get the full picture if you watch the anime, just a glimpse. While, on the other hand, if you are a fellow reader and watches the anime as a form of seeing the cast brought to life, or other bonus anime generally brings. Then, it's far from terrible. However, as a means to judge this overall series, I would say the anime opinion is not reliable or secure, and every viewpoint should, in honest, be formed when the source is in focus. That's one big reason I suggest the manga over anime. Still, the first season happened to be a very entertaining watch, and I had a good time with it. I especially have to give the props to the OP, which captures what Quintuplets is about with such excellence. It's such a damn catchy and addictive song to boot. All of the voice actresses did a great job, and I lost count at how many times I replayed that adorable, feel-good, extremely bop-inducing track. Then there is that ED too, which is another pretty catchy entry and hits the nail right down the middle. I loved them both so incredibly much. I am so pumped and ready for the second season. Now that this great ride has finally come to a close.
I would not personally consider this a negative by itself. But the ending of the story of the quintuplets and Fuutarou is no doubt subjective. A way to sum it up without spoiling is to say it's very Negi-like. It's just something he could come up with. There are many ways to interpret the last chapter, and thus there will be a split between the community if you love or hate it. I am personally the former since that ending was so deep, and means a lot more than one might realize. But there is no denying the story of the charming quintuplets had many pacing issues. Still, Negi was able to give you closure, that feels both proper and pleasant. Negi didn't try to break his own rules and stayed consistent as he ever could till the end. Do I support the ending from the bottom of my heart? No, I don't and would love more scenes and moments. Do that mean I hate it as a whole? Again not all. The ending honestly felt just right for me. Especially regarding the situation. It was so very Negi like. It had all his touches, flavor, and more.