Yesterday wo Utatte started as something average.
Here, "average", doesn't necessarily stand for something negative. It's "average" as in "it's something that could happen to anyone, your average, dramatic daily life"; the show gave you this heavy feeling of empathy for its characters ー while you were fully immersed in the stunning animations, backgrounds and this backpack full of emotions.
Then... where did it go wrong? When did it start to go from "I can relate to the characters and the situations they're in" to "Things just happen in the most random way possible"? This review will try to cover that, my personal thoughts about one of the most promising drama of the season that transformed into what "average" should never mean.
(Another thing I'd like to add is: the coincidences in this anime are hilarious. Like, it's incredible how anything happens so randomly, they always meet in such strange circumstances, is the town that small?)Why "only" 5? Because it's the score you would give to something average.
Half-assed, something you started building up perfectly then trashed.
Let's talk about them a little bit more.
First, our MC: Rikuo.
Who is Rikuo? Rikuo started off as someone who didn't give much thought in anything. As long as he had his "average" and easy-going life, he would've been fine with just that. He didn't have that big dream to achieve, nor a long-life passion that could be considered worth mentioning ー but he liked photography.
An average-looking guy, with an average life, average friends and average backstory.
How did something so half-assed turn so badly? Because you genuinely can't understand what the fuck Rikuo is doing most of the time.
His first actions made sense, he was acting like a human being, something I was truly satisfied to look at. He was in love with Shinako, tried to get closer to her (god, I loved his speech about being friends and what-not at the end of episode 2!) and was finally able to do so. In the meanwhile, he never brushed off Haru. He gave her the chance of get close, never rejected her (the only time he did, he didn't even do it intentionally), so she really didn't have any reason to leave. When they finally got her date, I thought something started moving; since it genuinely showed that Rikuo did care deeply for Haru and he was thinking about her costantly, but apparently it was all for nothing.
Why? Because Haru turned Rikuo to "someone" into her head (despite always running away when that happened), Rikuo seemed fine with it (considering he wanted to... know her?) but actually never looked for her even once ー unless she was looking for him first or when she was in literal danger.
Rikuo "grows up" (can I even call it that?) in the latest two episodes. He's always been the same for 8 episodes (not counting the first two because he did take that little first step ahead, something I loved to see), but then just stayed the way he was. Never changing, never moving. He understood that him and Shinako were playing lovers (I'm still angry at this, it was so fucking fast as a change that it didn't make any sense) and just gave up. Then he suddenly grew fond of Haru (who didn't bother looking for like... ever?) and was able to tell her she loved her, but not Shinako, despite simping her for over 11 episodes? If I had been Haru, I would have honestly went nuts over the audacity of this idiot.
I repeat: it doesn't feel real. "But it's anime!" It should still feel real, especially if it's about a show that's trying to be "relatable" and a slice of life.
Now: Shinako.
Oh my... there's a lot to say about her.
Her character made sense, at first. Only at first, though.
Being attached to your past is pretty common, especially when something traumatizing happens; but, as I mentioned before, if you show your character being the same for 9+ episodes, I expect to see something. Shinako never changed, Shinako never showed any sign of wanting to change ー the last episode shows it loud and clear, her relationship with Rou shows it loud and clear.
Haru.
Can I even say anything about her? She's literally simping Rikuo, never looking behind and, for some reason, the only mature one in the whole show despite being the youngest. "The only one that's been fair" I like to refer her as that. Since she actually gained the courage to declare war to Shinako, I thought that Shinako herself would've been fair too, but that didn't happen, sadly. Oh, just because I like Haru, it doesn't mean she's the one that saved this mess, she didn't survive either. She remained the same. Unlike Rikuo and Shinako, she actually showed signs of growing, when she faced the fact that she couldn't escape anymore from what was her love, from what was reality ー it looked like she was about to become better. It looked like it, for a few episodes.
Personally I am a bit biased because she is 18 years old, so I can actually excuse her action, for the most of it; so, sadly, I can't give a mean outlook on her... I apologize for that.
Chika, Rou and Youichi.
This isn't going to be as long, so I will just put them together. Chika and Youichi looked fine, but they felt like a "filler" episode. They left no impact whatsoever and it seemed like they were put in just to fill some blanks; pretty sad.
Rou... Rou. Rou... is a kid. Personally? Let's just go next, I don't even have words for Rou.
I'm disappointed.
Yesterday wo Utatte started as something that could've become my favorite anime ー something I could never forget.
But it ended up being a roundabout of unchanging people with unchanging feelings that refused to grow up.
With a rushed ending that would've worked only if they actually had anything close to personal growth.
If you start with zero expectations, it might actually be enjoyable ー if you're looking for a good, life-changing drama/SoL just try something else.