K-on 5 girls make a band (holy crap a slice of life with a slightly different concept)
This show would be much better if they were all fans of Merzbow. Like just imagine if all of the songs were harsh noise and everything else was the exact same. It would be peakš„¹
This show really doesn't get good until Azusa (hope that's the right spelling, I had to watch in dub) shows up. Oddly that's not because she's the best character (although she is), but instead because the show actually just gets better once she's added. The early parts of season 1 are terrible. The writing in this section is terrible. I shouldn't be expecting a slice of life to have great narrative writing but this just feels like cheating. There's a whole episode where they get jobs so that Yui (i know i spelled that right because Evangelion reference) can buy her guitar but after they do the job they don't have enough money. But it's ok because apparently Mugi just owns the store and can get it at a massive discount in the last 3 minutes because why not. The writing is terrible before Azusa shows up. Also the characters are not good before Azusa. Especially Mio.
When the show first starts, Mio is insufferable. Her whole character is just "gets scared easily". They squeeze way more jokes out of that than are funny. It's just annoying. They cut it back in the later portions of the series but it's so overused in the first season. Mio actually undergoes some character development as she gets less scared and embarrassed as the series goes on. She actually ends up being one of the more responsible ones in the end, yet she still pretty childish at times. Another good thing about Azusa'a introduction is that it gives Mio a character dynamic that isn't with Ritsu. In the early part, Mio is reliant on Ritsu. She just doesn't work without her. Once Azusa gets added, Mio starts being allowed to function outside of her relationship with Ritsu.
It's pretty cool that the best couple in the show makes drum n' bass together. I doubt that was even intended it just worked perfectly. Ritsu is the second best character and she was carrying the early sections. She's very similar to Yui honestly. Both are energetic and childish. This makes it kinda trippy whenever Ritsu is the most mature in the group. Yet, it kinda makes sense? While Yui's childishness goes to far at times and she's ends up being annoying, Ritsu somehow always comes off as charming. Even when she's being a bit rude or mean, it's clear that she's trolling while Yui always seems dead serious. I thought Yui was OK in the early parts but honestly she's annoying in large doses, a problem Ritsu doesn't have. Hot take but Yui is one of the worst characters in the show.
Sawako is the actual worst though. She's so obnoxious. Everything sure does is either corny or annoying or creepy. I really don't like her character and is definitely weird that she's the only adult character. Luckily she's not in too much of the series like Yui is but Sawako ruins half the scenes she's in.
Mugi was also a problem in the early sections. She was a blank slate of a character for awhile. Her personality for about half the series was just rich and nice (and they didn't really show the nice part). Similar to Ronnie from the shield, she was just there to say a couple lines and then stand in the background. Eventually she gets to be a more developed character but it's mostly just copying Yui and Ritsu.
There's a couple important side characters too like Yui's sister Ui (ain't no way I spelt that right). Ui's entire character is just devoted to hey sister though. She's lowkey glazing her sister and it's just annoying. Especially when I already don't think Yui is one of the best on the show. The other side characters are cool though.
And the best character is Azusa. She's much more chill and responsible than the rest of the gang. She forgets she's supposed to be the responsible one thug cause she gets so caught up in their bs. She seems so done with them at times but she still cares for them. Probably the best aspect of her character is that she's an overthinker. The show peeks into Azusa's inner thoughts the most, which makes it a lot easier to connect to her. Azusa episodes also just tend to be better written. Their narratives get a lot better as the series progresses in general but they really step their game up for Azusa episodes. Azusa even had the best line in the series, which is literally just a sigh in season 2 episode 3.
Slice of life shows are sort of reliant on having good characters to be good and this show kinda falls short there. I also don't really like the ending where they all go to the same college together. I really liked how Azumanga ended because they didn't all stay together after high school. Sometimes people just drift apart. You don't stay together forever. Amphibia also did a pretty good job of explaining this. Overall this is a good show that's kinda carried by Azusa and Ritsu. It takes a while to find it's ground but once it does, it's really good.
Rockgiant
K-on
5 girls make a band (holy crap a slice of life with a slightly different concept)
This show would be much better if they were all fans of Merzbow. Like just imagine if all of the songs were harsh noise and everything else was the exact same. It would be peakš„¹
This show really doesn't get good until Azusa (hope that's the right spelling, I had to watch in dub) shows up. Oddly that's not because she's the best character (although she is), but instead because the show actually just gets better once she's added. The early parts of season 1 are terrible. The writing in this section is terrible. I shouldn't be expecting a slice of life to have great narrative writing but this just feels like cheating. There's a whole episode where they get jobs so that Yui (i know i spelled that right because Evangelion reference) can buy her guitar but after they do the job they don't have enough money. But it's ok because apparently Mugi just owns the store and can get it at a massive discount in the last 3 minutes because why not. The writing is terrible before Azusa shows up. Also the characters are not good before Azusa. Especially Mio.
When the show first starts, Mio is insufferable. Her whole character is just "gets scared easily". They squeeze way more jokes out of that than are funny. It's just annoying. They cut it back in the later portions of the series but it's so overused in the first season. Mio actually undergoes some character development as she gets less scared and embarrassed as the series goes on. She actually ends up being one of the more responsible ones in the end, yet she still pretty childish at times. Another good thing about Azusa'a introduction is that it gives Mio a character dynamic that isn't with Ritsu. In the early part, Mio is reliant on Ritsu. She just doesn't work without her. Once Azusa gets added, Mio starts being allowed to function outside of her relationship with Ritsu.
It's pretty cool that the best couple in the show makes drum n' bass together. I doubt that was even intended it just worked perfectly. Ritsu is the second best character and she was carrying the early sections. She's very similar to Yui honestly. Both are energetic and childish. This makes it kinda trippy whenever Ritsu is the most mature in the group. Yet, it kinda makes sense? While Yui's childishness goes to far at times and she's ends up being annoying, Ritsu somehow always comes off as charming. Even when she's being a bit rude or mean, it's clear that she's trolling while Yui always seems dead serious. I thought Yui was OK in the early parts but honestly she's annoying in large doses, a problem Ritsu doesn't have. Hot take but Yui is one of the worst characters in the show.
Sawako is the actual worst though. She's so obnoxious. Everything sure does is either corny or annoying or creepy. I really don't like her character and is definitely weird that she's the only adult character. Luckily she's not in too much of the series like Yui is but Sawako ruins half the scenes she's in.
Mugi was also a problem in the early sections. She was a blank slate of a character for awhile. Her personality for about half the series was just rich and nice (and they didn't really show the nice part). Similar to Ronnie from the shield, she was just there to say a couple lines and then stand in the background. Eventually she gets to be a more developed character but it's mostly just copying Yui and Ritsu.
There's a couple important side characters too like Yui's sister Ui (ain't no way I spelt that right). Ui's entire character is just devoted to hey sister though. She's lowkey glazing her sister and it's just annoying. Especially when I already don't think Yui is one of the best on the show. The other side characters are cool though.
And the best character is Azusa. She's much more chill and responsible than the rest of the gang. She forgets she's supposed to be the responsible one thug cause she gets so caught up in their bs. She seems so done with them at times but she still cares for them. Probably the best aspect of her character is that she's an overthinker. The show peeks into Azusa's inner thoughts the most, which makes it a lot easier to connect to her. Azusa episodes also just tend to be better written. Their narratives get a lot better as the series progresses in general but they really step their game up for Azusa episodes. Azusa even had the best line in the series, which is literally just a sigh in season 2 episode 3.
Slice of life shows are sort of reliant on having good characters to be good and this show kinda falls short there. I also don't really like the ending where they all go to the same college together. I really liked how Azumanga ended because they didn't all stay together after high school. Sometimes people just drift apart. You don't stay together forever. Amphibia also did a pretty good job of explaining this. Overall this is a good show that's kinda carried by Azusa and Ritsu. It takes a while to find it's ground but once it does, it's really good.
Best season: obviously 2
Light 7
1 week ago (edited) | [YT] | 1