Comparing this series with the one-shot, there's really a lot of subtle differences in the characterization of both of them that may be obviously caused by the more in-depth exploration of the characters. In fact, Saeko feels really different from how she is in the one-shot, mostly because there is more characterization on her part. Specifically, she feels a bit less forward than she is at the one-shot and her introspection helps us learn more about worries and anxieties. Also, you can clearly see that Saeko is try to say "I love you", unlike in the one-shot where both Saeko and Miwa never really said "I love you".

One thing that I do think will greatly affect the course of the story are the supporting cast. As Rika brilliantly showed us last chapter, the presence of the band members and friends are going to be the biggest weights that will tip the scales. I could be that it's a friend that causes a problem between them, and it could be that if they break up their friends will try to mend their relationship. The mere presence of the other characters changes the narrative, just like how the presence of the avengers fundamentally changed the narrative flow of cinema spider-man.

Also, what the series is trying to convey feels a lot different than what the one-shot showed. The one-shot told a story of a couple that, in the author's own words, "maybe wasn't really invested to begin with"; which may explain why Saeko feels more forward in the one-shot and why Miwa felt less high-maintenance, or maybe not. Meanwhile, it feels like the series is trying to tell the story of a two people trying their best to make the relationship work, resulting in the more awkward interactions in the story. They may end up coming to the same conclusion, but I don't think it will be as clean of a breakup as it was. But still, since the massage it's trying to tell is fundamentally different, I feel that the probability that they'll break up is just as high as the probability that they won't.

Just my opinion by the way.

last edited at Jul 29, 2019 11:59AM