|
You're giving SHAFT WAY too much credit for a lot of the core elements of the show that belong to the original manga-ka herself. This series is very tightly adapted from a manga that is still going. Hence the characters and overall storyline aren't a SHAFT creation.
I also think comparing the show to Zetsubou Sensei is a bit unfair considering they're two extremely different types of comedy. One is much more political/societal while Arakawa is less about the big social statements (funny as they were in SZS).
They're really not all that similar as far as I'm concerned. SZS lacked any real continuity within the episode or the series' on the whole. Arakawa episodes had strong continuity within themselves generally, and there were overall plot threads as well regardless of whether they were completed or not. Of course, given the show is still going strong, it'd be silly to create an anime original ending now and ruin any chance of coming back to the source material.
And on character growth, if you look at Ko in the first episode vs Ko during his final narration at the end of the final episode, there is TREMENDOUS growth. Especially for a comedy.
He has become a completely different individual, willing to take part in the craziness and insert himself into this weird as hell group. Whereas early on he refused to get swept up. Even by the end of the first season he was clinging to some idea of 'normality'. By the end of season 2, he willingly accepts a battle royale without really even questioning the rationality of one in the first place.
For all intents and purposes, he has become one of the river dwellers.
|