(L) Ristorante Paradiso (replacement to Michiko to Hatchin)

[Nerroth]

Just checked out episode 6 - and that was well played.


Well played indeed!


For a while, I couldn't quite tell if parts of it were meant to be flashbacks or not, but I got the hang if it just in time.

[Kaoru Chujo]

For the first bit of episode 8, I felt things were moving rather slowly...but as it went on, I was drawn in further and further: into the mood, into the psychology of the people, into the nuances of feeling. Simple but deep.

[Shiroth]

Originally Posted by Kaoru Chujo

For the first bit of episode 8, I felt things were moving rather slowly...but as it went on, I was drawn in further and further: into the mood, into the psychology of the people, into the nuances of feeling. Simple but deep.

Episode 8?

[Nerroth]

Originally Posted by Shiroth

Episode 8?

There's never a TARDIS around when you need one.

[Burner of Anime]

I liked the Gigi centric episode. It's always the quiet ones who are the sharpest

Thing is, the way I read Nicoletta's final comment in ep5:

Spoiler:

Gigi is actually in love with Olga. He wouldn't have been able to figure out who she really was otherwise. Also explains his behaviour around mom in being so obliging.

This makes Lorenzo's story all the more bitter sweet. History has a cruel way of handing out the same dish with a different flavour >_<.

[Celestial Kitsune]

Finally, I caught up with the series This anime is definitely my favorite this season

See my coverage up to episode 10.

[Shiroth]

What a charming, beautiful last episode.

Spoiler for Episode 11:

I'm really glad the story ended with everyone finding the truth, though i always new the Owner knew the truth straight away. I mean if Gigi can tell they have the same smile, then even her own husband can. It was a lovely scene though. Great build up, what with having Nicoletta accept everything around her, and a Mother watching from the sidelines. Beautiful writing.

Well i shall seriously say that this show was a shocker. I loved what i seen from the first two episodes, though i never thought i'd have these kind of feelings for the show. It's strong point was easily the writing, which in my opinion was outstanding. It never let down at all. Show easily gets a 9/10 from me.

[Nerroth]

I'm having trouble trying to watch eps 8 and on... sigh.

[Sorrow-K]

After watching ep 10, I just want to get a few of my thoughts in order.

This has been a great anime, there's no two ways about it. Its strength right from the beginning has been its mature take on relationships. These are relationships that are complicated because they come with history. There's no "first times" in any of this, which is kinda what we're used to in anime romances, but there's kinda a subtle point that, just because these characters have had relationships in the past, it doesn't make dealing with love and loss any less easy. It's followed a formula which has become increasingly popular within this genre, ie, following a set of different character stories, giving each character one episode (or thereabouts) to focus on their story, but the stories are connected at a superficial level, ie, the fact that all of these characters work together, and at a slightly deeper level, ie, that all of these characters have dealt with love and loss and found ways to balance their love life with their working life.

The characters themselves are great. They all have interesting backstories, but it wouldn't mean much if they didn't also have interesting personalities. They're down to earth people for the most part, but they also have quirks and slight eccentricities, so you never get the feeling you're just watching logical robots or distraught hystericals crippled by angst.

My only complaint is that sometimes the various characters' stories are a little too similar, and sometimes bleed into each other, making them difficult to discern. In ep 10 we see a comparison between Claudio, a divorcee still in love with his ex-wife, and Luciano, a widower also in love with his former wife. The comparison itself is certainly worth exploring by the anime, but it also shows that there are a lot of similarities between the other characters' stories, and sometimes it takes a bit of mental effort to try to remember who's a divorcee, who's a widower, who's into his second marriage, who's single, etc, etc. I think I would have liked to have seen a bit more distinction between each of the characters' stories, and, well, maybe more focus on fewer characters.

Nonetheless, this has been a great anime. It seems to have taken influence from others, but its approach to relationships makes it relatively unique within its genre. This is an anime for grown-ups, IMO.

[Celestial Kitsune]

Episode 11 (End)

Spoiler:

[SeijiSensei]

Here's another vote of appreciation for this fine series. I especially like the fact that it had a solid conclusion. I found the animation a bit iffy at times, but the story and characterizations carried the day. It was also such a welcome change from the moe~ paradigm; just as in real life, some of the women were quite attractive and others much less so. (They also did a good job of making them look Italian, particularly Gabriella.) As for the men, well, I just wished I looked that good as I approach sixty!

[Nerroth]

Finally got to see the last few episodes.


Absolutely great show, and a fine ending... that could just as easily be a new beginning.

[Nerroth]

Apologies for the thread necro; but Ristorante Paradiso is set for a DVD release in North America later this year!

I imagine there'd be quite a toast at the casetta dell'orso if a certain result goes their way this Sunday...

[Grifis]

I just saw this series by chance yesterday. I started with the very last episode and worked my way back to episode one just to find out when Nicoletta fell for Claudio. Little did I know it was from the very beginning. The ending was very sweet (that it still haunts me) and nicely done. I'm not a big fan of the art but overall it was such a calming series. Lovely.