Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr. Casey
I think there's a nice dichotomy between the way episode 9 shows Haru at his best, and the way that episode 10 shows Haru at his worst and his ugliest. Particularly, I'm glad that the show is willing to make Haru genuinely controversial at times, unlike some anime where a rough-around-the-edges character is given lip service as being a 'bad boy,' but never does anything worse than make the occasional snide remark, unfailingly doing the right thing in every situation and never acting in a way that might lose the support of the audience. One of the main points of the story is seeing Shizuku save him from a very dark place, and I think it's great that Haru's anger and bitterness and paranoia manifests itself in ways that are legitimately loathsome at times and make the viewer uncomfortable or develop mixed feelings towards him, rather than the author playing it completely safe and never crossing the line beyond 'lovable rogue' territory. Haru has the later stages of the story after he's started to heal emotionally to be a rational, considerate, well-adjusted person. In the meantime, I want the darkness inside him to be palpable and to be put through the wringer, because Haru's personal journey will be all the more fulfilling if we're made to feel the bumps ourselves as he goes down that road, and we'll be all the happier for Haru's leaving behind the dark place he's been stuck for most of his life if we're forced to spend some time in there as well.
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Agreed. I was especially refreshed by the way Mitty reacted. Instead of the usual shojo logic of jealous = he likes me = I'm flattered, or even the "I'm angry and flattered at the same time" this was a case where it just pissed off the female lead. Considering the spider silk symbolism it makes it even more clear that Haru's actions are disturbing and scary, not cool or sexy at all.
It's a much better take on the typical shojo bad boy then you usually get.
It also should make us wonder why Mitty is so attracted to Haru. Mitty seems like she has it together, but maybe Mitty is as messed up as Haru, just in different ways.
For one thing... considering her mother and father's relationship it wouldn't be surprising for Mitty to be attracted to a man she feels needs her to take care of him. Is that healthy?
On the more positive side Haru has really shaken Mitty out of her friendless world and is the catalyst behind all the new friends she has made.