Review of Horimiya

Hands down one of the best SOL/Romance anime out there. Why, you may ask? Because for one, it has everything a romance anime should have, at least in my opinion. An interesting (albeit cliche) hook, strong and deep characters, realistic dialogue and relationship dynamics, and probably best of all: a straight to the fucking point plot. One of the main strengths of Horimiya as a romance anime is how the characters waste no time in getting their feelings across to each other. It's not a slog like other shows out there and I really appreciate that. Of course, you could say, "oh it's not that realistic causehigh schoolers don't really take that quick to confess or whatever", well let me just remind you that the show's pacing really cuts out a lot of the fluff you see in regular romance anime (which is a point I'll get to later). The straightforwardness really helped me to enjoy the various character's reactions much more and made the show more interesting to watch.

Another one of it's strengths is it's realism when it comes to portraying relationships, both in romantic and simply platonic terms. Some may argue with me on this but based on personal experience, it's pretty close. There's often a level of self-awareness that high schoolers (including myself), reflect when it comes to being in a relationship.

Oftentimes, we question if we're suitable enough for our partner, we question if our actions, thoughts, behaviours, and mannuerisms are in line with what our partner expects or finds as a passable, we question our appearance, our personality, our hobbies, and so much more. And I think that is beautifully portrayed here. It's very nice to see just how Miyamura and Hori aim to understand everything about each other more and more, and how at the end of the day, they accept themselves for who they are despite each other's shortcomings.

Lastly, one of the most underrated aspects of the show in my opinion, would be the comedy. I don't know what it is about the show's comedy but it is right up my alley, and I'd say it even bests the likes of shows that were meant to be funny, like Nichijou for example. It just has a certain level of relatability for me and that's what makes it feel so familiar and hillarious, couldn't stop laughing throughout the entire show. Reminds me a lot of the local rom-coms and soap operas in my country that I used to watch a whole lot.

Of course, it's not a perfect show. It certainly has it's issues, such as problems with pacing, how it seemingly flip-flops between the stories of each of the characters, how some characters like Honoka Sawada feel kinda worthless, and how it sometimes struggles to get the thought processes of the characters across, but overall I think these issues are more or less negated by the good aspects of the show, and they are certainly not dealbreakers at all.

So in summary, Horimiya is a standout in the anime scene because it offers a compelling blend of straightforward storytelling, realistic character portrayals, and relatable humor. It captures the essence of youthful romance and the complexities of human relationships with a deft touch, making it a must-watch for fans of the genre. Whether you're drawn to the heartfelt romance, the character-driven drama, or the relatable humor, it delivers on all fronts, making it a truly exceptional series.

I rest my case.