Review of School Days

The sole reason for a 6 is independent of all other scores. Like many others watching this after it finished, I knew of the disturbing ending it is infamous for. Deciding to experience it myself, I went for the uncensored version, nothing less. What I found was quite the opposite - rather than dreading the awful ending, by the fifth episode I wished the anime ended already. The character design and development was what killed the show, long before the ending. Psychological series are usually at the fault of this, and this failed my expectations. Itou Makoto - the worst protagonist I've ever seen. Disliked him from thestart due to his voice, then hated him as the anime progressed. You could label him any horrible name and repeatedly say it as you watch. I ended up calling the mc, for the first time, a d*** and a d***** throughout the show.
Epitome of what disgusts me in males, especially Japanese males: sex - just a bit of physical, then that girl is all that matters - can't get some, no good.

Kiyoura Setsuna - while looking out for Sekai, she ultimately failed terribly and did not see Makoto's flaws until it was too late, due to her own feelings. She is the one out of many characters that pushed the development in the direction it took.

Saionji Sekai - stuck as the unfortunate character that ends up helping who she loves love someone else, so for the most part she actually stayed in character. However afterwards her guilt somehow evaporated completely.

Katsura Kotonoha - got the short end of the stick after the third episode. It was as if the world's forces were working against her. The only thing they sort of toned down was that she didn't get raped explicitly while her boyfriend declared in front of the whole school that they were dating. A normal girl would have given up or killed herself long ago.

Taking all this into account (characters and development), the ending they went for was appropriate. There could have been no other less satisfying ending. Makoto finally got what he deserved, and Kotonoha finally gave Sekai back all the pain Sekai gave her. There was no other way to end it.
(yes we know this is anime not RL)

Honestly the ending was what gave this a 6. It was either a 4 or a 6, since it definitely wasn't average. I would say this felt worst than average, but then looking at average anime nowadays, I settled for a 6.
They had the guts to pull such a violent ending, and in such a way.
The moral of the story: don't cheat.