They took some heavy issues and wove a complex, painful and bittersweet story. I knew what was to come and I still was not ready for how mature and adult the show took itself. The drama is so unbelievably on point and the show takes a turn that I was not ready for emotionally.
I would react exactly as these characters would given their circumstances. It involves almost no words – it’s just these characters working through these difficult emotions as everything that was building up emotionally between these characters finally snaps. I remember rewatching it a couple of times. The following scene of Tomoya storming off to an empty alley to get out his anger and Nagisa’s attempts to call him down is unbelievable. When he and Nagisa go visit his father in prison, Tomoya is angry but for the most part keeps his anger under wraps until he storms out. The potential employer revokes this opportunity from Tomoya and he is devastated. However, things take a turn for a worse when Tomoya gets a call that his father was arrested due to his activity in the illegal drug business. After talking to Nagisa about it, he decides to go for the job. His supervisor recommends him for a job that has a lot of potential for growth, and given Tomoya’s options, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. But since everyone has a more realistic emotional response to what’s going on, when they do up the drama, it works unbelievably well.įor example (sort of a minor spoiler but it’s nothing major) – Tomoya starts working for a company after he finished high school. Especially given the heavy material that is covered. And the drama is very real – before, the show tried to play up the drama, but this second half felt more realistic and raw, even mellow at times. Tomoya never acts out of character and Nagisa and her family act as they would give the situation. I think what makes it work so well is that the characters still remain these characters going through this stuff. This was the sequel to Clannad? The show that I utterly despised? I had no idea this show could be this good. The drama, the story, and the characters are so on point the second half that it’s unbelievable. I knew what was coming – I wanted to see how it was done and what impact it could leave on me. So I wasn’t necessarily going in expecting a big shock, but rather for the experience and see how well these points were executed. I will not give them away here, but just know that I was aware of 2 very big plot points (though I did not know the ending of the show). I should let you know that before going in to see this show, I knew two of the major spoilers. Which is nice because it allows us to focus on what the show is truly about – Nagisa and Tomoya and their life as recent graduates and soon-to-be married couples. These first few arcs are taken care of in less than 10 episodes though. Sadly though, we had to suffer 3 episodes to get there. Somehow, it hit the right notes with that bit. From the fighting in the pouring rain, to the aftermath, to laughing together, and even showing us how the two became friends. As forced as the set-up was, I get the sense that this was the story they wanted to tell at the end – the friendship of Sunohara and Tomoya. I could rant about the innumerable problems in Sunohara’s arc (which is literally caused by nobody telling anybody the truth), but I will acknowledge that I liked how it concluded. But to be fair, as annoying and contrived as these set-ups are, they do sometimes get it right.
The first half involving mini-arcs is standard Clannad shmuck – trying to be humorous and dramatic and failing at both. You might be able to guess which half of Clannad: After Story I like best. Can Tomoya and Nagisa find the strength and courage to keep moving despite any hardship? As much as they love each other though, life can bring many trials. Afterwards, the story mellows out and just focuses on Tomoya and Nagisa going through life, graduating, getting married, finding jobs – the whole kit and caboodle. Sunoharu wants to find a girlfriend so that his little sister doesn’t worry about his future (?), another involving Sunohara’s dorm mother and a cat who is the resurrected spirit of a friend (?), and the library girl’s connection to 2 gangs at war and her role in trying to bring peace (?). The first couple of mini-arcs revolve around them helping their friends in various ways. The plot of Clannad: After Story is as such – Tomoya and Nagisa are now a couple. What do I mean by that? Well, let me explain.
And by different, I mean vastly different… mostly. I intentionally made these reviews separate because I have a different opinion on each series. I have reviewed Clannad, so now it’s time that I review the sequel series/continuation – Clannad: After Story.
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