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Forum - View topicEP. REVIEW: A Condition Called Love
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ab2143
Posts: 755 |
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In episode 2, I noticed Hananoi cutting out photos of what I assume to be the children that his parents have treated. Hmm. He's certainly off-putting but I'm still willing to see what the deal is with him
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THE DOG CATCHER
Posts: 23 |
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Funny enough is that I commented about that on crunchyroll and found out a lot of people have zero sense for what a red flag is. I feel like in a bubble these two episodes could turn into Perfect Blue. Knowing that this is suppose to be some teen romance story though just makes it a cute but sometimes creepy love story. |
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anpansparking
Posts: 41 |
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I do understand being uncomfortable over Hananoi's behavior, but I think people are overstating the red flags. At worst, it feels like some people are making moral judgements about the show and those who enjoy it. It also kind of seems like there's a double standard among some people (not necessarily the reviewer, but amongst the general anime community). I don't want to hear any criticism of Hananoi from anyone who's ever obsessed over Yuno or Toga or any other female yandere.
Anyway, I think it's pretty clear that the series is aware that Hananoi's behavior isn't healthy, and moving past that will be an opportunity for him to grow. |
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MFrontier
Posts: 13642 |
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I'm not surprised at the reaction to Hananoi but ultimately I think he's just a lonely kid starving for affection and that makes him kind of overzealous when it comes to love and his feelings for someone.
And that contrasts with Hotaru's lack of experience or interest in love and coalesces as their two's mutual and contrasting perspectives effect each other and their relationship as they grow closer. And Hotaru is just so endearing and cute! Also Maaya Sakamoto is playing a gal pal in a Shojo anime which amuses me to no end. |
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Lily Garden
 Posts: 65 |
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Well I do understand being uncomfortable over Hananoi's behavior, but I think people are overstating the red flags. I read him as neurodivergent coded; not fully understanding personal boundaries or social cues, not realizing why staying up all night searching for a hairpin in the snow would cause her to worry, etc. This plus his simplistic view of love leads me to believe that these aren't red flags but rather someone who needs assistance in realizing the problematic aspects of his behavior.
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CamiChan19
 Posts: 32 |
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As a manga reader, I'm happy to hear that some watchers are allowing time for the story to cook, and keeping in mind that there may be spoiler[ there are ] reasons that Hannanoi is the way he is.
I do feel like the series needed the first few volumes to find it's footing, but for anyone who sticks around, I think A Condition Called Love has a narrative that rewards patience and a nuanced viewpoint. Starting the series off with flawed characters gives them the opportunity for growth. My biggest setbacks so far have been the lackluster production but, alas, it is a shoujo work. Modern adaptations of shoujo that skew closer to the standards of A Sign of Affection are very rare nowadays, unfortunately. Even beyond that, the romantic score has been integrated in what I consider very....strange spots. Simply reading through interactions in the manga, I could focus on my thoughts like, "wow that's creepy" without a sweeping musical score in the anime trying to make me feel some kind of way. My hope is that they'll allocate the use of the score (and even the strange, but attempted efforts in shoujo vfx) better as the series continues. |
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The Scream Man
 Posts: 184 Location: Sydney, Australia |
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I hadn't put together that the pictures with the cutouts were other kids, I thought they were pictures he had cut HIMSELF out of.
I also think the red flags thing with Hananoi is a bit overstated. By episode 3 I think we see that he is prone to overdoing it, but he also learns. He isn't pushing Hotaru; In fact at several stages he says he won't do something without her permission. He is just incredibly open about what he feels. Even when he says that if she turns him down they cant be friends is fair in a way; He doesn't necessarily trust he can be 'just friends" so he will end it clean if thats what she decides. I think that's fair. Even when she says let's kiss, he says no because that means more to him and he doesn't want to make it more if it isn't; thats a very reasonable reaction (Falling on her and whatnot was because of the illness, Im assuming. Its dumb, but very 'anime.'). For now I'm in. I think they're sweet, and Im curious to see where it goes. Last edited by The Scream Man on Sat Apr 20, 2024 11:03 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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CamiChan19
Posts: 32 |
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I also considered that it may be Hannanoi. Or maybe even a mix of both. I can’t recall, or haven’t reached a clarifying point yet in the manga. Also, thank you for your thoughtful understanding of the “red flag” discourse. I knew it’d be present, but the way folks are reading it as something the series aims to “normalize” or stick with throughout, is a very immediate and damning assumption. And as someone else mentioned, it becomes a discourse that feels like it’s making an opinion on the folks who enjoy the series. |
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MFrontier
Posts: 13642 |
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It was nice to finally get more into what Hotaru gets out of the relationship. Not just understanding what it means to fall in love, but also experiencing what it means to be so precious and important to someone that they put you above everything else...which as a middle child whose birthday is on Christmas Eve, she's never really experienced before.
And that was such an adorable Christmas date! And while Hananoi is very excessive, he at least knows when to be respectful of boundaries. There is nothing more beautiful than the face of someone slowly falling in love. |
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danpmss
 Posts: 781 |
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His glaring character flaws are there to be explored as the story progresses by the way.
I've actually read the manga for this one, and luckily it is not one of those stories that will try to romanticize or ignore his negative traits for the sake of kinky business. I can at the very least assure you that the negative response to his behavior is intented by the narrative and called out, at least from what I could see. |
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MFrontier
Posts: 13642 |
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It's fun watching Hotaro's feelings and awareness of Hananoi change as she genuinely falls in love with him.
"God has never really done anything for me" - wow, that's kind of dark. Kyo and Kei is a side-ship I want to see more of. Knowing that Hotaro didn't have short hair by choice and knowing there's a romance convention of girls growing their hair out when they fall in love...curious if that will happen here. |
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The Scream Man
Posts: 184 Location: Sydney, Australia |
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Man the animation this week SUCKED! Like its never been amazing but... oof.
Story wise, I dunno I think we need to get more of Hananoi soon because he still comes across as really bloody off kilter. I think he is fine with Hotaro but the way he acts with others, and the way he is obsessing on her is worrying without any further context. |
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SinisterOracle
Posts: 374 |
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I’m enjoying this show but I’m still torn on Hananoi-chan. On the one hand, he could have mental illness that makes him codependent on his partner and can’t stand to be alone. On the other hand, he could be a serial killer and this is going to turn into Killing Stalking, Warehouse, or Law and Order:SVU. Personally, I’d enjoy the latter more but I’m going to assume he has some lesser issues that Hotaru-kun is going to help him deal with as their relationship progresses.
As others have said, the animation isn’t that great but it’s sufficient enough to keep me watching for now. |
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YackDe
 Posts: 152 |
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The compositing during certain scenes was absolutely horrendous this week, gave off the impression of bad green screen in cheap movies. It's a shame that this is getting this level of adaptation, especially after fellow Dessert title Sign of Affection got a labor of love years in the making just last season.
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CamiChan19
Posts: 32 |
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Agreed 120000% Megumi Morino's art is so well done in the manga, too. It hurt to see everyone's (especially Hannanoi's) eyes & facial features looking very off-model this week. 
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