From Me to You: Kimi ni Todoke - Série 3

First off, kudos to whoever decided to include a ten-minute recap of the first two seasons. It’s been over ten years since I last saw Kimi ni Todoke, so a quick refresher on who's who and their relationships was much appreciated. However, turning this season into five one-hour episodes didn’t seem like the best idea to me. Given the slow pace and intense focus on emotions, watching a whole episode without a break was challenging, let alone binge-watching the entire season. The series is often overly sweet, filled with emotional moments, colorful filters (stars, bubbles), and romantic music. Just like with sugary treats, you need to pace yourself, or you’ll get overwhelmed. The drama mainly revolves around the uncertainties of adolescence, where most problems could be solved with a simple, honest conversation (as Mr. Arai subtly suggests to the main character at one point). However, these young characters struggle with that, leading to prolonged issues that play out like a game of telephone. On the bright side, many of the problems feel realistic, and the emotions are believable. I genuinely enjoyed and connected with the characters, especially rooting for Sawako’s friends, Ayane and Chizuru. Their stories are more engaging than what Sawako goes through this season. The main romantic plot feels a bit frustrating, as it’s not very entertaining to watch two equally insecure and shy young people struggle to make progress in their relationship. Despite this, I’m happy to see the continuation of the series. It was great to revisit some of my favorite characters, especially the silent (actions speak louder than words) Ryuu, Mr. Arai, and even Kent. I enjoyed almost the entire story and its resolution, though it wasn't always an easy watch due to its flaws and the occasionally annoying main couple. Still, I think this season deserves a solid 7.5/10, and I wouldn’t mind another season sooner than another decade later. (08/03/2024)