The "hot chocolate" mystery really sold me on this show. I love how this simple sequence hides characterisation in plain sight, including introducing an entire new character and giving us a solid understanding of a character who is not even in the room.
I feel like the people who like Hyouka will probably like Shoshimin. The new watcher who's never watched Hyouka will probably dislike Shoshimin. The point is, that Shoshimin is an exceptional show. There is no fanservice. No harem. No romance.............................. ............. It's genuinely complex writing, and it's from a novel, not a light novel, which is why teenagers or some people are unlikely to enjoy it. I understand why somebody would think this show is not for them, but you should never say it's terrible. it's the best school work from the last 12 years (hyouka). If previous school animes were fashioned from clay, this one was made of gold. Unfortunately, some will continue to gripe about why it is so glossy.
I don't know about your claims of it being the best school from the last 12 years or it being made of gold in comparison to other school anime (might be going a bit too far with the praises there) Though I would agree that it being a novel prior to becoming an anime gives it a 'gatekeeping' factor to it (sure it makes the story niche, but it certainly protects it by only allowing people who do like it to consume it all the way without the drawbacks that more mainstream titles have)
@@AngeDelarien I am not even exaggerating; this is the truth like the sky is blue. Did you watch Tokidoki Bosotto Russia Go or Make Heroine ga Oosugiru this season? Please tell me you didn't get tired of these repetitive shows: typical school anime, fanservice, Harem and cheap romance I am not calling them bad, but I will not waste my time on shows that will bring nothing new. As I said, Shoshimin is mature work. When I say mature, I don't mean it's a dark show. There's just a certain taste of maturity in it And it's got very strong writing; it's only getting rivaled by Hyouka. I will make a comparison to see which one is better at the end of the season.
@user-zq5cn8qn3v I once underwent a time (a few years ago) when I saw anime the same way as you currently do where everything you said about Alya-san and Losing Heroines checks out and is a waste of time. Though, by the end of it (sometime before April this year), I had a realization where I found that the only metric that really matters in any show is its entertainment value. Simply put, if a show executes what 'it sets out to do'/'what it intends to do' and it executes it well, then it is a good show in the eyes of those whose taste it caters to. Where am I going with this? To me, it seems unfair to compare Shoushimin to something like Alya-san or Losing Heroines. These shows have 'different objectives' with their stories (as written by their respective authors), and as such, their means of arriving at their objectives varies instantly at the onset. I love Shoushimin, I love Hyouka, but I am also entertained by Alya-san and Losing Heroines for doing well in what they're trying to do in relation to what it wants to do. What seems to be the misunderstanding here is that you've committed a 'category mistake' (not easily realized so I'm not mad at you for it, I don't even have a reason to be mad anayway) where you used standards applicable to Shoushimin (a high school mystery series) on something like Alya-san or Losing Heroines (a high school ecchi rom-com series). In no timeline will Alya-san and Losing Heroines compare to Shoushimin's merits, but inversely, Shoushimin is anything, but an ecchi rom-com, of which the other two are and are seen as such. Another way of putting it, saying that Minecraft is a garbage video game compared to Red Dead Redemption 2 with its top-tier storytelling, isn't fair as the former has an entirely different objective as a video game. And really, one could just say Read Dead Redemption 2 is garbage because it doesn't have the sandbox capabilities that Minecraft has, and we're back to square one, where nothing of value is gained from these arguments. One more thing I would like to say, this line of yours: 'I will not waste my time on shows that will bring nothing new.' I'm getting the impression it's not the 'novelty' of shows that really determines what's good for you or not (because 'bringing something new' doesn't always mean it's good, execution of it is still the final arbiter), rather, you're more of the side who's tired of the seeing the same 'stuff' and I understand that. You might want to take a step back a bit, and you know, re-assess your stances on things. No harm in saying Alya-san or Losing Heroines is trash, but it better be for reasons not involving categories it doesn't belong to.
@AngeDelarien I can see your point. I will make this short. I think it's fair to compare Shoshimin to other school anime as long as they are in school categories. Anyway, I am so excited for the next two episodes; it's going to peak.
@@user-zq5cn8qn3v so long as you mean school anime with the same gimmick, I agree. A classic like 'Azumanga Daioh' is also a school anime, but outside the setting, this childhood show of mine and many others couldn't be more different to Hyouka/Shoushimin. Having said that, I yearn for the day Osanai gets back at Sakagami (Bike Thief).
Ep 2 is, as of now, my favourite (SPOILERS BELOW): they spend 15 minutes to understand how Kengo made 3 cups of hot cocoa dirtying only a spoon, and then realized that he, to quote a user from reddit, "nuked the entire carton of milk". I find this thoroughly amusing for two main reasons: 1. Microwaving a carton of milk is dumb ass thing to do. 2. In ep 1 Kengo is presented as the stern "I always do things by the book", school council president kinda guy, so seeing him of all people begaving like an absolute goober is twice as funny. This is how you write a character.
Weeellll, I can't say you entirely sold me on this one, but it not being a shonen is definitely a plus, especially after I just plowed through the most recent season of Demon Slayer (not worthy of saving for binge watching, in retrospect).
@@allpraisebob the 'main' problem that both Hyouka and Shoushimin Series has is, unironically, its fans. While I don't deny praising this one, others go overboard with the praising to the point outsiders will try it thinking its some next level anime, when it isn't. It's good at catering to a niche audience, but that's about it. Either you'll like it or you won't. A simple concept.
Nice review! I'd add that it's the kind of anime that I'd recommend watching 1 episode a day of, even if you had the possibility to binge. There's a lot to appreciate in this series if you pay attention. It's certainly not boring. Pretty enough and has always something to catch your eye while the slow dialog plays out. And it has clever timing. Jokes and dialog are well paced. I feel the anime community just can't appreciate this kind of thing even though it's what makes or breaks SoL in my opinion. Not to start a debate but its why I couldn't sit through one episode of Horimiya or Flying Witch even though I liked both manga for example, because everything in there just felt overplayed, with heavyhanded music and unnatural pauses in dialog. Try to compare scenes from these with the subtler way Shoushimin presents itself and you'll see that it's night and day.
I'm willing to bet what makes someone a Shoushimin/Hyouka fan is if they're able to relate to the MCs Quick story: when I was applying to join my University's Anime org during my freshman year several years ago, I was asked what is one of my favorite anime I said "Hyouka" and the interviewers were like "Oh so you're one of those guys..." It's not my fault I share Oreki's allergy towards any sort of work ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
@@AngeDelarien Ahahahah I get it!! I do empathize with these characters. Sadly, I feel they can come off as edgy teenager-like to some. Also I agree that these fanbases can get really toxic, even just a couple day ago a Hyouka Fan Artist (Mery__s2_) got bullied into taking a break because they kept getting harassed!!
@@plebmcpleb5761 edgy for our age today? Perhaps, but as teenagers, they're acting as expected The Mery__S2_ incident, her Pixiv account is still alive and well so there's that consolation (but really, couldn't be more disappointed when it happens to artists we follow, people just want to draw, not like they're forcing their content to others)
@@AngeDelarien this anime. Very good looking, but I don't know what they are talking about most of the time. I mean that literally. It reminds me of SNAFU. What are the characters saying. For real.
@@christopheribarra1170 The SNAFU comparison is not far off actually, you know, typical "pretentious" talk by teenagers to appear smarter or more mature (which I'm no stranger to IRL). The differences between SNAFU and Shoushimin would be: 1. The romance angle (if there is any) is almost non-existent here unlike SNAFU 2. This one starts off with the MCs knowing they've already done damage to others and themselves because of their personalities (hence wanting to be ordinary), SNAFU on the other hand, the damage is done further down the story before Hachiman and others realized the need to change
Would also add that: both SNAFU and Shoushimin definitely reflect that "poor accuracy" that teenagers have when saying what's on their minds, which leads to the confusing and pretentious vibe of their conversations It's natural, if it ain't your thing, it's fine, no harm there
The "hot chocolate" mystery really sold me on this show. I love how this simple sequence hides characterisation in plain sight, including introducing an entire new character and giving us a solid understanding of a character who is not even in the room.
@@ThomasSMuhn The realization of Kengo's "method" of making hot choco has terrified the cast (and the audience) in more ways than one
the ending felt so sudden yet unreal, they were the perfect duo for each yet they separated...i need them to make amends
If anything, Season 2's confirmed
I feel like the people who like Hyouka will probably like Shoshimin.
The new watcher who's never watched Hyouka will probably dislike Shoshimin.
The point is, that Shoshimin is an exceptional show. There is no fanservice. No harem. No romance..............................
............. It's genuinely complex writing, and it's from a novel, not a light novel, which is why teenagers or some people are unlikely to enjoy it. I understand why somebody would think this show is not for them, but you should never say it's terrible. it's the best school work from the last 12 years (hyouka). If previous school animes were fashioned from clay, this one was made of gold. Unfortunately, some will continue to gripe about why it is so glossy.
I don't know about your claims of it being the best school from the last 12 years or it being made of gold in comparison to other school anime (might be going a bit too far with the praises there)
Though I would agree that it being a novel prior to becoming an anime gives it a 'gatekeeping' factor to it (sure it makes the story niche, but it certainly protects it by only allowing people who do like it to consume it all the way without the drawbacks that more mainstream titles have)
@@AngeDelarien
I am not even exaggerating; this is the truth like the sky is blue.
Did you watch Tokidoki Bosotto Russia Go or Make Heroine ga Oosugiru this season? Please tell me you didn't get tired of these repetitive shows: typical school anime, fanservice, Harem and cheap romance I am not calling them bad, but I will not waste my time on shows that will bring nothing new.
As I said, Shoshimin is mature work. When I say mature, I don't mean it's a dark show. There's just a certain taste of maturity in it
And it's got very strong writing; it's only getting rivaled by Hyouka.
I will make a comparison to see which one is better at the end of the season.
@user-zq5cn8qn3v I once underwent a time (a few years ago) when I saw anime the same way as you currently do where everything you said about Alya-san and Losing Heroines checks out and is a waste of time.
Though, by the end of it (sometime before April this year), I had a realization where I found that the only metric that really matters in any show is its entertainment value.
Simply put, if a show executes what 'it sets out to do'/'what it intends to do' and it executes it well, then it is a good show in the eyes of those whose taste it caters to.
Where am I going with this? To me, it seems unfair to compare Shoushimin to something like Alya-san or Losing Heroines. These shows have 'different objectives' with their stories (as written by their respective authors), and as such, their means of arriving at their objectives varies instantly at the onset.
I love Shoushimin, I love Hyouka, but I am also entertained by Alya-san and Losing Heroines for doing well in what they're trying to do in relation to what it wants to do.
What seems to be the misunderstanding here is that you've committed a 'category mistake' (not easily realized so I'm not mad at you for it, I don't even have a reason to be mad anayway) where you used standards applicable to Shoushimin (a high school mystery series) on something like Alya-san or Losing Heroines (a high school ecchi rom-com series). In no timeline will Alya-san and Losing Heroines compare to Shoushimin's merits, but inversely, Shoushimin is anything, but an ecchi rom-com, of which the other two are and are seen as such.
Another way of putting it, saying that Minecraft is a garbage video game compared to Red Dead Redemption 2 with its top-tier storytelling, isn't fair as the former has an entirely different objective as a video game. And really, one could just say Read Dead Redemption 2 is garbage because it doesn't have the sandbox capabilities that Minecraft has, and we're back to square one, where nothing of value is gained from these arguments.
One more thing I would like to say, this line of yours:
'I will not waste my time on shows that will bring nothing new.'
I'm getting the impression it's not the 'novelty' of shows that really determines what's good for you or not (because 'bringing something new' doesn't always mean it's good, execution of it is still the final arbiter), rather, you're more of the side who's tired of the seeing the same 'stuff' and I understand that. You might want to take a step back a bit, and you know, re-assess your stances on things. No harm in saying Alya-san or Losing Heroines is trash, but it better be for reasons not involving categories it doesn't belong to.
@AngeDelarien
I can see your point.
I will make this short. I think it's fair to compare Shoshimin to other school anime as long as they are in school categories.
Anyway, I am so excited for the next two episodes; it's going to peak.
@@user-zq5cn8qn3v so long as you mean school anime with the same gimmick, I agree. A classic like 'Azumanga Daioh' is also a school anime, but outside the setting, this childhood show of mine and many others couldn't be more different to Hyouka/Shoushimin.
Having said that, I yearn for the day Osanai gets back at Sakagami (Bike Thief).
Ep 2 is, as of now, my favourite (SPOILERS BELOW):
they spend 15 minutes to understand how Kengo made 3 cups of hot cocoa dirtying only a spoon, and then realized that he, to quote a user from reddit, "nuked the entire carton of milk".
I find this thoroughly amusing for two main reasons:
1. Microwaving a carton of milk is dumb ass thing to do.
2. In ep 1 Kengo is presented as the stern "I always do things by the book", school council president kinda guy, so seeing him of all people begaving like an absolute goober is twice as funny. This is how you write a character.
To add to that, the madlad Kengo even put the hot carton of milk back in the fridge to 'cool' it after heating, insanity in the flesh
Weeellll, I can't say you entirely sold me on this one, but it not being a shonen is definitely a plus, especially after I just plowed through the most recent season of Demon Slayer (not worthy of saving for binge watching, in retrospect).
@@allpraisebob the 'main' problem that both Hyouka and Shoushimin Series has is, unironically, its fans. While I don't deny praising this one, others go overboard with the praising to the point outsiders will try it thinking its some next level anime, when it isn't.
It's good at catering to a niche audience, but that's about it.
Either you'll like it or you won't. A simple concept.
Nice review! I'd add that it's the kind of anime that I'd recommend watching 1 episode a day of, even if you had the possibility to binge. There's a lot to appreciate in this series if you pay attention.
It's certainly not boring. Pretty enough and has always something to catch your eye while the slow dialog plays out. And it has clever timing. Jokes and dialog are well paced.
I feel the anime community just can't appreciate this kind of thing even though it's what makes or breaks SoL in my opinion.
Not to start a debate but its why I couldn't sit through one episode of Horimiya or Flying Witch even though I liked both manga for example, because everything in there just felt overplayed, with heavyhanded music and unnatural pauses in dialog. Try to compare scenes from these with the subtler way Shoushimin presents itself and you'll see that it's night and day.
I'm willing to bet what makes someone a Shoushimin/Hyouka fan is if they're able to relate to the MCs
Quick story: when I was applying to join my University's Anime org during my freshman year several years ago, I was asked what is one of my favorite anime
I said "Hyouka" and the interviewers were like "Oh so you're one of those guys..."
It's not my fault I share Oreki's allergy towards any sort of work ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
@@AngeDelarien Ahahahah I get it!!
I do empathize with these characters. Sadly, I feel they can come off as edgy teenager-like to some.
Also I agree that these fanbases can get really toxic, even just a couple day ago a Hyouka Fan Artist (Mery__s2_) got bullied into taking a break because they kept getting harassed!!
@@plebmcpleb5761 edgy for our age today? Perhaps, but as teenagers, they're acting as expected
The Mery__S2_ incident, her Pixiv account is still alive and well so there's that consolation (but really, couldn't be more disappointed when it happens to artists we follow, people just want to draw, not like they're forcing their content to others)
I don't know what's going on.
@@christopheribarra1170 what do you mean?
@@AngeDelarien this anime. Very good looking, but I don't know what they are talking about most of the time. I mean that literally. It reminds me of SNAFU. What are the characters saying. For real.
@@christopheribarra1170 The SNAFU comparison is not far off actually, you know, typical "pretentious" talk by teenagers to appear smarter or more mature (which I'm no stranger to IRL).
The differences between SNAFU and Shoushimin would be:
1. The romance angle (if there is any) is almost non-existent here unlike SNAFU
2. This one starts off with the MCs knowing they've already done damage to others and themselves because of their personalities (hence wanting to be ordinary), SNAFU on the other hand, the damage is done further down the story before Hachiman and others realized the need to change
Would also add that:
both SNAFU and Shoushimin definitely reflect that "poor accuracy" that teenagers have when saying what's on their minds, which leads to the confusing and pretentious vibe of their conversations
It's natural, if it ain't your thing, it's fine, no harm there