I've watched a bunch of stuff from the current season already (Lupin, OPM, and Gundam all have great opening episodes), but there's an impressions post I need to write.
Clannad After Story 9-11
Are we beyond arcs? That would be amazing.
Nagisa's poorly-defined illness returns to the plot in a major way. I don't think the turn that happens in episode 9 is necessarily unfair or bad as a way of complicating her relationship with Tomoya, but it's strange how her disease has been presented overall. It just seems like sometimes she gets so feverish that she can't leave her house for long periods of time, and then outside of those episodes she's perfectly healthy. While that isn't necessarily unrealistic, leaving the identity and mechanics of her illness completely open-ended makes it feel like the writer can do whatever he wants whenever he wants, because there aren't any rules. I'd feel better if I had something to go on.
Continuity error. The wall is cracked in this shot, yet it's repaired in the shot immediately following it. I get that all these scenes aren't shot the same day, but it's a sloppy oversight by the director and crew.
Anyway, I really like this move into the adult world so far. From a personal perspective, it's nice to see the show be about something that's relevant to where I am in my life. We can see the consequences of how he put off thinking about the future, and how the friendships he made are helping him get by. It's a great way of continuing this premise past where it normally ends.
However, I'm also struck by how little intimacy there seems to be between Tomoya and Nagisa. Even before work started to get in the way, they're pretty much never close to each other. Have they kissed yet, even? They don't act that much differently to how they did before they declared their intentions. I'd say it feels like they're still in high school, but that wouldn't be fair to actual high school kids.
I get the sense that this is an intentional choice. It feels like there's always space left between them in every shot.
Whatever. I'd like to get back on track with this, but it'll be tough. There's the new season, and I'm also reminded that I need to finish VOTOMS at some point this year.