Suzuka

Synopsis:

While on his way to move into his aunt's dormitory to get closer to his school, Yamato Akitsuk passes by his new school and sees a girl practicing her high jump. Instantly smitten with her beauty he continues to watch her for a while before continuing onto his new home. When Yamato arrives at his aunt's place he soon realizes that it's an all girls dormitory and to earn his keep he must become a maintenance man of sorts keeping the place clean and making sure that the bath-house has warm water at all times. While moving in he learns that his next door neighbor happens to be same girl he saw practicing on the field and learns that her name is Suzuka Asahina from the other tenants. When Yamato tries to introduce himself to her she seems to bear a strage dislike towards Yamato but oddly enough likes being in his presence and constantly puts up emotional barriers when he tries to find out more about this mysterious girl that has captivated his heart. Determined to find the truth, Yamato soon discovers that Suzaka has a depressive past that she has always wanted to hide but with Yamato's persistence, Suzuka starts to wonder if it's time to let go of the ghosts that have been haunting her all these years.


Reviewer: Endosanity
Number of episodes watched: 26


Review:

What we have here is a tsundere romance to the max. Throughout the 26 episode span you watch as Yamato tries to emotionally break down Suzuka and find out why she rejects him at all times yet seems to want to say yes but can't bring herself to come to terms with her own emotions. The only problem is that the series drags this out for 26 episodes which comes across as being a little too long for this shallow of a plot. It's interesting to watch what lengths Yamato will go to in order to win Sazuka's affections but this anime tends to lose sight of the overall romance that's supposed to be present at times. You'll follow Yomato going though usual romance conflicts as he makes some incredibly bad decisions and says all the wrong things at the most inopportune time and it's not in the comical fashion either that may have you shaking your head at times thinking that he's simply hopeless. On top of that, Suzuka's tsundereness borders on the point of being annoying as she is simply far too bullheaded at times making the plot stall or present story elements that aren't really linked to the overall plot.

All in all this probably could have been presented much better and finished up in the usual 12 or 13 episode run but dragging it out for 26 episodes is too long for this type of story. It does present some really good character depth but you'll be more concerned with the main story and wondering how the romance will go and the flashback episodes almost seem out of place. The animation is a bit dated and the story is good but the overall length is the only real downside here. Sukuka is good for a rental, but nothing more then that as it's worth watching once... but easily forgettable.

Suzuka (opening)

Recommendation: |Average|