more detailed commentary is under the first tankoubon in the series -- but this is truly a hideous downturn for the mangaka.

though i wouldn't have preferred it as a tragedy; i would have preferred the characters to not be such horrid cliches. i am not opposed to fictional incestuous relationships between half-brothers -- but i agree with the previous reviewer in that this instance is NOT a healthy relationship, merely an obsessed one. it's not even particularly interesting, despite all the drama.

The art is a fresh look -- it's still that glamorous beauty, but retains a lot of simplified realism as well. All my positive ratings are for the art.

The story's delivery is in shambles. Confusing, abrupt, and lacking completely in compelling character development.

... Last updated on October 8th, 2011, 6:52am

The primary couple in this one is Eiki and Mairo and I have to say that there were very few reasons for me to feel any sympathy for them. There was no build-up for me to feel that their relationship is healthy at all, and the whole time they were featured, I was uncomfortable and hoping it would get back to Eiki's dad or the kid (which it did, a few times).

Incestuous relationships can be done well, and the taboo of incest can make it seem more exciting because of the forbidden nature. But here, a deeply flawed pairing is passed off as romantic and, perhaps, as misunderstood as gay relationships have been in the past (and, thus, ultimately not at all bad). I hate reading that kind of thing - if the story presented the relationship in less romantic terms and didn't try to insist on the happy ending and instead worked it as a tragedy, I would have liked it much more. Or else, for the idealised romance to work, the characters need to have been less manipulative and controlling towards one another.

I really liked the bits with the president and Igawa, though.