The protagonist is also boring. But the focus is on him 90% of the time, oh boy. There's also a lot of cop-out. It was considered decent for its time. But if we are more stringent with our standards, it falls short in some aspects.
You see, I don't mind series that are straightforward as my headline intends. However, they need something more than just that...
Basically, this series can be reduced to 3 qualities:
- YOUKAI vs YOUKAI
- YOUKAI conspiracy
- double life/secret identity/double personality protagonist <- the school life segments are frustrating to read because of the protagonist's not well defined personality -> like why does he has a double personality? Not well elaborated just hand waved just because, feels dumb
- goes to YOUKAI world <- the most interesting part of this series
- romance(?) very cringe to read; vibe-wise it reminds me of SASUKE X SAKURA (from Naruto); it's just one-way crushing. Like I feel like the author has never been in love LOVE? Then please don't put any romantic-ish elements because it was very subpar to read... (it's not the worse, but like not good)
Why's am I giving it low in score? Because here's some similar series that do some of what it does, but better:
- Iruma (classmate characters/roster are just more fleshed out in terms of attention given---has the DOUBLE PERSONALITY gimmick done better and more convincingly to enhance the character---in this series it feels like a CHEAT CODE shit)
- Tatari (YOUKAI vs YOUKAI better fights and more fun characters)
- Kekkaishi (has a YOUKAI-ish conspiracy but more grouded)
- goes to Youkai world (there's so many of them I can think of; but this series ain't that bad for this trait) maybe Toilet-Bound Hanako Kun (vibes wise is very close to this)
- any modern YOUKAI or EXORCIST series that came after 2020 is better in the romance department
The main problem why I don't have much fun with the series is well, if you compare to the other series, is that the character's goals and determination does not feel defined. Feels like the author puts 99% of the energy to put the YAMI YUUGI form of the protagonist, overshadowing him. There's not a lot of comedy (maybe there is; but it's so weak that I can't remember any funny moments). The romance attempt is awkward and cringe (not even the cute type; but more like YAMI YUUGI YOU'RE SO KAKKOIII SHOUJO FEMCEL BLUSH AND SHOUJO FEMCEL SIMP... Yeah, it's cringe and doesn't add any value to the stories because the romance feels very one-way. The protagonist literally doesn't try to engage. Awkward. (In short, the stories try to do a lot of things, but kinda fall flat).
For the overwhelming praise this series gets... I remembered when it aired as an anime... and everywhere I go, everyone simps for Tsurara, I guess she's the charm that binds people for this series for waifu-watchers. Well, while she's interesting, compared to modern heroines... she's so-so I guess? She IS cute, but the protagonist is like OK Tsurara you exist HI. It just feels like missed opportunity. (Author can't pull my heart strings when it comes to the pathetic attempt of "romance" they did... IN FACT I WOULD SAY THAT ONE PIECE'S ROMANCE IS BETTER THAN THIS SERIES...)
Should you read it? If you enjoy youkai aesthetics and can't get enough of it. It's alright to kill time. But it's not a mind-blowing series that will revolutionize your world.