Do you accept loneliness and harden yourself against the cruelty of the world, or defy human nature until it tramples you? Stranded and proud as they are, those are the only two options they can see
Just nice to see these two mercilessly roasting someone again
If you like Spice & Wolf, you'll probably like Oregairu. They have nothing in common narrative-wise, but they're both centered on witty leads who delight in mocking each other. Lots of wise wolf energy
Gets me every time #oregairu
Hachiman is perfectly willing to debase himself and antagonize anyone, because he puts no value in his own feelings or reputation #oregairu
Of course, what this ultimately means is that the consequences of his actions fall on the people who care about him #oregairu
But at this point, he can't see himself as a person worthy of concern, and Yui is willing to take the fall. He can't appreciate what a considerate friend he has #oregairu
Love this eyecatch. "Welcome back to Oregairu, where no one is happy to see you"
Oregairu is constantly tugging at the complex systems underlying seemingly natural social dynamics. I'm sure we all know people who can act as friends via a connecting link, but aren't actually friends #oregairu
Hayato is one of my favorite characters. He's athletic, attractive, and popular - but also thoughtful, compassionate, and genuinely nice. He's a living testament to the self-aggrandizing superficiality of the "Nice Guy" philosophy #oregairu
Meow
Hachiman learns Yui had a reason to be nice to him, and immediately assumes all her kindness has been pity. What a painful scene
For someone who prides himself on his psychological insight, he's still incapable of getting outside his own head. He's been burned too much to believe in simple kindness - but as always, his defensive actions end up hurting the people around him #oregairu
And as so many young men do, Hachiman ends up directing his insecurities outward, as a condemnation of the people who made him feel insecure. Rather than change himself, he must believe they are in the wrong #oregairu
This show understands the misanthropic anger of bitter, alienated young men. But it never revels in it, and scenes like this are painful to watch. It's a story told from the far shore, about gaining the strength to risk pain in pursuit of kind, sincere companionship #oregairu
Sensei throws Yukino's juvenile, almost Randian philosophy back in her face. Yukino had rationalized her isolation as a consequence of her pursuit of excellence, but now finds herself missing the academically average but unambiguously decent Yui #oregairu
Here's Yukino proudly lecturing Yui on that perspective four episodes ago. Who would have thought there'd be consequences to blaming everyone else for their failures and unhappiness #oregairu
ty sensei for making sure she understands this is the perspective of a dickhead before she runs for office
This whole cast is so good! It's wonderful to rewatch this show and see Yukino, Yui, and Hachiman are exactly the charming messes I remember them being
Komachi strands Hachiman and Yukino at the mall, an act he's far too dense to appreciate. She really tries #oregairu
I love Hachiman and Smaller Hachiman #oregairu
These teens can't help but put their egos and grudges on the line in their every interaction. Putting that aside feels like dishonesty, a failure to live their truth - they can't see that swallowing your feelings for the sake of a group takes its own kind of strength #oregairu
This is a strength that Yui possesses in spades, but it'll take a lot more growth for Hachiman and Yukino to realize she's actually the strongest, most mature member of the group #oregairu
Until then... #oregairu
Hayato recognizes the cruelty Hachiman sees in social interactions, but chooses to see the best in people anyway. He respects Hachiman, but cannot relate to his bitterness #oregairu
I love the role he plays in this narrative. It's hard for Hachiman to convincingly pontificate about the vapidity or selfishness of popular people when Hayato's just standing right there, undercutting Hachiman's point with his very existence #oregairu
The team adopts a defensive formation as Yukino's sister approaches. They're so good together #oregairu
S1 is far lighter on delicate character acting than its successors, but Yukino being reminded her life is not her own still packs a punch #oregairu
This show's banter feels effortless. The fact that the leads are frequently on different wavelengths creates friction, but that friction actually helps them get to know each other better. Hikki and Yui are so good together #oregairu
Hachiman defaults to snark, but Yui's sincerity is unbeatable, and so he can't help but act on his genuine fondness for his friends #oregairu
Yui accepts that Yukino has been lying to them from the start. It hurts her like it would hurt anyone, but she sees the fear in Yukino's behavior, a fear she understands. Once again, she embraces the pain of honest connection #oregairu
Hachiman disagrees. It's easier to retreat, and if that's what Yukino wants, who is he to argue? When you're always burned for expressing vulnerability, you learn to accept a certain emotional distance #oregairu
On rewatch, I realize Yui's speech here is basically a blueprint for the entire series #oregairu
Seriously #oregairu
My heart is devastated. "Even if we hadn't been brought together, we're both such messes that we would have ended up together anyway, and isn't that kind of beautiful?" Yui is so good #oregairu
Another scene where S1's simplified character designs show their strength. Love the technically off-model but also adorable Yui at the end here #oregairu
I really feel this line. Trust is a responsibility, and it's hard learning to bear it with grace #oregairu
While the rest of the class avert their eyes, Hayato enters the festival planning room and immediately calls out the whole room. Genuine self-confidence is a rare thing in high school, but Hayato is both confident and fundamentally kind #oregairu
But one thing Hayato cannot relate to is Yukino's pride. Hachiman, on the other hand, perfectly understands the pride that Yukino clings to in lieu of genuine happiness. And so he whines about other people slacking, to avoid forcing Yukino herself to ask for help #oregairu
As always, his only play is to make himself the villain, even when it's out of kindness. Here, making himself the villain demonstrates his clear understanding of his friend, and his respect for her values #oregairu
Again, Yui is the considerate bridge who can truly reach Yukino. Her lines are heavy with subtext: "I know you've learned to distrust. I know you doubt the sincerity of vague 'let's be friends' rhetoric. But *rely on me.* I want you to know that I, personally, am here for you"
Yukino takes that bracing sincerity about as well as you'd expect #oregairu
Yukino and Hachiman are incredible. Party icons #oregairu
Love this show. Love all these leads. What good kids, fighting their fears and fucking up and doing their best to be kind #oregairu
As a bitter teen, I also dreamed of that one act of glorious, spiteful honesty. Telling everyone off for their betrayal, and letting them feel the shame they deserved. Here, Hachiman can accomplish that while also helping Yukino, just by playing the villain like always #oregairu
He's good at it. He knows how to be deliberate in a way that demands attention, and playful in a way that disarms rebuke, while also being as cruel as possible. It's a low and heartless skill, but he's good at it #oregairu
THESE TWO #oregairu
Bless you, Hayato #oregairu
A clear visual failing of S1 is its inability to properly convey that Hayato Charm™. He is significantly more irresistible in S2, and I fully expect this trend to continue in S3 #oregairu
Between seasons one and two, Oregairu's production shifted to a new studio and new staff. New director Kei Oikawa (a major talent, who also directed the hilarious Hinamatsuri) begins S2 with a massive flex, by beautifully re-animating the climax of S1 #oregairu
It's great seeing Yui develop an even, mutually rewarding rapport with the other two. In the first season, she was sometimes dazzled by their verbose feuds; now she's realized both her friends don't know shit, and is happy to call them on it #oregairu
Yukino and Hachiman can never stop performing, but Yui's efforts towards honest conversation make their acts look pretty silly #oregairu
There's a massive difference between saying genuinely thoughtful things, and simply speaking in a way designed to sound intellectual or be misunderstood. Yukino would have a bright career on the internet, but she's not fooling Yui #oregairu
Aggghhh they're already so kind and loyal to each other. How much these three care for each other, and know they are cared for in turn, is the ultimate refutation of their fearful worldviews. What a powerful trio #oregairu
S2's expressions and character acting are a massive step up from S1, which is pretty important for a show where so much is implied or entirely unspoken. All these expressions convey clear, distinct elements of their relationships with Hachiman #oregairu
You can already see Hayato's high expectations and odd kind of trust in Hachiman. Hayato seems to read him more accurately than anyone but Hiratsuka. If Hayato didn't care about Hachiman, he'd dismiss him with a smile; instead, he demands more of him #oregairu
Yukino is amazing. S2's improved boards and editing really let her shine #oregairu
A neat articulation of their differing principles and circumstances here. Hachiman has embraced flouting society's expectations, and thus forgets that Yukino isn't allowed to live for herself. Her only outlet is outshining the role that's been chosen for her #oregairu
In season one, this conflict might have reaffirmed a distance between them. Instead, Hachiman immediately recognizes his error, and assents without a word. Yukino, grateful but embarrassed that she had to ask this of him, thanks him as apology. They've come so far #oregairu
This scene is so, so good. Hayato knows that Tobe confessing to one of their mutual friends will splinter their group permanently. Hachiman claims any friendship so easily broken is worthless, but Hayato values his friends, as fragile as their bonds may be #oregairu
Hachiman sees social affectation as weakness; he has to, to make sense of his own feelings. But Hayato, though he can see people's ugly sides, never focuses on that. He sees the good in people too, and his happy memories with this "fragile" group speak for themselves #oregairu
I love this intermingling of slight selfishness and deep concern for his friend. He knows Tobe's confession is doomed, and desperately wants to preserve his friendships, but is still trying to respect Tobe's feelings. Such a convincing, conflicted character #oregairu
Hayato is insightful enough that Hachiman can't simply disregard him, but his view of the world is so alien, so undefended, that Hachiman deflects even considering it. He can acknowledge Hayato's problem, but he cannot feel what Hayato feels #oregairu
And so the negotiation ends. Hayato knows how Hachiman solves problems, and he detests himself for having no other solution. In contrast, Hachiman ends up applying his ugly solutions to preserve a friendship he can't understand. A strange handoff between their worlds #oregairu
This show can be so pretty and so cruel #oregairu
You can't just hurt yourself forever, Hikki. There are people who care about you #oregairu
I love the moments when Hayato visibly turns off the charm. Haruno is the one character who gets under basically everyone's skin #oregairu
Hachiman has changed. He now values his bonds with Yukino and Yui - so much so that he'll embrace even a superficial friendship with them. But he's always idolized Yukino's righteousness, and now that righteousness is driving them apart #oegairu
In a story that's mostly about insecure people working to better themselves, Irohas strides in as a gleeful champion of chaotic neutral #oregairu
My boy. He's finally found a friend with whom he can confess how mean and distant he feels inside #oregairu
If Hachiman is a story about learning to overcome the scars of rejection in order to trust people, Hayato is a story about the difficult daily practice of trust and kindness. It's always a choice we have to make #oregairu
In case it wasn't established, Yukino's sister is the worst. No wonder she learned to be distrustful and ferociously self-sufficient #oregairu
Then donate to my friggin blog #oregairu
Haruno has jabs for everyone, but ultimately, she's the one sneaking around in a trench coat in order to bully her sister and a bunch of high schoolers #oregairu
Hayato just burying our hero in kindness and understanding #oregairu
The defensive systems they've relied on all along are the same walls that are now closing on them, and keeping them from reaching out to each other #oregairu
Oregairu understands that specific "we express our love through owning each other relentlessly" sibling bond #oregairu
Komachi forgives Hachiman for lashing out, and even gives him an excuse to repair his splintering friendships. I love how they support each other #oregairu
Most of Oregairu's cast tangle themselves into emotional knots trying to find damage-free solutions to their problems. Into this dynamic, Iroha strides like Alexander the Great, slicing those Gordian knots through the power of not giving a shit #oregairu
Iroha's lack of pretension means Hachiman can actually let his guard down around her, leading to a very comfortable friendship. Hachiman could use more low-stakes bonds like these #oregairu
Perfect impression by Iroha
Sad puppy eyes at maximum power #oregairu
He can be such an asshole. Though his actions are based in understandable insecurities, that doesn't make him any less stubborn, cowardly, or cruel. Yui suffers so much just for trying to care about him #oregairu
This show wouldn't land with the impact it does if Hachiman didn't honestly embody both the pain and the violence of his "the world is set up against me, so fuck the world" perspective. He is frequently tough to be around #oregairu
He's learning, though. He's seeing his mistakes, and regrets driving his friends to this point of polite, anonymous distance. But even still, it's so hard for him to admit he needs help #oregairu
Hachiman can't admit what he's feeling, and Yukino can't accept their strained, superficial relationship any longer. Even after all this time, they're still isolated by their emotional barricades #oregairu
Hiratsuka's speech here is so good. She respects his sensitivity and his intelligence, meets him on his level, and offers gentle, constructive guidance towards a happier future. She's a remarkable teacher #oregairu
When your only goal is preventing conflict or pain, you lose the chance to hurt and grow alongside the people you love. Hiratsuka reminds him that he's lost sight of what's truly important: how much he valued their time together #oregairu
To live is to inspire friction, and pain. I still remember how it felt watching Eva as a teen, and seeing this defined as the hedgehog's dilemma. It can mean so much just to see your feelings recognized #oregairu
What a line. It's the missing piece - an acknowledgment of his pain, a gesture of forgiveness, and a way forward #oregairu
This scene still guts me. After a season of relying on his jaded philosophy, and half a season of watching it tear his friendships apart, Hachiman confesses at last. He can't keep doing this to himself, or to anyone else he's "helped." He wants to change #oregairu
This show's dialogue is so good. Their bickering feels blunt in its delivery yet piercing in its insight, and both their anger and confidence feel like natural expressions of how well they know each other. Rich characters make for devastating drama #oregairu
For Hachiman, reading the moods of others has always been a way to pigeonhole them, assigning them simplistic identities to avoid being hurt. But for anything approaching true understanding, you have to reach out #oregairu
As Hachiman well knows, it is trivially easy to manipulate our reason to confirm our preconceptions. His old self would have dismissed this lesson in a heartbeat; only standing where he is now, knowing what he's lost, is he able to recognize it #oregairu
He no longer needs to rationalize a reason to get closer; he can admit he wants to, while accepting the price. True mutual understanding is impossible, but there's nothing else worth seeking #oregairu
What a scene. This show is something special #oregairu
Incredible power play. She doesn't even look at him #oregairu
Goddamnit Hikki #oregairu
Yui is gonna befriend the shit out of these two, by force if necessary #oregairu
Yukino built up an incredibly thick wall around herself, but now that both Yui and Hachiman have admitted to their own fears, and clearly stated how much they value her friendship, she can at last confide in them as well #oregairu
But there's a reason these kids became so defensive in the first place; seeking that honest, genuine human connection is difficult, and opens you up to getting deeply hurt. Iroha wants it as well, but it's a long road #oregairu
Love this reflection by Hayato. Though he tries to be kind to everyone, he's only capable of prolonging a cordial, adolescent stasis among his friends. He's afraid of pushing people like Hachiman does, even if it might push them forward #oregairu
Hayato makes some serious mistakes in season two, but generally for good reasons. Really looking forward to seeing his season three developments #oregairu
Iroha admits she was genuinely inspired by Hachiman's speech, Hachiman briefly tries to act like a genuinely supportive classmate, and Iroha IMMEDIATELY lays him out for it. Ruthless #oregairu
Never getting over this run #oregairu
Yui's not here to dispense mercy #oregairu
Hachiman's solutions have become more elegant, and more sympathetic to the feelings of the parties involved. He still can't genuinely mediate, but his plan to extricate Hayato from his social group features no victims and no villains #oregairu
But Hayato can't accept that. It's still dishonest and unkind, and perhaps most importantly, it still tells Hayato that he cannot solve his problems without Hachiman's help. Just as Hachiman has grown, so has Hayato gained the strength to refuse him #oregairu
I love these two. What perfect rivals for this painfully self-conscious show #oregairu
Scratch that, I love everyone in this show. They're all perfect and deserve the world #oregairu
I love that the intersection of Yumiko and Saki is just an escalating series of "aanhh?" "AANHH?" forever #oregairu
Holy shit. If I finish this episode tonight, I'll have like three whole days to write about the ongoing season before it's over. VICTORY IS IN SIGHT
The relationship Yui's been pursuing is right in front of her, but she also knows what dating Hikki might do to Yukino, and to the home they've built together. After all this time urging Hikki to consider his own feelings, Yui herself can't make the selfish choice #oregairu
When Yukino is cornered by her sister in an embarrassing public fumble, it's Yui that helps her save face, and feel comfortable with Hachiman again. She works so hard for them, and they often don't even notice it #oregairu
Fully embittered by her duty as family heir, all Haruno can do is lash out at Yukino and Hachiman for no longer sharing her misanthropy. She's so pointlessly cruel, but they're too young and too insecure to brush it aside #oregairu
But if there were a point to Haruno's cruelty, it'd be this. Yukino is operating under a different scale of societal obligation than her friends, and sharing chocolates isn't going to change that. Some problems can't be solved with forgiveness and trust #oregairu
Isn't it nice to see dialogue layered with this degree of shared history, tact, and understanding? I love how Yui and Hachiman deflate the tension here, shrugging off Yukino's apology with an "eh, moms are like that" #oregairu
Yui, I know they consider themselves masters of subtext, but you still might have to spell it out more directly than this #oregairu
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