— PREMISE —
At first glance, Welcome to the NHK may seem like a slice-of-life comedy or a romance with a thrilling mystery about revealing a conspiracy. However, it's important to note that if you approach it with these expectations, you're doing it wrong. The anime is, in fact, a social commentary dramedy that addresses real-life social issues through dialogue that relates to relevant themes. While it does not directly criticise the depicted issues, which is a good thing for those who dislike preachy anime, it offers a powerful critique of modern society's problems. The anime's focus is not solely on character development, particularly that of the protagonist, but rather on the broader societal issues that underlie his struggles.
While it succeeds in its mission to educate and enlighten its audience, it falls short in other areas such as story plot, character development, and pacing. As a viewer who values the exploration of themes and social commentary, I found the slower pacing and character drama to be a hindrance to my overall enjoyment of the series.
— STORY —
While it's true that the overall plot of Welcome to the NHK is relatively simple and straightforward, the show's strength lies in its character-driven storytelling and social commentary. The show's use of subplots and thematic exploration allows for a more in-depth exploration of the issues it critiques, rather than simply relying on a complex plot. The mystery element, while not the main focus of the show, adds an extra layer of intrigue and keeps viewers engaged.
It's worth noting that Welcome to the NHK doesn't just explore these themes superficially; it delves deep into the psyche of the characters and shows the effects of these issues on their mental health and overall well-being. The show doesn't shy away from portraying the harsh realities of life, but it also offers hope and a path towards healing and recovery.
Moreover, the show's exploration of otaku culture and escapism is particularly noteworthy. It not only examines the negative consequences of obsessive behaviour but also critiques society's tendency to stigmatise and marginalise those who engage in such activities.
There was a significant amount of character development that takes place primarily through dialogue. The dialogue directly relates to the established themes, allowing viewers to gain insight into each character's feelings about the struggles they face and how they react to their impact.
— CHARACTER —
Many viewers enjoyed this show because they relate to Satou; however, personally, I identified more with Yamazaki since I live alone, have no friends, pursued independence because I dislike relying on others, and play video games responsibly. While many viewers can relate to Satou's struggles and circumstances, personally, I found his gullible, selfish, and unappreciative behavior to be off-putting. For example, he complains about not receiving an allowance from his elderly parents despite being old enough to work and treats Misaki unfairly. It's worth considering whether viewers who relate to Satou's struggles also relate to his negative reactions and behaviour towards others. Accepting to live off of others for a year while complaining about receiving less money from his parents could be seen as unacceptable by some.
Once again, it is important to note that a viewer's ability to relate to a character's situation does not determine the quality of the writing. What truly matters is how the character responds to the situation presented. On a personal level, it is possible to dislike a character's personality, but this is purely subjective. Disliking Satou and not finding his personality relatable does not necessarily equate to poor writing. Similarly, finding Satou's personality relatable does not necessarily mean he is well written.
Misaki-chan was an underdeveloped character; her subplot did not seem relevant to the main theme of the show, and her struggles were a special case rather than a general struggle that most people face. The issue of child abuse is certainly an important one, but it didn't seem to fit with the other struggles that the characters faced as they transitioned into adult life.
Rather than focusing on pointless mysteries about Misaki's background and identity, the show could have explored the effects of transitioning into adulthood as an individual who was abused as a child. There were a few hints of this throughout the show, such as the scene where Misaki was petrified and extremely terrified of being hit. These hints could have been expanded upon, and the show could have delved deeper into Misaki's mentality as an adult who has experienced trauma.
The idea of the 'evil god' or the root of evil conspiracy that was presented in the show was poorly executed and lacked a resolution. In contrast, Misaki's struggle had the effect of loneliness, which is related to the main theme of the show. However, her struggle felt like a forced plot device, designed to give a character a sad background and merge them with the other cast. The show could have done better with the development of Misaki's character and her storyline.
Ultimately, whether a character is well-written or not is subjective and depends on individual standards, preferences and opinions. While relatability can play a part in how viewers perceive a character, it is not the only factor to consider. The writing quality of a character also depends on their actions, motivations, and how they contribute to the overall story.
— Animation —
The art was not very detailed, which results in less expressive facial features and can sometimes feel lacklustre. Some viewers have voiced complaints about noticeable drops in animation quality in certain episodes, or the use of slightly different animation styles, which can be jarring. While these inconsistencies didn't bother me, they can be a distraction for some, especially in a non-action anime where animation quality is expected to remain consistent.
— SOUND —
The music was okay, with a good variety of soundtracks that range from mellow to upbeat. However, I don't find most of them particularly memorable or exceptional. While they do complement the scenes and help set the mood, they don't stand out enough to become memorable tracks that I would add to my playlist. That being said, there are a few tracks that stand out, such as the opening theme "Puzzle" by Round Table featuring Nino, which has a catchy melody and uplifting lyrics that suit the show's themes. Additionally, the voice acting in the anime is well done, with each character's voice fitting their personality and bringing them to life. The voice actors also capture the emotional nuances of the dialogue effectively, especially during the more dramatic scenes. The Japanese voice cast does an excellent job of conveying the characters' personalities and feelings, adding depth to their interactions and making them more relatable to the audience.
— PACING —
The pacing, or rather stalling, was the main issue with Welcome to the NHK. As a character-driven anime, slow pacing can work well, but there's a difference between good and bad slow pacing. I didn't mind the extended dialogue, as it was relevant to the themes, and the long silent scenes helped convey the atmosphere and emotions. However, certain scenes were unnecessarily long or repetitive, particularly the hallucination scenes. While these scenes might explore Satou's psyche, the anime's point isn't to delve into the psychology of hikikomoris. Instead, it aims to examine the real-life social issues that often arise in adult life and their causes and effects. To believe that all hikikomoris daydream like Satou is absurd, so the long sequences were primarily intended to characterise Satou. While they did show how he's delusional and an escapist, the conspiracy theme seemed unrelated, and the perverted daydream sequences felt like a bad excuse for fanservice.
Secondly, Misaki's 'big project' wasted a significant amount of screentime with her reciting lines from psychology books. While the initial meeting was fine, the lectures were ultimately pointless and could have been significantly shortened. The exception being the first lecture, which established the nature of the lectures as similar. Perhaps the purpose of the meeting was to develop a relationship between Satou and Misaki, but the anime's main focus is not on romance.
Thirdly, one of the main issues with the pacing in Welcome to the NHK is the repetition of certain themes and messages. For instance, the anime often reiterates the idea that a hikikomori like Satou would eventually become hungry and require work to sustain themselves. This message is conveyed twice in two different episodes, in a very similar way. While it's understandable that the show is trying to emphasise the harsh realities of adult life for hikikomoris, the repetitive nature of these scenes becomes tedious and unnecessary. In fact, it almost feels like the anime is belaboring the point, as if it doesn't trust the audience to remember or understand the message after the first time. As a result, this repetition can make the pacing feel slow and tedious, as well as detract from the overall impact of the themes being explored in the show.
— OVERVIEW —
Welcome to the NHK is a mixed bag. On one hand, I appreciate the show's serious approach to real-life issues and its willingness to explore difficult topics. However, the constant use of meaningless mystery bait, poor pacing, and plot conveniences detract from the overall quality of the show. There were times when I found myself frustrated with the storyline and wishing that the creators had taken a more straightforward approach.
Despite these flaws, the characters themselves were generally well-done, and I never felt like they were being used simply as plot devices. Misaki's character, however, was a bit of a double-edged sword. On one hand, her character provided an interesting perspective and dynamic to the story, but on the other hand, her unnecessary mystery at times felt like a misdirect and left me feeling unsatisfied with the overall conclusion.
Overall, while I think Welcome to the NHK is a worthwhile watch for those interested in social commentary anime, it is not without its flaws, and I would caution viewers to be prepared for a somewhat frustrating and uneven experience.
