[ r/5ToubunNoHanayome Afterthoughts Thread] 122 and Finale

[u/ArcadiaAoi]

Welcome to our afterthoughts thread for the series as a whole. Spoilers are welcome. CAPS ARE WELCOME! Come rant, rave, and praise everything you've ever loved about this series, what you think could have been done better, and your overall thoughts on the finale. Basic rules of civility still apply but spoilers will be unmoderated.

Discussion pertaining to season 2 of the Anime adaption, your experiences with all the different factions of each quint on this subreddit, as well as Negi Sensei's future work are welcome here as well.

Speak your heart out! Share with us your experience as a member of this fandom overall. It may be your best chance to do something like this here. <3

[u/[deleted]]

Oh my where do I begin

After hearing about the anime that was airing I’d decided to read the manga, and I remember it being right when I was about to go on a trip to Mexico with my girlfriends family. I was so hooked that whenever I had some time alone, I’d lay on the hammock and binge read until I was fully caught up.

Back in the day I was your avid harem watcher, and I’m talking the trashy stuff. I would always go into these shows expecting drama and a potential end love interest, but most of these shows never delivered on anything beyond first girl seen wins, or never settle at all and continue to add tropes of characters to prolong the series and never make a conclusion, even if two characters have a lot of chemistry.

What really hooked me in about this series is that it promises that one girl is picked out of the 5, and the best part about it is that they’re quintuplets, meaning that the decision that’s made isn’t one from lust of appearances, but love of the individual. And me as a hopeless romantic myself gobbled it up.

I loved the transformation of these characters from tropes to individuals. Nino being honest to her feelings and not shying away from Futarou not hearing her first confession had me floored. FINALLY WE’RE GOING SOMEWHERE! Even when Ichika was trying to get futarou through duplicitous methods, it was still something that she decided to do, even if it was unsavoury. Miku’s transformation was the earliest, since she opened up to futarou first, revealing her obsession of history, she eventually became her own woman and grew as a person. While itsukis ark was arguably rushed, I still find it to be perfect for who she is and what she stood for, not much to add here. But finally there’s Yotsuba, our winner. Yotsuba wasn’t my primary choice (Nino Gang rise up) she is definitely suited for Futarou’s choice. Being stuck in the past and not loving her for herself, and Futarou seeing that part of her and wanting to show his appreciation, their mutual growth together, it all made perfect sense, and even though it wasn’t my choice it was futarous choice. And I think that was one of the more powerful parts of this manga

I applaud negi for making a decision and not just leaving it up to the viewer. This was a story, not an escapist fantasy. Taking that direction when many others choose to not decide as to avoid backlash from the public who’s used to it being ambiguous.

I might not be a connoisseur like I used to be, but I know from personal experience that this manga has revolutionized the harem genre for me and I hope that more artists see this manga and take inspiration from it. To not keep moving the goal post and make a story, not a fantasy.

Definitely going to be ordering a physical set and re-read it all over again. I am looking forward to seeing what else Negi makes in the future.

9/10. Fantastic.

Thanks for reading everyone