Average Rating: 
Rating: - Its hard to maintain the edge
Actually this should rate higher, but I'm averaging it with the rest of the series. This 26 episode series about first love is played sweet with little conflict. The only conflict comes at the beginning and then again at series end. Its hard to dance a plot intended as a romatic comedy on the edge of the knife of tragedy. It would however, have been nice to see them try.The two characters are brought together in the first few episodes by overly coincidental fate. Then when Aoi won't leave her long lost love, the family sets them up in a controlled living situation. This obviously a set-up in hopes the unknown relationship will run its course break-up. Normally I would have expected a lot of ominous meddleing from the family. Unfortunately the series turned light from here on, giving the traditional comic treatment expected of a situation comedy. New characters arrive, mostly females to create our situations. None of which are handled with any seriousness save a few scenes with Aoi. We have the prerequisite animals (a ferret and some cats), the ackward girl with big assets, the standard beach episodes, and some drinking humor. The standard bag for a light series. You can't help liking the series, but if you're expecting anything new or profound, forget it. Series turns serious again in last three episodes. It could have been a classic had episodes 4-21 held the same effort that 1-3 and 22-24 did. Animation is simple but good, backgrounds are excellent. Sound and music are both good, but not really special. I've noticed a lot of Japanese anime, the series is mapped from beginning to end. I wonder about that here. Its like two slices of heavy pupernickel rye with a filling of brie. Wheres the beef and the spiced ham when we need it.
Rating: - Cliche plot, but yet...
The Story: In Tokyo, there are two very well respected families, the Hanabishi and the Sakuraba. And eight-year-old Sakuraba Aoi is destined to be married to eight-year-old Hanabishi Kaoru when they grow up. So, the two families decided that if they are to be married, they need to befriend each other first. Unfortunately, as they start to develop a liking for each other, something happened between the Hanabishi and the Sakuraba that both didn't want anything to do with each other. Aoi's parents thought that Aoi would easily forget Kaoru as any child forget things. They were wrong. Aoi loved Kaoru and she hoped that he will come back for her. After waiting ten years, Aoi ran away from home to live in Tokyo to search for Kaoru. After finding Kaoru by accident (Kaoru was actually helping her since she arrived ^_^), the two lovers reunite happily. Of course, Aoi's mother rejected the option that Aoi will marry Kaoru. But she tries to be nice to Aoi and let Aoi and Kaoru live in the Sakuraba summer home for a while... with her lifelong maid, Miyabi (who hates Kaoru). Unfortunately for the two lovers, three (yes, three) women wanted to live under the same roof as Kaoru (Tina, Taeko, and Mayu). Will Aoi convince Kaoru that they are destined to be married? Watch it to find out... The review: Yeah, I can see the words form in your head as the storyline ends, "How ... did the story changes from a romantic drama to another Love Hina storyline!?" Sure, the story is cliched, but Ai Yori Aoshi pulled it off beautifully. Great characters with good personalities to back them up. If you want romantic comedy (and have watched to death your Love Hina and Tenchi Muyo!s), Ai Yori Aoshi is a great choice to fill your needs. [NOTE: Ai Yori Aoshi contains some ecchi.] Recommended for people who enjoyed: Love Hina, Tenchi Muyo! and the billion other one-guy-five-girls anime titles.
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