Nana review (Spoilers ahead)
Review (With no spoilers):
I have heard of this anime for a while now. What made me watch it was the rumor of it including 'yuri'. Although this wasn't exactly the case, I wasn't disappointed either. The relationships in this show are very complex; labels are useless in this case. However, this is what makes this show so great. As confusing as it may appear, you will eventually understand the characters and may even relate to some of their traits. However, every character has a flaw that causes some of the audience to dislike a character. The length of the show is well done too. It has about 50 episodes with only around three filler episodes. The realism is very apparent in this show. This makes it so engaging despite the show centering around relationships and friendships. The art style of this anime is beautiful too. I believe it's more realistic yet also includes those classic anime faces. Even if you don't watch anime, I think this anime is a great one for those who don't watch that genre. Overall, 'Nana' left me with a certain indescribable feeling. I was disappointed that I have now finished a show that was a part of my routine. However, I appreciate the entertainment and wisdom it has provided me. I hope one day (if it ever happens), that this story will one day finish.
Just a heads up, I have NOT read the manga and therefore have no idea what happens after the last episode in the anime. My analysis from here will be conducted based off of what I watched and no other knowledge.
The two Nanas: What these two had is something that no one can label or try to explain. It begins to form as a simple friendship, but later on the differences between a relationship and a friendship begin to dissolve with these two. Their circumstances were very interesting considering how they met and how they end up living in the same apartment. There wasn't much that kept them apart either until later on. And this is what jump started that deep bond between them. Despite the two almost being polar opposites, they get along quite well. And as much as the storyline forces the two to solely be friends, I believe they were meant to be lovers. There were many moments that hinted to this, such as Hachi and Nana sleeping in the same bed, Hachi blushing and thinking about how Nana would be in bedā¦ it all creates a conclusion that they shouldāve been together. Personally, even if they werenāt dating, I would prefer them to be together than without one another. I believe that they also taught each other a lesson they may have never learned from anyone else. Nana learned that love and care isn't only from lovers, but also friends. Yasu also did this for Nana, but I don't think she knew that until the end of the season. Nana and Hachi also discovered a part of their sexuality from one another too. And Hachi got to experience what it was like for others to pay attention to you (as she didn't receive that as a middle child). Overall, Hachi would think of Nana whenever she engaged with man, and Nana would think of Hachi frequently as well. They thought of one another during intimate moments and that is why I believe they are meant to be lovers rather than friends.
What I think about every character (at least main characters):
Hachi: Although she annoyed me sometimes, I actually do like her. However, I wanted to protect her the entire time. Each time she looked at another man, I shook my head in disapproval. Despite her inability to see how much she is worth; she is a pretty good person. She deeply cared for others; she could read emotions very well and would be there if someone needed a hug. The reason why she accepts the treatment she receives is because of how she grew up. The middle child is often neglected physically and/or emotionally. This explains why Hachi could read someone's emotions because her whole childhood, she grew up observing others. This can also explain why she had so much immaturity at the beginning of the show because she never was shown how to be an adult. She had to figure it out all by herself. And because she didn't receive the proper care as a child, she is willing to accept any attention that someone gives her even if it is terrible. She turned out being more than just a woman who easily falls for men and that is why I like her character so much.
Nana: I liked her for the majority of the show. However, the few last episodes really displayed her true self. The specific moment that I am speaking of is when she chastised Nobuo for letting Hachi go. Yet the few episodes before this one also saddened me by how reliant she was on Hachi and Ren. The way she would spiral into panic attack whenever she felt the absence of Hachi was heart wrenching. The reason to this attachment is because of how she was abandoned by her mother. She was forced to mature without a hand in her journey. This is why I think Hachi and Nana get along well because they both were neglected in some way yet resulted in different maturities. What I like about Nana is how loyal she is to those around her. She is willing to defend her friends and lover whenever. What shocked me the most was when she fell for Ren again after a few years. Although I don't think she truly loved him the same afterwards, the way that she still cares for him a lot is important. And I believe the reason why Nana began to fall for Hachi was how much healthier the relationship was. Nana wouldn't have to worry about Hachi hurting herself once Nana grew distant (but Hachi was not okay with her absence and was hurt by it). However, we see how Nana mirrors Ren with her panic attacks.
Nobuo: He isn't so much of a bad character either, but he does tend to have unrealistic visions and expectations of people... specifically women. This is first seen when he used to like Nana back in high school. He thought he could fix her wounds that were cut too deep. He did this with Hachi as well. He had this perfect image of her in his brain despite her being far from it. Hachi appears flawless, yet her actions say otherwise. Even if she finds the one person who would love her forever, she finds herself returning to those who harm her. Otherwise, Nobuo deeply cared for those around him and remained loyal to his band. Even when he met Shin, they became a pair.
Yasu: I actually did like him for the majority of the show. I admired how much he took care of everyone in BLAST and even some of those who were outside of the band. However, I feel like his responsibility for everyone also allows criticism towards his character. Since he is expected to help others and prevent them from doing something impulsive, he takes the blame for Shin's actions. In which I agree, because if you are concerned about the private lives of the band, you can't have a MINOR work in prostitution. However, I believe Yasu was also a bit possessive whenever it came to Nana. The only thing that was preventing him from getting her was Ren. I didnāt like how he slightly threatened him with āIf you donāt take Nana, then Iāll take her for myselfā. Nana isnāt some territory to claim. But I wonāt lie, I also like the idea of Yasu and Nana togetherāit would make sense. I personally prefer Nana and Hachi, but I can see the two ships.
Shin: I would say Shin is probably the least problematic in this entire show. His backstory is very sad as well, feeling like he doesn't belong anywhere due to his ethnicity and his lack of parental guardians. He doesn't know what it is like to have a connection to a family. This is why he looks to Hachi as a mother figure because she is so kind and caring. It's a part of the reason why they both kept in contact even with all the drama with Takumi. I believe Shin's absence of a parental guardian also affected his relationship with Reira as he didn't recognize that he was being groomed. He most likely didn't interpret it that way because he probably found a comfort with her as well. Reira gave him the physical affection (even if it was sexual), as he never received that as a child.
Reira: I only liked her design, her hair and clothesā¦ and that is it. Otherwise, she was a terrible character. She was very selfish and mostly thought of herself. Every time she was on screen, I couldnāt understand her purpose in the story besides of how Takumi treats other women or what woman that Takumi is into. Also, she was a literal pedophileā¦ having sexual intercourse with a 15-year-old as a 23-year-old woman. She had the audacity to get jealous whenever Takumi got married, but she still engaged with Shin. It further proves that she was just using him for sexual gratification. It's disgusting.
Naoki: He did not receive much screen time so there isn't much to go off of. And that's why I can't properly comment on him. The only thing I can say about him is how much he enables. I think being in Trapnest as well just seems off anyway. The people that someone surrounds themselves with says a lot about that person.
Ren: His relationship was toxic with Nana. I believe they were tied together by trauma and similarities rather than love. Yes, they were in love, but I think because they have so much history together, they feel as though they can't leave one another. Their attachment and reliance are unhealthy for both of them. Nana begins to spiral and Ren begins using substances to cope. Also, the majority of the time whenever they were together, they mostly had sex. There were rarely any moments that had the two of them together without engaging in that activity. It just makes me think that maybe they weren't as romantically attracted to one another as they thought. It's just my opinion. His overall character isn't too well either. I believe he was attached to the pay of the band rather than considering how terrible the members are or the control that Takumi has over everyone. Also, I never understood why Ren choked Nana in the dressing room? It didn't seem like she liked it... and she did not say yes. He didn't ask for consent. And I didn't like the idea of the two getting married either because I felt as though it would cause more complications. (I can't remember, but was it Yasu who recommended that?)
Takumi: His characterization is so excellent, to the point I hate him so much. The first thing that ticked me off was his casual and nonchalant attitude. It lacks empathy and care. And this unfortunately attracts women like Hachi, those without attention. I believed that Hachi only wanted to have sex with Takumi and that was it. Clearly, Hachi either was falling or already in love with Nobuo. She also willingly blocked Takumi for the purpose of pursuing Nobuo. But of course, Takumi comes back as soon as Hachi is pregnant. Whatās so dystopian is the fact that Hachi had to remain with Takumi because he would provide stability unlike Nobuo. It didnāt matter who the child belonged toāit was about the future of the child. To me, this plot limited Hachi's independence by forcing herself to be a mother and carry even more responsibilities when she barely learned how to be an adult. However, even when she was pregnant and struggling, Takumi sexually assaulted her and said āCāmon. Fulfill my needsā or something along those lines. Heās disgustingā¦ and I would do anything for him to suffer.
Misato: Although she never did anything 'wrong', she was always off putting. The first time we saw her in the show was when she visited Nana and the band. This interaction seemed fine, but later on, it grew to be too much. Every time BLAST had a show, Misato was always there. She even stayed in Tokyo for a full summer. It appeared as though she was attempting to insert herself into the group. She came off a bit obsessive, and I also thought she was going to steal Nana away from Hachi (lol).
Shoji: I never liked this guy from the beginning. Which of course, who would like him? I had a feeling him and Hachi weren't going to succeed due to how long they had been separated. Long distance relationships are easier said than done, as someone can be completely different in person. I understood how Shoji wanted Hachi to grow some independence, yet he barely gave her the chance to do so. Of course, it is going to be easier to move in with someone you know rather than fly to a new place and figure it out from there. All she needed was a start, yet Shoji was impatient and outgrew his love for her too. This is what I consider to be the most messed up. He should've discussed his feelings with her instead of going behind her back and hurting her. If you don't want to be in a relationship anymore, then break it off? It's that simple, but for him it wasn't. Yes, Hachi was a bit difficult at the start of the show, but that is also because she never learned how to be an adult from her parents.
Junko: She was probably one of the most realistic people in this show. She was someone Hachi always went running to and always told Hachi the truth even when it was harsh. This is the definition of a good friend. However, the only mistake Junko made was not telling Hachi immediately when Shoji was cheating on her. I understand that Junko didn't want to see Hachi so upset, but her pain was inevitable. Otherwise, Junko is one of the few in this show that isn't insanely problematic. A lot of people hate on her for not doing everything in her willpower to protect Hachi, but there is only so much you can do when it comes to her. Hachi will go to any man despite what she's heard or how he treats her. Therefore, it's hard to manage a friend that does that. Besides that, Junko and Kyosuke are black. I hate how the anime whitewashes them but keeps Hachi's sister looking like a mess.
Kyosuke: He was a good character too. He gave more grace to Hachi than Junko did, but that's probably because he didn't know her as long as she did. What I dislike about Junko and Kyosuke is how they were basically just there to support Hachi and nothing more. They never had any sub-plot where they argued or had any problems. The couple was only there to give advice to Hachi.
I absolutely DESPISE Takumi and how well misogyny works against Nana and Hachi.
I do like how the entire cast are terrible people. It puts real life into an omniscient perspective and adds complexity to our understanding of the characters. There isn't really a protagonist or antagonist as everyone in the story is affecting one another. There isn't a 'good' or 'bad' character as they are all morally grey.
The art style is amazing.
The number of details that goes into these characters is so good and I don't think I've ever seen anything like it. The characterization is so well crafted to the point I got confused during the show because of how the characters behaved. It's unlike many other animes.
So, I've heard a few spoilers from the manga... I cannot believe it gets worse (not the actual story but the events and the characters' actions). Does anyone know where they can read the manga? I would prefer not to pay for it.
Ok that is all from me! Let me know your thoughts.
