(Also, the whole "recommended/not recommended" is wrong, because thats based on if you enjoy or not a piece of media (anime), whereas rating is based (or should be, because most still don't make the difference) on its objective quality. As in: the story, script, pacing, world building, design, animation, audio, VA, vfx, to name a few. And yes, thats important, because you can be high and enjoy a movie with bad dialogue, but when you're watching it again, you realise it is sht. So what are you gonna do then? Change the rating every time you're watching it??)
So, visuals. Meh. The art style is kinda lacking. Decent or cute designs for everyone, apart the main couple. Thats wrong from the start. Yes, we get some scenes (single digits) when they look fantastic, but mostly they don't. The animation is meh. The cinematography, is not here. They went full bubbles & sparkles effects and hoped for the best. The colour palette is meh. Maybe the best part here are: the landscapes and the "objects". As in flowers, fruits, jewelry etc. Some "Team B" took their time and made them look really nice. Good for them I guess.
Audio. Meh or bad. Weird tracks used for "important" scenes and the usual "charming/magical" tracks every time she gets a makeover. The VA was meh, the dialogue's quality might be a reason, don't know. The OP is less than meh (both the track and visuals). The ED is good (with some very nice visuals), or at least catchy.
World building, character development and pacing. Funny. Moderate production value.
And now the "good" stuff. The story is meh at best. Yes, the beginning seems interesting but it gets boring in a few episodes. The so-called mystery aspect was predictable and was used only as a way to give some extra-weight to a lacking story. It failed, obviously. Usually, there are 2 ways to go: diabetes-inducing romance or the romance through adversity (involving drama stuff). Well, they've tried some mix and it failed, obviously (again). 3/4 of the season is about her having trauma and going "I know its not true, he doesn't mean that" etc, while also scenes with the couple being awkward and "cute" and bubbles ans sparkles and blushing and... and.... And then she remembers that she doesn't really care, because its not real... Yes, amazing character development, dialogue, plot and whatever. Oh, sorry. All of that just before the ending when she gets wiser suddenly and everything changes. No, really. The last episode is about setting things straight, the party, what different characters are doing (or will do) and the last 5 minutes are the obligatory "shiny sparkly fairytale ending", with fireworks in the background, obviously.
Yes, I rushed through. The little good aspects are too few and too unimportant to matter. It gets a rating of 5, at most. And "mixed feelings", like I've said before. No rewatch value, obviously. Instead of being a show about cute people doing cute stuff, it tried to be a bit more mature. And it failed. It seems interesting in the first 2 episodes (maybe), then it gets boring and annoying, until the extra rushed pacing in the last episode. So, no. Don't bother.
Have a lovely evening.
