silens-silentium

Finally finished watching Ouran High School Host Club. Looks like a brainless series on the surface, with all the trappings (pun intended) of all the pretty boys and in particular, the handsome girl. However, just like most high school/college/university anime series, there’s something more to offer, if watched carefully.

Just like Honey and Clover, Ouran High School Host Club offers an insight into school life, albeit from a totally different , and perhaps, exaggerated perspective. Of course, just like Honey and Clover, there is a character about which the whole storyline revolves around; in Ouran, this character is Fujioka Haruhi, the extremely handsome girl in her freshman year in the particular High School.

Looking past the obvious markings of a good series, from its humor to its well-paced storyline, perhaps what elevates this series to the level of Honey and Clover (what I consider to be the best for school-related series, and one of the best series I’ve watched), is its somewhat naive and idealistic view towards friends and school life. Not just a sprinkling, but a total, heavy dose of it. The way both series are able to portray the growth of maturity together with the increasingly bonded friendship despite the odds IS really very admirable indeed, and it indeed strikes a chord with many viewers, because most of us yearn for it, but will never get to experience it.
Perhaps the rigors of university life is getting to me, or perhaps my cynical/realistic/pragmatic side is being challenged once more by my idealistic side, but I was just wondering to myself: Apart from the knowledge and the degree, is there anything else I can take away, anything that I can look back and recall with fondness?

Despite that, I’d just like to give special mention to 1Obn once more. I’d thought that with the entry of most of the members into university, the group would somehow drift apart. I was, and still am, very surprised that we’re hanging out together so often, despite the diversity of the group. Despite our busy schedules, we still manage to somehow maintain the group, and turnouts for gatherings are still very large. In fact, 1Obn seems to be growing. I really hope this will continue, it’s something I’ve grown to cherish. I may never get to know all of you well, but I’m just glad that you all are my friends.
On second thought, perhaps the reason above is not really such a good reason. Aren’t most series produced not supposed to be realistic? Anyway, I’ll be looking forward to Ouran High School Host Club Season 2, if there is one. Good school life series never fails to make me smile. I’m glad I had this series to accompany me through my rather lonely, and sometimes torturous first semester.