I watched this when I was in Grade 12 back in 2008, which propably cost me a lot of marks I could have otherwise gotten, but who cares? At the time I was enthralled in it, but afterwards I kind of wondered why I had watched it all the way to the end. In retrosepct it didn't seem to be susbstantial enough. So I'm glad I read everyone reviews about it, because it makes me feel like I didn't waste my time after all.

It is a brilliant anime series I can now realise again. I guess that at the time, however, I wasn't able to distinguish my own angst from the series' brilliant yet arid melancholy. This is probably what made me think that it was rather unsubstantial and unaffecting, and not give it the credit it deserves for its bleak but unique atmosphere.

Thanks everyone for your reviews!