Finalemonogatari: Part I

      I finished the Monogatari Series. It finally happened.

Listen! Audio version here! (Actual blog starts at ~2:40)


      Finalemonogatari, as I'm calling this piece, is a two part blog post. One half now, the other half in a couple of weeks! This post (Part One) is a Spoiler-free reassessment of my in-the-moment "review" of Bakemonogatari and Nisemonogatari -- The first two series in the... series. It's a little confusing, but I'll hold your hand through it, don't worry.
      The second part will be a spoiler-filled look at the final episode, arc, and season of The Monogatari Series. This show really left me in a unique situation where I was both okay with how the story concluded, and at odds. It was conclusive, but as if things hadn't really moved at all. Again, that's Part II, and not for today.
      Edit: Part II is out now!

Preface: Monogatari is a Series of Series -- An Explanation 

 

The Monogatari Series' watch order;
Credit: Reddit user maxdefolsch

     The Monogatari Series is one complete work -- Same characters, same locations, etc. However, it was (and is) released in a way that is similar to it's source material: a series of light novels, aka LNs. Each novel, of course, had it's own name, but that name always ended in "-monogatari" (which roughly translates to "story"). For the most part, each of these novels' animes were released under their own name, which they shared with their LN counterparts, as their own series. At this point, assuming your thought process is the same as mine (sorry), you'd think "Why not make them their own season within this series?
     This is not the case, however. Though The Monogatari Series is comprised of over 10 series (or volumes), these are divided into 3 seasons. Bakemonogatari, Nisemonogatari, and Nekomonogatari: Kuro (Black), for example, make up Monogatari's first season.

"Okay, the first arc is Hitagi Crab, but technically the FIRST arc is Kizumonogatari, right? Here's where they try to trick you. The books-" pic.twitter.com/Pyzsz4GokK

— Gender Machine Broke (@KeikakuKat) July 3, 2017

     The Monogatari Series is also *not completely finished.* In fact, I haven't actually seen the most recently introduced material. However, the only things I haven't seen are the most recently introduced "Koyomimonogatari," a set of side stories that add nothing really to the story, and the to-be-released Kizumonogatari movies, which are a prequel of sorts. On top of that, Kizu-'s story has already been told -- The series depends on you knowing about the events that took place during it. So as for any new story elements, I'm quite confident that I have at least been exposed to all that's out there, and Owarimonogatari was absolutely a conclusion (though not the last story in chronological order). lit. "End Story."

Part I: Revisiting a Review

     In my previous review, I praised Monogatari for challenging its genre labels and its perception. To me, it was fearless, unafraid to ask you the hard questions, and willing to throw things at you that should make you uncomfortable. Sometimes I thought it did this for a cheap laugh. Other times, I figured it was blatant fan service, but a lot of times I just didn't understand why it was doing it at all, which provoked a lot of thinking on my end.

     I talked frequently with my old roommate about Bakemonogatari whilst watching it, which is weird. I needed someone to understand what kind of impact Bakemonogatari was having on me. It wasn't a negative one, but it wasn't positive either. I explained to him (and to you readers in the previous review), how often I felt hopelessly caught in what it did visually. There were too many cuts, and you couldn't possibly be expected to read even half of what most of the cards said; you were given fractions of a second to read multiple lines of complete thoughts.

     My general enjoyment levels from the show were pretty stagnantly "okay" feelings throughout Bakemonogatari. In fact, had it not been for me talking about it so much (which kept it on my mind), I probably would have dropped the series. But from the moment I watched the opening scene of Nisemonogatari, my opinion changed.

     Everything Bakemonogatari did, Nisemonogatari improved upon, at least in my experience. Part of this I can admit was affected by my biased favoritism of Senjougahara Hitagi and her involvement in the intro to Nise-. She has a quality akin to dry sarcasm -- if sarcasm were hostile, non-ironic statements with a strange, kind and loving edge -- that I loved in her character. This first scene that opens Nisemonogatari is an off-the-wall situation that opened my eyes to what Monogatari was offering me.

      In retrospect, I feel like I was simply unable to give Bakemonogatari a fair shot. What I thought I knew about the series was making me incapable of accepting the things I had already decided I wasn't going to enjoy -- Things I figured would get in the way of the parts of the show I *would* like. Because of this, perhaps Bakemonogatari isn't one of my least favorite in the series, as I often claim it is; it only was the first time around when I didn't give it a fair shot. I went back and rewatched a sizeable chunk of Bakemonogatari before writing this review, and though I still feel like it's more of an establishing series than a true first taste of Monogatari, it has it's merit and some genuinely great scenes.

     A second point I would like to take back from my previous review: Not all of the "compromising situations" in Monogatari are unique moments with charm. As you delve deeper and deeper into the series, you realized that Araragi Koyomi is just a perverted dude, and he's just looking up that girls skirt because he can. It's a strange thing to admit, but there are parts of the show that I found endearing that I shouldn't have. Mere moments after then, I would laugh at myself for allowing that thought to enter my head, but *that* is what Monogatari does so well. It gets you to accept something completely random, and then it gets you to laugh at yourself for ever thinking it. Also, sometimes his excuses are brilliantly terrible.

     However, I stand by my original statement: The Monogatari Series is a show everyone can enjoy, just maybe not right now. You have to reach a point where you're okay with experiencing some things that the general public is not okay with. I can think of more people, for example, who would be put off by Monogatari than I can people who can accept it for what it really is and embrace what it has to offer.

      Now for the question that every review should answer "Should I, the reader, watch The Monogatari Series?
      It's a tough question, I think. I can see plenty of things to point at and say "this thing alone is enough to drive the viewer away." If you are willing to sit through some awkward situations where characters are incredibly sexualized, and likewise willing be confused by the first exposure to the series, absolutely -- a thousand times over, absolutely. It's all so rewarding.
     If you find these things tasteless and cannot overlook rooting for a protagonist with motives that are oftentimes undeniably sick and borderline evil, probably not. I do, however, encourage you to open your mind a bit more. There are some good shows out there that you turn away with that mindset. Experiencing a story with touchy subject matter and questionable morals does not make you that way; you can be a good person who likes a show about something bad.

Mentioned: Digibro's Analysis of the Monogatari Series:

      Text exclusive, what what!
      As expected, I've heard a lot from people being overwhelmed by Bakemonogatari visually, and that they feel their missing important parts of the story. I'd like to take this opportunity to reiterate: If it seemed too fast to possibly catch, it probably was. I'm not saying that it's wrong to pause the show to try and catch every bit of text flashing on and off the screen (because that can be just as rewardin/insightful), but you have to pick your battles. The show is absolutely coherent without catching most of the messages edited in.
      I say this all as someone who nearly stopped watching this series for good after I felt the same way. However, I just happened to be watching another one of SHaFT's super-visually-active works, Nisekoi, in the same time-frame. I fell in love with that shows visuals, and though the show seems to fall apart after the first season, maybe give that first season a go as a way to wet your feet to SHaFT's style. It's a lot less thought provoking of a show, and it's easy to watch. But it is busy, and beautiful, just like Monogatari.
      That's about all of the advice I have on that matter. I hope you all enjoy the series!