r/anime • u/Holofan4life • 5d ago

Rewatch [Spoilers] 25 Years of the 13 Sohmas: A Fruits Basket Rewatch -- Fruits Basket Franchise Series Discussion Thread Spoiler

Hello everyone! I am Holofan4life.

Welcome to the Fruits Basket 20th/25th anniversary rewatch discussion thread!

I hope you all had a lot of fun <3

Some Questions for fun!

Reminder: This includes both the 2001 series, the 2019 series, and just the franchise as a whole.

What is your thoughts overall on the franchise?

How does the franchise compare to your expectations going in?

What was your favorite episode?

What was your favorite moment?

Who was your favorite character?

Did you like the comedy and how comedic it was? What were your thoughts on the drama?

What are your thoughts on Tohru as a main character?

What are your thoughts on Akito?

Do you ship Tohru with Yuki, or Kyo? And why?

How would you rank the Sohma Chinese Zodiac members?

Final Score?

Best Comedic Scene?

Best Dramatic Scene?

Thing You Like The Most?

Thing You Wish Were Done Differently?

Comment Face You Would Like To See Added?

Lastly, if given the chance to rewatch the series, would you do so? This should be interesting lol

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Series information

MAL | Anilist | AniDB | ANN

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Please do not post any untagged spoilers past the current episode or past the LNs or mangas out of respect to the first time watchers and people who have not read the LNs or mangas. If you are discussing something that is ahead of the current episode please use spoiler tags(found on the sidebar). Thank you!

Untagged Spoilers

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Previous episode

Ways to watch

Streams – Crunchyroll

Schedule

Date Episode
07/05/2026 Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 1
07/06/2026 Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 2
07/07/2026 Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 3
07/08/2026 Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 4
07/09/2026 Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 5
07/10/2026 Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 6
07/11/2026 Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 7
07/12/2025 Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 8
07/13/2026 Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 9
07/14/2026 Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 10
07/15/2026 Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 11
07/16/2026 Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 12
07/17/2026 Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 13
07/18/2026 Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 14
07/19/2026 Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 15
07/20/2026 Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 16
07/21/2026 Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 17
07/22/2026 Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 18
07/23/2026 Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 19
07/24/2026 Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 20
07/25/2026 Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 21
07/26/2026 Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 22
07/27/2026 Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 23
07/28/2026 Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 24
07/29/2026 Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 25
07/30/2026 Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 26
07/31/2026 Fruits Basket 2001 Overall Series Discussion Thread
08/02/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Episode 1
08/03/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Episode 2
08/04/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Episode 3
08/05/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Episode 4
08/06/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Episode 5
08/07/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Episode 6
08/08/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Episode 7
08/09/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Episode 8
08/10/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Episode 9
08/11/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Episode 10
08/12/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Episode 11
08/13/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Episode 12
08/14/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Episode 13
08/15/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Episode 14
08/16/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Episode 15
08/17/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Episode 16
08/18/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Episode 17
08/19/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Episode 18
08/20/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Episode 19
08/21/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Episode 20
08/22/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Episode 21
08/23/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Episode 22
08/24/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Episode 23
08/25/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Episode 24
08/26/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Episode 25
08/28/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 1
08/29/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 2
08/30/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 3
08/31/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 4
09/01/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 5
09/02/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 6
09/03/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 7
09/04/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 8
09/05/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 9
09/06/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 10
09/07/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 11
09/08/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 12
09/09/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 13
09/10/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 14
09/11/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 15
09/12/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 16
09/13/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 17
09/14/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 18
09/15/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Final Episode 19
09/16/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 20
09/17/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 21
09/18/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Final Episode 22
09/19/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 23
09/20/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 24
09/21/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 25
09/23/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Final Season Episode 1
09/24/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Final Season Episode 2
09/25/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Final Season Episode 3
09/26/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Final Season Episode 4
09/27/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Final Season Episode 5
09/28/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Final Season Episode 6
09/29/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Final Season Episode 7
09/30/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Final Season Episode 8
10/01/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Final Season Episode 9
10/02/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Final Season Episode 10
10/03/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Final Season Episode 11
10/04/2026 [2019 Fruits Basket Final Season Episode 12](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/s/SI8gMF24UODate
--- ---
07/05/2026 Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 1
07/06/2026 Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 2
07/07/2026 Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 3
07/08/2026 Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 4
07/09/2026 Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 5
07/10/2026 Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 6
07/11/2026 Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 7
07/12/2025 Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 8
07/13/2026 Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 9
07/14/2026 Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 10
07/15/2026 Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 11
07/16/2026 Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 12
07/17/2026 Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 13
07/18/2026 Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 14
07/19/2026 Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 15
07/20/2026 Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 16
07/21/2026 Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 17
07/22/2026 Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 18
07/23/2026 Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 19
07/24/2026 Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 20
07/25/2026 Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 21
07/26/2026 Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 22
07/27/2026 Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 23
07/28/2026 Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 24
07/29/2026 Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 25
07/30/2026 Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 26
07/31/2026 Fruits Basket 2001 Overall Series Discussion Thread
08/02/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Episode 1
08/03/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Episode 2
08/04/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Episode 3
08/05/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Episode 4
08/06/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Episode 5
08/07/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Episode 6
08/08/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Episode 7
08/09/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Episode 8
08/10/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Episode 9
08/11/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Episode 10
08/12/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Episode 11
08/13/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Episode 12
08/14/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Episode 13
08/15/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Episode 14
08/16/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Episode 15
08/17/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Episode 16
08/18/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Episode 17
08/19/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Episode 18
08/20/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Episode 19
08/21/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Episode 20
08/22/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Episode 21
08/23/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Episode 22
08/24/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Episode 23
08/25/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Episode 24
08/26/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Episode 25
08/28/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 1
08/29/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 2
08/30/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 3
08/31/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 4
09/01/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 5
09/02/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 6
09/03/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 7
09/04/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 8
09/05/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 9
09/06/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 10
09/07/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 11
09/08/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 12
09/09/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 13
09/10/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 14
09/11/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 15
09/12/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 16
09/13/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 17
09/14/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 18
09/15/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Final Episode 19
09/16/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 20
09/17/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 21
09/18/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Final Episode 22
09/19/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 23
09/20/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 24
09/21/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 25
09/23/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Final Season Episode 1
09/24/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Final Season Episode 2
09/25/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Final Season Episode 3
09/26/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Final Season Episode 4
09/27/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Final Season Episode 5
09/28/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Final Season Episode 6
09/29/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Final Season Episode 7
09/30/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Final Season Episode 8
10/01/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Final Season Episode 9
10/02/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Final Season Episode 10
10/03/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Final Season Episode 11
10/04/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Final Season Episode 12
10/05/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Final Season Episode 13
10/06/2026 2019 Fruits Basket Overall Series Discussion Thread
10/13/2026 Fruits Basket: Prelude
10/14/2026 [Fruits Basket Franchise Series Discussion Thread]()

Continue being a rice ball for the foreseeable future!

1 Upvotes

54% Upvoted

3 comments sorted by

1

u/Holofan4life 5d ago

2001 series thoughts

Let's talk about the show, shall we?

The entire cast is really endearing and has this underlying sweetness to them that permeates throughout the episodes. Even side characters like Uo and Hana, while they may not be fleshed out as some other characters feel like integral parts to the show. This is a series that really depends on the writing being strong and the emotional weight of what the characters are going through. Unfortunately, I feel like the show kinda doesn't do enough of that in my opinion.

This isn't a show that doesn't have this fatal flaw holding it back. Rather, I feel like it's a case like Love Hina where some of the time spent is on the wrong things. Instead of focusing on some characters we never see again, or giving episodes dedicated to the president of the Yuki fan club, they could've spent that time more on the Sohma curse and just what Akito's deal is. For as much of a driving force Akito is in regards to the plot and the characters suffering, it feels like the show skims on his motivations for why he is the way he is, and I feel like that's definitely a shortcoming of the show.

Even by the end, the curse still exists with no end in sight of it. And if maybe the show was restructured to where we focus less on the ancillary characters, I think things would feel more focused than it does.

That sounds like I'm crapping on the show but I'm really not. I enjoy a lot of the various components, the theme of the Zodiac members having constant suffering, and the off the wall humor in the more zany moments. I think the show succeeds in terms of balancing the comedy with the seriousness. I just wish that the plot points weren't as unresolved as they were to where I'm left wondering what's next. It just gives off very strong "Read the manga" vibes.

The Zodiac member episodes I wish were less one dimensional than they were. There were some good ones, like the one framed around the culture festival or Hiro's introduction, but I feel like the episodes were meant solely to introduce the gimmick of the character being spotlighted with no foresight as to where to go from there. Funny enough, Kagura who had in my opinion one of the more egregious one note introductory episodes was used well in the final arc of the show. And that's really what I wanted to see more of that this series didn't really capitalize on.

It's like the ancillary Zodiac members have their established relationships when they're first introduced and they're boxed in those dynamics to where they don't get out of it. It just feels like it would be more interesting if we saw the Sohma family more as the family they are, with everyone interacting with each other.

I think Tohru is an amazing protagonist. She's a big part of why I enjoy her so much. She manages to be this like manic pixie dream girl that fixes other people's problems but is unable to fix her emotional baggage, and I think it leads to a very compelling character. The show really excels when it's focused on Tohru, Yuki, Kyo, or Shigure because each bring something new to the table and they play off each other well. I can't say enough good things about those four as characters.

My favorite character was Kyo. Big shock, I know. Favorite side character was Hatori who's actually someone I feel the show could've done more with. Favorite episode was episode 15, and my favorite scene is probably the moment where Kyo acts possessive of Tohru in episode 5. A lot of the show is about Yuki and the trauma Akito put him through and how Tohru has really helped him get out of Akito's shadow. I think because that was such a focus it makes the times Kyo came out of his shell for Tohru all the more special.

I'd give 2001 Fruits Basket a 7.5 out of 10. That may seem a bit low, but hear me out. There is some great writing and scenes throughout the show. In particular, episodes 5 and 15 stand out to me as real highlights. And the last three episodes were really good and a great way to wrap the series up. But there were so many loose ends and so many things left lingering that I wish we were given more time. The thing that frustrates me is that I actually feel 26 episodes is manageable. If they tweak a few things and adjust certain elements, I think you can tell a condensed version of the show in that span of time. But instead we have episodes like the Yuki fan club stalking Hana or the Yuki fan club president making peace with Yuki not being in love with her. They were fine episodes, but don't really serve to further the overall plot of the show.

I compare this to 2003 Fullmetal Alchemist and at least that show is interesting in that it took chances. The manga wasn't finished by the time it came out, so they decided to go in a different direction. With 2019 Fruits Basket, I almost feel like it made the 2001 version obsolete and not worth visiting. We'll see if that perception is altered any.

I actually am really excited to see the remake because I feel that Fruits Basket as a concept has the potential to be really good. If they took the ideas of the 2001 anime and refined it and expanded upon it, dare I say I could see it cracking my top 10 favorite anime. The pieces are there, the writing is really good, the main characters feel extremely fleshed out, and I feel like there's something we're missing with Akito as a character. I feel like the remake may have the answer.

2001 Fruits Basket I feel like is worth a visit if for nothing else to see how it compares to the remake anime. It was good, but feel like it could've been better if you changed a few things.

Thankfully, I think this remake will show the series' true potential. One might say the remake is to Fruits Basket what Tohru is to Kyo.

1

u/Holofan4life 5d ago

2019 series thoughts

Let's talk about this show as a whole, shall we?

The 2001 Fruits Basket series feels like a lifetime ago. I started that in March coming off unemployment before I was about to become unemployed again. And at the time, I remember really liking the series and feeling it was underrated. I said to myself "Man, if this is what the 2001 series is like, I can't wait to watch the remake".

I'm not gonna sit here and say the 2019 series made the 2001 series bad in my eyes. That by no means is true. What I will say is that I think the 2019 series has rendered the 2001 series obsolete. You can watch 2019 and not have to go out of your way to watch 2001. There have been remakes where I feel like the original is different enough to justify watching both. 2003 Fullmetal Alchemist goes in a different direction that in my opinion makes it a curiosity viewing. A couple months ago as this is being posted I finished the annual Spice and Wolf rewatch and that to me you can watch both while still being very similar. The 2001 Fruits Basket is heavily on comedy, but honestly not by much. It still maintains a lot of the same story beats as the 2019 series.

I'm glad to have watched 2001 Fruits Basket, but if you want to enjoy Fruits Basket I'd suggest sticking with the 2019 series. The episodes covered by both aren't so radically different and the changes made by the remake I'd say for the most part were an improvement.

From there, we had the 2019 series and ar first, I was admittedly worried. The first 9 episodes were so radically similar to its 2001 counterpart that I wondered if I made a mistake covering both series. My worries were soon after put to rest once I saw what a more emotionally complex character Shigure was and how more involved he was in the plot. That was my first sign this adaptation was way better.

The rest of season 1 was a combination of 2001 series episodes and new episodes we hadn't seen before. I really enjoyed the Uo two parter.

Season 2 is really when 2019 Fruits Basket started to become 2019 Fruits Basket. The introduction of the student council characters which was the start of Yuki moving on from Tohru as a love interest, the introduction of Rin and Kureno as the final two Zodiac members, the beach arc which led to Yuki discovering what Tohru means to him as well as the revelation that Akito is God, the backstory episodes of both Hana and Yuki and Mayuko, all three of which were phenomenal episodes, there was so much to like here and it just kept getting better and better. To me, season 2 in a lot of ways was the Yuki season as so much of the season was about him and his circumstances. It was this mix of him and Akito and Akito's various relationships with the Sohma family.

There was also the reoccurring plot point of Uo being in love with Kureno. And while I still don’t like them as a pairing, it was good to see Uo being given focus as well as continuing to test Akito's patience as the world around her continued to fall apart.

Oh, and there was also the Cinderella-ish episode as well as the parent teacher episode and the haunted house plot point. Season 2 continued a lot of the sillier elements of season 1 while having a harder edge about it, which I feel made season 2 feel like a natural progression from the first season.

And then came the third season.

I've already made known my thoughts on Fruits Basket Final. But needless to say, it was spectacular. Of all the seasons of anime that I've seen, I think Fruits Basket Final may be the best one cour season of an anime in the history of anime there's ever been. It doesn't get higher praise than that.

We get introduced to Ren which served to humanize Akito, we saw the bonds of the Sohma family break and everyone become free, Tohru and Kyo finally became a couple, we got closure on almost all the characters, Rin and Haru's relationship got proper resolution, everything you could ask for we got and it was glorious. Oh, so glorious.

I get maybe being disappointed at Akito not getting more a severe punishment, but fact remains this isn't that type of show. The characters are such that such a fate was never realistically on the table no matter how hard it was willed into existence.

The characters were fantastic, the writing was incredible, the story was phenomenal and never slowed down and continued to get better and better the further we went along, for a show as long as 2019 Fruits Basket the most impressive thi g is that there were truly very few flaws to be found. I have some minor gripes here and there, but it's so miniscule that it would be nitpicking.

Favorite character was Kyo, I love his emotional complexity and the various relationships he has, favorite plot point was Tohru moving on from the death of her mother and learning she doesn't have to grieve forever, favorite episode was episode 59 and how that all transpired, and I think Tohru is a top 5 anime protagonist of all time. I'll go on record and say I think Tohru is the best woman protagonist ever in an anime.

In case you can't tell, I'm giving 2019 Fruits Basket a 10 out of 10. The threshold with which this show achieved is unfathomable. Nearly 1/3rd of this show's entire library is filled with A+ episodes in my book, which I can't recall that ever being the case. Even Toradora which I hold in high regard with only its 25 episodes I'd have at five or six A+ episodes.

Which brings me to here.

Here is what my top 25 anime of all time looks like before Fruits Basket.

  1. Toradora

  2. Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood

  3. Spice and Wolf

  4. Cowboy Bebop

  5. Kaguya-sama

  6. Nichijou

  7. Clannad/Clannad: After Story

  8. Steins;Gate

  9. Evangelion

  10. Re:Zero

  11. Odd Taxi

  12. Eureka Seven

  13. Spy X Family

  14. Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid

  15. Attack on Titan

  16. Cells At Work

  17. Bocchi The Rock

  18. Revolutionary Girl Utena

  19. Samurai Champloo

  20. Lycoris Recoil

  21. 86

  22. Fullmetal Alchemist

  23. Panty And Stocking With Garterbelt

  24. FLCL: Alternative

  25. Interview with Monster Girls

And here's what my top 25 anime of all time looks like after Fruits Basket.

  1. 2019 Fruits Basket

  2. Toradora

  3. Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood

  4. Spice and Wolf

  5. Cowboy Bebop

  6. Kaguya-sama

  7. Nichijou

  8. Clannad/Clannad: After Story

  9. Steins;Gate

  10. Evangelion

  11. Re:Zero

  12. Odd Taxi

  13. Eureka Seven

  14. Spy X Family

  15. Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid

  16. Attack on Titan

  17. Cells At Work

  18. Bocchi The Rock

  19. Revolutionary Girl Utena

  20. Samurai Champloo

  21. Lycoris Recoil

  22. 86

  23. Fullmetal Alchemist

  24. Panty And Stocking With Garterbelt

  25. FLCL: Alternative

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a new favorite anime of all time.

I knew during season 2 that the show was finishing somewhere in my top 10. I knew I was watching something special which I haven't felt since I watched Evangelion last year. My fear was the highs would be so high that it would almost come at the detriment of the show itself. That's kinda what happened to me with Evangelion where the episodes were of such high quality that I almost was left feeling nothing. But not only did that not happen with 2019 Fruits Basket, the storytelling bar kept being risen in a way that made sense for the story being told. In a way, the introduction of Ren was the best thing to happen to this show as it led to a string of episodes that is probably the best four episode stretch of any show I've ever seen. The momentum with which this show kept a pace at is something that should be studied and analyzed for years to come.

I feel a bit sad Toradora is no longer my favorite anime of all time. I mean, that's been the case for me since I first watched it in 2015. I guess Toradora being dethroned as my favorite anime is the equivalent of the Sohmas being freed from Akito. I am finally free of the tsundere curse.

Of course, Kyo is also a tsundere so it's more Tohru moving on from her mom to Kyo lol

Man. I can't believe this is it.

I've been watching this franchise since March 1st. As I'm writing this, it is July 13th nearly four and a half months later. It's been a lot of procrastination and delaying the inevitable after such a hot start and coming out guns ablazing. But I'm here, and that's really all that matters.

I feel blessed having seen this show. I know I witnessed something special and I feel privileged having seen it.

Every day in my life I think about what's going to happen to me if something happens to my mom. I live with her and I don't know if I'm capable enough to take care of myself. When she dies, my life is basically over.

And that's not to mention my Autistic sister and what's going to happen to her. Just thinking about it upsets me.

I'm glad I saw this show before the inevitable occurs rather than after it. It gives me something to think about and mull over and how I too will eventually have to move on from my mother. I'm 29 years old, with my birthday next year marking 30 years of existence. I still have so much of my life ahead of me, barring of course some unforseen accident I don't see coming. If Tohru can turn her life around and make the best of a bad situation, perhaps there is hope for me after all.

Perhaps the fruits basket does have room for this rather rotund riceball.

1

u/Holofan4life 5d ago

Prelude thoughts

Overall, I actually liked this more than I was expecting. It's like 30 minutes recap, 55 minutes new material, and 5 minutes post series. What I thought this movie excelled at is giving us insight on Kyoko dealing with the death of her husband. It served as a nice parallel to the grieve Tohru felt in losing her.

There are of course some things I wish were done differently. I wish the first 30 minutes weren't a recap. I think that could've been tightened to like 15. I wish we would've gotten to see what made Kyoko decide to join the gang. It's kinda alluded to it being because of her strained relationship with her parents, but it’s not made clear. And of course, I wish there wasn't such an age gap between Kyoko and Katsuya. I watched the movie thinking Kyoko is a high schooler but then I read she's actually a middle schooler here? Either way, the whole set of circumstances just comes across as grooming. I really don't know why Katsuya couldn't have been the same age as Kyoko.

Despite my complaints, however, I think the execution is really well done. The first third recapping the Kyo stuff highlighted how similar he is to Kyoko. Both had troubled home lives and found someone they could stand equal to and move past their emotional baggage. I think the movie really gets good in like the last 30 minutes or so when Kyoko starts the family and then Katsuya dies and Kyoko is at a loss on what to do. It felt like an episode of the show, and I mean that as a huge compliment.

This may seem high, but fuck it. I'm giving this a 9 out of 10.

If someone hates this, I don't necessarily blame them. The agw gap romance is a bit of a turn off. And like I said, the first third of the movie is a redux version of the season 3 Kyo conflict. But in the movie's defense, I actually think it serves to make the stuff with Kyoko losing her husband more impactful. To put into perspective what Kyoko went through makes her death all the more tragic.

Kyoko was so close to losing her life in the wake of Katsuya's demise. And in the end, she still died under tragic circumstances.

This movie is a good microcosm of the series as a whole and just the big prevailing theme which is not letting your trauma define you. You can't succumb to all that ails you because if you do, it's like you're letting your demons win.

Is the TV ending better? Yeah, but as someone who loves Fruits Basket I love seeing Kyoko's struggles being a widow and a single parent. This was a nice reward for fans of the franchise that doesn't detract from anything nor do you lose something having not seen it.

I, for one, really appreciate its existence.