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troetschel's review
I don't know how to rate this. There are two endings in this volume - the ending to Blue Flag, and an epilogue ending to a second story arc that has not been put down on paper. Up until the epilogue ending, this was five stars across the board. With it, I struggle to even try and quantitatively measure, which is why I've not included a star rating.
Blue Flag as a series is so authentically teenager-y and messy - emotional, tense, having to go through your days when it feels like the whole world is falling down around you. It explores the agony of high school relationships in the best possible way. I especially loved seeing Futaba's growth and her growing determination to prioritize her needs and desires. I was delighted by Mami's surprising depth and self-assurance in herself. Almost all the characters were interesting and felt like real individuals.
The ending to Blue Flag, sans epilogue, is messy and bittersweet. It's not a perfect ending because there really wasn't any way to have a perfect ending - not here and not usually in real life, either.
And after the ending... well, most people don't end up with their high school sweethearts. Most couples break up in college, because finding yourself isn't something that comes included with your high school diploma. Most people do so much growing and changing that we end up in wildly different situations than anyone could have ever predicted. I fully believe that the epilogue ending was a Happily Ever After for all the characters involved, but it was an ending to a saga that we didn't get to see. I desperately wish I could read that story. I want to know how Taichi and Toma reconnected. I want to know who Futaba met. I really want to see and understand Masumi's story.
Maybe Kaito will publish the second story someday - I'll hold out hope for that.
Blue Flag as a series is so authentically teenager-y and messy - emotional, tense, having to go through your days when it feels like the whole world is falling down around you. It explores the agony of high school relationships in the best possible way. I especially loved seeing Futaba's growth and her growing determination to prioritize her needs and desires. I was delighted by Mami's surprising depth and self-assurance in herself. Almost all the characters were interesting and felt like real individuals.
The ending to Blue Flag, sans epilogue, is messy and bittersweet. It's not a perfect ending because there really wasn't any way to have a perfect ending - not here and not usually in real life, either.
And after the ending... well, most people don't end up with their high school sweethearts. Most couples break up in college, because finding yourself isn't something that comes included with your high school diploma. Most people do so much growing and changing that we end up in wildly different situations than anyone could have ever predicted. I fully believe that the epilogue ending was a Happily Ever After for all the characters involved, but it was an ending to a saga that we didn't get to see. I desperately wish I could read that story. I want to know how Taichi and Toma reconnected. I want to know who Futaba met. I really want to see and understand Masumi's story.
Maybe Kaito will publish the second story someday - I'll hold out hope for that.
alexander's review against another edition
3.0
Ending felt a little rushed and incomplete. Overall, the series never reached the highs I thought it could have, especially in terms of romance, but was still a pretty enjoyable coming-of-age story.
endemictoearth's review
3.0
Siiiiiiigh - I read this manga in two halves. Volumes 1-4 about a month ago, and the last four this week. I was so intrigued and entertained by the first four volumes, but the 2nd half of this manga was 3 stars on average. I wish I could remember who told me they quit this series after volume 7—whoever you are, I can see why you did! Volume 8 slightly redeems the soapbox preachiness of volumes 6 & 7, but man, I did not really like where this went. One of the secondary characters is given much attention, and while I agree in principle with the narrative, it was soooo much tell tell tell, the dialogue boxes crowd the pages, bc all of these teenagers are pontificating left right and center. I THINK that the couple I wanted to see together is together at the end, but it was written so vaguely that it’s hard to tell.
jasisreading's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
inkstndfngrs's review
4.0
4 Stars for the series as a whole.
I really, REALLY did not enjoy the perspective shift of the final chapter (or the bonus chapter), but I am happy with the ending. Very cute. Did not care for Futaba as a character. So weak and wishy-washy. Blegh. Taichi and Toma are great though.
The perspective shift made it feel like the author/editors were afraid of showing a happy gay couple and that was just frustrating. It was also strange to be from Toma's perspective, when the rest of the series was all from Taichi's. So... Again, didn't care for it.
I really, REALLY did not enjoy the perspective shift of the final chapter (or the bonus chapter), but I am happy with the ending. Very cute. Did not care for Futaba as a character. So weak and wishy-washy. Blegh. Taichi and Toma are great though.
The perspective shift made it feel like the author/editors were afraid of showing a happy gay couple and that was just frustrating. It was also strange to be from Toma's perspective, when the rest of the series was all from Taichi's. So... Again, didn't care for it.
astravars_thrubooks's review against another edition
2.0
I was pretty satisfied with chap 53 and then it took a dive at the final chap just because i don't like time jumps where you get no context of how and why characters ended up where they did.