DESCRIPTION

CAST

CHAPTERS

ONE SHOT ComedyGo-toubun no Hanayome
ANIME ComedyGo-toubun no Hanayome
ANIME ComedyGo-toubun no Hanayome ∬
MOVIE ComedyGo-toubun no Hanayome Movie
ONE SHOT ComedyGo-toubun no Hanayome: 122 + 1 - Itsutsugo-chan wa Himitsu wo Gotoubun Dekinai
SPECIAL DramaGo-toubun no Hanayome∽
SPECIAL ComedyGo-toubun no Hanayome *
NOVEL ComedyGo-toubun no Hanayome: Shunkashuutou

REVIEWS

• 

  KaizokuOtaku

  85/100
  A good harem story with twists and turns. A very charming cast of waifu materials, and a well-executed story with taste

  

  Harem is a genre that can be quite the challenging one to tackle and to make sure everything comes out nice and adequately. There are many reasons, one of which is how many potentially love interest one has to go through. But only one male character who is this lucky son of a gun who will get their love and affection. It can become quite a task to develop the cast and make it a satisfying experience in the process. All the while, you have this steady pacing without it feeling lackluster or off by any other means. That being said, sadly, many harems, anime, or manga alike suffer from a problem in writing. And a well-written cast of members that feel both alive, charming but is different from the rest. Making each of them come off as unique and not solely a carbonated copy of the same.This is where "The Quintessential Quintuplets" comes in, which manages to draw out the potential in every character but make it carry emotional weight and make them all likable and truly enjoyable.

  [The author], Negi Haruba, knows to well how to write a good harem and work out the issues which stem from the genre. All at the same time, he can handle a massive cast of a love interest with a great sense of direction with taste and charm. There are five sisters, or rather quintuplets, in which the story is centered around. The fact that they are siblings means they live together, and this aspect should, in theory, make the harem aspect even more of a challenge. At least, according to myself. It's not alike; you will meet the love interest in the next few or several chapters down the road. Every precious girl gets introduced from the first chapter. Also, the initial reaction is vital, in which case, the author does an impeccable job to capture the reader's attention and attract you toward those adorable and beloved quintuplets. All with their flaws and unique charm point, you will figure out as the story moves forward.

  Story

  The plot revolves around the quintuplets and our main character, Uesugi Fuutarou. It's about the siblings who are nothing but troublemakers and are close to flunking out because they are unable to study efficiently. Our unlucky or more accurately, lucky main is to be their tutor, to make sure they don't fail the whole class. He is the top of his course, so this should, in theory, be easy? Well, think again. He made an awful impression on one of the sisters and now, have to gain her, and everyone else trusts. It will not be a walk in the park; I can guarantee you that much. If you have seen any harem previously, it's normal for every girl to fall suddenly in love with the main character from the beginning, for no reason whatsoever, but the fact he is the main male. That's not the case for this harem; life is not so easy and smooth sailing here. First off, he needs to make the girls open up to him and grow a strong bond as he moves forward. Then the romance can begin to form, slowly but surely, haste makes waste, which is abundantly clear from the most harem. The genius back this one, though, takes his time, giving us good character background for every sister and building the foundation from there. As a result, each of the girls gets more or less the right amount of attention, making you grow quite fond of them, so you understand and appreciate them on a more deep and emotional level. When you start to perceive their flaws, both the good and bad, you will inevitably begin to consider any of the girls as "best girl" or something along those lines. They do have the potential; I won't deny it. However, since all of the characters are that great, and none feels wasted. You won't be able to help yourself and come to the conclusion that only a harem ending can satisfy you. This was entirely true in my case, and at the back of my mind, I do think the same. I can't imagine even one of those sisters get a sad end and fully accept it. There is only one real ending, can make everyone happy and fulfilled, and that's clear as day when you read it. Moreover, every bit of character development, the sisters go through gets shown in great detail. So, for instance, if you compare them to their start counterpart to now, there will be an apparent difference between them, and it's so beautiful and moving to see that. When it comes to character drama, Negi writes in such a subtle and astonishing way. Each girl and even the main male gives us a life lesson in a way you wouldn't believe in a harem story. The Quintuplets manga is one of the few pieces of work you can go back and figure out new things. All the fantastic foreshadowing Negi has spread across the entirety of the story, which adds so much depth to any of the characters, really making them feel complex. No girl can be easily described with a few words. Plus, it makes just that more fun on a reread, which I definitely have to do for real at one point. Whatever people say, those of us who have read this work can't deny it's truly one of a kind harem and romance story.

  Art

  No problem at all with the art, it's beautiful and compliments the overall atmosphere this manga gives of spot-on. The expression the author draws for the cast makes them feel so alive, and it can tell its own story by merely that. Expressions are always on-point and carry such weight, value, and emotions at any given time. On top of all that, the background looks pretty good and nicely detailed. Negi is quite flexible with his art-style and is great at conveying emotions through facial expressions and more. There are no real bad points about the art-style at all. It looks wonky at times, but that's normal for most manga. What's important is that the stuff that deserves attention gets it and then some.

  Characters

  I've already said my fair share about the characters, but to give a slight background to each of them and give you a better understanding of who they are, I will write out how I see them at first glance only to avoid spoilers. I've already touched lightly on the character. Still, to give a more heartfelt introduction to them, and help you provide a more accurate sense of who they are, I will write a short but concise description for them and some traits as well. For starters, Ichika is the "older sister" type and feels most mature of them. Nino is the cook in the family and loves her sisters so dearly. Might I also add, she is quite the overprotective of the siblings, which causes so many issues in the future and is some of the basis for her development later down the road. Moving on, Miku, at first glance, gives you this vibe of serene beauty and with confidence, but don't judge a book by its cover. Miku is one of the calmer among the sisters, but there is more to her as you read on. As for Yotsuba, she is the loving and caring, quite the energetic girl who has way too much enthusiasm and should share some of that with the rest of us. But there is more hiding under all that. Lastly, there is Itsuki, who is a big eater and loves food to bits. She makes everything look so tasty and savory. Itsuki's also the more serious and, in some cases, stubborn of the bunch. But like the rest of her sisters, she is just as delightful, beautiful, adorable, and entertaining. There are no bad girls here. Each girl you see before you get tons of development, some more than others, but Negi of all people don't let that drag his story down to hazardous water. I'll say this again, none of the girls gives off the same vibe they did at the start. They all changed for the better, and to see how Fuutarou affects their life and character is truly a spectacle to behold, you don't wanna miss out on. All in all, this description does not constitute justice to them; it's only to give readers an idea of what kind of view they can expect. However, I left out lots of details and didn't dive too deep into spoilers. It's better if you figure the rest out for yourself, once you decide to read the manga. They are all likable and exciting, I don't think any of them are a waste and just missing one of them would make the whole story feel different. Lastly, the main male, Uesugi Futaro, while feeling like any other main which is typical for any harem, he's not simply that easy. He is quite complicated, and his personality is amusing. His interactions with the sisters are always funny and quirky, so they never get boring in the long run. To put it bluntly, he is the kind of character that says what's on his mind and is not shy or awkward around the girls, so definitely not your average main character, for sure. He is dense, like any other male lead in a harem. Still, it feels entirely different from other protagonists in the same genre. He gives you this sense he might not be as dense as he looks. Plus, his interaction with each girl is so distinct and creatively crafted. It's not as easy and straightforward like most harem works out there.

  The Negative

  While Negi did indeed built a great harem story with a charming cast of characters. Not everything is perfect. There were many questionable choices Negi did to progress the story, and some of the executions felt rather forced or just out of place. It's too hard to put into words without slipping into spoiler territory. Just expect some really WTF moments way later down the road. Even then, Negi didn't go too deep to the point it completely ruined the flow of his story and build-up. If I had to point some more things, then the pacing, well, this mainly applies to me. Tho I have to say its somewhat subjective topic. In any case, I wouldn't mind if the pacing was slightly slower, and we get more arcs that follow through with a continuation from the previous situation. Instead of starting from something fresh. Though this was rarely a super problematic issue for me. Now when it comes to the anime adaptation. The first season, to put it bluntly, does not do justice to the manga it deserves. Few episodes looked good through and through, courtesy of studio Shaft. Anything they touch comes out looking amazing. Regardless you won't get the full picture if you watch the anime, just a glimpse. While, on the other hand, if you are a fellow reader and watches the anime as a form of seeing the cast brought to life, or other bonus anime generally brings. Then, it's far from terrible. However, as a means to judge this overall series, I would say the anime opinion is not reliable or secure, and every viewpoint should, in honest, be formed when the source is in focus. That's one big reason I suggest the manga over anime. Still, the first season happened to be a very entertaining watch, and I had a good time with it. I especially have to give the props to the OP, which captures what Quintuplets is about with such excellence. It's such a damn catchy and addictive song to boot. All of the voice actresses did a great job, and I lost count at how many times I replayed that adorable, feel-good, extremely bop-inducing track. Then there is that ED too, which is another pretty catchy entry and hits the nail right down the middle. I loved them both so incredibly much. I am so pumped and ready for the second season. Now that this great ride has finally come to a close. I would not personally consider this a negative by itself. But the ending of the story of the quintuplets and Fuutarou is no doubt subjective. A way to sum it up without spoiling is to say it's very Negi-like. It's just something he could come up with. There are many ways to interpret the last chapter, and thus there will be a split between the community if you love or hate it. I am personally the former since that ending was so deep, and means a lot more than one might realize. But there is no denying the story of the charming quintuplets had many pacing issues. Still, Negi was able to give you closure, that feels both proper and pleasant. Negi didn't try to break his own rules and stayed consistent as he ever could till the end. Do I support the ending from the bottom of my heart? No, I don't and would love more scenes and moments. Do that mean I hate it as a whole? Again not all. The ending honestly felt just right for me. Especially regarding the situation. It was so very Negi like. It had all his touches, flavor, and more.

  Conclusion

  If you like the harem genre, but have gone tired of the same old and want something different and fresh. Then this is for you, but not only that, it's a pretty good romance manga to boot and has a great cast of character that is both entertaining and very likable. While main male compared to other harem is both quirky, funny, and alive, so you might witness something new with this male lead in the role. I will say this much. He is one lucky son of a gun to be surrounded by nothing but the best girl from all corners. Also, It's a truly wonderful read. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants a proper romance but also loves the harem aspect like myself. No need to lie to yourself. No one in their right mind would deny a harem with some fantastic quality waifu material. It's one of my favorites. Regardless of the flaws it had. Any fan of the genre can't go wrong this one. The Quintessential quintuplets manga was one joyful, emotional, charming, spicy, and well worth the ride.
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• 

  PingCrimson

  69/100
  Negi's Wild Ride was great, but failed to maintain its quality to the end. Still a great romcom.

  Warning: This review won't contain many spoilers (there are some minor ones but it's impossible to critique this without letting some things slip, but you should be safe whether you're a first time reader or an anime-only that's too impatient for season ). I say this as a warning because (trying to) not spoil this manga means that this won't be a very in-depth review. Instead, this will be more of a brief "Should you read 5toubun?" and my initial reaction to the manga as it finally comes to an end after I've kept up with it week after week.

  Like I said at the beginning, this will be more of a general “Would I recommend this series to you?” than an in-depth review of the series and how everything (plot points, character development, etc) is handled. If you're a manga reader who's just completed 5toubun coming here to see a well-constructed review that perfectly summarizes how this series disappointed you at the end, this is unfortunately not that kind of review. I do eventually want to write a more in-depth review of this series, but I’d like to reread it a few more times before I feel like I could do a more critical and more in-depth analysis justice. As much as I love those kinds of well-written and eloquent anime reviews that say what I think about a series better than I could ever hope to, I still think this site needs just more general recommendation/final impression review. That being said, onto the review!

  Art 8/10
  There’s not much to say about the art. I like Negi’s artstyle. It wasn’t amazing and super unique, but it didn’t need to be either. The series is good to look at from start to end, and that’s all that it really needs. The girls are cute!

  Characters - 8.5/10

  Probably the strongest part of the story to me. This is the first harem I’ve read where I legitimately liked all of the girls, and Fuutarou is a pretty good MC too. Even the more minor characters like Fuutarou’s dad and imouto were endearing. It’s just a shame some of the girls got way more love than the others from the author. A few got no development right until the end, or got sidelined for a good chunk of the manga, but that’s more on the story than the sisters themselves. Speaking of the story..

  Story – 6.5/10
  Ok, so the ending of 5toubun is probably the most controversial part of the series. And I’ll say that no, it’s not a complete fucking disaster like Prison School or Food Wars, but it is disappointing, and that’s why the score seems so low (I actually rate on a 1-10 scale and not a 7-10 scale, so 6.5 isn’t god awful!)
  Anyways, the premise of the bride reveal is the main twist of 5toubun. From the beginning, they say “Oh, there’s not going to be a harem ending. Only one girl wins and gets married to the main character. The reveal of the bride at the end after all the hints and flashbacks is the endgame.” There’s no harem ending so no matter what, one girl will win and the rest will lose. That’s pretty bold for a harem manga to say right from the start.

  The premise of the manga sounded kind of trashy, but after reading it for myself I was pleasantly surprised by it. The author manages to play with some tropes in a way that surprise you (for example, the tsundere isn’t actually a tsundere, she just fucking hates you for her own justifiable reasons from the start) and overall the story was good. The manga seemed to acknowledge some tropes and play around with them and subvert expectations. That’s one of its biggest strengths in the beginning, but at times (especially near the end) it feels like Negi got a little too cute with "Hah, you thought this would happen because it's typical, but actually this worse thing is going to happen because it goes against what you expect even if that would have been better!".
  The first ~75% of this manga was great, but unfortunately the story didn’t manage to maintain that quality all the way through. If it did, I probably wouldn’t have even written this review, but the ending is pretty much what sours the rest of the series for me. I’m not sure if Negi wrote himself into a corner or he just wanted to be done with it (his wife did give birth to a daughter, so I assume he just wanted to wrap things up), but he definitely got too ambitious. There was too much hidden for too long, and the series tries to rush and answer everything in the end and wrap up all the loose ends, but it doesn’t feel satisfying.

  At the very end of the series when Fuutarou is explaining why each of the sisters is special to him and important, he jokingly just brushes over the bride at the end and says “Welp, you’re you, that’s tha.t” and moves on. This joke hurts because that’s pretty much how the series handled the winning girl’s arc, and I can’t really give my own reasons as to why the bride was more special than her sisters because Negi didn’t really do anything with her. It feels like he chose the winner based on who fans would expect the least, and then didn’t have a plan to go from there. I would have been happy with her winning if it was actually developed more, but it just feels more like a pity win than what would’ve actually happened, like this was a weird branching non-canon side route in a 5toubun VN.

  Don't let the people whose favorite quint won tell you that the people upset about the ending are "just upset because their favorite lost". I liked all of the girls, and would have been fine with any of them (if it was handled well, which it sadly wasn’t). The biggest problem of the manga's ending is in the execution, not the waifu. The series’ ending felt so rushed, boring, unfinished, safe, and pointless that it soured the series as a whole for me. There were so many loose ends and developments that were either never answered to satisfaction or didn’t end up coming back and mattering.

  Some of the girls received lots of development that led to nothing, while others didn't get any until it got shoved in right at the end where it felt null and void (BioDad arc, anyone?). I found myself asking "Really? This one won? Like that? That's it?". The last couple arcs felt like they dragged on, and yet at the same time they feel unfinished. I think another volume between 12 and 13 really would've done this series good.

  So, should you read 5toubun?
  There’s a saying that goes “It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey,” and if you agree about that, then I’d say you should read this series. The first 75% of it is great, but just know that it doesn’t maintain that GOAT quality the whole way through. If you’re fine with that, then yeah, give this a read. 122 chapters isn’t that long.

  Enjoyment-7.5

  Overall, I still enjoyed this series. It has good quality right until the end where it faceplants which makes it pretty hard to score. Before the faceplant, I would give it like an 8.5/10, but the last stretch felt like the author was writing it just to troll us. It failed the romance part of a romcom at the end, which gives a big mark against it for me. People can say it was a comedy/drama before it was a romance and that you shouldn’t expect good romance from a harem, but with how well it handled other harem tropes, I still count this as a point against the series. I guess even if it's relatively well done, it's still a harem anime at the end of the day. Despite the kind-of-shitty end, it was still a great ride. I enjoyed the 5toubun Tuesdays where we got a new chapter every week to theorize and discuss, even when a lot of us were just wondering where the fuck the series was going at the end.

  Overall- 6.8/10 (rounded to 69)

  I enjoyed Negi's Wild Ride up until the very end where the Quintmobile got a flat tire and accidentally drifted into a crowd of pedestrians. Ok, maybe it's not that bad (it's no Prison School), but the ending definitely disappointed when the quality was so good throughout most of it, which soured the series as a whole. If you don't mind that, you'll definitely enjoy most of the ride as a romcom fan.

  6.9 quints out of 10, it's pretty good for a harem series!

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• 

  b3

  90/100
  A heartwarming thought-provoking yet bitter bond between 5 uniquely beautiful sisters

  Honestly, I've decided never again to write another time consuming review. But rereading this somehow triggered a bunch of unbridled emotions thus here I am once more, writing another just hours before dawn...

  I'll try to keep this review as concise and spoiler-free as possible

  

  
  Characters 24/25
  

  ---

  Choosing a heroine has never been so difficult. Character development was gradual, but fulfilling. I got to witness sides of the heroines I never thought existed despite my experience in reading romance titles. I've come to love, hate, appreciate, hesitate with my personal preference along the way, and that really goes to show the extent the author, Negi Haruba, went to establish his characters. Each and every one of the heroines has their own unique charms that develop further along the way, making them shine brighter and brighter than I've initially given them credit for. Simply put, it was one hell of an emotional roller coaster ride.

  

  
  Plot 25/30
  

  ---

  Harem troupes are certainly one of the more difficult genres to tackle. The author has to take into account the preferences of the audience as well as the feelings of the other heroines when having to choose one of them in the end, so as to not have a bitter and unsatisfactory ending. I was extremely conflicted myself. I contemplated for a long while before concluding that if it were me, I couldn't have done better.

  The journey on the other hand was rewarding. The protagonist's determination and his hard work really makes me feel he deserves a form of happiness, and in this case, it was the quintuplets who delivers. The adorable skits between them, the various conflicts they had be it relationship or academic, and most importantly the unbreakable bond they develop in the process. They make me proud of being a brother, broadening my horizons at what my siblings and I could perhaps one day become.

  Summarizing it up, the plot was comedic, satisfying and heartening despite the inevitable bitter taste in the end for having to choose just one heroine.

  
  Art 18/20
  

  ---

  The panels were fantastic and wonderfully thought out. I really enjoyed the heartwarming panels that highlighted beautiful bonding moments of the quintuplets, and I was wholeheartedly touched many times throughout the series. The more you get to know a character, the more you understand their struggles in life and the turmoils in their hearts. There were pages featuring the heroine's radiant smiles that resonated a much contrasting feeling within me and though not explicitly shown after, I could feel a form of sadness behind their facade. This rang true many, many times for Nino especially towards the ending.

  Negi Haruba has done a wonderful job in conveying these feelings and I commend him for making him feel the way I do.

  

  
  Enjoyment 23/25
  

  ---

  The short period of time I took to reread this manga from scratch made me feel a multitude of emotions, some very relatable to my personal life. I guess in a way, it made me fantasize about the ideal big brother I never became. I genuinely enjoyed this series that possibly opened up a new path for me in life. Everything mentioned thus far, is completely subjective and I feel could have been explained much better to the general audience, but I guess I just wanted to put it out there to tell the world that this feeling in me exists.

  _Thank you so much for reading this review!!!
  Written 3/6/2020_
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