It's been a while since I watched the anime, but I don't remember much happening before the episode where she goes home and - from one or two words her mom says - suddenly turns into an emotional wreck professing her love. I mean, there was fighting and gratuitous "rescue the girl" scenes where they're forced to touch each other. But nothing to make her decide it's love (she hadn't even decided she liked him before that point).Yukina_Raven wrote:3) She doesn't realize she loves him until the moment, yes, but that's because she suddenly realizes she can lose him. I think Kagome believed that she'd always have Inuyasha's faith and trust (remember, a lot has happened before this) and the sudden idea that she could lose him so easily hit her. And that thought became so painful it was unbearable and that certain pain is unique to love. That's what I got out of it, anyway.
It was just unprecedented for me. I mean, sure I knew it was coming - the creator of the anime is known for romance. But I was hoping to see it build up. This was like jumping from the end of the Saiyan saga - where Vegeta and Bulma couldn't stand one another - over to the beginning of the android saga - where suddenly they had a son together. Inuyasha skipped right over the 'building' and went from bickering couple to gushing love that "we're too shy and stubborn to confess to one another but that everyone and his brother knows is there."
On a related note, that episode is about where Kikyo finished up her usefulness - she was only alive so she could be reincarnated in Kagome's body, and she only got brought back so she could push Kagome and Inuyasha together. Her purpose in the anime being served, she should have gone out the backdoor.
That was the same problem I had with Sango and her brother. Yes, the anime goes into *great* detail with their story. But it's a side story. Making a side story into the 'main story' really shows how random the plot is. The moment Sango turned from a person who pops up once to show Naraku's 'nasty' side, she completely derailed the anime and added a 60 episode detour before they even try to get back on track.
The only real plot points in the original story (based on the first books of the manga) were "romance between bickering kids", "mission that never ends - aka, completing the gem", and "supervillain who never dies - aka, revenge on Naraku." All the side characters and side stories are filler - detailed and enjoyable filler, especially cute characters like Kirara and Shippo, and slapstick comedy with Miroku and his girl-chasing - but still filler. Fans can survive on filler as long as they like the side characters. That's what you do when you don't know how to end a story - you add new characters and send it off on a few dozen detours full of fanservice (whether comedic fanservice, or romantic/angsty drama).
It's like overdosing on ice cream - it was great for a treat now and then, especially considering all the different flavors you can jump from. But you start wanting a balanced meal after a while. Me, I got cavities and had to quit cold turkey.
