Kotomi's story arc was a pretty big disappointment for me, since it created her more or less as the helpless, childish, infantile female character (and turned the other females into "mother" figures), instead of focusing on her studies and intelligence (so it made it about "Look at Okazaki teaches her to be with people! 8D" instead of her own strengths). They could've done something really interesting by having her discovering her parents' paper on string theory (the harps her father mentioned), but instead went the somewhat predictable and "patpat feel good" route instead.
Also, having Okazaki in "manly" fashion that he had to repair the yard himself and actively discourage the others' attempts to help him (finally giving it at some point).

At the same time, Nagisa is somehow becoming a more interesting character for me -- I like her self-sacrificiality as a source of strength, and her compassion. I find most interesting the moments when Okazaki shares or displays emotions/compassion as well -- when he and her break down as Fuko is "leaving," when she tells Sunohara that her and Okazaki are dating, and his wallowing in self-pity on the basketball court that Nagisa shakes him out of.
Also Okazaki is a master troll.

I have high hopes for Tomoyo and Kyou, though (also Tomoyo and Tomoya, ugh, so similar in name).

Also, something that bugs me about this and perhaps harem anime in general -- all of these female characters have no other male friends that could be serious contenders in romance (since Sunohara is so far a jokeish character), so if they do turn to the protag, it's as if they have no other choice.
Also, going to having to join Peytral and Miral in the "hating on moeshit brigade."

Fuko continues to be amazing and top-tier

Also, please note that me discussing stuff I notice about the show doesn't mean I can't/don't like it. I do, quite a bit -- anything to do with compassion and people interacting and overcoming challenges resonates with my :3ness, even if it is occasionally contrived. But, I've watched all this, but only about 4 episodes of Breaking Bad season 2 (which, though it's great for realistic and good gender role rep, isn't my cup of tea as much).

Yeah, Kotomi's route could have been a lot better, and a lot of it is actually the fact that KyoAni converted her story to work in a continuous arc where he helped her, but didn't end up with her, so they could add as many as they could.

Also, there were a few characters left out that were in the VN that actually do end up being love interests for some of the other girls, but they were scrapped from the anime completely. It's kinda sad.

Y U NO KISS???

Aaron Daigle
[Rita from Tales of Vesperia is] tsundere max
Oh man, just finished episode 18. Having Kyou (whichever is the long-haired purple one) go "Well, that's that" as Tomoya protects Nagisa and walk away with her, turn to her sister (who she had ostensibly been getting together with Okazaki) and have her sister say just "I'm sorry," and then SHE breaks down in tears instead and it's like
"Wooooah, -she- was the one who really had the crush on Okazaki, not her sister"
that was so well-done and nuanced, she just shot up my list of favourite characters

01:24
Aaron Daigle
which so far is Tomoya, Tomoyo, long-haired purple girl, and Nagisa
and Fuko, of course, who is top-tier

01:31
Shawn Daigle
Fuko is max lulz. Yeah, I felt so bad for Kyou after that, trying to be a nice older sister and help Ryou even though she has a crush on him too.
wait.... Kotomi isn't one of your favourite characters?
for me, it would be Tomoya(obv, he's a champ), then Tomoyo, Kotomi and Nagisa and Kyou is pretty cool aswell.
and Akio, moreso because of the second season

01:48
Aaron Daigle
Kotomi is annoying to me now >_> kinda made a post about it in the anime/manga thread
... tempted to finish Clannad tonight
I almost took it as Ryou didn't even have a really crush on Okazaki, she was just playing along with Kyou because she knew Kyou couldn't admit her feelings, but it let K be close to Okazaki

02:13
Aaron Daigle
I almost took it as Ryou didn't even have a really crush on Okazaki, she was just playing along with Kyou because she knew Kyou couldn't admit her feelings, but it let K be close to Okazaki
looool I recognize those kind of theater vocalizations

02:42
Aaron Daigle
ololo Akio performing Oedipus

03:19
Aaron Daigle
I finished Clannad.
OH MY GOD YOU IDIOTS Y U NO KISS?
Today

10:37
Shawn Daigle
Cause it's Tomoya and Nagisa, they don't even know what kissing is. Akio's acting = instant win.

oooomg Misae and that cat. Cutest ever. I bawled so hard. ;_______;
goddamn I love magic realism/folktale.