I am currently at a point in Charlotte where, with the show almost over, lots of people are able to make overarching statements about characters and plot and development, and while they are directly conflicting with the mindset I have fallen into this entire time, many of them, such as @Karifean’s, make a lot of sense to me. This is hard for me: on one hand, I have been dying to try and see Charlotte in a positive light the entire time; but on the other, I dont want to let myself get all wishywashy and just change my mind with every new view someone proposes.
Yuu and his development as a character most certainly falls into this category.
I think Im going to go back once again and attribute this dilemma to expectation and desire. I expected and wanted Yuu to be the character he was in episode 1: an arrogant and narcissistic jerk. I didnt expect or want him to so quickly become, well, not that. But I dont think thats how Maeda ever wanted him to be portrayed. And, feel free to correct me if youre more knowledgable about such things, to me, I think the disconnect between what development I am able to delve into and see now, and what I was seeing the whole time I was watching it, is due to the style and direction.
I’ve said over and over again, “this transition was terrible/nonexistant”, “such and such scene felt really off to me”, “WHY DOES IT ALL SEEM SO POINTLESS.” My train of thought on this now is that they should have made more sense, but werent portrayed well. And at least to me it makes most sense that that would be the director’s fault.