Starting with episode six, season two of 'Clannad' completely shifted its tone. The entire plot began leaning toward a more realistic style.
Before this episode, the story had mainly revolved around the romantic progression between the male lead Tomoya and the female lead Nagisa.
After their mutual confession at the end of season one, a typical romance series would have essentially concluded.
Audiences can tolerate slow-burn romance plots with a drawn-out buildup, but they usually have little patience for drawn-out "couple life" after the relationship starts.
This was already evident in the original manga version of 'Kimi ni Todoke' in Jing Yu's past life. After the main couple confessed to each other, the manga kept dragging on with their relationship. It never even got a proper ending — and its popularity visibly declined.
'Clannad' followed a similar trajectory. But the brilliance of this series' original material lies in this:
Once the school-life arc ended, the focus shifted — not to romance — but to the interpersonal relationships of the protagonists' families, gravitating toward themes of kinship and emotional bonds.
It was precisely this thematic transition that earned 'Clannad' its legendary status in the otaku community of Jing Yu's previous life.
In episode six, Tomoya's father was imprisoned due to a series of crimes.
This episode laid the groundwork for the deep-seated rift and conflict between Tomoya and his father.
An alcoholic father, arrested by the police, Tomoya, once an athletic student, injured his hand in a drunken brawl with another person, and subsequently drifted through high school aimlessly.
This father-son conflict had been hinted at earlier in the series.
But seeing it unfold in this episode left viewers furious.
"What a hopeless, deadbeat dad."
In the depths of Tomoya's despair, as he slammed his fists into the wall in frustration, Nagisa Furukawa gently embraced him.
"Nagisa, let's get married."
Tomoya, who had lost his mother and now watched his father land in prison, blurted this out almost instinctively.
"Mm."
"You really mean it?"
"I've always felt... There would never be anyone else but you."
Nagisa's calm and unwavering response warmed not just the male lead's heart — but also the hearts of countless viewers.
Many were moved to tears by the end of episode six.
"I admit it now — Nagisa Furukawa is the gentlest girl in 'Clannad'."
"Not sure why... the plot isn't even that intense, but I just couldn't stop crying."
"The emotional weight isn't in the dramatics — don't forget, they've built this for over a dozen episodes. The rift between Tomoya and his father is fully revealed here, and at his lowest moment, Nagisa says yes to his proposal."
"That really hit me. Maybe the greatest success a man can achieve in life is having someone who chooses to walk with him when he's at his most lost."
"The world today is too chaotic. Guys like Tomoya are rare. Girls like Nagisa Furukawa are rarer. Everyone's too self-centered these days. That's why this simple, sincere kind of love story hits so hard."
"Nagisa's soft little 'mm' completely shattered me..."
"Jing Yu-sensei's direction is just getting better and better."
"Please make more plots like this. Romance fatigue is real. These family relationship storylines are really where Jing Yu-sensei shines."
Following the broadcast of episode six, the drama's reputation surged within just a few days.
And after episode seven aired on the following Sunday night...
The entire mood of 'Clannad' turned somber.
After repeating her senior year, Nagisa Furukawa once again fell ill before graduation. With insufficient attendance, she couldn't graduate.
Her wish had always been simple: to graduate from high school and marry Tomoya — to build a life with him. Yet…
She was now in her fifth year of high school, and this illness had robbed her of graduation once again!
Tomoya then gathered their former classmates and teachers — Tsuyoshi, Shinmura, Tomoyo, Ryou Fujibayashi, and Kyou Fujibayashi — and held a private graduation ceremony just for Nagisa.
Months passed in the story, and in this episode...
Tomoya and Nagisa visited his father in prison.
"He's in your hands now. Wishing you both happiness."
Tomoya's father, worn and weary, said gently to his future daughter-in-law.
The episode ended with cherry blossoms drifting in the air, and the two of them holding hands beneath the petals.
By the time episode seven concluded, 'Clannad''s paid view count had quietly passed 11 million.
For three consecutive weeks, the drama delivered emotionally touching plots — leading to steady growth in both reputation and popularity.
Unknowingly, 'Clannad' had started to surpass the other top-tier shows of the autumn season.
Official websites of major TV stations once again ignited with discussion.
Compared to 'Kaiji', 'Clannad' was actually mentioned more frequently during this time.
And the biggest catalyst was a wave of support from critics:
[Telling family conflict from an unconventional perspective — the father-son rift in 'Clannad' strikes a chord with many.]
[Perhaps the greatest achievement in a man's life is proposing to the girl he loves — and having her say yes without hesitation.]
[Breaking away from clichés — season two of 'Clannad' focuses more on familial and friendship dynamics. It may be quiet, but it moves people to tears.]
[Compared to season one's romantic narrative, season two's focus on kinship and mutual support between the leads is far more touching. No wonder the show's called 'Clannad' meaning "Family". Thinking of it as just another teen romance is a complete misreading.]
[At first glance, it seemed like just another dull and formulaic youth romance. But after the school arc, the plot delves straight into the complex realities of family. According to sources, writer Jing Yu lost both parents early in life — perhaps some of the emotional depth in these scenes comes from personal experience.]
['Clannad' — limited to season two — is the most emotionally resonant series I've seen this year. Nagisa's warmth, Tomoya's growth from immaturity to maturity... it reminded me of who I used to be.]
Unlike younger viewers, most of these professional reviewers were older. Many of them had long been puzzled as to why some of Jing Yu's series gained so much traction, since the stories rarely aligned with their personal tastes.
But season two of 'Clannad', especially its recent episodes...
Had finally touched something deeper — the kind of emotional resonance that lingered.
Compared to the series' increase in viewership, the jump in positive word-of-mouth was even more pronounced over the past few weeks.
And so, the date arrived: August 24th.
Just an ordinary day — but also the day episode eight of 'Clannad' was set to air.