Eric

This show, while not being quite as non-stop progression as Asa ga Kita, or with quite as compelling a protagonist as Tori ni Tsubasa, still manages to capture that magnetic pull the best asadoras have. Despite being more slice-of-life-like (not usually my cup of tea), the incredibly strong cast of characters and persistent themes kept me engaged through all 156 episodes. The show managed to produce and resolve conflicts gracefully, and even did a better job with compelling antagonists than Carnation. Are all the other asadoras I've listed (in my opinion) better than this one? Oh for sure. But I would still classify this as an excellent show. Even if the main character was a bit ditsy and we didn't get to see her grow old.

Never could've predicted the ending, by the way.