I loved the anime! I've never seen anything like it. I think they weren't trying too hard. The madness gas or whatever got to their heads by the end of the arc and that's what turn things upside down. The characters' expressions were a little redundant, but maybe that was intended to be used as a trademark for the show. It's been years since I've watched it so, I forgot the names of everyone expect Rika and Shion. For some reason, they had a HUGE impact on me. Which is understandable since Rika is the heroine and Shion's arc with her sister was confusing. That fingernail scene...painful. I cringed so bad. I didn't see the second season, is that the worse part of it Nocturne?