YMMV / The Twelve Kingdoms

• Base-Breaking Character: Either Shoukei and Suzu are the best examples of Character Development in the whole series, alongside Youko, or they're so whiny (Suzu) and/or entitled (Shoukei) that their change came in too late for them to actually become sympathetic.
• Ensemble Dark Horse: Shushou doesn't appear all that much but she is very well-loved in the fandom for her snark, badassery, intelligence and hyper-competence all while being a little girl. She also gets bonus points for trying to set the still not wiser Shoukei in her place.
• Fan Nickname: Some fans like to call Asano "The Gunslinger from Kei", due to his weapon being a Western six-shooter.
• Les Yay:
  • Rangyoku seemed pretty interested in Youko disguised as "Youshi", even after she learned that "he" is a "she"...
  • Risai has quite a bit in the novels with fellow Gyousou-loyal judge Kaei; notably, when Risai indicates her intention to try and risk her life to seek outside help, Kaei begs her tearfully to stay.
• Narm: The evil Queen of Hou is named Kaka. It sounds exactly like a (very childish) Spanish word for... poop.
• Strawman Has a Point: In the anime, Shoukou has a point when he points out that the system where kingdoms' rulers are decided by a kirin is silly, especially since the kirin's choices are not infallible and most rulers eventually wind up hurting their kingdom and having to be taken out, either by a mandate from heaven or by their own persecuted subjects.
• Tear Jerker:
  • Youko's reaction to poor Rangyaku's horrible death.
  • Suzu's backstory...well if you like her, that is but most people really don't.
  • Taiki's entire life...
  • Shoukei throwing stones at the Wa executioners, just like the son of the old peasant woman. Quite the turning point in her Character Development.
  • Asano's death in Shoukei's arms, and when Youko, Shoukei, and Suzu mourn together for him. Especially when you consider that Asano really did die for nothing, and he knew it.
• The Woobie: Taiki
  • Suzu could count, given all the crap she went through.

---