YMMV / The World is Still Beautiful

• Arc Fatigue: The arc starting from Chapter 40 that focuses on Livius' history (especially with the Ice Country) and the aftermath of his clash with the survivors which includes a poisoned comatose Nike and his journey to save her is the longest arc in the series to date. It starts off thrilling due to a darker turn for the series as well as puts more focus on Livius; however fast-forward 20 chapters later and Livius has only just met Cassandra whom he needs to heal Nike. At that point, fans are a little tired of the story and wish he would just hurry up and get back to Nike whose presence is missed dearly.
• Awesome Music:
  • "Beautiful Rain" is awkward but still a Narm Charm for many fans, as it's also beautifully sung and normally used at quite epic moments, such as when Nike's presenting the "ring" around the sun in the sky at the engagement ritual ceremony.
  • If the original version of "Beautiful Rain" isn't impressive enough, the orchestral version trumps it with its lovely orchestration which compliments Nike's VA's singing well.
  • Nike's grandma's rain calling song in episode 12 - it's quite powerful and beautifully sung in their ancient language.
• Ensemble Dark Horse:
  • Neil, who is a minor character and mostly just there as Livius' butler yet is loved by the fandom, possibly due to him being a bit of a Large Ham and being voiced by Tomokazu Sugita. Confirmed in one manga omake that revealed the fan popularity contest results with Neil coming third after Livius and Nike, and he says himself he would had come first if he showed his maximum potential.
  • Nike's sister Kara is well-liked her for being a bit of a quirk and helping Livius out when her family turned against him. Many people already liked her back when she had only appeared in the Rain Dukedom arc.
• Harsher in Hindsight: Livius makes a joke about since he is growing, soon he'll be able to dominate Nike. Cue a few chapters later, he goes into dark mode with his obsession of keeping her safe, and is physically capable of pinning her, even leaving bruises around her arm to do so. It is utterly terrifying.
• Hilarious in Hindsight: Nike's engagement to Livius, which resulted from losing a game of rock paper scissors. We later find out that the dukedom's leader, her grandmother had no say in the matter, and would have rather had any of the daughters besides Nike go because of how Nike is so powerful. Her reaction when she found out about the engagement must have been something.
• Ho Yay:
  • When Luna reappears, she seems to have become much more attached to Nike than to her old crush Livius. She runs and hugs Nike first (with her face in her chest, no less), is very keen for her to crossdress and act as her fiance Sir Kanaris, and she remarks on two occasions that she wants to marry her.
  • A brief moment in Chapter 41 when Violetta (Bard's colleague and occasional Friends with Benefits bud) offers to teach Nike how to bake food for Livius' surprise birthday party, and Nike absolutely beams up and asks to call her nee-san/older sister. Bard is horrified and even asks Neil if she's ever made that face at Livius.
• Memetic Mutation:
  • "Look, it's mini-Lelouch!"
  • "Oh shit, who gave Ciel the throne?"
  • "IT'S A TENDER RAIIIN."
• Narm: Nike's rain calling song fails to be dramatic/moving like it should. The song itself isn't bad, however it's hard to take it serious and acknowledge it as Nike's awe-moving ritual song when it gives more jpop vibes than hymn vibes. The English line "It's a tender rain" at the chorus climax doesn't help.
• Rescued from the Scrappy Heap: Luna, as in The Scrappy entry, doesn't offer much to readers/viewers in her first appearance, however she is less of a Jerkass when she reappears for her next arc in the manga and is given more personality and character development, thus making most manga readers appreciate her much more.
• The Scrappy: Many people (at least at first or only those who watch just the anime) aren't fond of Luna for being a clingy childhood friend of Livius and acting like a Jerkass to Nike to prove how much a better princess she is and how more suiting she is as Livius' wife. She acknowledges their relationship and softens up at the end of the episode/chapter but it varies whether people were able to warm up to her by then. For manga readers, she eventually gets Rescued from the Scrappy Heap in her next arc.
  • Nephero is universally hated by fans for his blatant narcissism, and trying to rape Nike.
• Squick:
  • Nike and Livius' relationship shows nothing but genuine care and love and only go as far as kissing, but it won't stop many people for feeling uncomfortable with their age difference (especially since boys hit puberty later than girls and so Livius visually looks even younger); up to eleven in the anime where Nike's character design is somewhat aged up (while in the manga she looks youthful and really not that much older than Livius).
  • Like Nike, many are crept out by Livius sleeping naked in bed. Up to eleven in the animation for the ED "Promise", as it shows Livius sleeping... and at the end he stands up to open the curtain, giving a full view of his backside. People wouldn't had minded much if he wasn't so young.
  • Luna isn't the only one disgusted by being put in a politically-driven arranged marriage with Marquis Fortis who is over 30 years old. Even after they bond and establish their feelings without overstepping any boundaries (Fortis even clearly says he'll wait for her to be of age before marrying), it can still be very uncomfortable.

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