Time to start Aria! I usually try to enter each show I watch with the same, moderately low, expectations, but have high hopes for this one. It's generally considered to be one of the best examples of my favorite genre, and I am curious to see if it lives up to its reputation.
Six weeks and 54 episodes later, and I'm done. I don't want to go into specifics, but it more than lived up to its reputation. In fact, I highly doubt that another Slice of Life will ever be able to surpass it. Everything - the characters, their interactions, their growth, the atmosphere, the setting, the soundtrack, the overall sound design, the voice acting, the art (especially the gorgeous water and detailed backgrounds), the themes, and especially the ending... it was all on point. Other SoL titles did some of these aspects better, but none have executed
all of them so well.
Aria has usurped the position of my favorite Slice of Life from So Ra No Wo To, and is a contender for my favorite anime of all time. I cannot praise it enough.