Overall 9 Story 9 Animation 9 Sound 9 Character 10 Enjoyment 10

100% spoiler-free. I write this review having seen only the anime, and mentioning only what is revealed in the synopsis above.Imouto sae Ireba Ii:"Normie Barrier""Fanservice-driven""Trash"I think every one of these labels is a great and common excuse for many people to stop or avoid watching this series. I think each is painfully inaccurate. I'll explain why I believe that is true, and why I believe this is possibly the best series I've seen this year so far (clearly it is not yet finished).Anime, manga, and light novels are experiencing a dearth of material to bring the high school audience into early adulthood. How does someone in or graduating college relate to the struggles of high school, which they are quickly forgetting? I wholeheartedly believe that Imouto sae Ireba Ii fills that gap in a meaningful way.The characters in this anime each represent the difficulties and insecurities of being in your 20's, whether that is through a feeling of inferiority, purposelessness, or pressure to succeed. The art and production aid the expression of these feelings with intimate depictions of each person that feel deliberate and compelling. There is a communal feeling in this series that is born out of a rich tapestry of relationships, allowing us to learn more about the characters without so much of the explicit and forced exposition common in the slice of life genre.The comedy in this series also demands greater scrutiny than a simple rehearsal of tropes. Viewers receive much of the humor from understanding things about the relationships between characters that they never could, and that pays off more with each episode. Music is mixed and reworked to frame scenes and enhance the comedic pacing. Humor is also drawn from some very common themes and concepts within the Imouto genre, especially the "meta" approach to storytelling, considering the protagonist is a light novel writer. The self-referential approach to comedy here is not necessarily unique, but Yomi Hirasaka accomplishes it with measured grace that tends to avoid pandering for attention.From here on, I want to take a hard look at the aforementioned labels/criticisms of Imouto sae Ireba Ii."Normie Barrier"Everyone's favorite talking point seems to be the beginning of this show. I will not waste time explaining why art needs a chance, but I will say that the storytelling proves itself to be demonstrative. Instead of being handed a list of the likes and dislikes of a character, viewers are shown through reactions and fantasies. Showing instead of telling is something far too many anime forget to do, especially for such a visual medium. Things that shock or confuse you can be difficult to ingest, but sometimes that reaction is necessary as a narrative device."Fanservice-driven"If this series were driven by fanservice, it would be immensely different. I find myself laughing more often than not when it occurs, and I believe there are subtle cues that differentiate the depictions of this anime's characters from ecchi anime. I believe that the art does not contain the sort of detail in suggestive scenes that portends fanservice. I also think that the development of the characters justifies most instances of fanservice that occur. Is there fanservice for fanservice's sake? Probably. Is it a driving narrative force at any point in the show? Absolutely not."Trash"This show is in part about people with hobbies or occupations that ostracize them, and that is completely intentional. We cannot hope to understand the development of a siscon author writing novels without getting behind what makes him that. There can be a compelling story that does not focus on a main character with a traditional background or psyche. We do not need to be able to project ourselves on to any of the characters to relate to them, and that is the beauty of this anime.All of this said, there is a reason that I give this anime a 9 instead of a 10, and that is because I have to admit that there have been one or two short, one-off scenes that display some sexually aggressive behavior that does not have a purpose in the story. I did not think that these moments felt cohesive, and I am tempted to disregard them in my enjoyment, but I cannot ignore their presence in this review.In summation: Imouto sae Ireba Ii is a compelling representation of the trials and tribulations that come after realizing you've grown up. This show displays a storytelling prowess that stems from the honesty with which it delves into relationships, and the synchronicity of its art and music. The common criticisms of this show seem unwarranted in the face of its intentionality, but that isn't something that a viewer could hope to fully understand in just one or two episodes. I encourage everyone to form their own opinion of this show, because the carefulness of its writing and production more than deserves that much.9/10