Catching up on my backlog of Fruits Basket, I'm kind of glad to see episodes 16 and 17 tell some of Uotani's story.

Uotani is a very nice supporting character. Despite the gruff personality that comes with her rendition as a delinquent, there's also a kindness that balances the character out well. Long before this part, you can see how Uo and Tohru could end up great friends. As usual, Tohru's late mother is a source of wisdom.

Most often the strength of a story rests upon it's characters, and I'd say the characters make this series far more than the concept.