Aoba and Hina's dynamic would have been so much more compelling if they have a much more closer relationship rather than Hina being a cryptic. The only significant onscreen death has been Hina's father so far, and I personally don't feel it's enough to display the horror of war. Aoba has not once been show been terrified of the fight or the war in general that his growing resolve to fight only makes less sense. Cygnus has never been shown as a found family for Aoba for him willing to risk his life as a soldier. The war here is also made as a prop setting for cool mecha fights (and don't get me wrong, they are cool), but none of the nuance.