you really think so?
“Don’t worry, I won’t steal your lovely Saber away.” ‘I’ll just have t3h s3x with her on the sly,’ is what I would loved to hear Rin thinking. Really enjoyed all of Rin’s screentime particularly her offer to handle Taiga-nee so while I thought Chris’ renaming of this series as “Yawn/Good Night” was witty, I can’t really agree with it. Yet. Continue reading ‘Fate/Stay Night 8′
Somehow I felt very let down by this episode. Normally I’d be roaring with laughter at the fanservicey attempt by Mashiro to force an activation kiss on Arika but that was overwhelmed by my disappointment at Arika’s non-reaction to the news of Aoi’s recent demise. Likewise Tomoe getting her “reward” from Shizuru was a pale imitation of the ShizNats dynamics from HiME. Tomoe just isn’t powerful enough, deranged enough or cool enough despite Rie Tanaka’s best voiceacting efforts.
And Midori displays her leadership skills but it didn’t go down well with me at all, having experienced too many “leaders” whose idea of leading is simply walking around, looking self-important and using the holy trinity of eye power, finger power and mouth power. Occifers bleah especially the COLs - maki maki your estab!!
Trivia note. Fia seems to have the same robe and element as Miss Maria’s Monica-oneesama from Ep 8.
The “Chika worries about her weight” episode. I appreciated Chika, as a character, much more as a result. Previously she seemed fairly backgroundish - providing the link for the other girls to Nobue-oneesama, being one of Nobue’s foils and Miu’s closest friend/victim. Didn’t enjoy Miu’s antics this time round as she relentlessly teased Chika about her weight gain. While I could understand how cruel young children can be and that it was necessary to drive the plot, it was much less zany or original compared to most of her previous capers. Continue reading ‘Ichigo Mashimaro 9′
A fusion of the beach and curry chapters in the manga. Two other significant set of changes centring on Yasuna and another on Asuta.
One the former, manga Yasuna invited everyone along (for the curry dinner at her house) because Hazumu only shows her brightest smile in front of everyone (including Tomari) but not when she is alone with Yasuna. Here in the anime, Yasuna’s reason is that she wants to learn more about Hazumu and the presence / interaction of friends will help with that. Again, I like how Yasuna has been developed in the anime - this time, she’s very straightforward with Tomari which Tomari reciprocates by confessing that she likes Hazumu too at the end of the episode. This has been called a declaration of war but I tend to see this as Yasuna and Tomari ironically building a rapport over their one common interest - Hazumu. While they are rivals, they also have come to recognise how serious the other party is about Hazumu thus creating a bond of mutual respect. I hope.
With respect to Asuta, the anime played up the nanpa defence incident. In the manga when Asuta rides to the rescue, the two guys back off quite quickly, assuming that Asuta is Hazumu’s boyfriend. In the anime, it is more drawn out with Asuta more or less being forced to lie about it and Hazumu pressed to confirm it to get rid of the guys. Geez, don’t you guys understand what “No, go away!” means? Asuta also gets some form of resolution regarding his tortoured feelings about Hazumu. The manga interrupted Asuta’s confession with the Namiko Falling Into the Sea incident but mercifully in the anime, Hazumu unknowingly shots Asuta down by declaring him to be a good buddy. Which after initial disappointment, Asuta seems relieved to accept and confirm. I hope this means that the Asuta Mooning Hazumu gags will recede. Other than the Oogling Perv Dad, the Cruelty to Asuta was another irritant in the manga.
Next week looking forward to see how the anime polishes up and elaborates on Ayuki’s story. The episode title “見ã¦ã„ã‚‹ã ã‘”, which quotes Ayuki, is very much my own SOP as well.