The Christmas episode! There’s lots of snow and it’s time for snowmen and Santa adventures.
Continued from the previous episode and elaborated upon as the centre piece of this episode was the theme of protecting Matsuri’s belief in Santa. Some definite echoes of Azumanga here with Miu in Tomo’s role of spoiler and the rest of the respective gangs are protectors - except in Chiyo’s case, it wasn’t necessary. The timing and bang-bang sound effects of their death-laser stares was an absolute delight.
Personally I’ve never believed in Santa because my family has never celebrated Christmas. Chinese New Year is our big annual thing. But I’m always fascinated by my Western friends who discuss when they found out that their parents were the real Santa.
Miu’s Christmas wishes are just so… Miu.
Kudoes also to her parents for keeping up until the Big Mountain wish.
セイラー服の伸恵お姉さまであります~~~!!!
(º∀º)ハアハアハア
Nobue-oneesama’s sailor uniform de arimasu~~~!!!
Righteous Revenge Attack of the Single People! I’m all for happy couples but they’re really asking for it when they gloat about it e.g. “Why are you still single? What’s wrong with you?” You tell them, man, Nobue-oneesama! “Hurry up and break up. Fucking couple.”
Another two marvellous laughs to cap the series. Miu’s Santa Crane Fighting Stance as well as Miu and Chika’s dismissive attitude towards Ana and Matsuri’s speculation that Nobue could have snagged herself a boyfriend (well, actually the gender of the terms was left ambiguous).
I think the best part of the episode was that they (again) hit up the Miu humor, and everyone got a chance to put her into ‘the usual position’, especially while protecting Matsuri’s belief in Santa Claus. Ditto Miu’s sudden explanation when Matsuri wondered if Santa never went to Miu’s - it’s just so very Miu… and so much BS, but entertainingly so.
I’d say that the only problem there was the ending was very… rushed, although seeing Sazusoka standing up to the teacher was a change from the usual. It still felt pretty much like they were trying to close things definitively there, and to tie it into the beginning with everyone’s antics. Still, even if this wasn’t the best series of 2005, it’s probably worth picking up on DVD if you’re the type who did the same thing for Azumanga. With Geneon USA in on this… well, I’m hoping the DVDs show up shortly.
I agree that the ending was quite rushed but overall, I rate Ichigo Mashimaro somewhat higher. The zany humour and the little neuroses of the characters give it a very special feel.