I was really pleased with how this episode continued to develop the Konata-Kagami axis of this series. While Jason may feel that Lucky Star ‘seems to just go from one thing to another‘, IMHO what ties the series together is the theme of friendship. I’ve found all the random girl chatter to be enjoyable because each encounter reveals a bit more about what each girl’s personality is like and how these relatively multifaceted personalities interact with each other.
Always look forward to the craziness in the Konata-Kagami friendship and was particularly delighted with the scene where Konata calls Kagami and asks her to shift the birthday party to the Izumi house because Konata is too lethargic to go over to the Hiiragi house.
It was quite typically selfish and insensitive of Konata to even ask such a thing when it’s Kagami and Tsukasa’s birthday she’s talking about. But I liked how nonchalant Kagami’s reaction was. She didn’t freak out and scold Konata. Instead she dangled the promise of delicious cookies. A pause. And then Konata shows how she’s taken the bait hook, line and sinker. Capped off by Kagami’s breezy ‘Hurry over, k?’ Both seiyuu timed their lines beautifully too.
On the one hand, I felt this showed how Konata feels she can easily say the most outrageous things to Kagami but also how Kagami is not at all surprised, keep her bad temper in check and yet so deftly turn the tables on Konata. I had a really good laugh when Konata just folded at the thought of cookies.
If I were to interpret this scene accordingly to Miyuki’s saintly vision, while Konata is saying her usual insensitive stuff, it did work in taking Kagami’s mind off her weight gain, redirecting her unhappiness into annoyance at Konata. Really pleased at how Kagami cried “Ko-na-ta~~~ T_T” Very tsundere cute.
There are times when I just get this couplely vibe between the two of them. I suppose this reading is exaggerated by my interest in yuri in the first place and anticipation of Yukata x Minami vibes in the second place but there are just times when Kagami seems like the naggy tsundere not-girlfriend of the basically decent but romantically hopeless otaku not-boyfriend Konata. Kagami doesn’t even seem to nag her own twin sister about studying for her exams but takes the trouble to call up Konata to remind her.
I suppose you might have seen this type of couple before too: the type where both like to irritate and tease the other constantly with all kinds of snappy comments and sarcastic jibes (we call it ‘suaning’ in our glorious democratic people’s island paradise republic) but their constant bickering has a strangely affectionate quality about it.
At the heart of the friendship is Kagami’s loneliness and that Konata is probably the only person she feels has even has an inkling of understanding of her. I think Konata hit the nail on the head in Episode 1 when she teased Kagami for coming over to Class 2-E and that she doesn’t seem to have any friends from her own class. In the manga, being teased by Konata about being lonely is one of Kagami’s major sore spots (other than her battle against the body weight and not having much feminine moé qualities).
The above scene showed how Kagami is really into light novels but, as shown during the Ep 3 ED, is deeply embarrassed about it (more tsundere characteristics here!). The only person whom she seems to have confided this to is none other than Konata, probably because light novels are considered to be a genre that is cognate to Konata’s own interests in anime, manga and games, and thus doesn’t feel being ridiculed by Konata for something that she genuinely enjoys.
Looking back on Episode 1 (BTW because one needs to get to know and want to get to know the characters before one can really enjoy the series so skipping the first episode isn’t going to help much IMHO), it seems that Kagami does have a mean streak too. Lashing out at Miyuki after the physical examination and then taking a bit too much delight in imagining her successful anticipation of Konata’s murder rampage. Not that it’s a bad thing because it makes her more interesting and fits the tsundere mould too.
While the Haruhi references seem to have been added by KyoAni, the reference to NAVEL’s SHUFFLE! game in this above scene was in the manga itself (vol. 1, p.56); looks like I have underestimated NAVEL’s influence on the fan scene in Japan… apparently NAVEL is also responsible for the term ‘lolipedofiend‘ too. LOL It seems to me that the female [It's a trap!! See Skane's comment] creator of the original 4koma, Kagami Yoshimizu-sensei, has put a bit of herself into some of herhis characters. There’s probably a lot in Konata (re: anime, manga and games), a bit in Kagami (but the same name too… Why??) and some in Hiyori (also a mangaka).
One of the things that’s quite frightening about Lucky Star is how much I can relate to it. Whenever a deadline really starts to make itself felt, I find myself cleaning my work area, do refiling and the worst sign of all, massively rearranging the furniture in my apartment. orz
Konata! Because you said this, I am now seriously considering making a trip to Tokyo this coming August to visit Comiket. OTL And while I’m there, pilgrimages to Akiba, Ikebukuro and Nakano. Stay tuned!
The above scene was probably the real reason why Yamamoto-san has been replaced as director. No big, no small - actually dare to criticize your seniors and superiors! Never die before izzit? :3
I am starting to wonder if I did the right thing going with AFK. It seemed like a higher quality translation. But now everyone else have seen their ep.4 except me. Nyorou~n…
Thanks for this great post. You really get at some of the things that make this episode. I already love Lucky Star, but with episode 4 it seems to really hit its stride. I would be disappointed and surprised if the director change was due to this “criticism,” especially since I loved that three minutes of Nagato reading, and thought it was a brilliantly creative way to save money and create art. I would think that for an animation studio, saving money would be a good thing. And in any case, according to this site, Yamamoto did the storyboard for that episode.
So the mangaka is definitely a lady?
Some notes.
It has already been pointed out that [LC] made numerous translation errors in their Ep04 release, not to mention their… questionable spelling (they really need to get a new QC-er, or stop crediting theirs). You will be better off with either [a.f.k.] or [WinD].
Despite being named “Kagami”, the mangaka of Lucky Star is male. Hence you can relate it to Kagami’s tomboy-behaviour. Notice that Kagami frequently wears neckties.
Cheers.
Pete, I enjoy L*S enough to watch it three times - raw, LC and AFK.
hashihime, I loved the Nagato reading bits too - there were just so… Yuki. Thanks for pointing out Yamamato’s link - so he was being self-effacing in the L*S reference after all.
BOZZ, nope. My mistake. :`(
Skane, yeah there are mistakes, not question about it, in the LC sub. But they’re quick so I don’t really mind - I’m totally promiscuous with subs. LOL Neckties… *must resist making Avril Lavigne comparison*
I understand “kagami” actually means “mirror”, probably depending on the exact characters the word is written in, and it may also be one of those “unisex” names Japanese has a fair few of (”Akira” seems to be one of the more common of those).
Personally, I find L*S episodes to be enjoyable and amusing enough that I can watch all the groups’ versions. Their particular interpretations of different scenes and setnences, as well as the varying levels of TL notes provided, are also interesting to compare. Although I’ve noticed [WinD]’s seems to “feel” the most natural much of the time.
“No big, no small - actually dare to criticize your seniors and superiors!”
Meh, its the same as in most modern WarnerBros toons, all the things about Spielberg, and general superiors…who actually thinks its interesting to ANYONE except the studio workers ? They want it - let them make an inside episode or something, not telling all that useless info to us at the expence of the episode time. Duh !
…
Wah, my joke people also take so seriously one ah. -_-;;
Actually, now that I’ve been enlightened by hashihime and a.f.k., I think it was a pretty nice and self-deprecating reference. Almost seems like Yamamoto-san knew that he was going to be replaced as director already.