Yukiji-neechan has been kidnapped by aliens and replaced by an evil twin! Well, not really. I usually don’t like comedy based on one big extended misunderstanding very much but this was nicely resolved three quarters the way through (and it also made complete sense when rewatching).
LOL at Hayate and Nagi’s shokku at Hina admitting she was bothered by something, that she actually got new year’s money from Yukiji and Yukiji showing up all bright and sparkly.
I’d buy those pictures (click on them to enlarge). ;) LOL at Hinagiku dressed as Lacus (or is that Meer?). It makes sense that she’d cosplay pink longhaired girls like Utena but it’d be really LOLOLOL if she cosplayed Lacus in the same scene as Maria (voiced by Rie Tanaka who voices Lacus) cosplaying as Wirhelmina Carmel (who is voiced by Shizuka Itou who voices Hinagiku). Under the influence of fellow Hinagikuists Deftoned and Mentar, my love for Shizuka Itou has been growing steadily. Wirhelmina’s zettai doujinshi-inspiring purring as she stroked Pheles’ cheek didn’t hurt either. :P
It seems that the whole misunderstanding arouse because of the way the proper nouns and pronouns are used. Yukiji says that it’s a special day for her which leads into the main course. The students think she is resigning. But when they ask her if ’sensei’ is resigning (without specifying which teacher), Yukiji assumes they are talking about her scientist teacher friend rather than her. Hina trip down memory lane ensues.
Of course, for me, this episode was WIN and Good Job because I got to see (1) Hina being flustered and emotional in contrast to her usual cool self - which makes her even more attractive and sympathetic and (2) chibi-Hina! There’s some back story that shows us how close the step sisters are, a bond that goes more than 10 years back, and which is still very strong.
We’ve normally seen Yukiji as an irresponsible, drunk troublemaker but we’ve also seen how Hina cares for her oneechan very much during the Christmas episode and this flashback very nicely showed how close they have been.
Not such a lucky day for Yukiji after all. LOL And things come full circle with Hina returning the piggy back ride, now that Yukiji’s new year money (the princely sum of JPY 500, while Hayate literally got peanuts) promise has been fulfilled.
I can’t remember if Hinagiku and Nishizawa have met each other in the anime yet and, if they have, under what circumstances? Their first meeting was in the Valetine’s Day arc in Vol.7 of the manga which hasn’t been animated. T_T As it stands, it seems fitting to put them together in the same screen of the ED as they are probably the two most well adjusted girls in the cast (most of the other girls are way too rich and eccentric).
A nice episode that showcases how Hinagiku is not just Superhuman but very human too. Hina-chan banzai!
It’s probably a lost cause to hope that the anime will ever get back to manga material.
It’s been an original episode, but a good one. The key is that they’re finally beginning to have a look at Hina’s other side: Not just the fearless confident swordsman heroine that overcomes every obstacle in competition, but rather also the vulnerable, sensitive Hina, emotional, quick to tear up, doubting, and with her own issues. Only the fact that she has BOTH sides made me root for her so strongly.
Ah, the cursed Valentine day episode. I’d not be surprised if they aired it exactly then - at Valentine, around Feb 14th. Which would be episode 45. Which would be too late to really conclude the Hina arcs. Damn. On the other hand, maybe the show does extend past 52.
Hinagiku Banzai!
LoliHina is so cute, it is almost criminal. I do hope they focus more on Hina’s development.
Eleutheria, well, at least the past few episodes have been more coherent and definitely enjoyable. Hopefully they’ll be able to keep this up to the end of this cour.
Mentar, it’s like tsun and dere, we need to see both sides! :D
maglor, Hinagiku banzai!!!
Hinagiku and Nishisawa have not yet met in the anime.
W4 is right. Besides, they MUST NOT meet before Valentine, unless they plan to alter the main storyline of the anime completely.
I think that’s why I like them the best. They’re normal (by Hayate no Gotoku standards), which for me, makes them a lot more lovable. Like Mentar said, being both vulnerable and sensitive go a long way in a character. As much as people root for superheroes and extremities, often times it’s the more realistic characters that become endearing in the long run–probably we can relate more to them. In a similar vein, it’s also why I have an affinity towards Sakuya as well. She’s wealthy and eccentric, but out of all the other ojou-sama’s, she’s the most down-to-earth.
Well, we see a shot like that (re: the cosplay) in the manga later, IIRC, so that explains that. What I -don’t- remember is Miki in that outfit… but she makes it work. Yipe.
And IIRC, Yukiji is Hina’s sister by blood - their parents are their STEP-parents, since their original parents.. well, Hata-sensei discusses it in the profile for Hina in Vol 2 (her parents abandoned her and Yukiji, leaving them with a huge debt, which Yukiji eventually got paid off), which is why those two are close even if they act completely different… and why she understands Hayate’s position all too well, plus has a thing about defending the weak and protecting the ’side of good’ from those who would take advantage of it.
Hina and Nishizawa haven’t had much time together… since the Vol 7 meeting was mixed in with the Nishizawa’s brother date with Nagi, which subsequently got replaced by that encounter (Ep 37).
Mentar: Considering that Ep 40 was manga chapter 2…. I think that it’s too late to talk about screwed-up timelines. But it’d work much better ift hey went that way, even if Nagi and Nishizawa have begun to form a similar bond.
I can’t wait till Izumi’s cousin shows up in the show, if at all - she does show up in the OP there.
Also… volume 8 out. enjoy.