Da Capo II 05 – FEEL is no Zexcs
Many moons ago, after an excellent first impression of Tokimeki Memorial, I expressed my disappointment with the series right about mid-season. My beef with it was the lack of drama, gripping haremic dilemmas or confrontations. In retrospect, I was wrong. TokiMemo writers didn't fail simply because they didn't go down that route. Ironically, it was me who failed to see where they were taking the show - not Shufflesque catfighting but a sweet tale about the first taste of love. A mismatch of expectations which is surely of no one's fault XD. I see the same problem with DCII except that I wouldn't fully absolve FEEL of their responsibility to match a DC fan's reasonable expectations.
The Da Capo franchise is built upon haremic tension. Many of the DC fans are watching DCII because Da Capo has one of the most dramatic tales in anime bishoujo history. I thought FEEL would have learnt from the lukewarm reception of DCSS to inject greater drama into DCII to restore the magic of Da Capo. But alas, FEEL is not Zexcs. Well-devised bishoujo confrontations are not their forte and I'm starting to realise I shouldn't be expecting it from DCII anymore if I still want to enjoy the rest of the series. Ep 5 is exactly what FEEL is good with - sweet and steady character development. Nothing turbulent yet progressive. DCII 05 has the whiff of Otoboku which is one of my favourite FEEL works.
And so I'm keeping an open mind about having a Koko ending. Sure it clashes with the inner Yume fanboy and I feel sorry for Nanaka losing out to her not-as-attractive best friend but if the Koko-Yoshiyuki relationship is well-developed/anchored, I think I'd still enjoy the series. However, if Yume or Otome come jarringly out of nowhere to rock the Koko-Yoshiyuki boat in the dying throes of the series with little/poor justification - I think there's going to be a NICE BOAT... for the studio.
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November 15th, 2007 - 02:14
I cannot agree more, though I from start was wishing for a Koko ending, I expected at least some drama. As it is right now, the only thing we’re getting is a story about how Yoshiyuki and Koko develop as a couple (though I still like the sweet atmosphere from moments like the “dating spot” in episode 5) <3
And by the way, welcome back
November 15th, 2007 - 02:27
D.C. I = (Sison vs. Lolicon) Kotori getting screwed over
D.C.S.S. = Aishia being irritating Junichi being an arse Kotori being screwed over
D.C. II = ?
November 15th, 2007 - 02:40
I will put the odds up after next episode, which I believe to be episode 8.
D.C. * = Shirakawa girls getting ignored despite all the reasons not to be ignored.
November 15th, 2007 - 07:17
Wow I completely agree, your impressions on DC II are spot on. I believe FEEL are definitely going to inject drama, after the very very promising episode 7, I think its bound to happen. I’ve got nothing against Koko, shes a generally nice girl all around, but I can’t shake the feelings thats shes just too plain, as you stated. There are much more interesting characters out there including Nanaka and Yume. Heres hoping the last stretch includes enough confrontations that made Shuffle and the like so popular.
November 15th, 2007 - 07:23
flaskis: Thanks! It’s great to be back indeed
I sure missed my bishoujos.. and my wife of course XD While I don’t mind seeing a Koko-Yoshiyuki ending now, I doubt it’ll go that way since Yoshiyuki himself doubted his own feeling right in ep 1 when he accepted Koko. At least I’d feel for Koko now when the heartbreak occurs 
Zyl: D.CII = Studio being an arse and viewers getting screwed over? LOL! Kidding! XD
maglor: I’m sure Koko’s odds are much higher and anyone’s initial predictions now. Still, let us know your thoughts after 8
Ivy: Oooh thanks for the heads up on ep 7. Am really looking forward to it now.
November 15th, 2007 - 09:53
Good post…it’s hard to imagine a Koko ending, but equally hard to imagine anyone else stealing away Yoshiyuki when they’ve spent all this time confirming his relationship with Koko, and next to zero time developing his relationship with Otome or Yume. I’d forgive FEEL for the lack of drama if this was as hilarious as Otoboku (still waiting on Media Blasters to announce a ship date, since they licensed Otoboku in R1…). The second half of DC II will be interesting to watch, I’m not sure where they’re going with it anymore…
November 17th, 2007 - 22:16
suguru: Like yourself, I don’t know where the series is going anymore. XD At this point, I’m really hoping that DCII is not the 13 eps it’s supposed to be. After all there’s plenty of material for a 26 parter if we begin on the main course of Yume vs Otome in ep 13 or after. Plus, there’s the Sakurs story to tell. I’m hoping against all hope that DCII is longer than slated XD
November 17th, 2007 - 23:17
I’m right there with you, if they had two cours there’d be a lot more hope that they can properly cover everything. I guess it’s possible FEEL was commissioned specifically to do a Koko D.C. II in one cour, with a second season to follow at some point and hit the Yume-Otome-sakura tree story…but that’s probably wishful thinking.
It’d be fun to see what Ufotable could do with it, just imagine a D.C. II Alternative where Yoshiyuki ends up with Yume AND Otome…hell, it worked for Rentarou in Alt-Futakoi…
November 18th, 2007 - 06:49
suguru: I really hope you are right although why CIRCUS would push for a Koko route over the immensely popular Nanaka in the 1st cour would be highly questionable
Of course we have seen other eroges make the same mistake of picking the lesser path for their anime adaptations (Tsukihime and F/SN for example)
As for a FA ending to DCII, something tells me Yume wouldn’t take kindly to it even if Otome is willing. A Koko X Yoshiyuki X Nanaka could work though…. XD
November 20th, 2007 - 21:22
I was so frustrated with all the DC animes out there… To think that they’ll give a plain (no offence) character such as Koko the spotlight while ignoring the millions of Nanaka/Kotori fans out there just makes me want to slap the writers… Sure Koko’s and Yoshiyuki’s development is touching but it would still be touching with Nanaka instead of Koko, not to mention satisfying many fans of Nanaka (far more fans for Nanaka then Koko)…
November 21st, 2007 - 00:15
I only felt the frustration for DCSS. I loved DCI and is a firm believer that Kotori is not right for Junichi lovely as she is. Nemu has a connection with Junichi that Kotori cannot hope to supercede unless she becomes his imouto in the next life
As for DCII, I’m not feeling the frustration yet but if any more of Minatsu, I might just go mad on the studio.
Why Feel went the Koko route still baffles me
I think they’re just plainly out to screw with Shirakawa fans XD
November 21st, 2007 - 19:01
DCII needed a bit more siscon tension (if not outright romance) and a Yoshiyuki-Koko-Nanaka love triangle. The game did an excellent job of tying the band arc with the love triangle, and I was hoping for more of the same.
As for the eventual winner, Otome would have been the natural choice… as the one who arguably cares the most about Yoshiyuki and is most tied to the sakura tree. We’ve seen too little of her; her nee-san/okaa-san antics are a hoot to watch, and serves as a nice counterpoint to Yume’s “Dark Nemu” moments.
I suppose for similar reasons Sakura, and not Nemu, could’ve been Jyunichi’s choice in DC I; it’s rare that the promised girl/childhood friend/first love loses. Part of Nemu’s insecurity stems from the fact that she stole Jyunichi away from Sakura. And one of the major issues of the first season was that Jyunichi made the WRONG choice in choosing Nemu, and had to deal with the consequences…
November 22nd, 2007 - 21:19
I find myself getting more and more drawn to Otome over Yume but after DCII 07, Nanaka is far ahead of all the DCII girls
I wouldn’t mind a Otome end still since I’m getting increasing convinced that her route would be tie up the series nicely.
As for DC and Junichi’s choice of Nemu, I’m from the camp that believed “Nemu or none other”. Nemu didn’t quite steal Sakura after all she ran off to America leaving the 2 of them to develop their feelings unhindered. I believe Nemu’s insecurity stemmed mainly from the promise (made under the unwithering Sakura tree) and her imouto status with Junichi. From her pov, the imouto status poses as a huge pyschological/social barrier for their love and was surely working against her with regards to the Sakura rivalry – a fellow childhood friend who shared her ‘most favoured haremette clause”
November 22nd, 2007 - 21:41
Da Capo II was moving into “I’m watching this series only because of my promise to Stripey” territory but suddenly seriously raised its game in Episode 7. Nanaka was awesome. As you know I support Yoshiyuki and Koko but I agree that there has to be some drama that needs to be resolved before they can live happily ever after. And Episode 7 delivered that drama. Nanaka redeemed herself for all that flirting in the past episodes, and made Yoshiyuki and Koko look even stronger as a result. The scandal, Koko not worrying because she trusted Nanaka, Yoshiyuki having the sense to tell Nanaka to not hug him, and Nanaka proving worthy of their trust in the end… if a haremette has to lose the race, she should lose it this well.
Although, I promised you I would follow this series to see the power of siscon… where’s the siscon?
November 23rd, 2007 - 09:03
Indeed, despite it being a Nanaka ep, Koko’s faith in Nanaka and Yoshiyuki’s loyalty really shone. Despite all my misgivings on Yoshi’s true feelings, I admire their integrity in relationships
As for siscon shows, if DCII doesn’t deliver, I recommend another of Zexcs’s work – Kagihime. The overall plot is weak but the siscon drama powerful. There’s also Koi Kaze which I didn’t enjoy much since it was blood-related and involved a brother almost twice the sister’s age. I thought it to be exploitative XD Probably just me though since many enjoyed it.