hontou ni Stripey Insists Sisters Cry Oniichan Now

Winter 09 :: tis the Good Ends season for KugiRie tsunderes

Well well well, what a pair of pleasant surprises. I tend to apply heavy discounts against series starring Kugimiya Rie tsundere characters due to, among other things, the tendency to take two steps forward and one step back (or more). But I actually enjoyed the endings for ToraDora! (Aye: Totali and Kurogane | Somewhat dissenting opinion: Aroduc) and the fourth season of MariMite and, what's more, found myself cheering on KugiRie charas that I had previously disliked.

Prior to Ami's appearance, Taiga reminded me of all the worst characteristics of J.C. Staff KugiRie loli-tsunderes, particularly ZnT Season 2's Louise whose behaviour rubs off very very badly against my own personal traumas. From the Rainy Blue arc in MariMite, I began to associate hair drills with evil, bratty Ojousama type charas and so I had been rooting for Kanako over Touko this season even though it was hopeless in view of the determinism of the ED.

But I had to change the way I thought of Taiga and Touko after seeing other sides to them, such as Taiga's Christmas good girl mode and Touko's dedication to her craft in drama. After learning more about their personal family histories. After seeing how the people around them were changed by and changed along with them.

And thus came to be happy with their Good Ends and to be happy for them. Good job!

If Minori had been voiced by Nakahara Mai, I bet the word would have been USODA!!! Marvellous scene at the end of Ep 23 - who wouldn't snap if all the responsibility had been dumped on your back, behind your back?

And now to the main and serious business of All Hailing Kawashima Ami:

Confession to Taiga via Ami first. Because she is that awesome.

Breaking down in front of Ami only. Because she is that awesome.

The offhand remark about the end of Minori's dream of a bisexual harem with both Taiga and Ryuuji. What an awesome idea.

Mobile phones: Communication of the Rebellion. I really Laughed Out Loud at the class's reaction and Yuri Full of Tanaka Rie Goodness sensei's reaction.

Awesome Ami calls Minori out on her shattered dream of a bisexual harem yet again...

I was concerned too but I Waited for Subs FTW. I actually found myself thinking about the parallels with Genshiken Ch 53; it's so fitting that Ryuuji understands Ami's character so well but still hasn't got a clue about her feelings. Or perhaps he understands her so well that he knows better than to get a clue - like Saki's relationship with Madarame, ignorance is truly bliss.

In conclusion, we need an Ami spinoff OVA or series. Because she is that awesome.

Related posts:

1. 2009 Moment of Anime 2: End of KugiRie Hate (But Still Full of Hatred)
2. Minori sees like Yuuko Ishihara
3. For me, you see, it's still all about Ami