lucky ☆ star 6
Categories: anime, episodic review, lucky star
Tagged: lucky star
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Timotei!
(Tsukasa looks a lot like Plenair… she’s in the pole position for the “Resembles Most Number of Other Characters Award”.)
Anytime we get a touching discussion about feminine functions, an Initial D parody, and get bleeped off by a Lucky Channel host, we know it’s a special episode. Lucky Star is growing on me, if only because the episodes have become slightly more coherent, and they are actually bringing comedy to the table. Lucky Channel has been carrying the show, and now the rest of the players are stepping up to the plate and contributing. There’s a potential that Lucky Star is a comedy juggernaut that has yet to awaken, but I don’t see it. It can be a good comedy and maybe get a few Pro Bowl team selections, but it won’t end up in the Hall-of-Fame.
The problem is that Kyoto has been so good for so long that there is just unrealistic expectations. It’s like being a first overall pick of an NFL draft– it’s not often that those expectations of greatness are met. But that’s why Kyoto keeps doling out… between their track record and their high production values, we expect that they will keep pumping out winners like Manning and Aikman and hopefully not end up with an Couch or Testaverde. Rightly or wrongly, we’ve piled a lot of expectations on the show, and that’s an obstacle it now has to face. For example, Lucky Star just doesn’t have the same comedy that Fumoffu had, and maybe Fumoffu had an unfair advantage that there were different expectations. Then, we were just happy that Gonzo wasn’t involved anymore, and anything Kyoto did was okay… it was kinda like a fifth round pick, and Kyoto blew all expectations out of the water by turning in a pantheon-class comedy. Fumoffu was their Brady. Lucky Star, on the other hand, arrived with a much fanfare, and we demand Super Bowl victories, like, now. The series didn’t start out the greatest and got killed for it, but, while it may not be the best ever, it sure ain’t a Tim Couch.
In any case, a beach/bath episode is like having a running back like LDT or Larry Johnson carry the load for an episode. You just can’t go wrong with a beach/bath episode… sigh… still can’t believe that we didn’t get one for Kanon…
(Other shows that desperately need a beach/bath episode: Zero no Tsukaima, Hayate, Murder Princess, Nanoha, Code Geass…)
Shooting Stars
This episode reminded me a lot of anyone of the three Azumanga episodes where they’d go to the beach, right down to the adults who drive like maniacs subplot. The big difference is that Azumanga contained their stories better such that they didn’t need 2 minutes or so of unrelated filler at the end (talking about the cleaning bit as well as the out-of-place dentist bit). Kyoto should have either used an eyecatch to separate the beach portion with the non-beach portion or just stretched out the beach portion by another minute (like the core audience wouldn’t want to see more bait-tastic swimsuit Konata) and bumped up Lucky Channel by another minute. I sure wouldn’t seeing Akira rant on for an extra 60 seconds.
If we’re talking about 17 year olds, I have to believe that at least one of the girls would be riding shotgun instead of everyone riding in the back like little kids on their way to Costco. Yes, LOL FANG-SENSEI’s van reminded me of the 1337 mobile…
Not sure what to make out of the Inital D parody. Okay… they did it… but it felt tacked on and forced. The character interaction that would bridge the comedy just wasn’t there like it was for School Rumble‘s parody (when Tenma and Hige out-biked the Hachi Roku) or for Keroro (when MILF Aki was drifting with Keroro, Tamama, and Giroro being tossed around like ragdolls in the trunk). This sequence was well executed but wasn’t well integrated with Lucky Star.
(Oh well, at least Yui has won the “Yukari-sensei Memorial Driving Award.”)
Oh just for the hell of it and because I am a fan of Initial D, the little things from that scene:
- Glass of water not spilling.
- BGM from Move.
- Yellow FD looks suspiciously like Keisuke’s.
- Yui’s car looks suspiciously like Bunta’s WRX.
- The gutter trick!
Maybe a good time to mention two other random notes about Inital D. The first is that Battle Stage 2 is coming out this month and features more footage of the Keisuke races from Fourth Stage, not that anyone cares about that. Second, Keisuke is forever an idiot in my book for not scoring with Kyoko when he had the chance. I will not forgive him for that.
6/10, 7/10, 6/10, 8/10. Konata looks like she’s trying out for being Chris Hansen’s bait. Kagami looks pretty cute with the tied up hair; Tsukasa needs a better outfit. Miyuki is Mikuru’s long lost younger sister. Or is she older than Mikuru? Or is this classified information?
9/10. An LOL FANG-SENSEI is superior.
(Of course, in what realistic modern beach would six lovely unescorted ladies be not hit on… then it dawned on me. The other people on the beach were probably the Initial D cast minus Itsuki, since he was the only one who seemed interested in girls… imagine that… an “Itsuki” interested in girls… my, how our perceptions of names change quickly…)
Yeah, 14 is the new 17… and 17 is the new 14…
I remember some of the most useless stuff sometimes. I still remember the controversy back during Karin when Strato was the only translator who nailed the subtlety of the period discussion in that series. I’m glad we’re in good hands here… uh… that wasn’t my original train of thought. This is: “Hey, we have a great series based off the otaku being otaku premise, and we’re going to toss in random jokes about periods that 99% of our audience wouldn’t understand because they’re all guys who stalk people like Akira.”
The bath scene was okay, except afterwards I felt like I was watching the wrong program after hearing Miyuki’s hair monologue as well as Kagami’s and Tsukasa’s, uh, discussion. I was going to perform “distinction” on my right thumbnail if they suddenly talked about “freshness.” At least in America, the ads that one sees during a TV program are geared towards the audience? For example, we get a lot of beer, Chevy trucks, and Cialis ads during football games. If I’m watching an enjoying a program that featured a lot of ads for feminine hygiene products and Herbal Essences shampoo, I’d be worried.
(I’m also disappointed that we didn’t get something like the epic Fumoffu episode where the girls are having fun in the bath as random objects covered them up a la Austin Powers.)
“Ippen… shinde miru?”
A terrified Miyuki and Tsukasa are fine too.
(But I don’t blame them. I watched an episode of Pretty Cure a while ago, and I was pretty scared too.)
Great Lucky Channel. Best fun I’ve had watching two people behind an anchor’s desk since Ron Burgundy told San Diego to fuck off. In a way, Akira is just completely ragging on the typical fanboy who would probably be Lucky Star‘s target consumer. Is it smart to insult your core audience like that? Or is it genius?
(I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again: we need a Lucky Channel OVA that’s like one of those VH1 “Behind the Music” specials. The rise, fall, and redemption of Akira.)
Good thing or bad thing that I recognized the ED almost immediately… Prince of Tennis…
38 Responses to “lucky ☆ star 6”
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Wow, between the initial D parody (amazingly done) period discussion in the bath scene, and the subtle mention about kagamis’ and tsukasas’ dad. These episodes just get better and better. Shiraishi seems to be making Lucky Channel more comedic than akira his comments throughout thje lucky channel were good.
>> subtle mention about kagamis’ and tsukasas’ dad
Can’t believe I didn’t talk about this. Must have blocked it from memory… but… uh… nevermind. Let’s just move on…
>> (Tsukasa looks a lot like Plenair… she’s in the pole position for the “Resembles Most Number of Other Characters Awardâ€.)
She looks like Akari from To Heart. Well, it was pointed out earlier, in a former episode.
I think they could went a bit more over-the-top with the Initial D parody, and perhaps focus a bit more on Kagami & Tsukasa’s reactions rather than just how l33t a driver Yui was.
Other than that I quite throughly enjoyed the episode… The conch scene had me clutching my stomch laughing because something very similar has happened to me before. Good times.
a Midoriba-type Itsuki would though, particularly for Konata.
Why don’t I remember ‘Valentine Day Kiss’ from Prince of Tennis? Was it called something else?
wow, tsundere.
in japan, lucky star’s first dvd preoder are already more then azumanga’s.
now tell me tsundere, if azumanga is better then lucky star,
why there are fewer people willing spending their money on it???
judge from the dvd preorder, lucky star is the best sell title in 4-koma animes right now, nuff said.
The 3D cars SUCKED like a black hole. The whole episode was overlong and overdone. I only suffered through it because I knew I’d see something interesting later on.
As for the marketing success, let’s realize that people do not buy the best works generally. Just look at Yu Gi Oh, case is at rest here.
Haibane Renmei is right there with Azumanga at the quality level. What are sales on that title?
Parody, parody. The 3D cars were intentional.
Natch.
As I’ve stated in an anime forum, I felt that the conversations or the lack of (for Yui and Nanako) made the character more life-like. I mean we are watching a show featuring a majority of female characters, so a bunch of girl chit chat conversation topics was to be expected.
Whether or not they were intentional has very little to do with them sucking.
Much better than episode 5 the worst episode of the series. In fact episode 6 is the best episode of the series, but I’m worried its downhill from here for at least a little while.
By the way, some Gonzo employees did some of the storyboarding for Fumoffu so it’s not like they were completely off the project after the first series. Also I prefer the first series to Fumoffu, don’t see why there is so much hatred for Gonzo’s job on the series (or why Sagara ended up looking like kind of like Kyon with a scar in Second Raid). In fact I’d put Second Raid first (because it has a better story let’s face it), then Full Metal Panic, and then Fumoffu. Finally Code Geass did sort of have a beach/bath episode in the one where they ended up on the island and Karen tried to ambush Suzaku.
@Mike
I assume you haven’t watched Initial D.
>>Jason
I think is a bad thing that you recognized that ED as fast as you did. Don’t take me bad ^_^
I love how Yui was going 40 km/h (25 mph).
Hey, nothing wrong with PuriTeni! It’s a good show. :]
And… Itsuki from Haruhishow doesn’t like girls? Says who? I never noticed.
ditto above haha
Things I love about this episode:
– Noisy Tribe parody music, and how Yui’s car outbroke the FD on a straightaway
– Clueless LOL FANG-SENSEI
– The downright cruelty on Tsukasa when the isopod crawled out
– Most importantly, Kagami’s flusterings were so delightful
hehe this episode was especially cute,
Could somebody more otaku than me please explain the “Timotei” joke?
Well, a quick search on Google revealed to me that Timotei is a shampoo company.
So, yeah. It was probably a mimicry of an advertisement or something.
>>Miyuki is Mikuru’s long lost younger sister.
More like Mizuho from Onegai Teacher.
>> Could somebody more otaku than me please explain the “Timotei†joke?
Timotei is fcking old. Like dating back in the 1980s (up to late 1990s?).
No wonder Kona’s friends were questioning her age.
I fell off my chair when the Timotei bit showed up.
>>22
I feel old now.
>> I feel old now.
Sucks to be in your late 20s, cuz I am :[
Over all I enjoyed this episode the most. In a lot of comedy anime I find myself stopping, going back a minute, and re-watching the same scene if its over the top or I can not believe what kind of words just came from an insanely cute voice.
Episodes 1 to 5 of Lucky Star didn’t have me doing that. Not once. The jokes didn’t make me think “Wow I can’t believe they said/did that” but it was still enjoyable.
Episode 6 took me by complete surprise.
Why they continued with their plugs of “blowing a water melon up with a gun so you’re cover in it” and other references, they hit us with some more adult material and they are starting to finally “boil over”.
Be it the reverence that Tsukasa is naturally smooth in the groin region, while her sister is “normal” or the fact that they were talking about their father’s penis, I couldn’t believe my ears and had to re-watch.
Add in the complete jail bait swimsuit and floaty of Konata and this made my day, maybe my weak. (Yeah, I know, bad week)
If they can keep the pace they had in this episode up, then they will make it into my favourites, if this is the high point, then it probably will only get an “honourable mention”
I enjoyed the parody, though to be honest I’ve never seen Initial D, the poor quality 3D cars make my eyes bleed.
P.S. When watching Fang-sensei drink her beer, did anyone else have a flash back to Evangelion?
“When watching Fang-sensei drink her beer, did anyone else have a flash back to Evangelion?”
Dunno whether NGE has started this – I doubt it, but beer drinking gals are rather common in anime nowadays. So, well it always reminds me of Misato too but I don’t think those scenes are always meant as reference to her.
All I remember about Timotei adverts is that I liked the girl with the long blond hair in the lake, and that an older girl I knew always reminded me of her.
Does anyone know the name of the song that was playing during the Initial D segment? It’s kind of catchy and I couldn’t get it out of my head…
I think Konata quoted Natsuki Mogi from Initial D in car right after that drifting scene.
Hey, what’s that song doing the Initial D parody? A really good song indeed!
>> You just can’t go wrong with a beach/bath episode… sigh… still can’t believe that we didn’t get one for Kanon…
Sadly the whole theme for Kanon was sad girls in snow. Then again, they could have done an 8th MS Team-style onsen…
>>Why don’t I remember ‘Valentine Day Kiss’ from Prince of Tennis? Was it called something else?
The actual title is just “Valentine Kiss”. It wasn’t an OP/ED theme to the series at any point. However, it was sung by homo-homo side characters and marketed to yaoi fangirls, as is the entire series.
Well I am also interested in the song which was doing the Initial D parody~It’s really a good song~
Anyone knows that?
i think that car was a suzuki or daihatsu. perhaps it is made up also lol.
What is the title of the song =/
I think a lot of people, including me, would like like to know the name of the song during the Initial D parody. It’s definitely a song by M.O.V.E. and sounds a lot like “Noizy Tribe,” but that isn’t the song. If anyone knows the name of this tune, it would help a lot of people. Thanks.
I personally LOVED this episode. I don’t go around comparing it to other shows or fussing about the pacing; it’s unique so it can pace however it wants. Plus keep in mind, it is based on a plotless batch of short comics, like Garfield. So for it to be cohesive would take away the original intention of its roots. It’s supposed to be random dabbles into random events, and it’s pulling that aspect off well. In fact, this ep was almost TOO cohesive, really.
As for the girls sitting in the back of the vehicles, that’s a Japanese thing; in America we always want shotgun. But in Japan, the lowest ranked person gets shotgun. I dunno why, but I do know that’s how it is. Aside from the driver, sitting in the back is default. Whoever doesn’t scramble into the back quick enough gets the oh-so-crappy front seat, aw rats! :P LOL, I’d be fine being low-ranked in Japan, I’d look soooo humble for offering to take the seat, hehehe.
The song is NOT by MOVE, its Gravity by Kousaki Satoru