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Sep 20 2009

Categories: bakemonogatari, episodic review
Tagged: monogatari

46 Comments »

“She’s kind to everyone, but I wonder if there’s someone special.”

I’m going to miss writing these posts. I’ve always been a long form person, and Ghostory has just been an excellent series to go long form on (Princess Lover, not so much). I’m always a little conflicted when a great series is about to wrap up… part of me is happy that I no longer have to write super long posts every week, part of me is sad that I no longer can write super long posts every week. With only one episode left and then the long wait for the DVD arc, let’s enjoy these two weeks, shall we?

Seems like Hanekawa came from a pretty messed up family as well. Senjougahara almost get raped by her mom’s friend… Mayoi’s parents got divorced… Kanbaru’s passed away… and now we discover that Hanekawa is an adopted child not by choice but by circumstance. This won’t end well.

(Mmmm… is this like Clannad? If you want to make a compelling story, it always starts with family, right?)

“The thought of spending all day at home makes me shiver.”

Well, hence why Mayoi and Hanekawa were able to interact back during Mayoi Snail. So now at best, she’s being abused, at par, she’s being sexually abused, and, at worst, she’s being forced to watch Detroit Lions games.

*shudders*

I like the random scenery. Though I like how we don’t see another human being… it’s a fully parked port on a not-so-bad nautical day… and there’s zero people around the docks except our two heroes. One striking thing about this series is that there’s so few people outside of the people who have actual roles. We never see people in town, we never see other classmates, and we never see… well… anyone except the named cast.

Her “dad” hit her because she was too nice? I’m having flashbacks concerning Satoko and her uncle… bad times, very bad times. And wouldn’t teachers and other students notice?

(Though seeing where the bandage was… I would have taken -200 odds that Senjougahara stapled her mouth there.)

Love the random background shots. They’re actually subtle, semi-creative shots that actually fill in the mood. Bravo.

(Though I picked up Faust… and Nisioisin’s writing does pay attention to said details, when he wants to. He picks and chooses his battles carefully.)

The birds show up again as a motif… I would say more, except I have no clue what that would be.

And, yes, thanks guys for proving my Shaft being Shaft last arc (and maybe this one). With Shaft, you know exactly what you’re going to get– specifically, the good and the bad. The bad? Well, for anyone who remembers ef… and the entire final Miya episode that was just an endless wall of text… well… Shaft is about as good at time management as Dick Jauron. (Or Charlie Weis. Ouch.) And if you’ve somehow talked yourself out of the bad… well… shame on you. Always, always expect it. We have a history with Shaft that says that they should never be fully trusted, and people started trusting them… and whammo! Koyomi is fighting an invisible snake on a 500 yen budget. But I think the pluses outweigh the negatives for this series… they’ve brought more to the table than taken off, and that’s all I ask for.

(I need to update my QB rankings…. I think at this point, Shaft is maybe a Jay Cutler. Not a dig but not a compliment either. And much like how Tom Brady has slipped since when I wrote that post, Kyoto has slipped.)

I find it interesting that they’re using the hiragana for “tsubasa” and spelling the English pronunciation of “cat” with katakana instead of going with “neko“.

He’s leaving school… and there’s absolutely no one else around. None. Zilch. Zippo. Not even a tsundere carrying volleyballs.

… but there is someone who will (dearly) call him “onii-chan” around. And, really, sometimes, that’s all you need in life.

Nadeko looks different with… uh… normal, non-fetish clothes on. Though while most of my readers were complaining about the lack of animation during the fight against an invisible snake (and, really, is a fight between a wuss and an invisible snake that interesting?), I was more sorely disappointed by the lack of Nadeko meeting up with Koyomi the following morning.

OMG! So cute! Dazed Sengoku 4tw!

(If Kanbaru is supposed to be a lesbian, why is she into boy’s love books? Am I the only one puzzled about this? Wouldn’t Kanbaru be into Yami to Boushi or Aoi Hana instead? And, yes, in the “Shaft needs to remake this series” pile, Yami to Boushi would be extremely high in that queue. Shaft would have been perfect for that series.)

When Koyomi complains like that… it reminds me too much of Zetsubou-sensei. Not a good thing. But definitely Sengoku is flirting with Koyomi, just he’s too dumb– oh wait– he’s playing along! It only took a little middle school girl who undressed in front of him to get Koyomi to loosen up. They had to do it. It’s like death and taxes for Shaft… having them not doing a despair headshake parody is like asking Joe Wilson to stay quiet during an Obama speech.

It’s a very industrial city… unless more idyllic small towns in anime, this one has industry and has the stain of mass produced housing. It’s more realistic, and I like it. We can only have so many ridiculous paradises like Da Capo‘s island or the schools from Hayate and Princess Lover.

It’s the eye of the tiger, it’s the cream of the fight
Risin’ up to the challenge of our rival
And the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night
And he’s watchin’ us all in the eye of the tiger

(And which did you think had a bigger budget? The original Eye of the Tiger video or the fight against the invisible snake?)

This is like handing a cocaine addict twenty kilos of pure cut cocaine. I can only picture Koyomi emerging after diving head first to sniff from a large pile of school swimsuits and bloomers like Tony Montana and his legendary cocaine pile in Scarface.

Notice how Koyomi isn’t picturing Senjougahara or Kanbaru in any of these clothes. Even though one’s his girlfriend and the other’s the owner of such clothes.

(And Kanbaru… why does she have these clothes? Is she Kuze’s secret supplier of fetish clothes? And wouldn’t this be a hugely profitable business? Like one could buy fetish clothes previously worn by grade school– oh wait, they already have vending machines for this? Nevermind. Japan is truly a modern society.)

The head jerk… you just knew Shaft was dying to do the Zetsubou bit. They did it fully in Maria+Holic, so I’m just waiting for it here.

“What kind of test is this?”

Loved how Sengoku initially held back the clothes but Koyomi made a “trust me!” gesture with his hands and finally she relents. It plays out almost exactly the same on every Dateline To Catch a Predator only instead of handing over bloomers, it’s giving her some alcoholic juice coolers. Only there’s no Chris Hansen jumping out and asking Koyomi, “So you know why I’m here?”

Loved Sengoku’s “did I make the right decision” face. She’s the best.

Did Koyomi fail or pass the test? I’m so confused.

(Needless to say, we know exactly why Koyomi doesn’t get along with his little sisters. He harbors a deep attraction to them, but since they’re unobtainable by him, he’s frustrated and can’t deal with them. It also explains why he proactively helped both Mayoi and Sengoku, two people who he could have walked away from, but didn’t. Keep in mind he couldn’t necessarily avoid Senjougahara or Kanbaru… both of those two initiated the action towards him. He initiated only with the two underaged girls. Does this make any sense? Yes, clearly now.)

It’s been three episodes without Senjougahara, and, obviously, Koyomi doesn’t care. But I care.

Ah, so they finally explain what happened after they vanquished the snake. Though this seems more comfy than the hotel Kramer set up for the Japanese business men in Seinfeld. One question… how freakin’ tall of a room do you need to have to be able to stack desks up that high? Are they in the new Dallas football stadium? (Oh wait, there’s no scoreboard at the top. Scratch that.)

I like the brief detour to setup Koyomi Vamp… though it’s a bit chilling to see this poor vampire stare at you all night. Creepy to boot.

Sengoku… your real competition for Koyomi’s attention isn’t Senjougahara. It’s Shinobu. Obviously, she’s giving you the, “I’ve got competition now” eyes.

(So far, it does seem like Sengoku is the most reliable. She tried to solve her own problem, and when she was really over in her head, she found help. Hanekawa… she seems reliable, but I think her unreliable parts will surface soon. Like within ten minutes.)

I like the kaleidoscope effect. Works pretty good in this scene, especially with the echo given to Koyomi’s voice. It actually does make it seem like we’re looking at a kaleidoscope of Koyomi’s life.

Loved the comparison between Meme and Doraemon… so apt. But Doraemon never went away.

(I would argue that the “modern” Doraemon is Keroro. Same weird yet cute animal being. Same moral of the story, except it’s Keroro learning the lessons instead of Nobita. Same wacky plans, inventions, and scenarios. Just Keroro has more modern styles, plot devices, and Powered Natsumi… not to mention Natsumi Prime.)

(And, yes, I imagine in some alternate anime fantasy world, Natsumi Prime and Mikuru Prime are honored and beloved like Helena of Troy.)

I like how they drew Koyomi in Doraemon‘s style instead of the Fallout 3 style generally used for these kinds of interstitial cuts. See, there’s both the good and the bad with Shaft.

“You’re really good at references, Koyomi onii-chan.”

Sengoku is both winsome and charming. Dangerous combo. (I probably could resist a “You’re really good at making NBA-anime references, jason onii-chan.” Thank goodness my weakness are meido. And, yes, Yuu is fantastic… loved the Princess Lover episode when she offered to be peeped on by Arima.) I’m just wondering why Koyomi hasn’t made a move OH SHI–

Ominous screenshot is ominous screenshot.

He’s really not sure what’s going on… she isn’t either… and it’s just awkward for both sides. But they want to get it done. It’s like two virgins trying to OH SHI–

What the fuck is this?

I like how all the cars with “Ghostory” on their sides are desperately trying to distract us from the fact that Koyomi just made a serious move on Sengoku. No, really, did he just try to lift up her skirt? Gulp. I just hope Senjougahara isn’t watching this. (Or Chris Hansen for that matter.)

(Good or bad that Koyomi didn’t go all the way? He stopped half-way… if he went and really did lift up the skirt, there’s no going back for him, right? Much like how there’s no going back once Jake Delhomme inked that contract extension at the beginning of this season.)

“When I do it with you, it feels like you’re judging me as a man.”

Am I missing something here?

(To recap, Koyomi has felt up and got aroused by feeling up one little girl… and he just tried to lift up the skirt of a second one. What do you think is more blatant? Itsuki’s sexual preference or Koyomi’s lolicon?)

Sengoku’s like Fuko. Only if Fuko weren’t annoying, was cute, wasn’t a cockblocker, was calm/non-hyper, and didn’t have an addition to starfish.

Damn, if only Hanekawa caught Koyomi lifting up Sengoku’s skirt.

Awesome face. It rivals only the Kanako memorial “Wait, she has a penis?” face.

Loved Kanako fleeing from Hanekawa like how Haruhi Suzumiya fans fled from that franchise’s bandwagon during Endless Eight.

Where’s Wile E. Coyote?

Liked Hanekawa wondering if Koyomi’s business for the day was to stand around and flirt with a middle school girl. She’s perceptive enough that I’m positive that she doesn’t buy Koyomi’s “No, not her… but Senjougahara” line.

I can’t wait for Koyomi to break up with Senjougahara so that she can pursue her bright path while he slums it out through the rest of school. They’ll later be reunited in the snow under cherry trees and–

No. Not possible. Just shoot me. There’s no Tomoyo ending here. I refuse to believe it.

He’s going to hook up with Sengoku and forget all about Senjougahara in that scenario.

“She’s kind to everyone, but I wonder if there’s someone special.”

Just a ridiculous strong female cast. Probably the best harem since Clannad, and, if you’re a Koyomi-class lolicon, it probably is even better than Clannad.

Oooooh… flashback.

(See, if I were in charge of Shaft, I probably would have done a “Golden Week Flashback Presented by Pizza Hut.” Why let good advertising space go to waste?)

(Kidding.)

(But I bet you want a new Pizza Hut ad featuring Shinobu, Mayoi, Sengoku, and a lot– copious even– of cheese about now.)

That’s a spectacular dress. Almost as good as Mikuru’s during Endless Eight reboot #5,841.

I’m sure it’ll be explained months later in Koyomi Vamp, but were the two out on a date or something? Just a reasonably dressed up with a flirty dressed girl walking so close late at night… mmm…

(And she has no shoes.)

I get the feeling that Koyomi’s going to be pummeled into a pulp. Again.

“She was charmed by a cat.”

Remember how I’ve been comparing Hanekawa to the sexy librarian archetype? This is it. The sexy librarian has let down her hair. God’s in his heaven and all’s right with the world.

“Neko” is written in kanji here, as opposed to the katakana “ka-to” from earlier. Mmm…

(The “Mmm…” in this case means “I have no fucking clue what this means. I have no more insight as my brain is still trying to process cat girl Hanekawa in an frilly dress.”)

Multiple personality disorder caused by stress… uh… isn’t this Kozue-chan from Mahoraba?

I like this “Black Hanekawa” that’s clad in white. Love it even.

Bat shit insane Black Hanekawa prowling the night? Awesome.

Bat shit insane Black Hanekawa prowling the night and dry humping victims to leech their life energy? Awesome.

(Isn’t this the opposite of Fight Ippatsu Juuden-chan? In both premise and quality of anime?)

Mmm… Black Hanekawa does seem like the type that’s hard to please. You know, the type that’ll openly laugh and mock you after some heavy foreplay, you’re still impotent as Itsuki around a drunk, half-nakkid Mikuru.

Honestly, at this point, who isn’t asking to be life drained by Black Hanekawa. Shaft is currently making it seem like the greatest thing ever, like Barney delivering a birthday cake for a three year old’s birthday celebration.

(Yes… he/she/it is doing the banzai stance. Which is the correct stance for being life drained by Black Hanekawa.)

Assorted thoughts…

… why the hell is Koyomi running from Black Hanekawa? Why?! Get yourself life drained and let the blaxploitation music play in the background as you enjoy it.

… too bad we already compared Taokaka to Kanbaru.

… and, yes, MPD catgirl should have been part of the Blaz Blue cast. So right.

… only in anime can pretty girls with cat ears be taken as a serious villain.

Horie Yui doesn’t do evil well. Tsundere haremette? Wonderful. Pure, spiteful evil? Not so much.

(The more I watch this show and the more I watch Spice and Wolf… Lulu and Kallen would have made a much better pairing for Koyomi and Hanekawa than Zetsubou-sensei and Taiga. I rather have Lulu’s slightly deeper voice than the Zetsubou-sensei voice streaming out of Koyomi whenever he gets excited.)

(I like the “If you don’t deal with the stress within a year…” line as it sets up the current story… but it also reminded me of Lord Genome and Simon… which reminded me of…)

… how much Gainax should just say “fuck it” and do more Gurren Lagann. Even if it means pulling a Bebop and making an original side-story movie prior to the events at the end.

This never gets old. Never. NEVER!

Wow, lesbian energy rape.

(To recap, Koyomi ran away from the suddenly unleashed Black Hanekawa because he didn’t want to be dry humped/energy raped by her. Instead, she gets surprised by pre-Shinobu who does the bloodsucking energy rape on Hanekawa. Strangely, this all makes sense.)

The way Nisioisin builds up the scenarios, everything has been out there, but they all resolved within the parameters that he set. That’s a good job by him. Though the way I would end it… probably have Koyomi use Mayoi to get Hanekawa perpetually lost.

(But it’s much better than having Senjougahara self-destruct to save everyone, only Koyomi becomes so disillusioned, he comes a wandering cyborg bounty hunter, aimless in life… until his final moments when he’s reunited with another Senjougahara. That you gotta give me, at least.)

I like how the episode ends with Hanekawa pointing out that Koyomi is still clutching Kanbaru’s fetish clothes with the same grip that Glen Beck controls fanatic right wing politics.

(You know that Black Hanekawa’s going to return… and not in that white dress. Yep, she’s going to be in a school-issued swimsuit.)

Queue The Story You Don’t Know… and we’re out! Wait, what? Only one episode left? Hun? Ugh. Normally, I’m all for proper pacing, but this show is good enough that I wouldn’t mind it being stretched out to a full 24 episode run (including Koyomi Vamp, but not including Karen Bee etc). And just fill with beach fanservice and hot springs hijinks episodes.

(At the very least Nadeko Snake and Tsubasa Cat seem like they could be longer. But, again… Shaft being Shaft. I just hope we don’t get walls of text for the next episode.)

Preview puzzle 4tw! I’ve got a puzzle for you… is Koyomi useful… or useless?

?

I’m confused too.