Now that I have reached the halfway point of the season, and we see a lot of shows being delayed and postponed (even the big franchises), there are quite a few minor things that I’ve decided to do. One of them is that I’m just going to ignore the news when I can, since it is really depressing the heck out of me now, and I worry that that depression might affect my writing here. I know that I am talking too much about this pandemic, when I know anime should be serving as a means of escapism for us right now, so that’ll be stopping too. I’ve also noticed that all I seem to be doing is trash-talking my out-of-season pick, Wotakoi, a lot. Sure, there are a lot of things that I just haven’t been able to warm to, but I know that people still enjoyed the show when it originally aired, so something must have worked, and so I just need to find what that was still.
Wave, Listen to Me! Episode 7
I’ve been enjoying episodes of Wave, Listen to Me! recently, but after watching this week’s episode, I’m starting to worry if any of that might change. It’s something that’s sad to say, but as we see what happens to Minare and Mizuho at Oki’s apartment, I’m wondering more on how any of this ends up being part of what will end up being Minare and Mato’s plan for a radio show. Confused? Well let me explain…
Oki is presented this week as some crazy and delusional guy who may or may not be a serial killer. This alarms Minare and Mizuho and so they decide to investigate further (with an ulterior motive of having the events be part of the next episode of the show), only to find out that the real truth is something very different. I won’t be spoiling what it is exactly, but what I will say is that the truth turns out to be something rather anti-climatic.
This week’s episode is clearly meant to be some kind of filler episode, despite all the things that happen. A couple of weeks ago, we had the show giving a poke at what Orson Welles did in this War of the Worlds radio broadcast oh-so-long ago, which I thought was very good, and potentially offer something solid in Wave, Listen to Me!, but it really feels like we’re slipping downwards this week. With an episode like this coming up, what am I to think? Will this downward slip keep on going, or will Minare actually think of something that’ll 100% work on her new radio show?
I want to think that it’ll be the latter, but I genuinely don’t know. I can say, though, that I’m enjoying the other two seasonal shows I’m watching far more than this one right now.
Tamayomi Episode 7
Last week I said that I thought that Yomi and Tamaki, the two main characters in Tamayomi, were having less screen time than the other girls are; I think this changes this week. In this episode, the team get seeded in a championship, with other school teams curious on why such a controversial school (see the beginning episodes for that plot point) would restart a baseball team. Unfortunately, the girls get the ‘group of death’, where they’ll be up against a tier 1 team and other well performing teams.
I thought that this week’s episode of Tamayomi was fine enough; like Wave, Listen to Me!, this had the look of a filler episode. Sadly, I think an old trait in this show has returned: not-so-great animation. This is something you notice here and there in some scenes of the episode; characters not drawn that well, with movement done either not right or not at all. I’m no expert in animation and sakuga whatsoever, and so this is all just something that a ‘casual viewer’ notices. Will it get better though? I don’t think so, but to be honest, I’m actually not so bothered by that. I’m still really enjoying Tamayomi as a casual show. It won’t be a show on my top 5 of the year, but that’s something I’m okay with. I think we casual viewers will be treated in the future though, if what we saw this week is something…
First we have the super mysterious school team that the girls are seeded with in the tournament, who are revealing absolutely nothing to anyone. No strategies, or who is playing in what positions, nothing. Next Yoshino gets a promotion; instead of being a data analyst, she’s now assistant coach alongside Sensei and I said earlier about Yomi and Tamaki actually having more of a presence this week…well I think we might actually get some of that promised yuribait in future episodes…finally.
Kaguya-sama: Love is War Season 2 Episode 6
Meanwhile, over on to a show that I’ve really loved this season, something came up last week that has raised a lot of eyebrows. Last Thursday, Aniplex ended up caving in to the people who were upset with a joke made in the official English translation, and amended it.
Here’s what it was before…
…and after the complaints, Aniplex have since changed the line to this…
Personally I’m not sure why Aniplex felt that this had to be done. I mean, I thought the original joke was pretty funny; it suits the setting of Miyuki wondering why Chika is keeping her distance after he has some strange makeover, and at the same time has a little poke at current real life circumstances. Perhaps this little incident just goes to show how triggered some fans can be. I know we are all struggling right now, but anime is meant to be an escape for us right now, and so even though social distancing is something we should all be observing at the moment, I would have thought that poking fun at it a little would be the least we can do to make it more bearable for us all.
Okay, enough pandemic talk…back to the show…
Episode 6 of Kaguya-sama: Love is War here, and I think I’m head over heels over little Miko now. Not only has she become an adorable little muffin that needs to be protected, but some of her policies on making the school into something that is incorruptible have just won me over. Plus she has every intention to make Chika vice-president, and let both Kaguya and Miyuki have key roles in the council, so nothing can go wrong…right? Well this week’s episode is, more or less, devoted entirely to her.
Last week saw Kaguya try to intimidate her, but as soon as Miko announced she would let the main four be a part of the Student Council, Kaguya ended up in two minds on what she should do: remain loyal to the boy she loves and stick with his own campaign, or end up being a part of Miko’s campaign and let the two of them (she and Miyuki) still be a part of the Student Council albeit in smaller roles, but they’d still get to see each other. Here in episode 6, we get to see much more of who Miko is, what drives her to wanting to be Student Council President, and what has happened to her in past schools. It really is all very touching to watch, and as we watch her and Miyuki face off on election day, we get a little glimpse on what Miko has seen in the school so far in the first year she’s been there, and what exactly needs to be fixed in order for the school to be a far more respectable place in the area.
As much as I want to, I really cannot spoil anything here, and while I can’t speak on any of the other seasonal shows that I’m not watching right now that have really made a big impression (Sing Yesterday For Me, Tower of God, Kakushigoto), this week’s episode of Kaguya-sama: Love is War has become the episode of the season for me so far. People may complain about this second season being far more linear than the first one, but I believe that A-1 Pictures have made a great choice here; introducing a new character like Miko, and giving us the story of Miyuki throwing his hat in to be Student Council President again.
Wotakoi: Love Is Hard For Otaku Episode 7
Okay, I said that I talk too negatively about Wotakoi, well I had some time to think about all the reasons why I do. Perhaps is the fact that a show like this comes out, and us adults can be hardcore otaku too can feel a little…embarrassed about ourselves. I don’t know; I’m not the hardcore otaku I once was, and maybe that is one reason why I feel this way about the show…it makes me think back to what kind of person I used to be when I was really a part of the UK anime community and con scene, and how there were a couple of things I did back then I really regret now. Does age bring wisdom for all of us?
Every week I do hope that Narumi and Hirotaka’s relationship actually has…something that I can look forward to. In episode 7, we begin with the four with him, including Nao, get involved with an online game/MMO, all of which is a bit of something before what episode 7 is really about: what the four of them see in each other. With Narumi and Hanako at a family restaurant, and Hirotaka and Kabakura at a bar, they all talk about things that make them so interested in each other, ie. why they want to date each other at all. Kind notable to see two things here; firstly, how Kabakura gets so annoyed when other people talk about Hanako as if they want to date her, and secondly, how Narumi and Hanako argue about boys’ love.
I’ll say this episode has been the better episode I’ve seen so far, but eh…I have 4 more episodes left here before I can make a final decision. And by ‘final decision’, I mean whether we get to see if the four of them want to take their respective relationships long-term or not.
So there are my shows, and there is our halfway point. Kind of pointless for shows to be delayed or cancelled at this point; saying that though, it can still happen. Anyway, at this halfway point, how have the shows you have been watching been like? Have they gotten better or worse for you? Also, what is your opinion on how Aniplex decided to amend a show’s translation? Feel free to hit that like button and air your opinions in the comments below! And remember to wash your hands and keep good hygiene!