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[Uchip]

And then been a jerk in every post since? You gotta mix it up.

no stranger to hyperbole i see
far more poop has been flung in my direction from the members than vice versa

 

[mAcOdIn]

So I was thinking some deep, serious thoughts about Nisemonogatari, as you do. Specifically, I was trying to piece together reasons why the first episode of this season might be considered inferior to last season. Obviously a big part of this lies in the quality of the direction and storyboarding but that's a given, so we'll leave it aside for the purposes of this evaluation.

Spoiler

In the beginning of Bakemonogatari the premise appeared to be 'normal' (yes, he was a vampire, but that whole plot has very little effect on him as a character or the plot) guy runs into an abnormal situation - the 'very light' girl. This encounter takes place at the start of the episode and sets up the story for the preceding two episodes. The next scene is all about Araragi and Hanekawa discussing this girl and then the scene after that is when Araragi has his aggressive encounter with her. Finally they go together to see Meme so that they can begin to resolve the problem.

This all leads to a very focused plot where there's lots for the viewer to discover that they don't already know. We don't know who Araragi is, what he is, who Senjoughara is, what's causing her 'lightness' problem etc. It's all about the interaction with this one key character: Senjoughara. The discoveries that we make in relation to her, her backstory, her interaction with Araragi, her character etc are all fresh and interesting.

The start of Nisemonogatari involves a fun scene between these two characters again. However, we already know who they are and what they are. That's all kind of been done. Then we move onto the sister, who is at least a character that we haven't dwelt on before. Yet, before we can get to her Nadako is on the phone. Ah, but before we even get to Nadako it's snake girl! We already know who these characters are, there's not much to discover about them that we haven't already covered. The only character that's new and relatively unexplored is the sister but the show doesn't devote much time to her. As the focus on this episode is somewhat lacking it's hardly a surprise that some consider it kind of underwhelming.

In short, despite what people might say, this is a show about the characters. Returning to characters that we already know a lot about, (apart from maybe Senjoughara) seems less interesting than learning more about new characters. Or, at the very least, it would seem better to focus on one character in greater depth. There's certainly something to be said for Araragi's more serious discussion with the snail but even that is only one part of a rather erratic episode.

Blah, blah, blah. You don't need to look this hard.

The difference is plausible deniability. In the first season's first episode you had the mysterious girl Senjogahara, maybe you thought she sucked, maybe not, but it mattered little as she had a problem and Araragi was going to help her. No worries then, it's a noble endeavor, God speed Mr. Vampire and we'll put up with whatever happens in the sake of doing a good dead. Then came, who was next? Oh yeah, Snail Girl. Same thing, like her or love her she has a problem and you're going to get to the bottom of it. Anything that happens in the course of solving the problem is fair game because our Araragi's not a pedophile this is just his way of conversing with spirits, with dealing with the supernatural. Shit goes on every arc.

Now fast forward to the second season. The problem is now not supernatural but natural, boredom. I'm sure the supernatural will pop up this season but come first episodes Bakemonogatari had already dropped you into it's first problem that had to be solved while Nisemonogatari has you following a bored Araragi. And if this is a recap it undermines the show as the recap now put more emphasis on harem building than solving supernatural mysteries.

Spoiler

Take Nadeko, why the fuck would a high school kid decide to go hang out with a middle schooler because he's bored? Too alien of a concept! Girl's tormented by a snake curse thingy, ok, that I can understand, we'll put up with some awkward naked snake show and tell to save someone but now he's just bored so what's he doing calling up a middle schooler?

So now the audience has no plausible deniability. He's going to hang around these underage perverts doing perverted shit not out of the goodness of his heart to save them, which we can let slide, but because he's a pervert that's got a thing for little girls and needs to keep his harem members interested. That's a large tonal shift.

I believe Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei suffered from more or less the same problem. The character introductions were barely passable because ok he's the teacher checking up on the truant student or whatever, once the characters were established then what was the excuse? Nothing, it became indecent and though it might have been indecent from the start you could no longer fool yourself into believing it wasn't anymore. Then the girls all lost theit trademark issues and the whole thing just became a dark harem with the author every once in a while playing off one of the girl's prior established issues for a joke but that was no longer the aim of the series. Nisemonogatari seems to be going down that route and it sucks.

 

[Defuser]

Let the battle begin

Spoiler

I do agree with you though

This pic is all wrong,it's Tadakuni whose supposed to wear the skirt.

 

[Uchip]

Blah, blah, blah.

damn
this show sounds deep with all this text

 

[gunbo13]

Chihayafuru (ep3-5)

I now realize that I have no soul. As I'm catching up, I can only think that it would be better if Chihaya had some kind of rack and that all the crying is annoying. I also was more focused on imaging Karuta mis-pronounced like saying Naruta. Sort of like how a die-hard Naruto fan would say the name wrong with their dying breath; "Narruutaaahhhhh...X_X". Oh and what glasses's shirt meant with the "ER". I'm thinking "Emergency Ride" giving a poignant meaning to the ending of ep5. Poetic, just like Naruta.

Yep, no soul.

 

[Steroyd]

I think its more the fact that the first thing i ever posted in this community was an anti-loli spiel

It's that you'd make a brushing statement of an opinion, someone refutes it, you can't be bothered substantiating your own opinion so it's "not my problem" of an argument anymore then play the victim of everyone ganging up on you.

 

[RurouniZel]

I like some tsunderes, it has to be a tsundere done right. Like Charlotte.

Wait wait waaaaait. Charlotte's a tsundere now? Since when? I always thought she was pretty damn forward with Ichika, everything just short of saying it out loud.

 

[Ezalc]

Chihayafuru (ep3-5)

I now realize that I have no soul. As I'm catching up, I can only think that it would be better if Chihaya had some kind of rack and that all the crying is annoying. I also was more focused on imaging Karuta mis-pronounced like saying Naruta. Sort of like how a die-hard Naruto fan would say the name wrong with their dying breath; "Narruutaaahhhhh...X_X". Oh and what glasses's shirt meant with the "ER". I'm thinking "Emergency Ride" giving a poignant meaning to the ending of ep5. Poetic, just like Naruta.

Yep, no soul.

All this time I thought Chihaya had boobs, it took until like the sleepover episode or something for me to see that Kana has bigger ones than her.

Wait wait waaaaait. Charlotte's a tsundere now? Since when? I always thought she was pretty damn forward with Ichika, everything just short of saying it out loud.

People here said she was slightly tsundere or am I remembering wrong?

 

[dimb]

Chihayafuru (ep3-5)
Poetic, just like Naruta.

Yep, no soul.

Well the latest episode features a Naruto shirt. Maybe you're on to something.

 

[Articalys]

This pic is all wrong,it's Tadakuni whose supposed to wear the skirt.

This is true, but I guess the picture is based on one of the ending images from the Nicovideo previews.

 

[survivor]

Daily Lives of Highschool Boy 1

Its funny but it looked shitty. Oh well

 

[cajunator]

charles was not tsundere at all.
She is more Dandere if anything.

 

[Branduil]

Protip: Sarcasm works better when you have an established viewpoint to contrast it to, or otherwise people think that's what you believe.

It's important. Otherwise people won't realize you really do love Earth Maiden Arjuna.

 

[RurouniZel]

People here said she was slightly tsundere or am I remembering wrong?

Hmmmmmm I guess that depends on your definition. Sure, she doesn't come out and SAY it, but she doesn't exactly deny her affection or anything. The closest she gets to tsundere is "Ichika no ecchi", which at times is playful. The rest of the cast, definitely tsundere.

Anyhoo.

Daily Lives of High School Boys 01:

A winner for the most part. Has a very School Rumble feel to the pacing (same director). Some skits were miss (didn't care for the skirt skit), but the riverbed skit was hilarious! XD

Will keep watching.

 

[Ezalc]

charles was not tsundere at all.
She is more Dandere if anything.

Never heard of a dandere before.

 

[Hitokage]

It's important. Otherwise people won't realize you really do love Earth Maiden Arjuna.

I honestly don't hate the show, weirdly enough. I just happen to also love mocking it.

 

[cajunator]

Finally resumed CCS after playing some Zelda.
On episode 8 now.

Spoiler

a challenger appears!

Also, CATGIRL SAKURA. HNNNNGH

 

[Ezalc]

I honestly don't hate the show, weirdly enough. I just happen to also love mocking it.

So you're a masochist?

 

[Hellsing321]

I like some tsunderes, it has to be a tsundere done right. Like Charlotte.

So the best tsunderes aren't tsundere.

Edit: typing that out makes me realize how stupid anime nomenclature has become.

 

[Branduil]

I honestly don't hate the show, weirdly enough. I just happen to also love mocking it.

Why would you hate a show that exposes such important truths about our modern society?

 

[RurouniZel]

Finally resumed CCS after playing some Zelda.
On episode 8 now.

Spoiler

a challenger appears!

Also, CATGIRL SAKURA. HNNNNGH

Yeeeees. Yeeeeeeeeees! Let the hnnnnnnng take you in!

 

[Jintor]

You guys always make me so enthusiastic to watch more anime.

 

[Dedication Through Light]

Another ep 1

Most memorable moment was "Goodbye, Sa-ka-ki-ba-ra-kun". Otherwise it was just so many moments where it seemed characters wanted to say something but didnt. I started getting mad after while because of this but stayed until the end. I hope its all explained next episode. The ending theme is lovely, opening theme is annoying.

Music in the anime is odd, its like it trys put it in the horror mood but comes, oddly timed? Though I did jump out my seat in one scene.

Spoiler

the elevator scene when Mei appeared behind Sakakibara

 

[Jintor]

Woah, I didn't even recognise uChip without him being bright orange.

 

[Uchip]

Woah, I didn't even recognise uChip without him being bright orange.

I was eating a lot of carrots at the time

 

[cajunator]

Charles might just be deredere.
I said she is dandere because she is really shy.

 

[Defuser]

Never heard of a dandere before.

I have to google what it is since I only know 3 which is Tsun,Yan and Kuu.

 

[Branduil]

because it's easier!

What does it say when that just may be the most quotable show of the last decade?

So many lines that can apply to any situation.

 

[RurouniZel]

Charles might just be deredere.
I said she is dandere because she is really shy.

She's just deredere. She's not particularly shy per say, only when Ichika first discovers her "secret", and when

Spoiler

she pulls him into the changing room without thinking it through.

that I can think of. Otherwise she's not especially shy that I recall.

 

[DrForester]

Finally resumed CCS after playing some Zelda.
On episode 8 now.

Spoiler

a challenger appears!

Also, CATGIRL SAKURA. HNNNNGH

In a show full of hnggg, that really was a cheap shot by CLAMP.

 

[Defuser]

Basically all girls except german girl in IS acts awkward towards Ichika. Hell, any girl who falls in love for the MC will get awkward. It's a trope(?) or whatever it is.

 

[Ezalc]

So the best tsunderes aren't tsundere.

Edit: typing that out makes me realize how stupid anime nomenclature has become.

Clearly this is the point I was trying to get at. I mean what would Mitsuru from P3 be? She's not a tsundere and she doesn't act like an ojou-sama but she's hard to get like a tsundere.

 

[RurouniZel]

Clearly this is the point I was trying to get at. I mean what would Mitsuru from P3 be? She's not a tsundere and she doesn't act like an ojou-sama but she's hard to get like a tsundere.

A kuudere?

 

[KuwabaraTheMan]

Usagi Drop 7:
This episode was a good change of pace from the previous episodes, focusing more around marriage than on the child raising (but still looking at how marriage affects that). Haruko's situation doesn't feel that uncommon, and I thought she came across as a more fleshed out character this time around. Also, those kids are just so precocious.

 

[cajunator]

CCS 9

The bombardment of cuteness soldiers on.
some dangerous moments for Sakura.
Clow cards are assholes.
I really love the dynamic of Sakura using card abilities she has captured in order to defeat new ones.

 

[Ezalc]

A kuudere?

Eh I think she's only a slight kuudere.

 

[RurouniZel]

CCS 9

The bombardment of cuteness soldiers on.
some dangerous moments for Sakura.
Clow cards are assholes.
I really love the dynamic of Sakura using card abilities she has captured in order to defeat new ones.

It's a crying shame they never made a good RPG with CCS, they could have sold millions if they made a good one.

Eh I think she's only a slight kuudere.

Thus the question mark; I wasn't entirely sure myself. ^^;

 

[cajunator]

Another humble show recommendation for the moe inclined.

 

[iavi]

they all have keyfaces.

 

[NewFresh]

Papa no Iu Koto wo Kikinasai!

Nope

 

[RurouniZel]

Papa no Iu Koto wo Kikinasai!

Nope

That gif... oh god my eyes! They're BLEEDING!!

 

[Ezalc]

Thus the question mark; I wasn't entirely sure myself. ^^;

Nice to see you living up to your tag!

 

[Branduil]

Papa no Iu Koto wo Kikinasai!

[IM]http://i.imgur.com/T3tYx.gif[/IMG]

Nope

 

[wonzo]

Papa no Iu Koto wo Kikinasai!

Nope

ahahhaha

 

[RurouniZel]

Nice to see you living up to your tag!

Asking questions is what I do. Actually that's why I have to pay to take Japanese lessons instead of just buying a book or two. It's a lot more expensive, but I can't ask a book a question. >_<

 

[Ezalc]

Asking questions is what I do. Actually that's why I have to pay to take Japanese lessons instead of just buying a book or two. It's a lot more expensive, but I can't ask a book a question. >_<

You're taking Japanese lessons? Is it going well?

 

[Branduil]

The kid in that gif just looks like some sort of freakish midget rather than an actual child.

 

[dimb]

The kid in that gif just looks like some sort of freakish midget rather than an actual child.

Well the three year old girl in the show is so bluntly moed up she looks like an alien. Maybe aliens invaded and took the place of all the children in the world and nobody noticed.

 

[NewFresh]

The kid in that gif just looks like some sort of freakish midget rather than an actual child.

He is a full grown man, just really far away. It's an optical illusion.

 

[Femmeworth]

Papa no Iu Koto wo Kikinasai!

Nope

CGI pedestrians is one of the worst trends lately. First cars, now this. :|