Mawaru Penguin Drum 15
I'm not one hundred percent sure of what to think of this anymore. The show has gone along, and while the dramatic elements, the dealing with loss, the joy and shame of family, and caring for those you love, are all very strong elements in conjuncture with most of the comedy, I have the suspicion that it has gone too far in this episode. For a good deal of time, the naive narrators, the off-kilter first person narrative elements, and the strong dissonance between the "perceived" and the "real" all provide powerful and thoughtful narrative progression, never using the comedic too exploitatively in supporting the dramatic. Episode 14 came very uncomfortably close, with the option to play it off for laughs instead of getting too heavy on the drama side, but now, well, like I said, I'm just not very sure what to think.
I simply want to know one thing:
how do they juxtapose the very manipulative, sadistic, and cruel childhood (sexual? probably sexual) physical abuse of Yuri by her own damned father no less, with the ridiculous and over-the-top intrusions by Shouta and Masako?
I mean, this show is already deceptive. It's already the sort of show where you doubt something actually happens. It's the show where it takes a minute to be sure they won't be "Just kidding! The character was just imagining it!" It's the fun kind of deceptive where the comedy and drama will hit harder because you weren't sure of what to make of it at first. But this? This just leaves a bad taste in my mouth. It feels exploitative and unnecessary, like that uncle who trashily hit on your high school prom date.
If it were earlier in the show, this would be enough for me to drop it right here. It's pretty rare I see something in such distaste. But it's almost at the end, and since it's delivered so much already on different fronts, it's enough for me to give it the benefit of the doubt. I sincerely hope it can redeem itself. :|
The hot spring scenes in episodes 14 and 15 are the lowest point of the show. I don't even know what they were trying to go for there, but it didn't work, whatever it was. It gets much better immediately, don't worry.
Darn so it will conclude with Yuu Yanase left with no one, ugh. Thats just tragic, I guess it isnt even covered in the manga, so I have no way of finding out what happens to him (unless they give more OVA's I guess).
Mawaru Penguin Drum 15
I'm not one hundred percent sure of what to think of this anymore. The show has gone along, and while the dramatic elements, the dealing with loss, the joy and shame of family, and caring for those you love, are all very strong elements in conjuncture with most of the comedy, I have the suspicion that it has gone too far in this episode. For a good deal of time, the naive narrators, the off-kilter first person narrative elements, and the strong dissonance between the "perceived" and the "real" all provide powerful and thoughtful narrative progression, never using the comedic too exploitatively in supporting the dramatic. Episode 14 came very uncomfortably close, with the option to play it off for laughs instead of getting too heavy on the drama side, but now, well, like I said, I'm just not very sure what to think.
I simply want to know one thing:
how do they juxtapose the very manipulative, sadistic, and cruel childhood (sexual? probably sexual) physical abuse of Yuri by her own damned father no less, with the ridiculous and over-the-top intrusions by Shouta and Masako?
I mean, this show is already deceptive. It's already the sort of show where you doubt something actually happens. It's the show where it takes a minute to be sure they won't be "Just kidding! The character was just imagining it!" It's the fun kind of deceptive where the comedy and drama will hit harder because you weren't sure of what to make of it at first. But this? This just leaves a bad taste in my mouth. It feels exploitative and unnecessary, like that uncle who trashily hit on your high school prom date.
If it were earlier in the show, this would be enough for me to drop it right here. It's pretty rare I see something in such distaste. But it's almost at the end, and since it's delivered so much already on different fronts, it's enough for me to give it the benefit of the doubt. I sincerely hope it can redeem itself. :|
If it were earlier in the show, this would be enough for me to drop it right here. It's pretty rare I see something in such distaste. But it's almost at the end, and since it's delivered so much already on different fronts, it's enough for me to give it the benefit of the doubt. I sincerely hope it can redeem itself. :|
Mawaru Penguin Drum 16
Ah, the "Mr. President, Watch out!" episode... the entire reason I started this. So... strange that it came after being ready to be over with MPD altogether. It hasn't redeemed itself, not yet. It was amusing and funny, but even more so this show's identity crisis continues, setting up the serious "uncanny" with the comedic "real". An interesting combination, and when not too harshly contrasted, quite enjoyable, but I feel like this show is going to fall off the deep end. The Drama Creep (the drama equivalent of the Power Creep) reared it's ugly head last episode, so how can I trust it not to come back up again? I shall continue with my grim task because on an episode by episode basis, I do enjoy it (sans 15), and even in the larger picture it's interesting. It's just that MPD just doesn't seem to know what it wants to be, and it shows, and it's... sort of sad.
This show would be a lot better if Narukami just responded to everything by making an origami crane. Would keep with the spirit of the game what with being a silent protagonist and all.
Mawaru Penguin Drum 17
Alright, to whoever told me that I could just forget episode 15, I officially loath you. The necessity of the plot points in that episode came up pretty strongly in this episode. There's some interest in
Tabuki and Yuri's revenge vendettas against the Takakura family
, but the reminders from episode 15 continue to weigh down on the show. So sad that a star so bright, if flickering, should be shrouded in such a manner. Perhaps it was, dare I say, fate?
Mawaru Penguin Drum 17
Alright, to whoever told me that I could just forget episode 15, I officially loath you. The necessity of the plot points in that episode came up pretty strongly in this episode. There's some interest in
Tabuki and Yuri's revenge vendettas against the Takakura family
, but the reminders from episode 15 continue to weigh down on the show. So sad that a star so bright, if flickering, should be shrouded in such a manner. Perhaps it was, dare I say, fate?
before anyone gets to uppity. I enjoy these type or arguments because its interesting in terms of language and author intent. Sena makes little sense in english and Meat is correct but sounds way harsher than probably intended by the author or Yozora.
K-ON! is saving anime because anime needs to be saved from financial irrelevance. MPD is not doing this. There are many shows and movies out there that maintain anime's professional/academic relevance, one need not have a loss leader like that every season. Mawaru Penguin Drum is not fated to save anime. It tries, it tries so hard, but it will not save anime. That is fate, and changing fate, especially past the half-way point, is oh so difficult.
That said:
Mawaru Penguin Drum 18
Now that's more like it, albeit only an improvement to "average". It was very evenly paced, hit all its drama notes, the penguins served their goofy purpose without overwhelming the purpose of the episode, the "perception elements" were quite competently done. The idea of
the Child Broiler was a well thought out and sensitive approach to the issue of childhood neglect, and they didn't bring it down with unnecessary humor either!
And still, I have not, and do not expect a grand redeeming moment. My issue is systemic and at the core of show's structure. All they have left is to try and salvage it, though I don't think they'll fully redeem their style. We'll see where it goes from here...
I don't understand why they shortened it like that, at least with Bokutomo I can at least match Boku and Tomodachi because the title practically begins with those words and wouldn't think it as something completely different like I just did with Haganai to this point, same case with Ore Imouto = Oreimo, and Ano Hana.
That being said because it's official you won't have problems finding it but still...