Welcome to the NHK / NHKにようこそ

[something]

I didn't see a thread for this, unless it's not labeled with "NHK" anywhere in the title, which would be weird.

So, I'm finishing up episode one right now, and my reaction is just... "wow". For some reason I had no intention of watching this show. I wasn't even going to check out one episode. I can't remember why not. Heck, I probably had it confused with something else, because there's nothing about the premise that would turn me off.

So, I'm glad I did check an episode out, because it was... surreal. From his unrelenting descent into bishoujo-jpop-crap-induced insanity to his obsessing about "conspiracies", this kept my greatly amused for the first half.

And then we met Misaki. She's... cute. No, she's startlingly adorable. She's... a masturbating nun XD (ok, maybe only in Satou's fantasy)

I have no idea what it is about her that makes her so striking (there's nothing outlandish or even unusual about her design), but the second she came on screen I was absolutely taken aback. And then I started wondering if perhaps she was going to be a silent type. But far from that, I get a definite feel of clever, "evil grin" inducing devious intent. I so can't wait to see just how she plans on converting hikikomori /images/graemlins/sweat000.gif

I very much look forward to the next episode and... more Misaki!

[Gatts]

One thing to keep in mind is everyone in this show has issues. It's what makes them so interesting... or disturbing. Take your pick. /images/graemlins/happy.gif

[jlazar]

Going in, I sort of thought it was some kind of TV/Radio broadcasting story (I assumed the 'NHK' refered to the tv/radio network. But it became somewhat clear that it wasn't going to be very quickly.

Shows promise.

And, yeah, I was hooked from the very moment she appeared, too.

[Ty]

I had no intention of watching this either, but this is at least the fourth time I've read a reaction like this to it. Now curiosity compels me to take a look. /images/graemlins/happy.gif

[masterpez]

My most anticipated show of the new season. I was expecting some of the content to be toned down in the conversion, and it has slightly (no visable nudity so far), but not to the degree that I feared... With only 5 volumes of manga out, I don't think the series will be that long, and doubt they'll cover some of the more hillarious, yet disturbing material in the manga. Chapter 2 is a likely candidate to be skipped (Welcome to the Lolita /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif). Well, I've seen ep 1 thrice, so I definitely enjoy it. I hope the pururin song is on the ost (it's grown on me). >.>

[jlazar]

[ QUOTE ]
pez said:
My most anticipated show of the new season. I was expecting some of the content to be toned down in the conversion, and it has slightly (no visable nudity so far), but not to the degree that I feared... With only 5 volumes of manga out, I don't think the series will be that long, and doubt they'll cover some of the more hillarious, yet disturbing material in the manga. Chapter 2 is a likely candidate to be skipped (Welcome to the Lolita /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif). Well, I've seen ep 1 thrice, so I definitely enjoy it. I hope the pururin song is on the ost (it's grown on me). >.>

[/ QUOTE ]

Anyone have any idea when is Tokyopop is going to start releasing the manga?

[masterpez]

[ QUOTE ]
Jim Lazar said:
Anyone have any idea when is Tokyopop is going to start releasing the manga?

[/ QUOTE ]

According to this (http://tokyopop.com/dbpage.php?page=product&productid=4051), it'll be out on October 10th.

[something]

[ QUOTE ]
pez said:
I hope the pururin song is on the ost (it's grown on me). >.>

[/ QUOTE ]
Like a head crab planting eggs in your brain =P

[Lego]

I usually don't say this about anime characters, but Satou pisses me off. Yep, out of all the anime characters in the world, Satou rivals Sei's level from Peach Girl for me. For me, he expresses everything that is wrong with anime fandom in general. Yet, I can't seem to turn my head away from the screen. It's like watching a train wreck in slow motion, only to see how bad it's.

[something]

[ QUOTE ]
Lego said:
I usually don't say this about anime characters, but Satou pisses me off. Yep, out of all the anime characters in the world, Satou rivals Sei's level from Peach Girl for me.

[/ QUOTE ]
Wow.

...Really?

Is that just based on one episode, or have you read the manga or something? I agree that he's certainly a loser to start, but that seemed to be the whole premise of the show. And now he wants to change. Or at least, he made an effort, and now hopefully will be able to follow through, with Misaki's, er, "help".

I guess I'm just surprised you'd have such a strong negative reaction to him so quickly.

[Lego]

A little of both really. I make my way around the anime blogs(I like reading articles and etc.) and I just get that general consensus of "ugh, I hate this guy". If he becomes "better" during the series, then great, I'll support him. But it was almost a instant reaction towards this guy. It's something where I guess one is supposed to feel sorry for him, but I have no sympathy for Satou.

But like I said, that is where the manga and show are brilliant. While you could hate Satou's guts, something makes you want to keep coming back and seeing just what this guy is going to do next.

[Ty]

Well, I've watched it now. I have no idea why, but it was awesome. For some reason. It just was.

Also, Misaki is incredible. I've always found Gonzo's animation style to be at odds with cute girl character designs. Something about the digital look makes the faces seem barren and unemotional/fake to me. I don't feel that way this time, and she looks simply adorable. Judging by the end of the episode there might be a bit of deviousness mixed in with that adorable side too.

[something]

First off, the musical piece that began this episode and ended last episode is... amazing. It's nothing unique or new or particularly impressive if you get down to it, but it fit the mood sooooo well. In fact, I just really like the BGM for this show in general.

Satou's delusional daydreams are going to own this show XD Particularly when they involve Misaki >_>

Oh man, the scene where he meets her the second night and gives all sorts of excuses/lies about why he's not a hikkikomori is good stuff. Even better is Misaki's utterly unflappable personality, and how she doesn't buy it for a second XD

Hey Lego, do you still hate Satou now? I think his reaction around Yamazaki was pretty admirable, especially for someone who has had little to no human contact until now. Hell, he seemed like the normal one in all that /images/graemlins/sweat000.gif Sure he's still in denial with Misaki, but if he gave in and changed right away, we wouldn't have a show /images/graemlins/sweat000.gif

And besides, she IS pretty nuts. Normal people don't write up contracts like that... and she has an, er, unusual hobby /images/graemlins/sweat000.gif

Vigilante social worker, you could say =P

Oh and, of course, you just know this whole scenario, down to the second, is going exactly as she's planned. There's just no way she isn't in complete control. And that makes me love her even more.

And since I can't mention this show without saying it... GODDAMNIT SHE'S SO REDICULOUSLY ADORABLE @#*(&(*!#!@

[kaiyouske]

Ok, I just watched the first epside of this show because of these ..... comments. The whole time I was watching the show it was pretty much 3 letters for me: WTF. In the end it was still WTF, but the ending song.....oh my, was so damn hilarious. I guess I'll have to watch ep2 just for the ending song.... /images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[masterpez]

Best part of episode 2 for me was when Satou <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>starts singing the pururin song</span>. I find myself <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>unknowingly singing songs that I hate</span>, so that made it really funny to watch.

[BluWacky]

I hated the manga.

I'm loving the anime so far.

This is odd.

Perhaps my reaction will change again with episode 3; I found Satou's <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>descent into eroge making and lolicon fetishes</span> too depressing in the manga, although the anime looks like <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>it'll be cutting out the lolicon, which is a step in the right direction I guess</span>.

I think I'm also looking at the anime very differently; I read the manga thinking it would be a comedy, but I'm viewing the anime much more as a drama; I don't find it funny, I find it depressing but intriguing.

Yamazaki embodies the worst things about fandom, and I think that's partly what I dislike about the story; I'm never totally sure if we're supposed to laugh at him, with him, or something else. I suppose it's good that NHK can provoke such conflicting reactions, but I don't like being so confused; that's what Ergo Proxy's for /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

Episode 2 shows signs of Speed Grapher-ism aka off-model faces and dodgy animation, but I hope it doesn't get GONZO-ed into oblivion. Very promising so far.

[Gatts]

[ QUOTE ]
BluWacky said:
the anime looks like <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>it'll be cutting out the lolicon, which is a step in the right direction I guess</span>.

[/ QUOTE ]

That is unfortunate since you don't know how messed up things get for him until you see him in the park. <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>Heck, he doesn't even know how messed up he is until he realizes what he's doing in the park.</span>

[Lego]

[ QUOTE ]
Hey Lego, do you still hate Satou now? I think his reaction around Yamazaki was pretty admirable, especially for someone who has had little to no human contact until now. Hell, he seemed like the normal one in all that Sure he's still in denial with Misaki, but if he gave in and changed right away, we wouldn't have a show

[/ QUOTE ]

Heh, while I'm enjoying the show, I still don't like Satou as a main character. I still feel that they're trying to make you pity him, which is something that I won't do heh. Although I can't seem to stop watching, as it's like watching a train wreck in slow motion.

[meryl]

I'm finding the reactions here very interesting. You see, having watched the first episode, I found Satou's situation terribly sad and not all that unrealistic. Having had a paranoid schizophrenic, antisocial family member (now deceased), I was recognizing a lot of his behaviors. I need to see episode 2 now.

[Jumbo]

[ QUOTE ]
Gatts said:
[ QUOTE ]
BluWacky said:
the anime looks like <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>it'll be cutting out the lolicon, which is a step in the right direction I guess</span>.

[/ QUOTE ]

That is unfortunate since you don't know how messed up things get for him until you see him in the park. <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>Heck, he doesn't even know how messed up he is until he realizes what he's doing in the park.</span>

[/ QUOTE ]

Or the fact that <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>he can't seem to stop himself even when Misaki is standing right next to him... That was a great way to end a chapter IMO. </span> /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

[masterpez]

This was definitely the best episode yet. Yamazaki introduces Satou to ero-games by giving him a few to sample. Satou becomes obsessed with them after learning tips on how to get to naughty scenes. Yamazaki then brings over his secret stash of naughty images that he's gathered from the net, which triggers Satou to become a pervert....or "lolicon" as Misaki calls him, after catching him in the bushes taking pictures of little girls exiting the school. I wonder how many people out there can relate to things that happen in this episode. /images/graemlins/sweat200.gif /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif Satou was hoping that seeing himself in this state would cause him hate himself and therefore, start to change. We'll see how well that goes.

[something]

There wasn't enough Misaki in this episode, but when she did appear it was... such awesome timing XD And she's as calm and collected as always!

At any rate, Yamazaki has created a monster... a monster he could not have fathomed XD And What a hilarious transformation it was. Yamazaki's speech about the glory of the erogame market was great enough, but Satou's reaction to his first dabblings in that world were disturbingly good. This show has so much style, and it's not used at the expense of substance. I can't wait to find out what Misaki's project really inviolves (aside from what's already happened, because I'm still convinced it's all part of her diabolical scheme) /images/graemlins/sweat000.gif

It should be very interesting to see what role Satou's old high school friend plays in all this. Megumi, was it? Will she be a love interest of some sort? A collaborator in the project? A rival with Misaki? So many possibilities, and I can't wait to see what happens XD

This may be the best currently running show, aside from School Rumble S2.

P.S.:Misaki is adorable!

[Gatts]

[ QUOTE ]
pez said:
which triggers Satou to become a pervert....or "lolicon" as Misaki calls him, after catching him in the bushes taking pictures of little girls exiting the school.

[/ QUOTE ]

I believe there was a song made about this situation:

Sitting on a park bench
eyeing up little girls
with bad intent.
Snot running down his nose
greasy fingers smearing shabby clothes.
Drying in the cold sun
Watching as the frilly panties run.
Feeling like a dead duck
spitting out pieces of his broken luck.

[golthin]

[ QUOTE ]
disarm said:
It should be very interesting to see what role Satou's old high school friend plays in all this. Megumi, was it? Will she be a love interest of some sort? A collaborator in the project? A rival with Misaki? So many possibilities, and I can't wait to see what happens XD

This may be the best currently running show, aside from School Rumble S2.

P.S.:Misaki is adorable!

[/ QUOTE ]
I can't wait for Satou's senpai to get back in his life.
She will probably make a big impact on him, she seems to be working in a cosplay cafe.

[jlazar]

Well, they went to Akihabara (although i dont' think they called it by name) and I had some serious flashbacks to some of my visits there. Shopping and maid cafes... I need to goto Japan again. /images/graemlins/happy.gif


Anyway, besides the trip to otaku paradise, the animation seems to have changed from the first three episodes.

Not sure I can call it 'worse', but it has changed. Very angular drawing and character styles. Even the three main characters have shifted.

Some scenes almost looked like the very angular chracters found in Windy Tales. That look worked for that show, but not sure I like it here. Maybe some of the same people worked on NHk and Windy Tales?

Not sure if the shift in animation is due to new production people, trying to scrimp on budget, or some other reason, but I wonder if it'll continue.

This show has been a lot of ups and down for me.

Ep 1 grabbed me.
Ep 2 almost made me run away.
Ep 3 grabbed me again.
Ep 4 was good, but the animation change is kind fo offputting...

[golthin]

[ QUOTE ]
Jim Lazar said:
Well, they went to Akihabara (although i dont' think they called it by name) and I had some serious flashbacks to some of my visits there. Shopping and maid cafes... I need to goto Japan again. /images/graemlins/happy.gif


Anyway, besides the trip to otaku paradise, the animation seems to have changed from the first three episodes.

Not sure I can call it 'worse', but it has changed. Very angular drawing and character styles. Even the three main characters have shifted.

Some scenes almost looked like the very angular chracters found in Windy Tales. That look worked for that show, but not sure I like it here. Maybe some of the same people worked on NHk and Windy Tales?

Not sure if the shift in animation is due to new production people, trying to scrimp on budget, or some other reason, but I wonder if it'll continue.

This show has been a lot of ups and down for me.

Ep 1 grabbed me.
Ep 2 almost made me run away.
Ep 3 grabbed me again.
Ep 4 was good, but the animation change is kind fo offputting...

[/ QUOTE ]
If it was not for the animation, this show would rock much more. The story is very good, but they need to get their act together in the animation department. I am looking forward for the next episode.

[something]

"This is the pride of Japan's culture, a maid cafe." Hah. This show almost makes me wish I'd seen Genshiken, what with the focus on exploring the basis of Japanese "otaku" culture. It's pretty crazy to see how quickly Satou goes from knowing almost nothing about bishoujo games to being completely obsessed, but it's done well. Yamazaki is the ultimate pusher, getting Satou addicted with almost no effort. And getting him to spend money... XD

As for their creation, well, sickly childhood friend maid alien spirit time traveler fox-girl huh? Ahaha, so rediculous.

But... yeah... what the hell happened to the animation? It just got awkward and less detailed and I really didn't like it. I really hope they fix that asap, or at the very least clean it up for the DVD release. Also, no Misaki this episode =( But we did get to meet Satou's sempai (keep forgetting her name), for a moment anyway.

Episode 5 looks like it's set up to be pretty damn awesome... The old friend wants to meet him, and he starts his "counseling" with Misaki (who, in case you didn't know, is adorable =P). Definitely can't wait to see how all that develops.

[masterpez]

[ QUOTE ]
disarm said:
As for their creation, well, sickly childhood friend maid alien spirit time traveler fox-girl huh? Ahaha, so rediculous.

[/ QUOTE ]

It was even more rediculous in the manga, since the picture was different. I laughed for at least 5 whole minutes as what Yamazaki created was pretty much moe-moe frankenstein.

[Ty]

[ QUOTE ]
pez said:
[ QUOTE ]
disarm said:
As for their creation, well, sickly childhood friend maid alien spirit time traveler fox-girl huh? Ahaha, so rediculous.

[/ QUOTE ]

It was even more rediculous in the manga, since the picture was different. I laughed for at least 5 whole minutes as what Yamazaki created was pretty much moe-moe frankenstein.

[/ QUOTE ]

He just wants to be loved you know.

[Splitter]

[ QUOTE ]
Xcalibur said:
[ QUOTE ]
pez said:
[ QUOTE ]
disarm said:
As for their creation, well, sickly childhood friend maid alien spirit time traveler fox-girl huh? Ahaha, so rediculous.

[/ QUOTE ]

It was even more rediculous in the manga, since the picture was different. I laughed for at least 5 whole minutes as what Yamazaki created was pretty much moe-moe frankenstein.

[/ QUOTE ]

He just wants to be loved you know.

[/ QUOTE ]
Satou could have at least TRIED to come up with a scenario for her as well. You create the most technically-moe character ever and don't even give her a scenario? BAH! He doesn't deserve to be a creator! He should just give up and sign Misaki's contract! Cuz that means more Misaki, and more Misaki is always a good thing.

[Ty]

[ QUOTE ]
Splitter said:
[ QUOTE ]
Xcalibur said:
[ QUOTE ]
pez said:
[ QUOTE ]
disarm said:
As for their creation, well, sickly childhood friend maid alien spirit time traveler fox-girl huh? Ahaha, so rediculous.

[/ QUOTE ]

It was even more rediculous in the manga, since the picture was different. I laughed for at least 5 whole minutes as what Yamazaki created was pretty much moe-moe frankenstein.

[/ QUOTE ]

He just wants to be loved you know.

[/ QUOTE ]
Satou could have at least TRIED to come up with a scenario for her as well. You create the most technically-moe character ever and don't even give her a scenario? BAH! He doesn't deserve to be a creator! He should just give up and sign Misaki's contract! Cuz that means more Misaki, and more Misaki is always a good thing.

[/ QUOTE ]

*nods in total agreement* Misaki = moe. /images/graemlins/catgirl0.gif I kinda love the irony in that considering the show.

[golthin]

[ QUOTE ]
Xcalibur said:
[ QUOTE ]
Splitter said:
[ QUOTE ]
Xcalibur said:
[ QUOTE ]
pez said:
[ QUOTE ]
disarm said:
As for their creation, well, sickly childhood friend maid alien spirit time traveler fox-girl huh? Ahaha, so rediculous.

[/ QUOTE ]

It was even more rediculous in the manga, since the picture was different. I laughed for at least 5 whole minutes as what Yamazaki created was pretty much moe-moe frankenstein.

[/ QUOTE ]

He just wants to be loved you know.

[/ QUOTE ]
Satou could have at least TRIED to come up with a scenario for her as well. You create the most technically-moe character ever and don't even give her a scenario? BAH! He doesn't deserve to be a creator! He should just give up and sign Misaki's contract! Cuz that means more Misaki, and more Misaki is always a good thing.

[/ QUOTE ]

*nods in total agreement* Misaki = moe. /images/graemlins/catgirl0.gif I kinda love the irony in that considering the show.

[/ QUOTE ]

Hehe Spoiler for episode 5 <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>He does give up and sign the contract. So you and him think alike </span>
/images/graemlins/happy.gif

[something]

First things first: Animation fixed! Wahoo!! Vast improvement over the mess that was ep 4.

At any rate, episode 5 was what I've been waiting for. Not only do we get to meet Hitomi for real (I believe that was her name) and get a glimpse of some verrrry interesting things going on in the background there, we finally get the contract started!

I had wondered just what Misaki planned to do. Their first lecture was quite the eye opener. She's so eager, so energetic, so delighted to impart her knowledge that she's meticulously harvested and prepared. But she's also naive in a way, as Satou quickly notices and exploits, much to our amusement. Poor Misaki /images/graemlins/sweat000.gif

But still, that first meeting said a lot. Or at the very least, it implied that there was much that needs to be said about Misaki. She's trying so hard and seems to care so deeply about her self-imposed mission that it's almost a bit awkward to watch. It means a lot to her, and I really, really want to know why.

The biggest question is how in control of the situation she is. After watching episode 5, I was going to post something taking back my earlier comments that she knows exactly what's going to happen. But then after epsiode 6, that perception was restored again. She talks about Yamazaki's "girlfriend", knowing that Satou would go try to confirm it, and in the process he got outside. I just don't know what to think about her /images/graemlins/sweat000.gif Is she the naive but eager psych prof wannabe? Or I she the mysterious and devious puppeteer pulling Satou's strings from the shadows? Or maybe both /images/graemlins/sweat000.gif

Satou, for his part, owes her a lot already. Regardless of her intentions (or mental health /images/graemlins/sweat000.gif), she's cracked through numerous of his barriers and given him something to look forward to. He's dedicated to the galgame with Yamazaki, this time for honest and productive reasons, rather than as the raw material for an elaborate lie. He got to meet Hitomi again, and may soon have a means for pursuing a normal friendship with her, reigniting that which he lost four years ago. And he finally has a friend he can turn to with Yamazaki.

[something]

Damnit Satou, pay attention when adorable girls are offering to pretend to be your girlfriend! Not once, but twice! Anyway, he finally heard her (after being turned down by Hitomi, who seemed... otherwise occupied at the time), and accepted.

They went on a date first, so they wouldn't look quite as awkward when he had to act for his mother, and I'm glad they did. It was great to see them interact like that without the pressures of having to fool anyone else. He got antsy a few times, but she always kept him in line.

Then after they finish their date and are talking in the park, Satou brings up a good point: he knows nothing about her. He also thinks she doesn't much much about him, but then she spouts off all his personal information. She claims that he told her before, but he doesn't remember doing so, and he certainly never gave her his apartment phone number. So how did she get it? She's like some kind of megastalker. I wonder if she somehow knew Satou before all this... and if she used to be a hikikomori herself. Or maybe she's an agent of the N.H.K. sent to observe him... XD

Misaki continues to be mysterious in this episode, especially with her massive reluctance to talk about herself, and the lies she spouts when he presses her. Mysterious indeed, and I'm completely a sucker for it. Every scene with her, no matter how mundane, has my full attention. It's going to be so depressing to see this end soon... it's more than half over already =( Not nearly enough Misaki for me...

[golthin]

[ QUOTE ]
disarm said:
Damnit Satou, pay attention when adorable girls are offering to pretend to be your girlfriend! Not once, but twice! Anyway, he finally heard her (after being turned down by Hitomi, who seemed... otherwise occupied at the time), and accepted.


[/ QUOTE ]

Good thing Hitomi was busy, I think Satou's problems started from the day he met Hitomi at highschool. She is a complete nut case, more that Satou.

[hikaru004]

[ QUOTE ]
golthin said:
[ QUOTE ]
disarm said:
Damnit Satou, pay attention when adorable girls are offering to pretend to be your girlfriend! Not once, but twice! Anyway, he finally heard her (after being turned down by Hitomi, who seemed... otherwise occupied at the time), and accepted.


[/ QUOTE ]

Good thing Hitomi was busy, I think Satou's problems started from the day he met Hitomi at highschool. She is a complete nut case, more that Satou.

[/ QUOTE ]

I couldn't agree more. All this paranoid stuff can be linked to her and their high school years together. Look at her now on tons of psych meds, at least she is working. Hopefully, she is getting her act together.

I think that the majority of Misaki's info on him came from the resume that he left at that store. Parents' name and blood type requires some digging though. But since she is "treating" him, she needs to know this stuff.

He needs to know personal details about her only if he is seriously considering dating her imo. Of course, if he gets curious enough, he can follow her in the "outside world" and get rehabilitated faster.

[Lego]

While I agree, I actually like Hitomi heh. She seems to be an interesting(yet crazy) character.

[icelander]

Quite a few nice scenes in 8. Yamazaki's reaction to seeing Satou on top of Misaki is a laugh, as is the subtle craftiness of Satou's mother. Interesting change from the manga: <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>Misaki backs out from the kiss after being scared off by Satou's scary face (as he contemplates his first kiss in who knows how long, rather than being interrupted by his cell phone)</span>

BTW - Anyone else following this side-by-side with the manga? Unlike a lot of manga to anime adaptations, I'm really enjoying the anime despite/because of the differences. I like the anime Misaki more, I think. And, having just finished reading up to ch26 of the manga, the anime isn't leaving me feeling as depressed /images/graemlins/happy.gif

Some pictures from this episode Here (http://blog.jamesmason.id.au/wordpress/?p=25)

[golthin]

[ QUOTE ]
icelander said:
Quite a few nice scenes in 8. Yamazaki's reaction to seeing Satou on top of Misaki is a laugh, as is the subtle craftiness of Satou's mother. Interesting change from the manga: <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>Misaki backs out from the kiss after being scared off by Satou's scary face (as he contemplates his first kiss in who knows how long, rather than being interrupted by his cell phone)</span>

BTW - Anyone else following this side-by-side with the manga? Unlike a lot of manga to anime adaptations, I'm really enjoying the anime despite/because of the differences. I like the anime Misaki more, I think. And, having just finished reading up to ch26 of the manga, the anime isn't leaving me feeling as depressed /images/graemlins/happy.gif

Some pictures from this episode Here (http://blog.jamesmason.id.au/wordpress/?p=25)

[/ QUOTE ]
Well, last chapter of the manga was 26, I have not been able to find anymore. I wonder if they can cover all the manga material available in 13 episodes as they are right now about chapter 13 in the manga.

[icelander]

I'm already feeling a bit apprehensive as to where they're going to finish it. They're certainly not rushing things; the storylines so far have been well padded. For example, I felt for sure they would have squashed the content of Eps 7 &amp; 8 into a single ep.

The manga does get rather dark, rather quickly, so maybe they'll be keeping the anime a bit lighter. Roll on next episode, I say.




[ QUOTE ]
golthin said:
Well, last chapter of the manga was 26, I have not been able to find anymore. I wonder if they can cover all the manga material available in 13 episodes as they are right now about chapter 13 in the manga.

[/ QUOTE ]

[icelander]

Couple of sweet moments in this episode, I especially loved Yamazaki's sudden change of heart.

Brief summary and screencaps Here (http://blog.jamesmason.id.au/?p=34)

[something]

Man, how cute was Misaki trying to throw the soda/beer cans up into the loft? /images/graemlins/sweat000.gif She blew up the cute-o-meter this episode. And that pink thing she wore... it looked like a nightie, or underwear or something o_O Mmm sexy =D

But wow, it didn't take Satou long to fuck up in front of his mom. First meeting is a hello and dropping a stack of porn at her feet! Good job!

Anyway, somehow it looks like Misaki didn't anticipate being with Satou and his mom all day, even though she said she would pretend... or is she simply extra nervous because she's developing feelings for him? Either way, her nervousness was oh so cute~.

The mother was so suspicious from the start though, and made it known early. "You should know the location of a mole on his back"... Who says that? XD

Man, that wasn't cool of Satou to leave Misaki alone at the table with his mom. It's like Misaki is putting in all the effort, always being put on the spot. But in the end, his mother was never convinced to begin with, and calls the bluff in no time. Good thing she's an extremely nice and caring person /images/graemlins/sweat000.gif

But hey, forget all that... On to the "she's more developed than I thought" part of the episode =D And yes, yes she is. Arrrrgh she deserves better than him, but clearly there's a reason why she's so particular about Satou. Just as in trying to help him out of his rut, she's putting in all the effort here as well.

Episode nine looks like it will be interesting, with further focus on Satou/Misaki. "Want to go see the fireworks with me?" He damn well better =P

BTW, was this show always slated for 24 episodes (as ANN says)? Wasn't it originally 12 or 13? Am I mixing it up with something else? Either way of course, I wasn't aware it was going to be 24, but since it is... HELL YES!!

[something]

[ QUOTE ]
icelander said:
I'm already feeling a bit apprehensive as to where they're going to finish it. They're certainly not rushing things; the storylines so far have been well padded. For example, I felt for sure they would have squashed the content of Eps 7 &amp; 8 into a single ep.

[/ QUOTE ]
Ok, so I wasn't crazy in thinking this was supposed to be shorter.

But now, ANN lists 24 eps, and http://cal.syoboi.jp/tid/916/time lists 24 as well, with air dates and all. On tvk that it. It looks like all the other stations are only airinf 13 o_O

[icelander]

[ QUOTE ]
disarm said:
Man, how cute was Misaki trying to throw the soda/beer cans up into the loft? /images/graemlins/sweat000.gif She blew up the cute-o-meter this episode. And that pink thing she wore... it looked like a nightie, or underwear or something o_O Mmm sexy =D


[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, this was certainly a good episode for Misaki fans. I'm not sure if that was supposed to be a summer frock or something, but I thought it looked like a nightie too. She really is a cutie...

[ QUOTE ]

But wow, it didn't take Satou long to fuck up in front of his mom. First meeting is a hello and dropping a stack of porn at her feet! Good job!

Anyway, somehow it looks like Misaki didn't anticipate being with Satou and his mom all day, even though she said she would pretend... or is she simply extra nervous because she's developing feelings for him? Either way, her nervousness was oh so cute~.


[/ QUOTE ]

I thought she was giving off a bit of a hikkikomori vibe there -- having to re-assure herself. Which made me think, she only really interacts with Satou.

[ QUOTE ]

The mother was so suspicious from the start though, and made it known early. "You should know the location of a mole on his back"... Who says that? XD

Man, that wasn't cool of Satou to leave Misaki alone at the table with his mom. It's like Misaki is putting in all the effort, always being put on the spot. But in the end, his mother was never convinced to begin with, and calls the bluff in no time. Good thing she's an extremely nice and caring person /images/graemlins/sweat000.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

You wouldn't want to do him any favors, would you? First he leaves Misaki hanging, and then he has poor Yamizaki sitting at home all day waiting for his mother's call.

[ QUOTE ]

But hey, forget all that... On to the "she's more developed than I thought" part of the episode =D And yes, yes she is. Arrrrgh she deserves better than him, but clearly there's a reason why she's so particular about Satou. Just as in trying to help him out of his rut, she's putting in all the effort here as well.


[/ QUOTE ]

What's the saying about birds of a feather flocking together? She seems to be comfortable around him because he's an even bigger lunatic then she is /images/graemlins/happy.gif

[ QUOTE ]

Episode nine looks like it will be interesting, with further focus on Satou/Misaki. "Want to go see the fireworks with me?" He damn well better =P

BTW, was this show always slated for 24 episodes (as ANN says)? Wasn't it originally 12 or 13? Am I mixing it up with something else? Either way of course, I wasn't aware it was going to be 24, but since it is... HELL YES!!

[/ QUOTE ]

Geez, I sure hope so. Or if not, then a quickly announced season 2 would be good.

[something]

[ QUOTE ]
icelander said:
I thought she was giving off a bit of a hikkikomori vibe there -- having to re-assure herself. Which made me think, she only really interacts with Satou.

[/ QUOTE ]
Yeah, I've been convinced for awhile now that she's either a hiki herself, or used to be. She has a job and doesn't freak out when around most people, so I'm betting on the latter (used to be). It would explain her intense interest in the psychological aspects of the phenomenon as well. As for why she was so nervous around Satou's mom, I pinned that on her feelings for Satou. Faking a relationship with someone you like has got to be nerve wracking. And then having to meet their mother... /images/graemlins/sweat000.gif

Aside from the initial introduction and the interrogation at the dinenr table, she seemed comfortable enough around Satou's mom. She sat there on the train with her pleasantly conversing about what restaurant to visit, for example.

[ QUOTE ]
What's the saying about birds of a feather flocking together? She seems to be comfortable around him because he's an even bigger lunatic then she is /images/graemlins/happy.gif

[/ QUOTE ]
I'm sooooo looking forward to finding out just how fucked up she is...

...IN BED.

Er I mean, I want to see what a nut she is because I'm convinced it'll only make me love her more. Every ounce of strangeness makes her that much cuter.

[ QUOTE ]
Geez, I sure hope so. Or if not, then a quickly announced season 2 would be good.

[/ QUOTE ]
Like I said in a later post, it seems like just one station is set to air 24. Cable/pay-per only maybe? There are like 4-5 other stations presently set to air 13, unless that site is just behind or something.

[golthin]

[ QUOTE ]
disarm said:
Man, how cute was Misaki trying to throw the soda/beer cans up into the loft? /images/graemlins/sweat000.gif She blew up the cute-o-meter this episode. And that pink thing she wore... it looked like a nightie, or underwear or something o_O Mmm sexy =D

But wow, it didn't take Satou long to fuck up in front of his mom. First meeting is a hello and dropping a stack of porn at her feet! Good job!

Anyway, somehow it looks like Misaki didn't anticipate being with Satou and his mom all day, even though she said she would pretend... or is she simply extra nervous because she's developing feelings for him? Either way, her nervousness was oh so cute~.

The mother was so suspicious from the start though, and made it known early. "You should know the location of a mole on his back"... Who says that? XD

Man, that wasn't cool of Satou to leave Misaki alone at the table with his mom. It's like Misaki is putting in all the effort, always being put on the spot. But in the end, his mother was never convinced to begin with, and calls the bluff in no time. Good thing she's an extremely nice and caring person /images/graemlins/sweat000.gif

But hey, forget all that... On to the "she's more developed than I thought" part of the episode =D And yes, yes she is. Arrrrgh she deserves better than him, but clearly there's a reason why she's so particular about Satou. Just as in trying to help him out of his rut, she's putting in all the effort here as well.

Episode nine looks like it will be interesting, with further focus on Satou/Misaki. "Want to go see the fireworks with me?" He damn well better =P

BTW, was this show always slated for 24 episodes (as ANN says)? Wasn't it originally 12 or 13? Am I mixing it up with something else? Either way of course, I wasn't aware it was going to be 24, but since it is... HELL YES!!

[/ QUOTE ]Last thing I heard was 12-13 episodes. I don't know how they are going to pull 24 episodes, probably a lot of original material. IT also could be the ANN is wrong.

[something]

[ QUOTE ]
golthin said:
Last thing I heard was 12-13 episodes. I don't know how they are going to pull 24 episodes, probably a lot of original material. IT also could be the ANN is wrong.

[/ QUOTE ]
You didnt need to quote my whole post for that =P Anyway, refer to my post here (http://forums.animeondvd.com/showthreaded.php?Cat=1&amp;Number=1422846&amp;page=0&amp;view= collapsed&amp;sb=5&amp;o=&amp;vc=1). One station definitely has 24 listed. I don't know why the others don't.

And if they need a "lot" of original material to go past 13 episodes, then I have to wonder how badly rushed the ending of the manga is. Because, crap, 13 episodes means 5 eps left including 9, and there's so, so very much more that I expect to happen than can fit in 5 episodes. Like I said, it feels like the show is just warming up, so to cut it down in its infancy like that would be... really shitty.

[golthin]

[ QUOTE ]
disarm said:
[ QUOTE ]
golthin said:
Last thing I heard was 12-13 episodes. I don't know how they are going to pull 24 episodes, probably a lot of original material. IT also could be the ANN is wrong.

[/ QUOTE ]
You didnt need to quote my whole post for that =P Anyway, refer to my post here (http://forums.animeondvd.com/showthreaded.php?Cat=1&amp;Number=1422846&amp;page=0&amp;view= collapsed&amp;sb=5&amp;o=&amp;vc=1). One station definitely has 24 listed. I don't know why the others don't.

And if they need a "lot" of original material to go past 13 episodes, then I have to wonder how badly rushed the ending of the manga is. Because, crap, 13 episodes means 5 eps left including 9,

[/ QUOTE ]It is not rushed, the manga is still ongoing. So there is not end to it yet. Last chapter I read was chp 26.

[masterpez]

[ QUOTE ]
disarm said:

You didnt need to quote my whole post for that =P Anyway, refer to my post here (http://forums.animeondvd.com/showthreaded.php?Cat=1&amp;Number=1422846&amp;page=0&amp;view= collapsed&amp;sb=5&amp;o=&amp;vc=1). One station definitely has 24 listed. I don't know why the others don't.


[/ QUOTE ]

Somewhere in the r2 forum, I remember someone posting about the dvd release being 8 discs long with 3 eps/disc. Maybe I imagined it or whatever, but I can't for the life of me, find that post anymore. Anyways, I think there is definitely enough material for 24 eps, they'd just have to come up with their own conclusion. There's a bunch of hillariously disturbing things that I want to see in anime form anyway.

[something]

Ep. 9:
"Why did her face suddenly appear?"
Because she IS CUTE! And sexy. And mysterious. And awesome. Misaki love!!

Yamazaki has some great character design skills. Rei is adorable. And when she morphs into Misaki each time in Satou's mind... XD Love love love~ He's obsessed~

"Women are merely human beings, you know. Moe doesn't exist in the three dimensional form!" Haha, I love Yamazaki. "Romantic love is a trap designed to expand capitalism." He's so over the top it's great XD

Still, I don't want him to infect Satou too much and make him too suspicious of Misaki. Granted, Misaki is likely bat shit insane and deserves suspicion, and Satou is a loser (though I still can't bring myself to dislike him at all /images/graemlins/sweat000.gif), but damnit, them being together just feels... sorta right. Or maybe I'm just dying for anything that will make Misaki blush more because hoooooooly crap, so cute.

But even better was Misaki and "Do you want to watch the fireworks with me?" ...yes, yes he does. A fine trap indeed...

Ep. 10:
I really like where the show is going as a whole. It maintains the comedic aspects, certainly, and I enjoy that side of it as much as I did from episode one, if not more.

But now the relationship between Misaki and Satou is being explored in more depth, with more meaning. Satou counting down the hours until he could see Misaki for the counseling and then leaving early was a short, subtle, but very well done scene, which really shows how serious the attraction is becoming.

...And then, I experienced a transcendentally 'moe' moment. A moment so beautiful in its subtle wonder, that will live on with me forever... Misaki goes "meow" to the cat. Grarrrrrgh, that's gotta be up there with Yuki 'typing' on her book in SHnY and chinadress Tomoyo and so on~

And then it cut into that acoustic guitar background music track that I enjoy immensely. ::shivers:: Moments like these I really think I could just die happy.

Still, it's clearly going too well. There are various factors working against a smooth development in their relationship. First, there's Yamazaki's influence. 1) His own failures with women feed into 2) Satou's inherent dementia/paranoia which was born out of 3) Megumi's (or whatever her name was) rants about conspiracies and all of that is exacerbated by 4) Misaki's mysteriousness and tendency to keep secrets.

We're definitely seeing the development of that paranoia and suspicion in the latter half of this episode... moreso than I expected, actually. The end of 10 made me so sad, especially with the hurt and surprised look in Misaki's face =(

But I definitely feel like, as great as it's been so far, Welcome to the NHK has only begun to broadcast its true awesomeness.

I absolutely cannot wait to see where it goes from here.

<font color="red">Edit:</font> BTW, according to this webpage, (http://cal.syoboi.jp/tid/916/time) the 24 eps is looking more and more confirmed (in addition to someone saying that they DVDs were set for many many eps anyway). Before only one station (tvk) listed 24, but now 4 of the 7 have 24 episodes scheduled. And thank goodness. I can't even imagine how amazing this show will get if given more room to expand its brilliance.

[golthin]

[ QUOTE ]
disarm said:
There are various factors working against a smooth development in their relationship. First, there's Yamazaki's influence. 1) His own failures with women


[/ QUOTE ]

There is not doubt that this is the biggest problem. He has already messed up the kissing opportunity in the park. I find Yamasaki whining voice extremely annoying./images/graemlins/anger200.gif /images/graemlins/anger200.gif


[ QUOTE ]

The end of 10 made me so sad, especially with the hurt and surprised look in Misaki's face

[/ QUOTE ]
I felt so sad too, things only go down hill from here on, Satou is really a messed up individual.

[icelander]

Poor Misaki *sob*

Satou needs to stop listening to his household appliances -- they never have anything positive to say. And he definitely should never listen to Yamazaki on the subject of women -- his views change like a weather vane.

Screencaps and my thoughts are Here. (http://blog.jamesmason.id.au/?p=45)

[golthin]

[ QUOTE ]
disarm said:
<font color="red">Edit:</font> BTW, according to this webpage, (http://cal.syoboi.jp/tid/916/time) the 24 eps is looking more and more confirmed (in addition to someone saying that they DVDs were set for many many eps anyway). Before only one station (tvk) listed 24, but now 4 of the 7 have 24 episodes scheduled. And thank goodness. I can't even imagine how amazing this show will get if given more room to expand its brilliance.

[/ QUOTE ]
Well, I finally found out how they are going to make 24 episodes. the anime and Manga are based on a series of Novels much like haruhi and Zero no tsukaima are. So the story much already be finished.

[something]

Everyone in this show is nuts, but Hitomi takes the cake. Misaki comes off as the most normal so far, but that's just because she's been the best at hiding her batshitcrazy private life. Or, I will keep assuming it is, at least. But man it was depressing to see her looking so sad, and later when she's running after the car as Saito leaves with Hitomi...

Speaking of, the irony is immense and humorous. He's ready to blaze new trails, meet people, get out, quit being a hikikomori! And his beautiful senpai will be the one that he does it with! They'll overcome all odds, together!

...Except she's nuts, a prescription[?] drug addict, and wants to join and internet suicide group in offing themselves on some remote island /images/graemlins/sweat000.gif Whoops! Sorta takes "comedic misunderstandings" in anime to a new level.

Anyway, episode 12 was a bit more off model in the art than the other episodes, although not nearly as bad as the crap in 4. I'd love for this show to get one of those "touchups" for DVD though, like so many others do in R2. Everything else about this show is top notch, and I like the character designs and all, so the pure unnecessary sloppiness of having things off model isn't really acceptable. Fix it~!

Still, I hope Misaki comes back into Satou's life pretty quickly. Aside from the comedic aspects it does so well, where this show REALLY shines is whenever Satou and Misaki are together, nervous, and full of romantic (and sexual?) tension. And then that acoustic guitar/drum bmg kicks in, and I melt with uguu~ joy. Such good stuff, need more!

[icelander]

Sheesh, talk about melodrama overload in this episode. I think they must've set some kind of record for dramatic speeches and over-the-top crying.

Misaki's plea to Satou when he was on the cliff was mega-harsh, too. Is it really giving him reason to live to know that she needs him because he's the only person she's met who's a bigger piece of garbage than she is? That's not exactly sweet-talk, is it?

[Ty]

[ QUOTE ]
icelander said:
Sheesh, talk about melodrama overload in this episode. I think they must've set some kind of record for dramatic speeches and over-the-top crying.

Misaki's plea to Satou when he was on the cliff was mega-harsh, too. Is it really giving him reason to live to know that she needs him because he's the only person she's met who's a bigger piece of garbage than she is? That's not exactly sweet-talk, is it?

[/ QUOTE ]

She wasn't doing it for him, she was doing it for herself because she's the most f**ked up out of all of them. The show is just going to take a little bit more time to fully reveal that fact. Note I'm not spoiler tagging that becasue it's only my personal guess.

Still, crazy in the head or not Misaki is made of pure awesomeness and cute.

[golthin]

Wow, that really hurt, seeing the woman you love driving with another man. Man that is rough. tougher things to come for poor Satou-kun.

[Thanatos]

I must admit I'm losing my enthusiam as the series continues. The crazy comedy and delusions are being replace with melodrama, which I think is much less interesting.

[masterpez]

[ QUOTE ]
Thanatos said:
I must admit I'm losing my enthusiam as the series continues. The crazy comedy and delusions are being replace with melodrama, which I think is much less interesting.

[/ QUOTE ]

That stuff should be returning with the next episode. It should be the MMORPG ep. I found that chapter of the manga to be pretty funny. Misaki fans should be happy, especially with <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>some of the things she does to try an entice Satou to come back to reality</span>. The next few episodes should be back to it's normal routine. Also of note, the first volume of the manga (in english) should be out now.

[golthin]

[ QUOTE ]
pez said:
[ QUOTE ]
Thanatos said:
I must admit I'm losing my enthusiam as the series continues. The crazy comedy and delusions are being replace with melodrama, which I think is much less interesting.

[/ QUOTE ]

That stuff should be returning with the next episode. It should be the MMORPG ep. I found that chapter of the manga to be pretty funny. Misaki fans should be happy, especially with <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>some of the things she does to try an entice Satou to come back to reality</span>. The next few episodes should be back to it's normal routine. Also of note, the first volume of the manga (in english) should be out now.

[/ QUOTE ]
So that is why no more chapters were released. The manga was licensed.

[something]

Holy... this episode was craaazy. I can't figure out if it was more melodrama or comedy. I think it somehow managed to be both. What craziness.

Definitely some important development for Misaki here. Yamazaki interrogating her revealed some important information, but it was on the loudspeaker that she laid it all out. She needs him because he's more pathetic than she is... /images/graemlins/sweat000.gif Just... wow XD At least she's open about her selfishness!

Still, I do feel like her desire to help him is genuine, and reflects a little bit more than just satisfying her own screwed up needs. Or maybe I just want to believe that because she's so damn cute? Hmm, no. I really do think there's more to her than just that. Her plea to him was utterly bizarre, but in a strange way was almost moving /images/graemlins/sweat000.gif I'm not sure what that says about me =P

Anyway, definitely a pivotal episode, I'd say. It's the first time she's said anything to him openly about how she feels. We still don't know what about her makes her "garbage", but I imagine we'll find out soon.

As interesting as this episode was, I'm particularly looking forward to the next one. What will the result of all this chaos be? She invites him to the cousneling session place/time, but what will they say when they meet? Will she reveal where she's coming from? Will Satou forgive her? This episode did very clearly take Hitomi out of the picture for Satou (man that was a kick in the balls for him), so the way is clear for Misaki, so long as they sort out just what the hell she plans to do /images/graemlins/sweat000.gif

[something]

We finally get to see a little glimpse into Misaki's past! Apparently she was beaten, and likely quite a bit given her strong reaction to seeing a raised fist. Satou, meanwhile, seems to have partly "forgiven" her for her... well whatever she did. Lying and delivering the strangest confession of love I've ever heard /images/graemlins/sweat000.gif

As a general comment... Welcome to the NHK continues to be an awesome show that keeps flirting with greatness but falls slightly short.

It's hard to describe why I feel this way, so I guess the best analogy is that I think Welcome to the NHK is very good, but is held back by its lack of the exact thing that makes me love shows by Kyoto Animation so much... consistently high production values and "little moments" where a character's facial expression tells a story of its own, where how they deliver a line gives insight into far more than mere words convey, where what someone is doing in the background becomes important, where the music kicks in at just the right moment to make your heart miss a beat (etc).

Those very things are what draw me into KyoAni shows (not that they're the only company capable of it, they're just the best current example) above and beyond the characters or the story. It's another layer to the viewing experience that elevates a good scene to something that will stay with me forever.

Take the "fist raising" scene on the beach. We got a visceral display of Satou's emotions, and insight into Misaki's emotional baggage. This was am important and revealing scene. But the execution fell short of elevating it to greatness. The animation was sort of awkward, Satou's movements didn't really convince, the overall atmopshere of the scene just lacked that little something. I enjoyed it, yes, but not as much as I could have. This happens all the time in NHK. Maybe I'm spoiled by KyoAni, but I don't think so.

There have been a few times that they nailed it. The first meeting in the park between Misaki and Satou, where that acoustic guitar and drums piece kicked in was fantastic. Their meeting again in the park this episode hit the mark again. Misaki holding up the contract to hide her face and her cringing when Satou got aggressive again, but then pulling herself together into a tearful "Welcome back" was executed in exactly the way that I find so effective and moving.

Unfortunatelty it's the exception rather than the norm for this show. This isn't to say that it reflects some major failing of the show that a majority of other shows succeed at. On the contrary, most shows can't nail that perfect sense of timing and acting and direction. A show can miss joining that club and still be a wonderful show and certainly worthy of a purchase. I think I just notice it more and it bugs me more with NHK because it has so many more opportunities than the average show, at least in my opinion. I'll still watch it, and adore it, and revel in those occasional glimpses of brilliance (pretty much all Misaki moments), but it will always nag at me that there could be a little something more...

[something]

Man this show isn't getting much discussion.

Anyway, episode 16 took a dive in animation quality again (cmon Gonzo, goddamnit), but it didn't matter too much because I loved this episode XD

Satou has indeed hit a new low. But Misaki hit a new high of cuteness... Nekomimi Misaki! And Schoolgirl apron Misaki!! Yesssssss~ And I see Misaki is studying the moe... oh if only she knew, she is a iving embodiment of it! She doesn't have to study moe... she breathes moe.

However, awesome as that was (and really, it was... mmm... nekomimi Misaki...), the moment when Yamazaki walked in the door just stole this episode. I knew something would happen with "Mia" and it was all but guaranteed she was a trap, but I honestly didn't think it would be Yamazaki. Fucking touche, Yamazaki. So, so well played. It's a kind of shock therapy Misaki hasn't quite been able to deal out yet. Yamazaki has really redeemed himself in my eyes with this. While I've liked him all along, I was sorely tempted to hurt him when he poisoned Satou's mind against Misaki. He became such a horrible influence... and sure, he's still slinging around that "love doesn't exist (except when Nanako calls me)" rhetoric, but this was just... brilliant. I bow to you, Yamazaki.

I cannot wait for the next episode. Now if only Gonzo would animate this on par with the level of character interaction and storyline... &gt;_&gt; Prime candidate for a dvd clean-up, if you ask me.

[Ty]

I decided about a minute after they introduced Mia that she was actually a guy, though pathetically enough I didn't think to consider it would be Yamazaki. The way Misaki lets out that first vapid "Nyaaa.." when she bows into the doorway maxed out my moe meter like never before. That plus the juniorhigh schoolgirl uniform was just too much, it really is a shame that the animation for the episode wasn't so great. If only that damn apron wasn't in the way my seifuku fetish would be totally satisfied right now. /images/graemlins/noseblee.gif

[golthin]

[ QUOTE ]
disarm said:
Man this show isn't getting much discussion.

Anyway, episode 16 took a dive in animation quality again (cmon Gonzo, goddamnit), but it didn't matter too much because I loved this episode XD

Satou has indeed hit a new low. But Misaki hit a new high of cuteness... Nekomimi Misaki! And Schoolgirl apron Misaki!! Yesssssss~ And I see Misaki is studying the moe... oh if only she knew, she is a iving embodiment of it! She doesn't have to study moe... she breathes moe.

However, awesome as that was (and really, it was... mmm... nekomimi Misaki...), the moment when Yamazaki walked in the door just stole this episode. I knew something would happen with "Mia" and it was all but guaranteed she was a trap, but I honestly didn't think it would be Yamazaki. Fucking touche, Yamazaki. So, so well played. It's a kind of shock therapy Misaki hasn't quite been able to deal out yet. Yamazaki has really redeemed himself in my eyes with this. While I've liked him all along, I was sorely tempted to hurt him when he poisoned Satou's mind against Misaki. He became such a horrible influence... and sure, he's still slinging around that "love doesn't exist (except when Nanako calls me)" rhetoric, but this was just... brilliant. I bow to you, Yamazaki.

I cannot wait for the next episode. Now if only Gonzo would animate this on par with the level of character interaction and storyline... &gt;_&gt; Prime candidate for a dvd clean-up, if you ask me.

[/ QUOTE ]

I am all spoiled with the manga. I knew this was coming but the way that Gonzo did it was so briliant. They changed a few things from the manga or maybe they set them right from the novel. I can't tell anymore which one is the more legit as Gonzon is probably using the Novels' material for the Anime.

[golthin]

[ QUOTE ]
Xcalibur said:
I decided about a minute after they introduced Mia that she was actually a guy, though pathetically enough I didn't think to consider it would be Yamazaki. The way Misaki lets out that first vapid "Nyaaa.." when she bows into the doorway maxed out my moe meter like never before. That plus the juniorhigh schoolgirl uniform was just too much, it really is a shame that the animation for the episode wasn't so great. If only that damn apron wasn't in the way my seifuku fetish would be totally satisfied right now. /images/graemlins/noseblee.gif

[/ QUOTE ]
I was once into this kind of game, but never to the extent that if a cute girl like Misaki came to my door wearing something like that, that I will ignore her. I would have turned the computer off and ...... You know the rest.

[Gatts]

[ QUOTE ]
golthin said:
I was once into this kind of game, but never to the extent that if a cute girl like Misaki came to my door wearing something like that, that I will ignore her. I would have turned the computer off and ...... You know the rest.

[/ QUOTE ]

Being cute does not make up for the fact that she's crazy. Trust me, crazy women are not the kind you want to build relationships with.

[something]

[ QUOTE ]
Gatts said:
Being cute does not make up for the fact that she's crazy. Trust me, crazy women are not the kind you want to build relationships with.

[/ QUOTE ]
Makes up for it for me, damnit. Besides, Satou isn't the most well adjusted person himself, he probably needs a crazy woman.

[golthin]

[ QUOTE ]
disarm said:
[ QUOTE ]
Gatts said:
Being cute does not make up for the fact that she's crazy. Trust me, crazy women are not the kind you want to build relationships with.

[/ QUOTE ]
Makes up for it for me, damnit. Besides, Satou isn't the most well adjusted person himself, he probably needs a crazy woman.

[/ QUOTE ]Misaki only problem is her obsession with finding someone that has worst problems than her. I think that compared to everyone in that cast she is the most stable, at least she know she has a problem and she is trying to solve it. Her problem might have to do with her being abused as we saw.

[Ty]

[ QUOTE ]
golthin said:
[ QUOTE ]
disarm said:
[ QUOTE ]
Gatts said:
Being cute does not make up for the fact that she's crazy. Trust me, crazy women are not the kind you want to build relationships with.

[/ QUOTE ]
Makes up for it for me, damnit. Besides, Satou isn't the most well adjusted person himself, he probably needs a crazy woman.

[/ QUOTE ]Misaki only problem is her obsession with finding someone that has worst problems than her. I think that compared to everyone in that cast she is the most stable, at least she know she has a problem and she is trying to solve it. Her problem might have to do with her being abused as we saw.

[/ QUOTE ]

I doubt she "knows" she has a problem, and if she thinks she doesn't she has no grasp of what it really is. She's the most deluded of them all masquerading as Satou savior and teacher....... it's all just a twisted game in her head and she herself doesn't realize it. In the end I think it's going to have to be Satou who saves her, not the other way round, but then again was the show going to end any other way? /images/graemlins/happy.gif

Being mental doesn't take away from her cuteness one bit though, and I think she's a very kind hearted person deep down but that's not what's driving her do behave the way she is and I think she really wants Satou to get through to her eventually. She's doing it for herself not for him, but nobody could blame her for it. They're perfect for each other.

[golthin]

[ QUOTE ]
Xcalibur said:
[ QUOTE ]
golthin said:
[ QUOTE ]
disarm said:
[ QUOTE ]
Gatts said:
Being cute does not make up for the fact that she's crazy. Trust me, crazy women are not the kind you want to build relationships with.

[/ QUOTE ]
Makes up for it for me, damnit. Besides, Satou isn't the most well adjusted person himself, he probably needs a crazy woman.

[/ QUOTE ]Misaki only problem is her obsession with finding someone that has worst problems than her. I think that compared to everyone in that cast she is the most stable, at least she know she has a problem and she is trying to solve it. Her problem might have to do with her being abused as we saw.

[/ QUOTE ]

I doubt she "knows" she has a problem, and if she thinks she doesn't she has no grasp of what it really is. She's the most deluded of them all masquerading as Satou savior and teacher....... it's all just a twisted game in her head and she herself doesn't realize it.

[/ QUOTE ]
she knows she has a problem, she admited it to everyone during the suicide arc by saying that Satou was a worse human being than her.

[Gatts]

[ QUOTE ]
golthin said:
I think that compared to everyone in that cast she is the most stable,

[/ QUOTE ]

The most stable in the cast is Satou's mother. Of the major characters, Yamazaki is the most normal. Sure he has his occasional outburst of "all women are evil", but he faces reality which is something Satou and Misaki both choose to ignore. BTW, has the anime even shown the Class Rep yet? That's another one to add to the group, but I can't say why unless they've introduced her.

[something]

[ QUOTE ]
Gatts said:
BTW, has the anime even shown the Class Rep yet? That's another one to add to the group, but I can't say why unless they've introduced her.

[/ QUOTE ]
She was introduced at the end of 16. She heard her husband[?] talking about a Satou after he logs off the mmorpg, and then she looks in her yearbook and calls him.

Very random, and very creepy. I'm half expecting her to try to molest and murder him.

[golthin]

[ QUOTE ]
Gatts said:
[ QUOTE ]
golthin said:
I think that compared to everyone in that cast she is the most stable,

[/ QUOTE ]

The most stable in the cast is Satou's mother. Of the major characters, Yamazaki is the most normal. Sure he has his occasional outburst of "all women are evil", but he faces reality which is something Satou and Misaki both choose to ignore. BTW, has the anime even shown the Class Rep yet? That's another one to add to the group, but I can't say why unless they've introduced her.

[/ QUOTE ]
Class rep appeared at the end of episode 16 and episode 17 was all about her.

[golthin]

[ QUOTE ]
disarm said:
[ QUOTE ]
Gatts said:
BTW, has the anime even shown the Class Rep yet? That's another one to add to the group, but I can't say why unless they've introduced her.

[/ QUOTE ]
She was introduced at the end of 16. She heard her husband[?] talking about a Satou after he logs off the mmorpg, and then she looks in her yearbook and calls him.

Very random, and very creepy. I'm half expecting her to try to molest and murder him.

[/ QUOTE ]
BROTHER! She heard her brother! /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif
But heck, the way that things happen in anime, he might also be her husband /images/graemlins/devil.gif

[Gatts]

[ QUOTE ]
golthin said:
But heck, the way that things happen in anime, he might also be her husband /images/graemlins/devil.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Is the anime that different from the manga?

[golthin]

[ QUOTE ]
Gatts said:
[ QUOTE ]
golthin said:
But heck, the way that things happen in anime, he might also be her husband /images/graemlins/devil.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Is the anime that different from the manga?

[/ QUOTE ]
It has a few changes, but remember, the manga is also not an original work. It is based on the novels. in the manga and anime the student rep also has that brother. the only difference from the manga is the way that Satou and the student rep met. In the manga they met by accident in the street, in the anime she heard her brother talk about Satou, because her brother is also a hiki

[something]

[ QUOTE ]
golthin said:
BROTHER! She heard her brother! /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

[/ QUOTE ]
Haha, ok, I don't think they said in the show. But she looks so... old, so I figured it had to be a husband or something. I mean, she's not an old lady or anything, but she looks much older than Satou. Maybe that'll change when she gets more screentime in the next episode.

[golthin]

[ QUOTE ]
disarm said:
[ QUOTE ]
golthin said:
BROTHER! She heard her brother! /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

[/ QUOTE ]
Haha, ok, I don't think they said in the show. But she looks so... old, so I figured it had to be a husband or something. I mean, she's not an old lady or anything, but she looks much older than Satou. Maybe that'll change when she gets more screentime in the next episode.

[/ QUOTE ]
She called him "oniichan" when she told him she was leaving the dinner by the door.

[something]

Haha... wow. I must say this is the first time I've seen an anime base an episode on getting suckered into multi-level marketing XD

I really had no idea what role the class president was going to play in this story, but for her to be a debt-ridden marketer in a pyramid scheme is certainly... unique. I loved how she totally suckered Satou in at the end too... god he's gullible. What a failure XD

And, wow... Miaki... cleaned his entire room. I didn't even know where she was at first /images/graemlins/sweat000.gif

At any rate, I'm liking the show quite a bit still, but I hope there's some hardcore Misaki/Satou stuff getting the majority of screentime from here on out. When there's romance/drama between those two, the show is far and away at its best. But they've had little overall direct contact lately, as Satou has been tossed around from one crazy scheme to the next. Intense Misaki time is needed, right now.

[golthin]

[ QUOTE ]
disarm said:
Haha... wow. I must say this is the first time I've seen an anime base an episode on getting suckered into multi-level marketing XD

I really had no idea what role the class president was going to play in this story, but for her to be a debt-ridden marketer in a pyramid scheme is certainly... unique. I loved how she totally suckered Satou in at the end too... god he's gullible. What a failure XD

And, wow... Miaki... cleaned his entire room. I didn't even know where she was at first /images/graemlins/sweat000.gif

At any rate, I'm liking the show quite a bit still, but I hope there's some hardcore Misaki/Satou stuff getting the majority of screentime from here on out. When there's romance/drama between those two, the show is far and away at its best. But they've had little overall direct contact lately, as Satou has been tossed around from one crazy scheme to the next. Intense Misaki time is needed, right now.

[/ QUOTE ]
Wait till you see episode 18, if it wasn't because Misaki bought a book in how to beat Pyramid schemes .... well I won't tell you there rest you got to wait for the episode.
This episode just made me laugh so much. I felt sad for MEgumi(class president) at the end of the episode. I am amazed she has not become a Neet herself.

Defintely still one of the funniest anime titles currently airing despite the major competition from the other titles that came out for the Fall season. It's so hilarious... I feel kind of bad for Satou, but he's the fool who gets himself involved with all of these crazy schemes. I'm just wondering how things will end up in the end. Regardless, I'm picking this up when it gets a Region 1 release. /images/graemlins/happy.gif

[something]

Haha, damn, manipulated like gullible little children. Megumi is good. Still, Misaki was there to just barely save the day with her anti-MLM book. Hooray for her =D

I guess I should feel bad for Megumi... she's been suckered into a scheme that she can't break free from, and she's stuck minding her jerkoff deadbeat waste of a brother as well. She's a cold, manipulative bitch, but she's not exactly living an easy life either. Oh the ambiguities, she's neither evil nor good, but that's what I like about anime.

So, 6 episodes left. Still time, I hope, for some really intense, really deep, really awesome Misaki/Satou interaction. Still time for Satou to get his priorities straight. Still time for us to learn more about Misaki, give her a few episodes to deal with her own demons, and then conclude her and Satou's struggles together.

Or, so I can hope. If the show just continues on what are more or less side stories and only gives the pair an episode or two to wrap things up, I'll be rather disappointed. Or at the very least, give Misaki 3+ episodes to get the spotlight. I don't even care if Satou gets anything resolved. Just... give us more Misaki. Who is she, what does she want, what is her motivation, what are her hopes and ambitions and what is she going to do with her life? And how did she become so damn cute?

But seriously, I really need some deep Misaki moments from here on out, preferrably giving her the full focus from 20-24, but I'm afraid that won't happen. I've liked this show a lot so far but it's never again quite had the sense of focus it managed during the 'fake date' arc when Satou's mother came to visit. Can always hope though... Give me my Misaki, damnit!

[golthin]

Holy Melons. I was not expecting this kind of fanservice.
I don't know why Megumi was working so hard trying to earn money with the MLM scheme, but in this episode she could have made some good money in other professions. some spoilers for this episode.
<span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>After Megumi calms her brother down from the shock of meeting people, She explains how things ended the way they are. Satou has a conversation with "Tororo" online. Satou returns to work on his game. while having lunch with Misaki and watching the news, it is announced that the MLM company that Megumi was a member of was busted by the police. It seems that Megumi was arrested for questioning and she has not been able to go home for a while and her brother is starving. When Megumi returns, he brother is not in the house. She calls Satou to find if he knows where he is. She eventualy gets in the bath and we get a good look at her Huge breast. HE brother has now a partime Job delivering Ramen, and in the bath Megumi wonders what will she do now that she is not bound by the MLM scheme. IF she should go back to college. </span>

[Ty]

Misaki was being simply adorable in this episode (and last). She's completely forgotten her agenda and is now just trying to help Satou however she can. That jerk better take notice soon or I'm going to lose my patience for him. Watching them all three fall for the scheme they were trying to foil was priceless too.

I have a gut feeling the two are not going to end up "together" the way I want them to be by the end of the show, which sucks. Who knows yet though.

[something]

[ QUOTE ]
Xcalibur said:
That jerk better take notice soon or I'm going to lose my patience for him.

[/ QUOTE ]
Indeed. He still amuses me, and if he were perfectly normal we wouldn't have a show, but eventually he's got to stop and think to himself, "Hmm, that Misaki sure does try her best to help me, maybe I should acknowledge that, or at least give a damn." Same for Yamazaki, although to a lesser extent. Yamazaki is definitely helping Satou out, although he's also to blame for some of Satou's crazier moments /images/graemlins/sweat000.gif

[Ty]

[ QUOTE ]
disarm said:
he's also to blame for some of Satou's crazier moments /images/graemlins/sweat000.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Like getting him obsessed with galgame stuff and moe? /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif Yamazaki has done more damage than good. I was really hoping they'd explore Misaki's chracter some more in the second half of the show along with some of her past, but with this many episodes already gone I don't think it's going to happen. At least not at length. What a shame.

[something]

[ QUOTE ]
Xcalibur said:
Like getting him obsessed with galgame stuff and moe? /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

[/ QUOTE ]
There's that, but the way he poisoned Satou against Misaki was pretty low. He didn't even know the girl, but he fed Satou's conspiracy-prone psyche with tales about how evil women are, just because he himself was having woman troubles. Way to bring Satou down with you =P

[ QUOTE ]
I was really hoping they'd explore Misaki's chracter some more in the second half of the show along with some of her past, but with this many episodes already gone I don't think it's going to happen. At least not at length. What a shame.

[/ QUOTE ]
Yeah... I hope they surprise us with at least ~4 solid Misaki episodes, but I don't know anymore. I think in the end I'll be chalking NHK up as a very good show that fell just short of greatness because of just this issue, but also because of Gonzo's inconsistent animation quality.

Were both those rectified, it would deserve a label of greatness. Still, it's a definite buy when licensed.

[Ty]

You know I really haven't noticed the animation issues everybody talks about, and usually I'm the first one to spot things like that. Some lumpy faces and off-model scences but nothing so bad that it really draws attention to itself.

[something]

[ QUOTE ]
Xcalibur said:
You know I really haven't noticed the animation issues everybody talks about, and usually I'm the first one to spot things like that. Some lumpy faces and off-model scences but nothing so bad that it really draws attention to itself.

[/ QUOTE ]
And I'm one to usually write off such things, but NHK has been downright ugly in parts. Misaki generally fares well, and that's most of what I care about when it comes to character art, but at times (lots of times, not just once or thrice) the others have looked terrible.

[Thanatos]

Episode 19 = when all of the inbetweeners quit. The animation is so choppy it looks like 75% of the motion frames are missing. The characters' faces are blurry and have no texture or details. Cleaning this one up for the DVD release will require a complete reanimation.

[Ty]

[ QUOTE ]
Thanatos said:
Episode 19 = when all of the inbetweeners quit. The animation is so choppy it looks like 75% of the motion frames are missing. The characters' faces are blurry and have no texture or details. Cleaning this one up for the DVD release will require a complete reanimation.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, I saw some screencaps and thought "okay, NOW I can see it.... that's BAD" the moment I laid eyes on them. It's Gonzo afterall, they have a long history of doing stuff like this particularly for their non-flagship shows. They're not known for cleaning up their stuff for DVD release either.

[Tetsuken]

[ QUOTE ]
Thanatos said:
Episode 19 = when all of the inbetweeners quit. The animation is so choppy it looks like 75% of the motion frames are missing. The characters' faces are blurry and have no texture or details. Cleaning this one up for the DVD release will require a complete reanimation.

[/ QUOTE ]

Holy Cow! I've seen Gonzo get lazy on other shows, but this... is just wow, indescribably bad.

Nevermind the missing inbetweeners, the keys are so off that it almost looks like a new art style. Now why someone would want to go with such a crap style on purpose is beyond me, but DAMN it's hideous.

This is a new low for Gonzo which was already pretty low before this monstrosity of what I would call less than sketch/story-board level art.

[Ty]

It's worst in the early parts of the episode where the in-betweeners seem to have forgotten what a human face looks like. Not even Misaki is spared. The episode wasn't anything special though so if they're saving up the budget to finish the show looking nice then I don't mind so much.

[something]

[ QUOTE ]
Thanatos said:
Episode 19 = when all of the inbetweeners quit. The animation is so choppy it looks like 75% of the motion frames are missing. The characters' faces are blurry and have no texture or details. Cleaning this one up for the DVD release will require a complete reanimation.

[/ QUOTE ]
I cannot fathom what goes through their minds when they release a piece of shit product like that to the public. Who actually rubber stamped this? Who said "this is ok, we can release this"? What the hell were they thinking? This is as bad as those two episodes of Tsukuyomi where the animators all apparently got stoned and didn't show up for work.

What a disgrace.

[something]

[ QUOTE ]
Xcalibur said:
It's worst in the early parts of the episode where the in-betweeners seem to have forgotten what a human face looks like. Not even Misaki is spared. The episode wasn't anything special though so if they're saving up the budget to finish the show looking nice then I don't mind so much.

[/ QUOTE ]
Well, ideally they'd budget enough from the start, and it's not like the show was amazingly flashy before now so I dunno where the money would have went...

Blargh, it was just so bad that even Yamazaki thinking he's catching Misaki in the act of, uh, giving oral pleasure, couldnt save this ep. Just blah all around.

Get your act together Gonzo, and get to something I give a damn about in the plot, aka Misaki. Sigh.

[Atomsk]

Meh, another badly drawn episode and Sato just continues being a selfish ashole. Really annoying to see him continue with ignoring Misaki and taking everything she does for granted.

[Ty]

I don't think there's much hope left. Typical Gonzo crap. Still a fun show all things considered.

[Thanatos]

Satou just seems oblivious. This episode also revealed that Misaki is damaged goods. I wonder what's going to happen in the last 4 episodes.

[Ty]

Satou just seems oblivious. This episode also revealed that Misaki is damaged goods. I wonder what's going to happen in the last 4 episodes.
I thought there were only two remaining? I had something to comment on while I was watching the episode, but now I can't remember..... :nervous: They don't leave any doubt as to what's "wrong" with Misaki anymore though. This could have been a major focus in the second half of the show though.... wasted potential there as it would've made for a better story. Especially after how they bring it to light at the climax of the first half of the show.

[golthin]

Satou just seems oblivious. This episode also revealed that Misaki is damaged goods. I wonder what's going to happen in the last 4 episodes.
I thought there were only two remaining? I had something to comment on while I was watching the episode, but now I can't remember..... :nervous: They don't leave any doubt as to what's "wrong" with Misaki anymore though. This could have been a major focus in the second half of the show though.... wasted potential there as it would've made for a better story. Especially after how they bring it to light at the climax of the first half of the show.

episode 23 already broadcast and there is only one episode left.

[Thanatos]

Oh. I thought it was going to be 26.

[golthin]

Oh. I thought it was going to be 26.
It is a gonzo series, for some reason they like to end series at 23-24 episodes.

[jojo_home]

The fact that I can relate to this show more than a few times is pathetic. Hopefully someone licenses this for the U.S.

[golthin]

I just watched episode 24, the show is over and in 2 weeks Shuffle! Memories takes NHK's time slot. The end of the show is a very happy one for everyone, unlike in the manga.
Yamasaki is happy being a farmer, he goes on an arranged marriage interview and falls in love with the girl he meets. Hitomi and her husband seem to be happily married and Hitomi senpai gave birth to a healthy baby. Misaki and Satou are still doing counceling and this time Satou signs the new contract with Misaki. End of show

[Ty]

I haven't seen the last ep yet nor have I looked at your spoiler, but I doubt they can wrap this up in a way that satisfies me with just 22 minutes. Perhaps I'm wrong, but I doubt it. As much as I like this show, it is painfully obvious that it's one of Gonzo's "also ran" shows and it could have been much better. I doubt they'll clean it up for the DVD release either unless the Japanese fans skewer them into it.

[something]

I was going to hold off commenting until I was done, but I have to say: After the stunt Yamazaki pulled with Nanako, and her reaction, I hope he feels like the biggest asshole in the entire world.

What a shitbag.

Edit: ok, finishing up ep 21.

The whole "Yamazaki is leaving" story was handled pretty well, even if he's still a shitbag for what he did to Nanako, who had nothing to do with his situation. There were some nice moments between him and Satou though. And it was nice that he finally came to accept Misaki.

Speaking of... Satou at the end of 21 is clearly hitting another low. He doesn't feel his life is worth anything, or that anyone cares about him. This should be where he realizes that he still has Misaki, but all that he can think of is Yamazaki.

The series can go a couple ways here, but I'm not too confident it'll choose the right ones. Now that Hitomi is back again...

I don't know what to expect, really. They make some hints at bringing the focus back to Satou/Misaki, but keep pulling away when you think they're serious.

Edit2: 5:30am, so nobody is up, so I might as well edit in another episode.

"Do you want to have an illicit affair?" Well, thats not a question I imagine Satou hears often. Of course, it's another illusion :sd:

And I think this is where Misaki ::snaps:: She's told herself for so long that Satou has nobody else, and in large part she was right. Particularly after Yamazaki left. But Satou never seemed to acknowledge this, and just assumed he had nobody. Throw in the fact that Misaki likes Satou as more than a friend, and isn't terribly stable herself, and, well... Seeing him walking happily arm in arm with another girl, after she searches the city frantically assuming he's coming apart at the seams... talk about traumatic. I'm sort of scared to see what this does to her.

It is nice that we get some insight into her psyche for... what, the second or third time in 22 fricking episodes? This show spen far, FAR too much time on "things that aren't Misaki", if you ask me. The whole damn MLM scheme story could have been dumped without affecting the overall story one iota. Instead, it could have done the Yamazaki story earlier, and gotten back to Misaki.

So, she obviously had a horrible childhood, and was told that nobody needed her and she was worthless... that much we now know, and it's also her reason for clinging so closely to Satou, because she needs someone to need her. Seems reasonable. In that respect she's far more justified in being wacky than Satou is. He's just a failure who has no good reason to be the way he is.

Still, the way she privately looks down on him as a terrible person in order to reinforce the idea in her head that he needs her is not fair. Sure, he's a failure, but she's building a relationship on a need-needy dynamic, and that's not stable or equal. But it's only what she tries to convince herself of, and it isn't how she really feels. She probably just can't come to terms with the fact that she needs him, and in multiple ways. But this is something difficult for her so now she's just turning to despair, and even losing her faith, such as it was. And in the absence of anything to believe in, she relies even more heavily on Satou... her "captive"...

I've been waiting a damn long time for this kind of Misaki insight. I just wish it had come earlier.

[something]

Just three or four episodes ago, I absolutely did not think they would pull it off. The constant sidestories that went nowhere, the absolute refusal to show Satou growing as a human being, Gonzo's inability to fucking animate something consistently for more than a few episodes at a time and the utter unwillingness to delve into Misaki's past had me do almost a 180 from my initial optimism about the show. I didn't hate it or anything, but it fell far from my most wanted list. I lost all trust and faith in Gonzo to deliver a high quality show. I obviously stopped following it religiously, seeing as how it ended some weeks ago and I just now watched 20-24.

But NHK and Gonzo delivered, hard. There were only a few episodes of intense Misaki-analysis, but they were just that: intense. From the moment she saw Satou walking arm in arm with Hitomi until her final "N.H.K. ni youkoso", we were treated to something I probably won't forget for a long time. Misaki's horrified, soul-shattered face framed by her red hoodie upon seeing Satou and Hitomi, her resigned, depressed, fate-conquered eyes while sitting on the wooden barrier of the cliff, and her sheepish but loving smile as she welcomes Satou to her "hostage-exchange" NHK pretty much sum up the stages Welcome to the NHK went through in this final stretch. But, if you watched it, then you don't need my description. Her eyes told the story far better.

I've never quite been a believer in the idea that a bad ending can ruin a good show. It cannot eliminate what good has gone before, although it can tarnish a memory and blunt the intensity of a legacy. But I am a believer in the idea that a good ending can save a show that was ruining itself. Welcome to the NHK is perhaps the most poignant example of this I've seen. My only regret is that there's no more Misaki to be had now. But even so, this is a show that does not need a second season. I want things to end as they did. The ending was more than "ideal", it was straight up snatching success from the vicious, seemingly inescapable jaws of failure, if you ask me.

Leave things as they are now, so I can submit this post, try to convince myself it's not really 715am, and go to sleep in a far, far better mood than I had any right to expect just two hours ago.

And since it's been quite some time since I was posting in this thread, it really needs to be said: Misaki, you are cute. And a hell of a character, to boot.

[Ty]

Since I haven't watched the last ep yet I skimmed that very lightly but it sounds like there is hope remaining which will give me the motivation to watch the end with some anticipation now.

[something]

Since I haven't watched the last ep yet I skimmed that very lightly but it sounds like there is hope remaining which will give me the motivation to watch the end with some anticipation now.
I definitely recommend it, though I haven't read anyone else's opinion of the ending yet so I'm not sure if my view is typical.

It might not be, only because for some reason the ending just sort of impacted me personally. I'm not sure why. I'm not a NEET, I don't have any friends who have actually killed themselves, and I can't identify personally with Misaki's plight, but it was all so... ::shrugs:: Pretty intense, in a way...

In a twisted, demented NHK way :sd: spoiler: And really, that was the most demented "don't kill yourself!" speech ever that Satou gave XD but a very interesting one. Satou went from trying to save Hitomi, to having to be saved himself by Misaki, to trying to save Misaki, to being saved by Misaki again. It's this merry-g-round of suicide intervention. I think Satou needs to stay far away from cliffs.

[Ty]

Well, I had my doubts but they really did manage to finish the show strong. This series is now begging for an OVA wrap-up though. I mean, c'mon, we don't even get to see their first kiss after they clearly make their feelings known. I still can't help but feel disappointed because this is the stuff the show should have been dealing with ten episodes ago instead of the poorly animated filler we were fed. It would have given a real depth to what happened here in the last couple of episodes. As it stands it was involving and touching (also a bit creepy), but also shallow in a way because these characters really didn't get fleshed out much throughout the show.

All in all it was a good show regardless and I was very glad to see that Misaki did get her happy ending more or less.

[something]

Well, I had my doubts but they really did manage to finish the show strong. This series is now begging for an OVA wrap-up though. I mean, c'mon, we don't even get to see their first kiss after they clearly make their feelings known.
I could definitely go for that, although the idea of seeing Satou do that with anyone is weird :sd: But still, in its own very strange way, I think it was appropriate. I was satisfied with the romantic closure.

I still can't help but feel disappointed because this is the stuff the show should have been dealing with ten episodes ago instead of the poorly animated filler we were fed.
Basically. Probably about half the show wasn't "necessary" except in the sense of "well it was probably in the original, so we have to touch on it right?" But that just made the good ending even more of a surprise. With so little time given to the core of the story, I don't know HOW it turned out so well. But it did, somehow.

All in all it was a good show regardless and I was very glad to see that Misaki did get her happy ending more or less.
And for me, that's all that matters. Misaki~~! But, it's nice that everyone else got a good ending too. Although in class rep's case, we can only hazard a guess... but who cares, her arc was boring.

[jojo_home]

I haven't gotten to this point of the series yet, but something about the entire concept of Misaki's character seems wrong and I don't think she's necessarily the type of character that would exist in real life quite like this, despite her any mental disorders she may have. She's cute and all, but it's just that--she's really the type of girl the show is criticising otaku for liking. The mental instabilities they give her doesn't change anything--she's the single biggest contradiction in the show because despite all her problems, she's still the fanboy's ideal girl, as evidenced by her popularity amongst NHK fans.

And while I agree about the chaotic nature of the animation from episode to episode, I don't necessarily think the prettier designs of the early episodes were very believable. How does Satou have the body of a stud if he's the loser we are led to believe? I kinda welcomed the uglier designs because I feet that at its heart, this show is more about ugly people, either mentally or physically.

[something]

I haven't gotten to this point of the series yet, but something about the entire concept of Misaki's character seems wrong and I don't think she's necessarily the type of character that would exist in real life quite like this, despite her any mental disorders she may have.
I think the same goes for most anime characters... anyway, you really need to finish the show, trying to analyze and understand Misaki's character before you do will get you absolutely nowhere, especially since we get almost nothing of her past or motivations before the end. When she really falls apart, it's not about "fanboy ideals", it's about pity, and realizing what a painful life she's had and how she's come to deal with it in very strange ways, building up numerous walls of deception and fantasy to hide behind. Trying to make some statement about "fanboys" before you even know what kind of character she is seems... silly.

And while I agree about the chaotic nature of the animation from episode to episode, I don't necessarily think the prettier designs of the early episodes were very believable.
You're being far too kind to Gonzo, I think. The shitty animation has nothing to do with any sort of artistic statement about the inner ugliness of humanity or what have you. It's just straight up shitty, rushed animation. It's when the animation is at its best that Satou can be animated at his worst. Leaving out detail and lowering the frame rate aren't the way to get the message across. You're somehow equating laziness with logical aesthetic decisions. There's a world of difference between the two.

[jojo_home]

I think the same goes for most anime characters... anyway, you really need to finish the show, trying to analyze and understand Misaki's character before you do will get you absolutely nowhere, especially since we get almost nothing of her past or motivations before the end. When she really falls apart, it's not about "fanboy ideals", it's about pity, and realizing what a painful life she's had and how she's come to deal with it in very strange ways, building up numerous walls of deception and fantasy to hide behind. Trying to make some statement about "fanboys" before you even know what kind of character she is seems... silly.

I certainly am not drawing the final red line about her, but at some point you have to make some judgements about a show. This is like saying about any given show, "Don't judge the series until you've watched all 105 episodes!" What's the use of turning everything on its head if you used the same pandering techniques you're criticizing to attract people to your show in the first place? I'm sure I'll learn more about her (I'm up to episode 18) but she's the single character in the series I actually think doesn't fit into the show. I'm not sure deepening her for the last 6 or so episodes is necessarily gonna make up for the previous 18. But I'll watch and see.







And while I agree about the chaotic nature of the animation from episode to episode, I don't necessarily think the prettier designs of the early episodes were very believable.
You're being far too kind to Gonzo, I think. The shitty animation has nothing to do with any sort of artistic statement about the inner ugliness of humanity or what have you. It's just straight up shitty, rushed animation. It's when the animation is at its best that Satou can be animated at his worst. Leaving out detail and lowering the frame rate aren't the way to get the message across. You're somehow equating laziness with logical aesthetic decisions. There's a world of difference between the two.

Actually, I never implied I thought that it was an intentional change. I can certainly believe it was shitty design work and laziness. I'm just saying don't believe that their intended look was all that appropriate to begin with.


And are you saying that you liked the first few episodes when Satou was all buff and studly looking? I liked the animation, for sure, but the design work was highly idealized

[something]

I certainly am not drawing the final red line about her, but at some point you have to make some judgements about a show. This is like saying about any given show, "Don't judge the series until you've watched all 105 episodes!"
I know what you're saying, but... NHK isn't 105 episodes. It's only 24, and it's all been available for a little while. It's just weird timing to come in now and make the comment, rather than back when we were all discussing it, or rather than waiting until you're done, which you almost are anyway. I think the main reason seeing it all first is important with Misaki is that we don't know anything about her, even up to where you are. Now granted, I see this as a weakness in the show. I noted as such in my posts. I wanted to see far more about Misaki, and far earlier. Everything they focused on was less important, and she should have come first. It is precisely that lack of direction in the middle parts that keeps the show from greatness. If the ending itself wasn't so damn good, I'd never think about Welcome to the NHK again. Where you are at episode 18, I was beginning to despair of anything resembling a decent outcome.

Besides, what's so bad about the way people were attracted to the show? I actually didn't know much of anything about Misaki before I saw the show. I didn't even check it out for awhile, because for some reason I thought it was something completely different from what it was. But if someone did watch because of Misaki... ::shrugs:: Ok, is she cute? Well, sure, she's cute -- no matter how crazy she is. But... so what? And it's not like the show used her even half as much as it should have. If she seems out of place, in my opinion that's because Gonzo failed at giving her character the time she deserved. They make up for it in the end, but only so much.

I guess I'm just not sure where this pandering is taking place. It can't be in fanservice, because aside from a couple Satou fantasies, there's pretty much zilch of that from Misaki. She has to earn her cuteness the hard way, not with tight bikinis and pantyshots.

And thinking she's cute or liking her character doesn't imply thinking she's normal, or even stable. It doesn't mean viewing her as the ideal girlfriend. It doesn't mean wishing she showed up at our bedside tomorrow morning sporting a naked apron look and a smile. ...though now that I think about it... =P Anyways, I guess I just don't see where this whole pandering thing comes from.

And are you saying that you liked the first few episodes when Satou was all buff and studly looking? I liked the animation, for sure, but the design work was highly idealized
I'm completely used to idealized characters in anime. Even the lowliest of the low, the dorkiest of the dorks, tends to have at least six pack abs. Characters often only take other physical forms when they're filling in a stereotype (the fat kid who is always eating, say). I don't feel like the animation getting crappy fundamentally changed the fact that Satou is tall and has a decent build on him, but I do think that when they put effort into the animation, they were able to do a good job of depicting him falling apart -- hollow eyes, scruffy face, messy hair, dirty clothes. They didn't bother with any of that when they were being lazy. He was just a featureless blob, which doesn't evoke the kind of feelings they should be going for. It doesn't make me think of Satou's decay and his worthless life. It makes me think of how Gonzo sucks at handling a budget. Definitely not the message they should be sending across.

[Ty]

I'm not sure deepening her for the last 6 or so episodes is necessarily gonna make up for the previous 18. But I'll watch and see.
It does though, and not in the last 6 episodes either.... the last two (yes, they waste four more with filler sadly). Those last two episodes make the entire series worth watching though and establish a real feeling of depth in Satou and Misaki at the end. Even the worst shows can be totally saved by an amazing ending and this one does the same. Though I don't think the rest of NHK was terrible by any means. It started out really fun, got depressing for a little bit, then became throughly mediocre for a long while and finally finishes with a very honest feeling emotional bang.

[jojo_home]

I felt it was a very sweet, funny and sad ending. Everything a good ending should be. It wasn't a neat and tidy one, but it was appropriate.

Regarding Misaki, I feel she is RIGHT for Satou, but I still feel that her introduction to the show was unrealistic. Guys like Satou would only be so lucky that someone cute like Misaki would come out of nowhere and shake up his life socially, even if she had reasons of her own for specifically choosing him. It just doesn't happen in reality. In truth, Misaki is a cute girl, and she would have easily found someone to care for her and need her that needn't be pathetic like Satou. So, she still confirms my belief that conceptually she is kind of an idealized girl that many guys would love to hold and protect. As Satou said, looks give her a tremendous advantage. I probably would have preferred it if Satou had somehow initiated their first contact, or if he had somehow met up with her on equal footing, and then have her take over from there. That would have been more believable. Just from personal experience, I've known plenty of pretty girls with social issues like Misaki who quickly got people to like them without them even trying. Much harder for guys to do this.

I feel bad for Yamazaki, in truth. I feel sorry for people whose lives are set by their families. Though his breakup with Nanako was loony in concept, it wasn't as harsh as some posters here led me to believe.

I actually liked the "fillers". I thought that all the little vignettes combined to underline an important point the show had been trying to make all series. The Hitomi and the Megumi episodes were IMO necessary and at least *I* was interested.

Overall, I felt it was the most "honest" anime series about life since His and Her Circumstances, except it always kept its focus on what it wanted to say. It's actually takes a lot of what Evangelion did and took it to the real world. It wasn't a perfect series, and yes Satou was a complete dolt at times, but if he wasn't so comedically idiotic, the show might be unbearable. He's unlikeable, but he's easy to sympathize with. Actually, I felt all the characters were pretty sympathetic although Hitomi always remained too aloof.

[jojo_home]

I'm not sure deepening her for the last 6 or so episodes is necessarily gonna make up for the previous 18. But I'll watch and see.
It does though, and not in the last 6 episodes either.... the last two (yes, they waste four more with filler sadly). Those last two episodes make the entire series worth watching though and establish a real feeling of depth in Satou and Misaki at the end. Even the worst shows can be totally saved by an amazing ending and this one does the same. Though I don't think the rest of NHK was terrible by any means. It started out really fun, got depressing for a little bit, then became throughly mediocre for a long while and finally finishes with a very honest feeling emotional bang.


In a way, the ending was not surprising either. I kinda suspected that Misaki's situation was along these lines. It was a GREAT ending, but again I felt the initial device of having Misaki force the meetings between her and Satou was contrived. I firmly believe that this would NEVER happen to a guy like Satou in real life and a cute girl like Misaki would have received much more positive attention even before the thought of concocting this elaborate plan ever came to her mind. It just felt too convenient to get a girl into Satou's life right from the beginning of the series.

I ultimately believe in Misaki as a character when all is said and done, but her introduction IMO was too contrived.

[something]

I ultimately believe in Misaki as a character when all is said and done, but her introduction IMO was too contrived.
But she wasn't "just a pretty girl" who had life handed to her oranything, she thought she was genuinely worthless. She spent the whole series (not that they bothered to show it to us much, until the end) trying to convince herself that she had a reason to exist, because nothing around her, even her loving adopted parents, could fulfill that for her. She desperately needed something "worse" that she could look down on and be better than.

Why was it Satou? Because she had been watching Satou for a long time. She saw his apartment, she saw the park he would sit in every night, she had ties to his landlord. There is nothing sudden about her decision, it was all very intricately planned out. Your whole basis for that seems to be that she's "pretty", but... so what? There's no way Satou would ever initiate contact with her, not knowingly anyway. The only people who would, would be people with some modicum of self confidence -- and those people were inherently unsuited to her project. She needed the lowest of the low, someone who had been, was, and had the future prospect only to be... nothing. A loser. Satou fulfilled those aims for her.

Why did she fall in love? A mixture of pity, loneliness and an absolutely primal need to be needed. She said as much, by the end.

I just think you're really discounting her mental condition far more than you should, seeing as how it's the fundamental basis of her character and all her actions. Satou starting everything would have made no sense, really. He *couldn't* have started it -- because it started long before he knew she existed. It started before the events in episode one. It is the basis of the entire show, developed long before Satou ever appears on screen.

[Ty]

All the times you mention how unrealistic it is that Misaki should just fall into Satou's lap makes me wonder if you understand the whole point of anime like this. Did watching the galgame episodes of this series teach you nothing? ;) It's because it couldn't happen in real life that makes it so compelling. :)

[Kellory]

In truth, Misaki is a cute girl, and she would have easily found someone to care for her and need her that needn't be pathetic like Satou.

As Disarm said, she didnt find Satou, she stalked him. Probably for about a year, perhaps a bit more. Their meeting was probably not an accident in that she more than likely set her aunt up to hit that particular complex.

She didnt need someone who would care for her and make her feel useful. Well, she did, but she also had another criteria. That person needed to be someone that she could feel superior to. She also needed to feel safe as well. She had to be the one in charge. And whatever else she was, she felt she was pretty worthless. So it would take a pretty useless person to actually be worse off than she was. At least in her own mind.

I probably would have preferred it if Satou had somehow initiated their first contact, or if he had somehow met up with her on equal footing, and then have her take over from there. That would have been more believable.

I would also disagree here. Beyond the point others have raised about Satou never being able to initiate contact (this is one reason she chose him, he was so incapable of initiating contact, or so she thought, that he would also not stray from her), she could not have him as an equal.

That was the point of those contracts. And why she needed him to sign it. It raised her above just a personal relationship and put her in charge of him. I would not have found her psychological issues to be as bad as they were if she did not end up taking the approch she did.

Just from personal experience, I've known plenty of pretty girls with social issues like Misaki who quickly got people to like them without them even trying. Much harder for guys to do this.

Except Misaki does not have social issues. She has some several psychological ones. Probably worse ones than Satou really.

I feel bad for Yamazaki, in truth. I feel sorry for people whose lives are set by their families. Though his breakup with Nanako was loony in concept, it wasn't as harsh as some posters here led me to believe.

I dont really feel for him. Well, I do for the same reasons, however, his life really wasnt set as much as he thought. He was having an early mid life crisis attack. He just wanted to make an impact with his life and didnt think he could as a farmer. It was all he knew, so he really thought of it as a low end thing. He completely lacked self respect for the most part. Which is why he always thought people were looking down on him.

Once he acknowledged that going back home was where he could make the most use of his life, that there were people back there that needed him for who and what he was, he was able to finally find some closure. This is one reason I think we saw that breakup scene with Nanako go the way it did. It was a bit more comical than I think it needed to be, but in the end it was a clean break. I'm not sure the Yamazaki of episode 1 could have done the same thing.

For all of it's comedy he took responsibility for ending that relationship in a fashion that cleared the decks for Nanako. When she left, it was over. There was no question in her mind that it was time to move on. I think she really did like him, regardless of what she might have said to her other friends, and this way there were no lingering questions in her mind. And while I might question the way he did it, I respect the fact he was able to.

I actually liked the "fillers".

I agree here. I really do not think the show had much, if any, filler. All those "filler" stories served to further show us both Satou's problems and personality, as well as Misaki's. They demonstrated that Misaki made a single big mistake with evaluating Satou in that his hikikomori condition was not due to an internal psychological condition, but due to external factors. This had larger implications later.

Satou was a complete dolt at times, but if he wasn't so comedically idiotic, the show might be unbearable. He's unlikeable, but he's easy to sympathize with. Actually, I felt all the characters were pretty sympathetic although Hitomi always remained too aloof.

I really liked Satou. Although I admit it took a few episodes for him to grow on me. But once we were a few episodes in, and once it became clear where the source of his problems were, he became a much more likeable charcter to me.

As I said above, his hikikomori condition, in my opinion, were really caused more by external factors than internal. Which is why he was able to overcome them once those external factors stopped working on him. He was a pretty weak character emotionally and psychologically. He relied on others in many ways, but everyone simply took from him emotionally. Especially Hitomi. Once he was freed of all of that, he was able to move on.

For all of that, he also seemed to be pretty empahtic. He seemed to instinctively understand the problems of the other characters, even if he was unable to consciously see them. Everyone in the show was damaged to one degree or another, and all were helped by Satou in his own way. Which is pretty amazing when you think about it.

But those last 2 episodes. Wow. It made it all worthwhile right there. The whole leadup, all the wackiness, all the times I wanted to smack Hitmoi, it all made it worthwhile.

It is my opinion that Satou saved Misaki not just once, but twice. I belive that had he signed that contract in episode 23, she would have killed herself soon after. It would have been the proof she needed that she was needed. Somewhere I think he realized that. By rejecting her, he put her back to square one and she went back into observer mode as she did in the middle of the series when he rejected her the first time.

It was not until she saw he had overcome his complex that she realized he was not going to come back to her. It is also my opinion that both attempts were calls for help, perhaps subsciously, but still calls for help even if she didnt think so. Of all the people in the show, Misaki is the one character who should have been able to commit suicide correctly the first time. I find it hard to believe she would not have researched various methods beforehand. So I find it hard to believe that she would have messed up the first time had she been really serious.

As for the second, well, again it was too elaborate. There was no need to leave the note in a train schedule book. She could have just mailed it in. Or even just left the note. She also could have taken an express train too. And there was no reason to wait. I believe she hoped someone would come, and probably hoped it would be Satou. That someone would feel she was worth enough to come looking for since one does not look for something one considers worthless.

That entire scene was quite touching as she realized she almost caused Satou's death through her actions. That, right in front of her, there was someone who was willing to die if it meant saving her. To someone who feels they are pretty much worthless, that has to be pretty powerful confirmation that they mean something to someone.

Overall I'd say Welcome to the NHK was one of the best shows I've seen anywhere in a long time. Although the animation got pretty bad at times in it, the storyline and ending made it all worthwhile. Unfortunately for some, the sheer quality of the animation at times could making getting to the end impossible. And it is one of the main flaws I see in the show. Regardless of how good it is, if people cannot make it to the end, then the show fails.

Hopefully, however, people will be able to make it through to the final episodes and see it to completion. It really makes everything worthwhile.

[jojo_home]

As Disarm said, she didnt find Satou, she stalked him. Probably for about a year, perhaps a bit more. Their meeting was probably not an accident in that she more than likely set her aunt up to hit that particular complex.

She didnt need someone who would care for her and make her feel useful. Well, she did, but she also had another criteria. That person needed to be someone that she could feel superior to. She also needed to feel safe as well. She had to be the one in charge. And whatever else she was, she felt she was pretty worthless. So it would take a pretty useless person to actually be worse off than she was. At least in her own mind.

You're just explaining the plot to me though. I know what the plot is; I just didn't buy the initial sell. Yes, I knew that she wanted to find someone she could look down on to make herself feel better yadda yadda, but it just wouldn't happen in reality. I "get" why Misaki did it. I just don't think any character like her would do it.




Except Misaki does not have social issues. She has some several psychological ones. Probably worse ones than Satou really.


She does have social issues as well. Her aunt and uncle specifically mentioned that she had trouble interacting with people socially in high school, which affected her grades and leading her to drop out. The psychological issues definitely helped create that feeling within her. At some point she created this illusion (probably with the books she was using with Satou) that she could interact with people if she looked down on them.

It's all interconnected anyway, so I think it is erroneous to separate the social from the psychological.



I dont really feel for him. Well, I do for the same reasons, however, his life really wasnt set as much as he thought. He was having an early mid life crisis attack. He just wanted to make an impact with his life and didnt think he could as a farmer. It was all he knew, so he really thought of it as a low end thing. He completely lacked self respect for the most part. Which is why he always thought people were looking down on him.

Once he acknowledged that going back home was where he could make the most use of his life, that there were people back there that needed him for who and what he was, he was able to finally find some closure. This is one reason I think we saw that breakup scene with Nanako go the way it did. It was a bit more comical than I think it needed to be, but in the end it was a clean break. I'm not sure the Yamazaki of episode 1 could have done the same thing.

For all of it's comedy he took responsibility for ending that relationship in a fashion that cleared the decks for Nanako. When she left, it was over. There was no question in her mind that it was time to move on. I think she really did like him, regardless of what she might have said to her other friends, and this way there were no lingering questions in her mind. And while I might question the way he did it, I respect the fact he was able to.


I kinda disagree. I felt that at the end, he kind of just made up his mind that he couldn't change his fate, and that was where his newfound balls came from. They say that a man with no hope has no fear, and it was the case here. I felt he was more resigned to his fate than anything. I don't think he ever really liked farming. It was not a passion of his, and never was. Maybe it was the only thing he could do, but it was not something he probably would have preferred to do with his life. But that's life, and I think that's what the show was trying to illustrate with him. Doesn't mean I can't curse fate. ;)




It is my opinion that Satou saved Misaki not just once, but twice. I belive that had he signed that contract in episode 23, she would have killed herself soon after. It would have been the proof she needed that she was needed. Somewhere I think he realized that. By rejecting her, he put her back to square one and she went back into observer mode as she did in the middle of the series when he rejected her the first time.

It was not until she saw he had overcome his complex that she realized he was not going to come back to her. It is also my opinion that both attempts were calls for help, perhaps subsciously, but still calls for help even if she didnt think so. Of all the people in the show, Misaki is the one character who should have been able to commit suicide correctly the first time. I find it hard to believe she would not have researched various methods beforehand. So I find it hard to believe that she would have messed up the first time had she been really serious.

As for the second, well, again it was too elaborate. There was no need to leave the note in a train schedule book. She could have just mailed it in. Or even just left the note. She also could have taken an express train too. And there was no reason to wait. I believe she hoped someone would come, and probably hoped it would be Satou. That someone would feel she was worth enough to come looking for since one does not look for something one considers worthless.



That is interesting, and I agree, I think she was testing to see if anyone would care to "save" her--hence, she left enough wiggle room for both her attempted suicides. The second was easily a test to see if Satou would come, and she gave him enough time to grab her as she fell. The first time was more of a "feeler" attempt.

[jojo_home]

All the times you mention how unrealistic it is that Misaki should just fall into Satou's lap makes me wonder if you understand the whole point of anime like this. Did watching the galgame episodes of this series teach you nothing? ;) It's because it couldn't happen in real life that makes it so compelling. :)

Yesss...perhaps it is a nod to the galgame theory but for a show that spent an inordinate amount of time throwing cold water on everybody in society, I felt in the end it was a bit contradictory to its message.

[jojo_home]

I just think you're really discounting her mental condition far more than you should, seeing as how it's the fundamental basis of her character and all her actions. Satou starting everything would have made no sense, really. He *couldn't* have started it -- because it started long before he knew she existed. It started before the events in episode one. It is the basis of the entire show, developed long before Satou ever appears on screen.


Well, yes. I know why she did what she did, I just don't think it's very realistic a thing to do what she did. We could argue forever with this, I know.

I think in reality, a person like Misaki would have found what she needed BEFORE she concocted the elaborate scheme to entrap Satou. She needed someone to look down upon, but it's all rather convenient that she just happened to have an uncle who owned Mita house and Satou the Loser just happened to be the fortunate soul who lived there, and received the social attention of Misaki. The show worked hard to justify the show's conceptual path, but everything was too convenient. I ask myself, has this ever happened in real life? I would say, no.

I know people will respond by running down Misaki's psychological issues and motivations again, about how she felt like garbage, and how she absolutely needed to stalk Satou, etc, and I have to repeat--I get that, I just don't BUY that in this show.

I guess I wouldn't be so hard on this little thing if the show didn't make such a big deal about how hard the "real" world was.

In reality, she would have worked in the manga cafe, and some guy would have come in every day and worked hard enough to break down her inhibitions, helped her with her psychological issues and she would not have resorted to creating the project. And before you say "That can't happen, she NEEDED to find someone to look down on first, she would have rejected everyone else!" well, I have to say that you would underestimate the perserverance a guy would go to to reach her when he found out she was single. Oh, and it helps that she looks cute.

In reality, Satou would have been a homebody and hikikomori until he ran out of food, then went to get a job. Then maybe in the process he would have met a girl.

And they would never have met.

But I guess then there would be no show, no initial hook in that case. *Sigh* I guess some sacrifices in reality must be made for entertainment.

[something]

I think in reality, a person like Misaki would have found what she needed BEFORE she concocted the elaborate scheme to entrap Satou. She needed someone to look down upon, but it's all rather convenient that she just happened to have an uncle who owned Mita house and Satou the Loser just happened to be the fortunate soul who lived there, and received the social attention of Misaki. The show worked hard to justify the show's conceptual path, but everything was too convenient. I ask myself, has this ever happened in real life? I would say, no.
While extreme emphasis on "reality" is weird to me from the get go (is NHK really a "realistic" show? It deals with real issues in ways other shows wont, but the show itself is a mass of exaggeration), I think you also discount just how fucked up real life is. There's a lot of things that happen in this world, and something like what Misaki did hardly strikes me as being in the same ballpark, given who she is.

In other words, is it unusual? Yeah, sure. But since when does the usual make for good storytelling? NOBODY in this show is normal, despite what otaku stereotypes might suggest =P Dealing with real issues and being a realistic show are two very different things, so binding the characters' actions to what is considered normal just seems like going in the wrong direction from the start. I don't see how you can say you understand Misaki and yet totally separate that from her actions at the beginning of the show, when even the barest understanding of her means you understand her situation befort episode one even started.

And as you said, if things worked out the way you see as "realistic", the show wouldn't exist, so doesn't that make everything... moot?

[jojo_home]

And as you said, if things worked out the way you see as "realistic", the show wouldn't exist, so doesn't that make everything... moot?

Yeah...I kinda came to that conclusion as I concluded the post. :sd:

But still...

But still...