Touka Gettan discussion thread

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Touka Gettan is a show I'm checking out purely because of the great Carnellian designs.

ANN (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=7508)'s entry for it.
Official Site (http://www.avexmovie.jp/lineup/momotsuki/), although the flash it uses can be... annoying. It likes to sort of hang and just not load for me from time to time, hope it works better for others.

Posting thoughts in follow-up post to avoid any spoilers in the root post.

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Episode 1:

- I've never been to keen on the "prince" type female. Short hair, wears mens' clothes, usually sounds a bit more masculine, always pretends to be (or is) emotionless and aloof. Especially when it's used in a yuri couple, because then it just feels like a cop out so they can have a "pretend" male in the relationship =P And seeing as how Touka and Momoka totally make out in the OP, I'm obviously assuming that'll be what they're going for.
- Well at any rate, the animation is really nice so far. Great backgrounds and attractive character designs. I should mention as well that I thought the OP song and animation were pretty good.
- This is a weird conversation Yumiko and Touka are having. "I love you! How old are you again?" Still, Yumiko is absolutely SMOKING HOT. She looks godly in those thighhighs. "Touka-chan..." "Mama..." "Touka-chan..." "Mama..." "Touka-chan..." "Mama..." >_>
- I really have no clue what's going on right now (8 minutes in), but it's all sorta of totally erotic and pretty animation and great music and all that, so I'm totally into this.
- Helllllo YamiBoushi! Lesbian love and green sparkly teleportation? Halfway through episode one, and it makes not one iota of sense. BUT OH MY GOD IT'S SO PRETTY!

Ok, in the context of thinking of this like YamiBoushi, it makes sense at the end of the episode. I'm getting a very very similar vibe here in terms of the storyline. Clearly the other characters we've been introduced to so far will be cropping up in the other 'world/worlds' Momoka and Touka wind up in. Too bad Touka can't keep the long hair in other "worlds" though... Or at least stop wearing super manly clothes. I guess that's a fetish for some people but blarrrrrgh, so do not like, especially after seeing her with sexy long hair.

All in all, this show made no sense at all until the very end of the episode but I didn't care because it's ABSOLUTELY GODDAMNED GORGEOUS and just looking at it is a delicious, delicious treat in and of itself. I am so keeping track of this one.

[[Edit: it seems like I might have found Touka's "princification" so extreme because Touka may actually BE male, which would be why they (s)he looks like that. See Nork22's first response and my reply. That would definitely be a bit of a mark against this show...]]

[masterpez]

And that's exactly how I felt after having watched this, although, my experience was "without being about to understand it completely". It was all a series of scenes bunched together to me, but it certainly looked pretty. VERY, very pretty. Best looking character designs this season. We've all seen our share of series where they carefully plan out all the camera angles so that there are panties visible in every shot, or DVD versions of defogged shower scenes and added nipplage.....but those series could learn a lesson or 2 from this one. THIS IS HOW YOU DO FANSERVICE (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v293/marsh-/Random%20Pics/fanservice.jpg) (Period, also possibly NSFW) Caused me to pause the video and go "OMG, WOW" which is something I don't do ever. And that's all I have to say about that. Hopefully it starts to make sense in later episodes...

[something]

Hopefully it starts to make sense in later episodes...
I wonder if they almost expect viewers to have seen Yami to Boushi to Hon no Tabibito? I don't want to overstress the connection, of course. After all, I've only seen *one episode* of Touka Gettan, and my guess as to know it plays out could be significantly off. In fact, I expect it to to in major ways, else this would be a total retread (which would also be fine with me, honestly). Still, the general idea of YamiBou and episode 1 of Touka Gettan seems to be the whole "meeting up again in alternate worlds". The difference is that the whole premise from episode one for YamiBou was a search for the other person, while in Touka Gettan they've found each other after before episode one finishes, revealed who they are, and made out.

But YamiBou was actually a remarkably simple (but effective) story. I expect Touka Gettan to be, as we've seen, decidedly more convoluted in its plot, hopefully in a good way.

[HitokiriShadow]

I haven't seen the episode yet, but reading this thread makes me glad I have it currently downloading. Maybe this will make show # (counts...) 6-8, depending on what I decide on Xenoglasia and Hitohira, that I follow this season. I had no idea this was a yuri show when I decided to give it a try.

[Nork22]

Too bad Touka can't keep the long hair in other "worlds" though... Or at least stop wearing super manly clothes. I guess that's a fetish for some people but blarrrrrgh, so do not like, especially after seeing her with sexy long hair.
I noticed, since I initially was watching it raw, that Touka was speaking with a male speech pattern. I would assume that Touka is actually a trap in that kimono getup and despite the flashback of him looking too pretty to be a boy.

So if I were you, be wary of Touka's gender for the moment. As for the YamiBou expectations/connection, while it is done by the same team, I think this has more connection to the other Carnelian work, Moonlight Lady, than anything else.f

Aside from those 2 things, yes this whole episode is a 'WTF is going on' and 'my good so pretty and sexy at the same time' much like YamiBou

[something]

I noticed, since I initially was watching it raw, that Touka was speaking with a male speech pattern. I would assume that Touka is actually a trap in that kimono getup and despite the flashback of him looking too pretty to be a boy.
So if I were you, be wary of Touka's gender for the moment.
Could be, I just noticed the ANN summary refers to Touka as unambiguously male. And when they show Touka at the end, the clothing and look is very male, as I noted, to my disappointment. I figured they were just pushing the whole "prince" character type to the extreme. So it could be that sexy version Touka WAS just another stupid trap. Probably is the case.

Suddenly, I'm like 500 times less interested in this show. How boring. Now Hitohira really needs to deliver on the yuri, or I'll be all sorts of sad.

[HitokiriShadow]

See, I noticed the "he" in Newtype USA and wikipedia, but I was thinking that was a mistake on their part and s/he was just a rather manly woman as disarm said. Looking at the website, I think that is a man's chest, though I did think it was a girl when I first saw it a month or so ago.

I'll still give the first episode a try, but I'll probably drop this one if it lacks yuri. It's not like I'm lacking shows to watch this season.

Now Hitohira really needs to deliver on the yuri, or I'll be all sorts of sad.

No kidding. I mean, that last scene was absolutely dripping in yuri subtext. Unless Nono turns out to be a trap too... :(

[something]

See, I noticed the "he" in Newtype USA and wikipedia, but I was thinking that was a mistake on their part and s/he was just a rather manly woman as disarm said. Looking at the website, I think that is a man's chest, though I did think it was a girl when I first saw it a month or so ago.
Same, the only info I ever looked up on Touka Gettan before this episode was the Japanese webpage, and then only to get their names... I can read the kana, but not any of the detailed information so it could say plain as day that Touka is male and I wouldn't have noticed. I never actually read that little blurb ANN had.

And then images like this (http://moe.imouto.org/post/view/4231) don't help the situation. (Warning, high res)

I'll still give the first episode a try, but I'll probably drop this one if it lacks yuri. It's not like I'm lacking shows to watch this season.
A show like this DOES seem to be one that would be very much driven by the central romance, so I might do the same. Or I'll be so captivated by the gorgeous animation that I'll watch it all even if it completely sucks :sd:

[Nork22]

I'll still give the first episode a try, but I'll probably drop this one if it lacks yuri. It's not like I'm lacking shows to watch this season.
A show like this DOES seem to be one that would be very much driven by the central romance, so I might do the same. Or I'll be so captivated by the gorgeous animation that I'll watch it all even if it completely sucks :sd:
I'll still be watching this even if there's no yuri. :)
After all, Maria-sama is always watching me. :D
Kanako-chan is TALL! Well enough of that, don't want to derail the thread completely.

[Nork22]

Watched the second episode and that was confusing as heck again. The reason was it's basically a back story to episode 1 and it took me a moment to figure that out.

Now with all this ceremonies and what not, it seems like it has something to do with the old Tanabata festival. Not that I'm sure, what with all this babble about legends and old traditions.

Now for those who are waiting for yuri.... well there is one in this episode. :)

Hot passionate kiss! And none of them are traps! (http://img412.imageshack.us/my.php?image=snapshot20070414104440tv7.jpg)

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Episode 2:

- Whee, more complete confusion. So, Yumiko is back with Nene and Kiyoharu, and Momoka ...well something about 2000 years of memories but seriously, who cares? MAKOTO IS HUGGING NEKKID MOMOKA! See, I know where my priorities lie.
- She just totally stole her panties. Momoka's panties have just been annexed by Makoto, Princess of Yuriville. That's awesome.
- So ok, here's someone who looks just like Touka did in the previous episode before becoming boyified, but I take it it can't be Touka, or they jumped back to the previous world, or... ... ...!?
- Triplets!! Feisty triplets. And... an apple battle?
- So the Touka but not is Kikyou, and clearly has breasts so...
- ...Ok, so Touka is there, and with long hair/kimono like episode one, and seeing them one after the other I can indeed tell the difference, but now Touka's... older sister? says she's been possessing Yumiko for 15 years now, and waiting 2000 years for Touka to do whatever it is she's supposed to do, in order to "save Isabihiko"

Now Fuu comes into the picture, saying that there's a sword inside Touka that possesses the 2000 years of memories. It seems that Touka is supposed to destroy everything in order to suppress the demonic forces threatening to take over Kamitsumi. So implies Kikyou anyway, who is part of all this craziness, and says she's sort of like Touka's mother. Mana-hime, the one poessessing Yumiko is really named Juna, and Kikyou totally makes out with her (wait what? well... hot!)

Furthermore, Momoka is in on all this as well. Touka tells her she's "not very ladylike"... yeah you're one to talk about traditional gender stereotypes, buddy. Anyway, Makoto does her poem song thing, then the triplets, Fuu, Juna and Momoka (who is also called Sei) all disappear, Touka angsts a bit, Yumiko gets a cellphone call and wonders why she's getting one when she's in Kamitsumi, and the epsode ends.

If all of what I typed makes no fucking sense to you, you're not alone, because I don't have the slightest clue either.

If I were to try one more time to break it down:

Kamiazumas - Touka, Yumiko/Yuriko, Kiyoharu/Kiyotsugu, Haruhiko.
Isabihiko fanclub - Touka, Mana-hime (Juna), Fuu, Kikyou (Princess of Okumiya/Ghost Princess), Momoka (Sei). All seem interested in an "Isabihiko", persumably the man with the sword Touka sees.
Others - Nene, Makoto, Shouko, Triplets (Princesses of the Second Shrine)

Touka is pretending to be Yumiko's child while Juna possesses her. So 15 years of Touka's 2000+ years has been spent with her. Kikyou, Momoka/Sei, Juna and Fuu are all, like Touka, interested in this Isabihiko person, but the ceremony they do reveals that Isabihiko is dead, or useless to them, or otherwise not what they thought. This ceremony (and the implied destruction) were necessary because demonic forces are somehow ruining the land of Kamitsumi. Kikyou mentions that they've been fighting the evil forces for a long time now.

Nene is a maid to the Kamiazumas, while Shouko and Makoto are students at Touka, Kikyou and Momoka's school. Nene confidently predicts something will happen at the school festival, so she's in the know. Makoto is important in ways she doesn't seem to grasp, but she was apparently necessary for the ceremony. Shouko seems normal, aside from being a tomato fiend. The triplets also disappear during the ceremony, which would imply they're connected with Touka et. al as well.

Now yes, I went to episode 1 and it does indeed start right where episode 2 ends. Bastards... now I'm rewatching episode one.

First thought: When the old man, the father of Kiyoharu and Yumiko, is doing the chick behind the curtain, it was originally translated as "Junior" likely for lack of having any idea what it was supposed to be (understandable), but in light of episode two clearly it was Juna, who we met in that episode. He notices that Juna's power is gone, which stuns Kiyoharu/Kiyotsugu.

Second: I *think* I get the flashback now. Kiyotsugu is the guy that gets the rock shoved in his eye obviously. Yuriko (which is what Kiyotsugu always called Yumiko) is the lady who gets shot by the girl trying to save her. Yumiko is the girl who shoots her, i.e. Yuriko's daughter who accidentally kills her. After this, Yumiko is inside Yuriko's body. It's after this flashback that we find out that Yuriko and Kiyoharu were the parents of Yumiko. Kiyotsugu was pretending to be Kiyoharu, who is actually... who knows? Haruhiko comes in and hears this at the end. The one person I can't place? The nutjob tho does the rock>eye transplantation. Who is he? The real Kiyoharu? Isabihiko? The stone sword did seem to be in the scene after all, and it would explain the flashback where people are being sliced up.

Third: Ahhh, Touka disappeared in the flash of green like the others, and like the triplets he left behind a doll statue. Kikyou picks it up, and says she will forever protect Kamitsumi (so she didn't disappear like the rest, which does match up with episode two). Both Shouko and Makoto know something about what happened. Shouko notes that the demonic aura around Kamitsumi is gone. Makoto notes that "this is what Momo-chan wanted".

Fourth: Then we're at the final scenes with Yumiko, Nene leaving, and the meetup in a decidedly modern and urban Japan between Momoka and Touka. Yumiko, however, is there too. That's the main thing in episode one now that confuses me, clearly Yumiko, Shouko, Makoto and Nene will continue to play a part (they're on the character list after all), but in what way will they be seen again? Reincarnations? The same people transported? I'm guessing it's closer for the former. What about the others? Touka and Momoka are accounted for at the end, Kikyou is staying in Kamitsumi, so that leaves Fuu and Juna to wonder about. Also, the triplets. Either way, Momoka meets Touka in this new world, and they remember each other even though, it seems, they were not supposed to, or didn't think they would.

Alright, it's been three or four hours since I started watching episode two, but I think I have it all straight now, at least as far as we possibly can after episode two. Fuu, Juna, the triplets, Nene, Shouko and Makoto are unaccounted for of the ones I expect to return. I suppose Kiyotsugu and Haruhiko could return as well, but we'll see.

I have a feeling this all flows much more easily in the game, where, one assumes, all the sticky plot points and story twists are nicely smoothed over with oral sex.

[Nork22]

All that reading makes some sense at the same time all too mind numbing.
Kiyotsugu was pretending to be Kiyoharu, who is actually... who knows? Haruhiko comes in and hears this at the end. The one person I can't place? The nutjob tho does the rock>eye transplantation. Who is he? The real Kiyoharu? Isabihiko? The stone sword did seem to be in the scene after all, and it would explain the flashback where people are being sliced up.
Kiyotsugu is obviously Kiyoharu's brother, who is the nutjob who went crazy, who is the husband of Yuriko, father of Yumiko.

[angelx03]

Someone seriously needs to put together a relationship chart that's in English.

[something]

Someone seriously needs to put together a relationship chart that's in English.
I actually drew one up in pencil while trying to get it all straight, but we're lacking in a lot of vital information, so it was only partial. That and it's just a pain to lay it out right since there's so much intersection of relationships.

[Shikamaru824]

Yeah so...I finally watched the first episode...

W.

T.

F.

Biggest WTF episode ever - way more the Yami. I got the feeling that I was watching the LAST episode, but since reading this thread it's only going to get more confusing???

Man, why do I have to use Brain Power when there's SO MUCH AWESOME going on!? pez's link above is the best example, but there were other pans and stills that were just :virgin: :virgin: :virgin: all freaking day long! It doesn't get any better then Yumiko's sweater down past her shoulders PLUS Zettai Ryouiki! :>

[Buster Blader 126]

I just watched Episode 3, and I must ask, did I see what I thought I just saw?

[angelx03]

I just watched Episode 3, and I must ask, did I see what I thought I just saw?

Yes, yes you did. I mean who wouldn't?! :D :virgin:

[Nork22]

God dammit! I must see what you all see!!!

[something]

Hopefully I can get through watching and posting about this episode in less than the four hours the last one took :sd:

Episode 3: (if that doesn't make it clear enough for you, that means SPOILERS for episode three!
- The OP is so bouncy and fun and awesome, I'm definitely watching this one each week.
- I think I'm getting over the Touka being male thing. And I have no problem admitting that he's totally hot with long hair and in a kimono.
- Does anyone else just love the narrator's voice? The one that says "Touka Gettan" and "Subtitle: [ep name]" and such. It's just pure awesomeness.
- Triplets <3 So, flashback time! Touka seems to be remembering back when Isabihiko used the sword to kill all sorts of people, presumably in response to Sae/Momoka being wed[?] to that guy in the mask. But we also see Juna attacking Sae/Momoka at some point. Fuu is there too when they see Isabihiko stumbling around with the stone sword, and then there's also Kikyou, and was that Nene in one scene?
- Makoto's ass is delicious. Well, I guess it goes without saying that pretty much everything female (and in some cases even things not) is completely delicious in every way, it is Carnelian after all. Oh, and I guess that answers the question about Momoka and such showing up again, and she knows Momoka and Tou-chan-senpai. I figured it sort of had to be that way, but I wonder if they'll explain it? :sd:
- Wooooooow, this show cracks me up. It has the same sense of playful, bizarre eroticism that YamiBoushi perfected.
- "Touka-chan is wet~" O_O Holy shit holy shit holy shit holy shit holy shit. I'm trying to find some other way to interpret that scene, to figure out where the "OH IT WAS JUST MILK" or "OH HE'S JUST BEING TICKLISH" but I don't think those are options. It was EPIC incest, no two ways about it. Just. Fucking. Wow.
- "The concert is tomorrow" ... ... ...They're telling this story backwards, aren't they? Like, straight up backwards. Ep 1 happens right after ep 2, ep 2 happens right after ep 3... I've definitely never seen a show do this before. Suddenly the ridiculousnes of episodes 1-2 makes (some) sense, and everything is... awesome. I totally can't wait to see if they pull this off.
- Oh shit, Shouko just pulled an USOU DA face. o_O And her license plate says MAKO. XD Also... Catgirl demon with a scythe!! This show is reaching new levels of AWESOME. And Momoka is toooootally hilarious.
- Mmm, the next episode previews have that same sense of strangeness that the rest of the show simply exudes.

::checks something on a whim::: Damn, no cast/staff overlap with Melody of Oblivion. That, this, and YamiBou have the same sense of surreal eroticism I mentioned above. Every character, every line, just all sorts of drowns in sexy, but in a way that leaves you confused and creeped out even as you crave more and more and more. This is really quite an incredible show, now that I think I have it figured out.

[masterpez]

Finally caught up on this. It's starting to make sense, but then again, it isn't. The only thing I think I need to comment on is related to "the scene" in ep 3. I don't believe that Yuriko (or is it Yumiko) is really his mother. Of course this is an anime so this really doesn't apply, but he looks nothing like her. Nothing like her at all and it's so obvious that his real mother is Ayanami Rei. And I'll end by saying that the magical food fight with the triplets and the green-haired skitzo chick was funny.

[something]

I don't believe that Yuriko (or is it Yumiko) is really his mother.
No, she definitely isn't, but that doesn't make it any less WINcestually awesome.

[something]

Episode 4:

- I loooooove this OP more and more each time. I've been saying that El Cazador wins the OP/ED sequence (visuals and sound combined) battle for this season, but I think Touka Gettan is a serious challenger for the OP at least.
- ...Oh my. So Fuu, Juna and Kikyou meet after a 1000 year parting, and Kikyou tells them that Sei/Momoka has been taken hostage by one called Mihashi of the Shikigami. And Sei/Momoka is... looking... well, not so much good of course in such an unfortunate situation but... >______> Damn... So Mihashi puts a crown on her head and says he and his kind want to make Sei/Momoka the only goddess.
- !!! Touka is giving Yumiko a back massage (which she is enjoying far too much, I'm happy to say), and Makoto is there, blushing... and daydreaming about doing the same to Momoka =D Hotttt
- Makoto tries to "practice" on Kiyoharu, and sees a large scar on his back. He can't remember how he got it, but has a sudden blurry flashback to what I assume is Touka (in little girl mode), going by the hair.
- Mihashi has the most annoying laugh ever. So his plan ultimately involves taking the Stone Sword and using it (via Touka) to kill Fuu, Juna and Kikyou. Mihashi is supposed to be the last of the Shikigami.
- Makoto, naked, talking to Kikyou on her magical cell phone = awesome XD. Apparently her powers include being able to seal the stone sword within Touka so that Mihashi can't manipulate Sei/Momoka into making Touka use it to kill the others.
- Makoto and Kikyou reach the limits of their abilities to hold back Touka from using the Stone Sword, and worry that he might go berserk... just as Isabihiko did when he went around killing everyone, after seeing Sei/Momoka with that other guy.
- Mihashi and Sei/Momoka go down to meet Touka after Mihashi's plans fail to control the Stone Sword. Touka is able to break the spell he and Momoka are under by smashing her crown, then slicing Mihashi into deadness.
- Meanwhile, Shouko is driving fast, because that's what she does, but for some reason she drives right off a cliff and her car explodes and she's pissed but unhurt :sd: Episode ends with a glimpse of what I assume is the mask Mihashi talked about obtaining.

One thing I didn't talk about is the whole issue of the little girl and Haruhiko, mostly because I can't piece it together yet. I think we'll need a few more episodes backwards before I understand the significance of that. But I'm going to try:

What Nene does tell us is that the little girl (who knew Haruhiko as a child, and gave him the wound with the Stone Sword) is Yumiko's daughter. Not Touka. So, Yumiko's real daughter? Or rather Yuriko's real daughter, i.e. Yumiko?

The Triplets refuse to give into the little girl's cries for the Stone Sword because she is "no longer Juna's daughter". We know Juna was possessing Yumiko's body, but by this point in the story she was not. Therefore the Princesses of the Second Shrine see no reason to obey the little girl... meaning that before they, or someone else, did, and gave her the Stone Sword[?], which she used to attack Haruhiko because she loved him (yandere much?)

It could be that the little girl, Yumiko/Yuriko's daughter, is an intermediate Stone Sword wielder between Isabihiko and Touka? Touka was used as a replacement for the little girl as Yumiko's child? I'm not sure, and can't speculate too much past that.

I'll definitely be happily overanalyzing further episodes just as much though, because this is surprisingly enjoyable. A show told backwards... and it's really working, because I'm finding myself very interested in getting my brain wrapped around everything. It's a credit to them that they're maintaining a huge air of mystery and suspense when we've already seen the last episode. The ending will be the beginning! I definitely want to see how they pull it off.

Another thing I'll keep doing is skim the previous episode when I finish each episode, and I'm doing that now...

Alright, some things from episode three: whether or not Touka was the little girl (I say not), he clearly has her memories, or rather as wielder of the Stone Sword, he has the memories of all who have wielded it, a thousand years of pain and violence. We also have Yumiko dreaming of the girl, and getting upset that Touka changed into a little girl in her dream. Understandable... he's her son, isn't he? And always has been? Or so she has been lead to think.

Also, I think Nene is still the most impenetrable of all the characters so far. Really do not know who she's working for, or to what ends. She seems to be connected to the goddesses and the others, but in what way? She hasn't talked to them directly yet...

Ahhhh yes. The mask we see at the end of episode 4 is the mask worn by the man who "took" Sei/Momoka before Isabihiko snapped and killed everyone.

Now I can see why Shouko was so concerned with a student council budget drop in episode three, she must have to replace cars often :sd: God I love her, she amuses me soooo much. While I haven't seen Utena, I feel like she'd really fit in...

Alright, skimmed episode 3 and those are my comments. I won't be going more than one episode back when I do these, because it would take too long. Besides, once I watch the whole show I can watch it all backwards to piece together whatever I missed, but I definitely want to continue it this way first, because the fun is in trying to work it all out. And well, this is the way it's supposed to be seen, obviously. This is definitely the unexpected hit of the season for me. Pure awesome, and just brimming with sexy strangeness and strange sexiness and magic and demons and creative storytelling and mmmmmmm~

[something]

Most underrated show of the new season, out of the ones I'm watching anyway. By a fucking MILE.

Episode 5:

- Ooh I so adore the OP more and more each time. Especially the end when Touka floats down from the sky and kisses Momoka. Even if it IS dirty heterosexuality. Bad heterosexuals!
- First scene opens up with the masked corpse. The mask is the one we see at the end of episode 4 in a more complete state. Mihashi had been piecing it together, he said. For what reason, we don't yet know, but do remember that it's the same mask worn the man who "took" Sei/Momoka from Isabihiko, before the latter went on his rampage.
- We next see Kikyou cooking a meal, thinking to herself about how the time is coming when she'll be unable to protect Kamitsu, which she fears will trouble Juna.
- Cut to Fuu in a forest looking somewhat distracted. She then gets nekkid under a waterfall. Kikyou says that Fuu "was too kind", which I suppose has some connection to the flashback we've seen of Juna attacking Fuu, and then collapsing.
- Back where Kikyou is, Juna finally wakes up (with her clothes barely holding on, oh god O_O) after rolling around the futons a bit.
- Momoka despairs of having enough money for food, as she browses what looks like a... convenience store/cafeteria? One with... little rooms off to the side where you can "taste test" the prepackaged foods. And then adjust the amount of rice. Does any of this exist in Japan? At any rate, Shouko runs into her and offers her a bit of her massive bento.
- Makoto comes running in BURNING UP WITH PASSION, because she got selected to perform at a concert (the one we see in the first episodes I'm assuming). Then Shouko totally makes a move on her, and it's HOT. because everything in this show is HOT.
- Now to Yumiko, who complains a bit about how she wants watermelon. Though none exist in this season, Nene goes into the kitchen and transforms something else into a watermelon with her magic. Momoka comes in and just becomes all sorts of chibi (http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t299/anon09876/ToukaGettan-05SRN01480321-07-07.png) and adorable and it's still jarring (in a good way) to see that style come out of what it otherwise such a detailed and mature looking show. I love the contrast, especially since they make sure not to overdo it. But then watermelon goes BOOM from an arrow, with a message tied to it from Juna, inviting Momoka to meet with her.
- Next we see Mihashi, who materializes out of the corpse with the mask. What's interesting is that with him standing right in front of it, you realize that he's clothed exactly the same as the corpse...
- Touka is asleep in his futon, when Makoto sneaks in and tries to wake him up. He doesn't budge, so she blows on his ear. XD That gets him moving... Also, hilarity as he asks her if she did "something" and then she asks him what "something" means and he's too embarrased to explain :sd: At any rate, makoto explains that Kikyou came into her dream and gave her orders. This is interesting because although one would assume Touka knew about Makoto's powers, being aligned with Kikyou as he is, there hadn't been much in the way of interaction between the two before. It's sort of fascinating how this show shows us what happens before we see the events leading up to it, and yet I'm still left with this sense of tension and mystery that makes me do these stupidly long posts trying to work everything out, even though nobody is really responding. The show engages me enough that just typing it all out for myself is good enough.
- Well though my rant just now still holds, it turns out Makoto didn't have anything of consequence to say to Touka XD At least, not overtly.
- The next day Sei/Momoka meets with Juna, apparently for the first time since recovering her body. This means that in the episode before (after) this, Yumiko hasn't been under Juna's sway at all, as was mentioned by other characters before. Sei/Momoka and June talk a bit about how they've changed (or in some cases, not) since the last face-to-face meeting. Juna says Sei became more attractive, then says that for herself, being in Yumiko's body has mellowed her out.
- Then there were some things where the translation I'm seeing makes no fucking sense, but the gist is that Momoka is a bit miffed that she has to bear an unequal share of the burden (in her eyes), while Juna pines away for her lover Kikyou (HOT). They both seem to be on the same page as to what they're feeling though. Whatever that is...
- Makoto and Touka are then on the roof of the school, with Makoto asking Touka to try and bring out the Stone Sword so she can communicate more easily with her inner dragon or something along those lines. She's adamant that they have to do this, because they need to be ready to follow Kikyou's orders (so this does confirm, then, that Makoto and Touka know each other's roles full well). Then Touka tells Makoto he can see her panties =D
- Back at Kikyou's love shack, Juna and Kikyou talk about the past, and Juna tries to get into Kikyou's panties. Kikyou tells her she shouldn't, because theyr yuri pasion might be so damn hot that it could have unintended, world-altering consequences. ...Ok, so I'm paraphrasing. But not too much!
- God Momoka has a fantastic ass. At any rate, she calls Kikyou out and says she wants to return to Kinomiya... and sleep forever. Kikyou asks her if it's okay to just leave Touka behind. Of course, Momoka says it isn't. And so, she's torn.
- As Momoka walks along, despondent (bypassing the last yakisoba pan, oh lord something must be wrong!) she meets Fuu, apparently for the first time since they were last together (back with Isabuhiko I assume). She;s quite surprised to see her, and comments that now that the three of them are together... there's no going back. This worls of Kamitsu will end, because all it's supported by now is Juna's power. Then at the very end, creepy bastard Mihashi ki ki ki's his way up to Momoka, claiming her for himself... and that's where episode 4 would take off.
- And I still love the next episode previews.

I don't think I need to skim through the other episodes this time, since this is a relatively straightforward episode... as Touka Gettan goes, anyway :sd: Well, I did go back once or twice, such as to confirm that it was Fuu and Juna who fought before. As always, the episode introduces a lot of questions, but they're generally ones that reference back in the chronology (aka meaning we need more episodes first), rather than require you to move forward to see how things are resolved (aka by going back into the episodes).

Definitely want more. Now.

[Nork22]

Speaking of which, this show is going backwards for 26 episodes. The writers must have had all this written out if they planned it for 26 episodes.

[something]

Speaking of which, this show is going backwards for 26 episodes. The writers must have had all this written out if they planned it for 26 episodes.
Is 26 confirmed? New information I guess? Because I haven't seen more than 13 listed anywhere yet.

26 episodes of this would be... awesome.

[angelx03]

Speaking of which, this show is going backwards for 26 episodes. The writers must have had all this written out if they planned it for 26 episodes.
Is 26 confirmed? New information I guess? Because I haven't seen more than 13 listed anywhere yet.

26 episodes of this would be... awesome.

Yup! Right here. (http://animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-05-10/touka-gettan-anime-airing-episodes-in-reverse-order)

[something]

Yup! Right here. (http://animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-05-10/touka-gettan-anime-airing-episodes-in-reverse-order)
Hahaha, I like how it's "news" that they're airing in reverse order when it's been doing that for FIVE+ EPS. Anyway, 26 is very very good news.

I swear if they release this on DVD in "chronological" order I will fucking SCREAM.

[relentlessflame]

I swear if they release this on DVD in "chronological" order I will fucking SCREAM.
Don't scream -- it's being released on DVD in the exact same order as on TV. (source (http://blog.tsutaya.co.jp/momotsuki/6679)) :sd:

[something]

Don't scream -- it's being released on DVD in the exact same order as on TV. (source (http://blog.tsutaya.co.jp/momotsuki/6679)) :sd:
Good, I'm glad not all companies think their fans are retarded. Now we'll hope the R1 follows suit. If it gets licensed, of course. And that might not be too likely, YamiBoushi is still languishing unlicensed of course. They might be different stories but they have the same creators and very similar feelings. Ah well, I still hold some hope for YamiBou.

[Speedy Boris]

The character designs are indeed nice (thank you, Carnelian), but three episodes in and I'm just not into the story at all. Then again this shouldn't surprise me, since I couldn't get into Yamibou either, and this was directed by the same guy.

That said, I liked the moment in episode 2 before the concert started when the two balconies were pranking each other with magic.

[something]

Episode 6:

- Wonderfully bizarre beginning. Momoka and Makoto meet up on the long steps leading to school, and hear the triplets playing their harps. The latter when enjoy some delicious tea. Tea so delicious they want to "share" it with other people... Meanwhile, Shouko is abusing another car, driving at reckless speeds up the steps, passing along a gokigenyou here and there as she goes. As the teapot the Kouchou triplets (it seems they're referred to as one collective entity? It means butterfly at any rate, or at least Chou does and Kochou is also brining the same definition up) sent into the air gets ready to dump an ocean of boiling hot tea on Shouko, she swerves to avoid it, crashes straight into a tree... and keeps going. Same old same old for her :sd:
- Touka meets up with Momoka on the way to school, wondering to himself if it's really okay that things seem so normal (ok, a relative term...) every day. And he fears that Momoka won't be able to keep saying something like that for much longer. We're starting to see the beginnings of his anxiety now. Or rather, the manifestation of those worries prior to their climax, which we've already experienced.
- Next we see the Kouchou being attended to by their servants, who inform them that the tapeworm inside of Momoka is gone, Makoto's hair is going back to normal, and Haruhiko's blood type is AB. Yes, it's just as random and strange as it sounds.
- It's so hard to describe this show sometimes because it's so... strange. Well, after seeing a bit of Shouko and her Lotus Association there's a confrontation in the student convenience store/cafeteria as both the Ninomiya faction (Koucho) and Lotus Association (Shouko) compete over whose melonpan Momoka should eat, who has the better mechnical pencils and erasers, and anything else they can find to fight over. Momoka is stuck in the middle of all this, until Haruhiko jumps in, strikes bishie poses, and tells all the beautiful women to stop fighting over him :sd: Then, naturally [...] he challenges both factions to hold a Japanese confectionery duel the next day at 3pm, to be judged by Kikyou.
- Back at their headquarters, they work feverishly at concocting amazing sweets, like some scene out of Yakitate! Japan. But the Kouchou quickly grow bored and wonder what other games they should play. They sky on Shouko trying to lick Makoto (can you blame her?) and then settle for tempting Momoka to eat what they set up as an offering to a statue. Bored with that too, they play with their "doll" -- the catgirl that escapes in a later (earlier?) episode. Their game consists of magically changing her clothes into bloomers, a bunny suit, and an old man outfit... and then nothing at all XD
- Then... naked bathing Yumiko! And Momoka peeping at her... Touka catches her, and Momoka explains that the Ninomiya princesses confronted her after she ate the offering, saying that she stole what they were going to use at the competition. In order to make their confection again, they need... the moonlight reflected in the water of the Kamiazuma's bath o_O While Momoka is doing this, Touka gets excited thinking about how Yumiko was just in that water... >_>
- The Kouchou despair the next day when the moon is no longer in the cup Momoka "caught" it in. and go about having more fun making Momoka "chase the moon" all around their residence :sd:
- Finally, the taste test! And Kikyou TOTALLY pulls a Kuroyanagi here. So, so very Yakitate (and other cooking shows I assume) with her "REACTION"! Then it's the Lotus Association's turn, and another "REACTION"! And all thsi coming from the deadly serious Kikyou is just all the more of a mindfuck. After a sip'o'tea, she declares Ninomiya the winner, which devastates Shouko and the Lotus Association. She takes out her anger by driving her car through a school[?] and exploding in a blaze of glory. :sd: Kikyou tells us that in terms of taste, both were equal, but she gave the nod to Ninomiya because (touching on something she said before) the Kouchou don't have a lot of time left in this world...
- Back at the Kamiazuma abode, Touka fills up some sort of water pillow thing with Yumiko's bathwater, and sleeps with it... o_O He must have wanted that ep 3 pseudo-incest sooo badly. Kikyou comments that it's like he's drawn to the womb he's never been in.

I suppose the whole episode could be summed up as Kouchou having fun messing with people while Kikyou continues to show more concern for where things will be going in the near future, which we've already seen.

I really do wonder what kind of story arc climax they're going to end this show with. After seeing the "ending", we're settling into the build-up episodes and even seeing a bit of the lighthearted, fluffy middle. It'll be a major task for them to continue pacing this correctly and keep the story connections going, but I think they're dedicated to making it work. So far, it has. Need more~

[mandisaw]

I really do wonder what kind of story arc climax they're going to end this show with. After seeing the "ending", we're settling into the build-up episodes and even seeing a bit of the lighthearted, fluffy middle. It'll be a major task for them to continue pacing this correctly and keep the story connections going, but I think they're dedicated to making it work. So far, it has. Need more~

Just finished watching ep 1, then came here realizing that I needed some "foreground" info to make sense of this pretty, but f-ing weird show. Sadly, although it looks really interesting, and the plot is great, I think I'll have to wait it out and watch it in chrono-order first. Between the reincarnated cast, the prophecy-coming-to-life plot, and the plethora of character relationships, I feel like this plot is too complicated for this "backwards" treatment. Seems like it'd be cool to watch it in release order, but it seems like they give you too few clues for too many plotlines to hook each episode to the "previous" one.

Oh yeah, and resolving sexual tension *at the beginning* is the very definition of anticlimactic, folks. Is Juno/Yumiko supposed to be Touka's past-life, all-about-lust lover? That would make things make more sense. And by ep. 6, have they shown any sort of romance between Touka & Momoka? I get that they're cosmically-linked, maybe like the Tanabata lovers, but in this incarnation are they anything to each other? Little hard to tell since a certain someone can't get his head out of a certain "mama"'s falling-off outfits... :> She does give off a Lilith-like vibe though, which might be fun when all's said and done.

Hmm, I've got some ideas on those flashbacks of Kiyotsuki's, btw. It could be that what we're seeing in this series isn't so much reincarnation as possession. With a little bit of hypnotic suggestion (or magic) used, random folks might not even notice personality changes in the possessed people. Kiyotsuki's "mystic eye" may be enabling him to garner snippets of what's truly going on around him, but in some way that his mind can't 100% accept or make sense of. Hence the weird sense that things with his sister (shouldn't she be dead?) and his nephew (used to be his niece?) aren't really right.

[something]

Sadly, although it looks really interesting, and the plot is great, I think I'll have to wait it out and watch it in chrono-order first.
I'm going to have to be completely honest and tell you just how badly this makes me want to throttle you. You just said the absolute worst thing anyone could say about this show. It's such a shame that creators who try to do anything different at all are met by fans who would rather just brush it all off and go back to their easier-to-swallow vanilla experience. Ugh.

Between the reincarnated cast, the prophecy-coming-to-life plot, and the plethora of character relationships, I feel like this plot is too complicated for this "backwards" treatment.
...You watched one episode.

Seems like it'd be cool to watch it in release order, but it seems like they give you too few clues for too many plotlines to hook each episode to the "previous" one.
YOU WATCHED ONE EPISODE. Good lord, the rest of your post is just one question after another, how about you watch the show and find out?

Sorry to be so blunt but your approach to this show is utterly anathema to me. You "think" it's going to be too confusing, but you have absolutely no idea because you aren't giving the damn thing a chance. You worry about getting "clues" to where it hooks in, but what are you looking for? It's all right there. You figure it out by watching it. Episode one is by far the most confusing episode, because you don't know it's the last. Once you realize that, it's easy to watch the show, and discover its story like any other, again by watching it.

THIS. IS. NOT. HARD.

Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh!

[Sheena]

Sorry to be so blunt but your approach to this show is utterly anathema to me. You "think" it's going to be too confusing, but you have absolutely no idea because you aren't giving the damn thing a chance. You worry about getting "clues" to where it hooks in, but what are you looking for? It's all right there. You figure it out by watching it. Episode one is by far the most confusing episode, because you don't know it's the last. Once you realize that, it's easy to watch the show, and discover its story like any other, again by watching it.

That's fairly abusive of others' taste in anime. Requiring people to watch shows in their entirety before making a judgement is pretty extreme by most people standards. Even if you do watch every show you start till the end to give it a chance, most people don't have the time to do so.

Personally, I watched 3 episodes of this, not knowing it was in reverse order and that far, it still looked incoherent and confusing.

I'm usually pretty tolerant with first episodes. It's normal for many anime to have many elements the viewer doesn't know about. It's part of the mystery. It fuels speculations, anticipation. All good stuff. Which is why I usually give new animes a couple more episodes to make things a bit clearer about where they're going but that didn't happen with Touka Gettan. There might be something interesting in the end but the overall experience itself was not satisfying. Paint me having AHDD but that's game over, especially in a season full of other great shows. I'm not watching 10 more hours of it to see if I eventually think it makes sense and is worth watching. But good for you if you like the challenge.

Now knowing this is in reverse chronological order kinda explains things - well not really still - but I still consider this more an exercise in style rather than good story-telling. Granted it has good animation and for some that's enough to make them endure the confusing style but don't expect it to appeal to everyone.

And IMO it doesn't really get bonus points for originality either by trying this kind of style gimmick to milk the wave of popularity of Haruhism. Maybe it's only a coincidence but you gotta admit, it's pretty convenient.

[something]

That's fairly abusive of others' taste in anime. Requiring people to watch shows in their entirety before making a judgement is pretty extreme by most people standards. Even if you do watch every show you start till the end to give it a chance, most people don't have the time to do so.
That is some pretty epic misreading of my post, and assumes a policy on my part that I've never actually held at all, and have spoken against more than a few times. I never said to watch the whole show. Hell, there's only 6 episodes translated and probably only 1-2 more than that aired, so it's fundamentally impossible for me to base my understanding of the show on more than that. I did say that watching ONE EPISODE and then claiming that there probably aren't clues in later episodes is absurd. How the heck would they even KNOW? They couldn't even have read my posts, because I was pointing out clues left and right, looking at how things fit in. ...And seriously, it's straight-up backwards, you don't even have to wonder about where one episode fits in after the one before, because it's always the same, it's always backwards one step. NOT rocket science.

Personally, I watched 3 episodes of this, not knowing it was in reverse order and that far, it still looked incoherent and confusing.
I had an inkling it was backwards after episode two. By the end of episode three it was obvious.

And IMO it doesn't really get bonus points for originality either by trying this kind of style gimmick to milk the wave of popularity of Haruhism. Maybe it's only a coincidence but you gotta admit, it's pretty convenient.
It's a sad world where daring to tell a story in anything other than chronological order is instantly labeled a "gimmick".

If someone is going to just flagrantly disregard the original order of the show and wait and watch it all backwards-aka-forwards because they assume it'll be too hard to understand, because they assume the show doesn't link one episode to another with clues, because they assume there's no real reason for telling the story differently, then I really cannot even fathom why they're bothering with it at all. It would make far more sense just to say "I don't want to watch a show backwards", drop it outright, and get on with life.

But either way, the last thing I want to see is creators entirely giving up pursuing interesting ways of altering narrative flow because fans might recoil at the thought of anything other than a straight chronological telling.

[rg4619]

Personally, I watched 3 episodes of this, not knowing it was in reverse order and that far, it still looked incoherent and confusing.

IMO, Ep. 3 is semi-coherent, while Ep. 6 is fully understandable by itself (it's more of a filler episode). Ep. 4 and 5 weren't so great (although the rich aesthetics and character moments were excellent as usual), but they didn't turn me off from following the series.

I still consider this more an exercise in style rather than good story-telling. Granted it has good animation and for some that's enough to make them endure the confusing style but don't expect it to appeal to everyone.

As much as I enjoy Touka Gettan, I'm inclined to agree. With this show, the creators have de-emphasized the concept of a flowing, 100% meaningful story. Instead, they've tried to direct our attention on the sights, sounds, character interactions, and strangeness/mystery/secrets (the story is there, but it feels somewhat secondary as a vehicle for the aforementioned focuses) that are presented. As Touka Gettan's animation director suggests, they've definitely approached the series with the mindset that they're creating 'tasteful porn'.

In that sense, the team has aimed to deliver a product that intoxicates or bewitches as opposed to one that compels via its narrative. To me, there's nothing wrong with this kind of show (and it's great that the team has been able to run wild with such a nice budget), but it's certainly not for everyone.

[Nork22]

This episode was a major 'WTF' in terms of humour...

[mandisaw]

I did say that watching ONE EPISODE and then claiming that there probably aren't clues in later episodes is absurd. How the heck would they even KNOW? They couldn't even have read my posts, because I was pointing out clues left and right, looking at how things fit in.

Whoa, hold on, disarm. I think I was clear in saying that I'd read (and admired) your detailed ep summaries of eps 1-5, in addition to watching ep 1 myself. So my questions/suppositions and decision to wait out the series are based on that info. Frankly, you even admit in your posts that to properly appreciate each new episode, it's handy to occasionally refer back to the previous/next episode and/or keep notes. So don't jump down my throat (or anybody else's) for not wanting to put in that kind of time/energy commitment.


...And seriously, it's straight-up backwards, (...) NOT rocket science.(...)
If someone is going to just flagrantly disregard the original order of the show and wait and watch it all backwards-aka-forwards because they assume it'll be too hard to understand, because they assume the show doesn't link one episode to another with clues, because they assume there's no real reason for telling the story differently, then I really cannot even fathom why they're bothering with it at all. It would make far more sense just to say "I don't want to watch a show backwards", drop it outright, and get on with life.
Heh, I can do rocket science, actually, but I don't have to do it all the time. To my mind, Touka Gettan is a pleasant diversion, with lots of lush eye candy and intriguing characters/plotlines. While I generally like shows that push the creative envelope, and I enjoy thinking/analyzing series (hence the questions about post-ep5 development), I think this one sacrifices too much watchability in favor of its high-concept approach. It's a gamble on the creator's part, and they must have known that some viewers would drop the series entirely because of their stylistic choice. I'm just watching it in a non-broadcast order. It's not that big of a deal.

But either way, the last thing I want to see is creators entirely giving up pursuing interesting ways of altering narrative flow because fans might recoil at the thought of anything other than a straight chronological telling.
Creators always have to balance out the needs of the audience against their desire to craft stories however they like. Non-linear storytelling can be a great tool, and there are all sorts of different ways to do it. But it's a tool that has to be handled well, and it has to be appropriate to the story. I personally think this is a good story, but with too many characters and plotlines for a straight-backwards presentation. By contrast, a movie like "Memento" had a single plotline and only a few characters, so it was cool to have it jump around in time.

[something]

I think I was clear in saying that I'd read (and admired) your detailed ep summaries of eps 1-5, in addition to watching ep 1 myself. So my questions/suppositions and decision to wait out the series are based on that info.
Which really isn't much. You can't say something is "too confusing" for you before you even watch it.

Frankly, you even admit in your posts that to properly appreciate each new episode, it's handy to occasionally refer back to the previous/next episode and/or keep notes.
Which I haven't actually done since, like... episode 3. There was pretty much no need to refer back for a couple weeks now, it's really quite straightforward, and the episodes are self-contained while still integrating back into the chronology of the series. You can watch them as they are, and if you WANT to refer back, sure go ahead, but it's really not necessary at all. Analyzing it to death like I was doing early on is not necessary for understanding, and should not be viewed as the required investment to enjoy the show. On the contrary, it's just me being completely insane. Because that's how I have my fun.

I think this one sacrifices too much watchability in favor of its high-concept approach.
Again, you can't talk about watchability for something you haven't watched more than 22 minutes of. Especially when your complaints rest entirely on what you *think* your reaction would be, rather than just watching it and finding out.

Drop Touka Gettan for any number of reasons -- don't like the character's name, music sucks, bad animation, hate Carnelian, voices annoy you, lack of time, whatever the heck you can think of -- but make sure they're informed reasons, that they're based off something you actually experienced. One episode can tell you a lot about a show... but it doesn't tell you any of the things you seem to be worried about. Episode one doesn't tell you how well episode two or five or ten refers back to the earlier episodes. It doesn't tell you how easy or hard it is the follow the show. Heck, you should have a much easier time in episodes 2 and 3 because you already know it's backwards. I realized that quite obviously by episode three (and finding it out myself was so, so much more rewarding), but not knowing at the time was the source of much of the confusion in my earlier posts. That's confusion you won't have to experience now, so there's even less reason why you'd be put off by the beginning.

And so, exactly what I feared would happen to Touka Gettan seems like it's long since begun. I should have figured it would be inevitable. Of course my 'source' for this is looking likely to cease providing it soon, which means this could all be moot unless it gets licensed anyway :sigh:

[mandisaw]

While I dig that you're trying to encourage folks to give Touka Gettan a chance, I'm afraid the harsh reality of a season packed with interesting shows is that as viewers, we have to make hard choices about what to spend time on. Of course one episode is (almost always) too short a sample to get a feeling for a show. But one episode and descriptions/reviews of four or five more is probably enough to at least decide whether a show goes on the front burner, the back burner, or right outta the kitchen. At least that method works for me, other folks results may vary. While I probably would get the episodic aspects of the show, I really think character development needs some forward motion, especially when dealing with romance.

Now, as for whether Touka Gettan will be embraced by fans (and their "sources"), I think the show's pedigree and slick production values will secure at least a decent core following. And perhaps it'll get a second wind after all the eps are available, and folks can at least get a sense of the overall plot before/while viewing. But I think its unfair and counterproductive to harsh on people who don't want to take the TG plunge right now, especially when the reason is an obviously experimental and fundamental presentation choice by the creators. It's a bit like getting upset at folks who didn't see LotR as it came out and waited to do a complete marathon when it was all over. To each his/her own, dude.

[something]

edit: Screw it, I'd rather the thread continue to be empty than to deal with this absurdity. The only thing worse than this show getting ignored is getting *that* kind of misguided "attention".

[Speedy Boris]

Episode 8 was pretty good. The winter landscape provided a nice visual change of pace. The majority of the episode was really light-hearted ("Skating virgin!"/the rivalries between Sh�ko Rokuj�/Butterfly Triplets) until the last few minutes when it suddenly turned serious, as Yumiko freaked out.

[Magewolf]

And they turned the sex up again.That was a heavy petting 3way with incest.Followed by spirt powered jealous rage.

Eddie

[something]

Damn I just so don't have enough time for everything coming out... but that means I get to watch two episodes at once, yay.

Episode 7:

- It doesn't matter how many times I see the end to the OP sequence where Touka comes down from the sky and embraces Momoka -- it's great no matter what.
- Woah. Talk about starting out in the middle of the action. Episode 7 begins with Yumiko, possessed by Juna, just flipping the hell out and wanting to kill Sei (Momoka) because Sei "killed Isabihiko". They clash, the world shakes, and Kikyou seems to be the only one to understand what's going on.
- Momoka seems apologetic, almost accepting that she deserves to be hurt. She says she "wasn't able to save" Isabihiko, which must be why Juna blames her for his death.
- The clash has created a sort of vortex where Touka and Momoka's quarters used to be. Nene and Haruhiko rush to the scene, she grasping the situation, he not so much. Makoto and Kikyou show up just as Nene is about to dive in, and they take over the situation. Kikyou knocks Haruhiko out with her magic, and in they go... As an aside, I find myself wondering who Makoto has the hots for more, Kikyou or Momoka? She fawns more openly over Momoka, but she's also got that intense onee-sama complex with the more refined and stoic Kikyou...
- Momoka and Touka talk in the black void they find themselves floating in. It's a bit cryptic, but Momoka seems somewhat torn between her Sei and Momoka identities. Touka for his part is still a bit of an enigma in his relationship to Yumiko. He does seem to genuine;y think she's his mother, though it's hard to discern where later on in earlier episodes he came to grips with the fact that she isn't.
- Shouko can see things others can't... and she has magic (which we may or may not have seen before, I forget) =D She casts a sort of barrier around the building she's staying in as strange lights float around the sky outside.
- Meanwhile, the Kochou are playing with their scythe-wielding catgirl toy again...
- アイã‚*ャッãƒ�
- Traveling through the void a bit, they come into a cave of some sort. Yumiko is laid out on an altar, and some unknown force is keeping Touka and Momoka at bay. Kikyou ad Makoto arrive, the former holding off the attacking force while Touka adamantly refuses to admit what he must know to be true. What I was just talking about a few points up is suddenly being answered quite clearly -- right here, right now. This is where he is faced with the truth, and from here on out (back into earlier episodes), the inevitability of the situation just weighs heavier and heavier on him. There's no turning back now. At all.
- Oh good lord that was an epic ass shot of Yumiko. I think she may be wearing the single greatest outfit ever. No pants, thighhighs with perfect zettai ryouiki, and a sweater, baggy yet surprisingly tight in all the right places, coming down off her bared shoulders and giving us some cleavage... So fucking approved.
- Touka and Yumiko (completely controlled by Juna at this point) clash, with Juna screaming for the Stone Sword with which she can kill Sei. Touka resists, but as Juna gets the upper hand, Makoto and Kikyou reach the battle and Makoto performs DRAGON SOUL SUMMON and there's a great battle between Juna and the dragon. The latter side gets the upper hand, and Yumiko is finally freed of Juna's control. Touka and Makoto bring Momoka back safely to Nene, who was caring for Haruhiko.
- Back at her place, Kikyou is there to welcome Mana-hime (Juna) out of Yumiko's body. They see each other, they embrace... and then they make out. Not just a quick kiss, I mean, you can see their cheeks quiver a bit as they get tongue action going, and then there's a little bit of drool from Kikyou's mouth and good lord what the hell am I watching? I have no idea but I so, so fucking approve once again.

A bit on Yumiko. Juna is shown as a child clutching a Yumiko doll. She's told by someone (grown Juna we find out) that Yumiko is Juna. Juna is Yumiko. Or was -- now that's done, and Juna is Mana, Mana is Juna, she is herself. This raises the question of Yumiko's identity. A creation, a golem-like being, a vessel meant to hold Juna and nothing more? If Yuriko, the mother, was the one killed by the young girl in the episode one flashback who missed the man she was aiming at, then Yumiko should be the child, I take it, because we've been told Yumiko was Yuriko's daughter. So whatever happened, Yumiko came to be Juna's vessel, and now that that's done, we can begin to understand why the "Yumiko" of the first few episodes is such an empty shell of a woman -- her soul, more or less, has been removed. She feels empty, she's probably not even in the body she was born with... or something. Whatever the exact details, the end result is obvious.


...ツズク Ice is... cold.


Episode 8:

- Yess I get to watch the OP sequence twice in a night =D Love love love.
- Damn this episode starts out so peacefully and adorably. It'll be fascinating to see how it turns into the vicious fight that began the previous episode. Momoka wakes up to see that it's snowed overnight, and she turns into a hyperactive kid in a candy shop, playing with the ice, turning Touka into a snowman, and then getting all giggly happy over some fireworks. She is SO damn cute right now.
- Oh jesus this show is carrying on the quirky sexuality tradition of MoO and YamiBou and then some. Yumiko is complaining of not feeling well, so Touka and Momoka pay her a visit. Yumiko says it's cold... and so she invites the two of them into her futon O_O And then proceeds to pretty much molest them both... and they like it. Wow. There's totally a fondling train going on right now XD
- You almost have to feel bad for Haruhiko... he's far too normal to be in this show :sd: He sees Momoka running from the room blushing like mad, but doesn't get it and cheerfully asks her if she has a fever XD She ignores him, like everyone does XD Poor Haruhiko...
- Another Lotus Association/Ninomiya clash! The Kochou are sipping tea by the skating rink when Shouko comes TEARING through in her pimpmobile, smashing onto the ice to "test its rigidity". This covers the Kochou in snow and starts the battle. A snowball fight rages. The glorious Haruhiko-sama steps in to quell the conflict... and promptly gets ignored and pelted with stray snowballs XD Then a red carpet rolls out and the only person who can put fear into Shouko and the Kochou appears -- Kikyou, with Makoto at her side.
- アイã‚*ャッãƒ�
- Yumiko skates around chanting "Yumiko is for Touka-chan, Touka-chan is for Yumiko!". And in the shadows, a guy I almost forgot about, Kiyotsugu (or was it Kiyoharu... whatever) is saying "Yuriko is for me, I am for Yuriko" with a creepy look in his glowing red eye...
- Momoka ends up at the skating pond, having left without Touka who she's too embarrased to see right now. During the futon threesome, as Yumiko has Touka feeling her up, Yumiko in turn felt Momoka up, who in turn fantasized it was Touka feeling her up... XD She runs into Makoto who find out that Momoka is a "skating virgin" ..."Momo-senpai's skating virginity, Makoto is taking it now !" XD Awwwwwwwwesome. Touka pops in ready to skate with Momoka, but the embarrased Momoka says she's giving her virginity to Makoto!
- They make up, Makoto leaving Momoka to Touka because she can tell Momoka is being dishonest with her own feelings, and I can totally see how this is going to set Yumiko ablaze... she's looking forward to skating with Touka, and Touka is off making nice with Momoka...
- As Momoka falls on her ass while Touka is teaching her, Makoto yells "Momo-senpai, losing your virginity hurts! Fight-desu!" XD
- It looks like it is indeed Kikyou that Makoto is hot for. Makoto may fawn over Momoka, but she also wants Touka and Momoka to get together. Shouko sees an opportunity to pounce on Makoto, but Makoto moves out of the way at the last second because she sees Kikyou... :sd: Poor Shouko! But Kikyou is taken by Juna so Shouko has a chance... =D
- And that's how it happens. The closer Momoka and Touka get, the more pain Yumiko is in, until her rage splits the ice, dumping Momoka into the lake. After she's rescued, we see her in the futon next to Touka, and everything falls nicely into place with the episode ending right where the previous one begins... And Kiyoharu is definitely up to something, and possibly involved in all that stuff I speculated about after episode 7. His role should be gradually cleared up from here on out, I think.

...ツズク Snow is... [i]falling.


You know, I think the reason this show works so well, and will continue to work so well, is that the plot is set up in such a way that going backwards won't hurt it at all. More like makes it what it is. We're not faced with a climax and then everything getting less tense from there on/back, but rather the climax we see at the beginning is more like the calm after the storm. By that point, they know what they have to do, even if they haven't totally come to terms with it. Meanwhile, as we step backwards through the story, we see that there were many, many other "climaxes" that led to what we saw first, and that they truly shaped the Kamitsumihara we find ourselves thrust into at the start. As each is revealed, everything we've seen to that point is retroactively enriched. Once the shock of the initial episodes wears off, and you realize what the game is (which happens by episode 3), everything falls into place quite skilfully.

A lot of thought went into this, and it's no "gimmick" or "coincidence" that it's being told like this. It's like it is because it was meant to be told this way, and they're making sure they structure it accordingly. Any show can simply have its episodes reversed, and there's no guarantee at all that it'll work. Shows just aren't meant to be rearranged willy-nilly without regard for narrative structure. The "repeating in new worlds" concept sets the show up to end much as it began, likely with the close of the previous world (with Isabihiko) and the advent of this current one, which itself ended in episode one, seemingly, hopefully, breaking the cycle for Momoka and Touka, who were able to be together at last.

This is really, really great stuff. This is the kind of show that reminds me why I watch and love anime. Every single episode is settling into the groove more and more, and it's only getting better and better. There's unquestionably a top rate team behind this one.

[roastedpekingduck]

I really tried to get into Touka Gettan, but after watching three episodes...I was ridiculously disturbed...especially by the incest and sperm in episode 3... Really psychotic sexuality and disturbing the viewer may be the point of this series, and with its production values and odd, but fitting music, I can see why some would like it, but I'm afraid I just can't handle it.

[rg4619]

Couldn't stand Ep. 7, although Ep. 8 was rather fun. Animation quality seems to be dropping each week, but it's still acceptable.

Touka Gettan is far from AAA material, but it's a neat and wonderfully bizarre show regardless. While I really loathe certain episodes, I've yet to consider dropping the series in favor of something else.

[something]

Really psychotic sexuality and disturbing the viewer may be the point of this series
Huh?

No it's not. It's an element (and more just bizarre than psychotic or disturbing) but I really don't see how it's "the point".

[roastedpekingduck]

Really psychotic sexuality and disturbing the viewer may be the point of this series
Huh?

No it's not. It's an element (and more just bizarre than psychotic or disturbing) but I really don't see how it's "the point".

That's why I meant. :sd: Wording things is one of my weaknesses. I knew it wasn't the centerpoint of the series, but an important part of it.

[Speedy Boris]

For some reason I can't stop watching this show. Even though I haven't put together all the plot points and it's arguable whether the backwards approach helps or hampers the narrative, there's just... something about it. It's like an enigma, and I want to keep watching to see how it unravels.... or ravels, whatever. :p

The beautiful artwork certainly doesn't hurt, either. ;)

[something]

Taking a break from my Gakuen Alice marathon to watch the newest episode of this~

Episode 9:

- A host of girls bid Touka a fond gokigenyou as he leaves school for the start of winter vacation. Makoto invites him to the Christmas Eve party being held by the Kochou, but he shows no interest. Momoka begs him to go though, and seems to be quite looking forward to it.
- Later on, Momoka furiously knits Touka a scarf, but makes it so gigantic that she can't possibly take it home with her because she'd never be able to hide it. The leaves it there, and that night the Kochou find it. And, well, they never expend effort on anything unless they're up to mischief, so it's no surprise it's gone when Momoka comes back for it the next day.
- It had snowed overnight, giving everyone a white Christmas (eve), as they gather at Ninomiya for a lavish party lasting all day. The Kochou greet them and then head off to molest their prisoner catgirl a bit more, this time using Momoka's scarf...
- Touka arrives at the party and it ticked that Momoka, the person who asked him to come, is nowhere to be seen. She's been off searching for the scarf, to no avail.
- アイã‚*ャッãƒ�
- Momoka arrives at Ninomiya, running around nervously, but finding time to stuff her face of course. She passes Haruhiko, who finally has someone paying attention to him -- a legion of fangirls. She passes Makoto and Kikyou as well, stopping only to steal Makoto's cake. Everywhere else she goes she has no luck (but always finds more food), and eventually she turns to frantically knitting a new one. Poor Momoka~ And poor Touka having no idea why he's been stood up.
- Shouko and two of her Lotus Association underlings stop by and complain that the party is lame, which starts another Lotus/Ninomiya battle. Shouko goes into crazy-mode, and kicks the ROCKET BOOSTERS in her call to full gear and flys around chasing the Kochou :sd:
- The battle continues into the shrine itself, until Shouko goes flying straight out a third[?] story window. The car eventually crashes into the tree and explodes, bringing down the tree and all the electricity in Kamitsumi. Oh, and it also almost takes off Touka's head, but Momoka dives in and saves him at the last second.
- Yumiko, who had been prancing around in a Santa outfit making snowmen, comes out and says "Santa-san, give me power!" and on the lights went. Similarly, early in the episode she wished for snow, and that happened as well.
- Touka and Momoka are finally together at the end, and she gives him her present. Hastilty made socks, because she never could find the scarf. He accepts it happily though, and she's happy as well. They then walk back through the snow together.

...ツズク Blood is... red.

[Speedy Boris]

Re: Ep. 12: Haha, Nero the puppy dog pees on Touka. I also liked the part when Momoka lifted her dress to get Nero to eat but didn't realize that Touka was awake.

But poor Nero. :( Turns out Touka cared for the dog after all.

[something]

It disturbs me that we watch these at like the exact same time, even after a long gap. I just finished 11 and am going to post on 10, 11 and 12 when I'm done 12, and I knew someone would be commenting in here in that time, even though it's been inactive for two weeks :sd:

[something]

Damnit this just crept up on me. Internet barely working for a week and other factors (I totally missed episode 10 coming out somehow) mean I have three to watch! Tonight will be good.

Episode 10:

- Mmmm, so do love the op. And as I've said before, extra love the scene with Touka floating from the sky towards Momoka, who drops the ball and reaches out to receive him~~
- Oooh, this episode will be about how the scythe-wielding catgirl becomes a captive of the Kochou. She doesn't hear it (because she drops the radio), but it appears shes being pulled out of Kamitsuhara by her superiors, because "the plan to retrieve the Stone Sword has failed."
- Super how woman who looks like... is that Nene? I definitely think that's Nene XD... beating the heck out of some ninja-types, presumably the comrades of scythe catgirl?
- As Momoka shares a bowl of her favorite ramen with Touka another girl from their school looks on, looking quite... sad? Who is it she's hot for, Momoka or Touka? XD Interestingly she hasn't played a major part in the previous episodes, so I imagine this comes to the climax of an arc we'll be seeing unfold in coming eps, or maybe she's a one-ep character? Or perhaps upon a rewatch we'll see her lurking in the shadows in previous episodes, not noticing her before. Even if not, this show is going to be fantastic to rewatch.
- Oh, and catgirl's name? Yuriko. Maybe coincidence, but interesting. She's also about to try and eat Makoto...
- Nene is hanging clothes out, when Momoka's panties start exuding an evil aura and then disappear O_O!? This then makes Momoka, uh... tingly in her crotch? Haha what is going on XD
- The girl who seems to be in love with Touka (no name yet) is caught in the sudden rainstorm that catches everyone else and her uniform becomes.... nicely see-through =D This show really does have some of the most amazing character designs ever.
- Ooooh. Nene-lookalike isn't Nene, it's Kaya. Kaya calls Nene "Nene-nee" so it seems she's Nene's little sister. Hmmmmmmm~ Kaya runs into catgirl, and gives chase. Their projectiles collide and the sky changes color in Kamitsuhara. Next thing we know, catgirl is at the cave where the other girl was. She proceeds to feel the girl up a little (well, ok, a lot, and make out with her too) and then yum, blood sucking time.
- アイã‚*ャッãƒ�
- Nene greets Touka and Momoka back, then asks Yumiko is she likes traps. Yumiko gleefully agrees she does, and then starts "digging". That is, miming the actions while cartoony noises are made, and next thing you know, there's a huge hole in the ground. Yumiko's powers... scare me :sd: Nene, Momoka and Touka jump in...
- ...and pop up in a red sky version of Kamitsuhara. I think catgirl and Kaya's attack, and the infiltration of those who seek the stone sword, disrupted the balance between two sides of Kamitsuhara. As the three are surrounded by more of the ninja-like beings, Kikyou uses Makoto's dragon to force out Touka's stone sword for use, but before he makes use of it, Momoka is turned into Sei (unconsciously it seems) and unleashes a massive blast that takes all the enemies out. Back in the other side, Yumiko (Juna) notices this, notices that the Sei she hates so much (at this point anyway) is back in Kamitsuhara... (Has always been there really, but Juna doesn't know that, stuck in Yumiko's body and all.)
- Hah and thats how catgirl comes into the Kochou's possession. After she's knocked unconscious by Sei's blast, the Kochou butterflies hover above her exclaiming how badly they want her.
- This show has some of the best conversations. Girl who got vampire bitten (name is Shirakawa) shows up outside Haruhiko's room. She goes crazy vampire and attacks him, but is taken out by Kaya and Nene. "How is she, Nene-nee?" "She's been eaten." "Ara ara." XD Nene says that Shirakawa needs to be taken to Nene and Kaya's mother to be healed. This must be where both of them part ways with the story, as neither has shown up prior to this. I guess we'll see a good bit of them in the next episodes. Kaya at least.
- Afterwards, as Touka and Momoka eat ramen, Touka is surprised to hear that Momoka remembers nothing about kicking the ass of those people in bizarro Kamitsuhara. A shame, he says, because she looked pretty cool doing it... XD

You can definitely see how the foundation for the chaos of earlier episodes was gradually put down by these episodes. Yumiko is worrying about what that feeling she had earlier was (it's Juna slowly awakening). Kikyou worries that her power is fading, that everything will have to end soon. Momoka slipped into her Sei form, but is unaware of it so far.

Watching this all unfold just reveals what genius it all is.

...ツズク Time for the... festival.

[something]

Episode 11:

- Looks like the boy-boy thing might get a shot with this episode. :sd: Caped bishie and shorts-wearing shota patrolling the school at night during festival preparations. The taller one's movements are so outrageously extravagant and bishie than I crack the hell up every time he does his "hmmmMMMMmmm!!" and flails around wildly XD! They hear a noise in the forms late at night and upon inspection... it's the Kochou, always looking for new toys... :sd:
- Touka meets up with Momoka at the festival (she arrived early to, what else, EAT), and we get more cute dialog with those two. SAUSAGE ATTACK!!
- The 15th Miss Touka Academy! Is... Yumiko! XD Wahahaha, she slipped out and joined the festival beauty contest.
- Afterwards she stops at the, uh, Kamitsuhara Host Club, of sorts. Run by Haruhiko (of course). The two from the beginning (Arjano Gelato Eiji and Teppei) are also there as hosts and they get a request from... Yumiko XD Yumiko is totally taken by Eiji. Seems she's not into the shota =P I don't think he minds that, but he's quite jealous seeing his Eiji being fawned over by someone else XD
- Meanwhile, Nene is running a parallel operation with cute maids. Touka and Momoka stop by, and next thing they know they're part of the maid troupe. yes, Touka too XD Momoka looks so good in it~
- アイã‚*ャッãƒ�
- Shouko is busy as well, dressed up like some old talk show host, she invites Makoto to her show. And proclaims what a cute voice Makoto has. And what cute stockings... and what cute.... XD What a lecher.
- Oh so much is going on. Yumiko enjoys a champaign tower. The Kochou start up a "KO-MI-KE" (bwahaha), complete with lolita cosplay (so that's what Shirakawa was up to before? XD She's hardly a loli though...). Maid Touka and Momoka hand out flyers for Nene. The Kochou are selling Eiji/Teppei yaoi doujins XD Shouko continues to molest Makoto. Touka and Momoka enter the Love Love course of the haunted house. Kikyou is an attraction in the haunted house, and scares Momoka unconscious. Yumiko continues to indulge in bishies. After Touka carries Momoka to the hospital, they share a cute moment when she wakes up. He half seems like he's going to confess to her, when she remembers one last food stand she missed, and runs.
- But hoooly shit, best part of this episode was the Kochou cornering Touka and "recruiting" him into their doujinhshi with a possessed Eiji and Teppei. When he resists, the Kochou... pull out all their kinky toys. All you see is Touka's horrified face as he screams nooooooo~ Wahahahaha

This episode was pure silliness and I absolutely loved it. LOVED IT! God damn Touka Gettan wins so hard.

...ツズク Life is... disappearing.

[something]

Episode 12:

- NAKED APRON YUMIKO! OH MY GOD! Good lord yes.
- Touka's room has been taken over by... a puppy that moves at the speed of light. XD Unable to get rid of it, he does his best to ignore it. The next morning Momoka tries to get it to eat, but it shows no interest. Then for reasons I can't understand, she tries to entice it to eat bu half undressing herself... I DONT GET IT BUT I APPROVE!
- I guess this is the "Touka learns to soften up a little" episode :sd: Though in the meantime he has a dog pissing on his leg.
- アイã‚*ャッãƒ�
- The origins of Kochou's yaoi doujin! And that's what the photocopiers running at full speed were about... XD Yumiko, meanwhile, is busy writing her sexy romance novels.
- Stupid dog... At least we know it doesn't last more than an ep :sd: And Yumiko's love story mirroring the Touka/wan-chan story is just disturbing :sd: It's probably her abilities to make her thoughts into reality that's causing this in the first place. That definitely seems to verify some things I was guessing at in later (aka prior) episodes.
- Wan-chan, or Nero as they name it (or... as Yumiko inadvertently makes them name it), runs out one day and is almost lost in the rapids of the river. Touka saves it, and Yumiko finishes her story with a happy ending. Then suddenly a burst of pissed off Juna possesses her, and she launches in a writing rage, seeking a BAD END.
- Haha, BAD END indeed. Nero gets fucking torn apart by wolves XD Bye bye, annoying mutt.
- I guess this should be emotional, and a good metaphor for the show and so on and so forth, but I hate dogs so I couldn't care less. :sd: Yeah yeah, I'm evil. Anyway, weakest episode of the series, but that's just me.

Less dogs, more Momoka (and everyone else really) from here on out. The only 'dog' I want to see is Inukai Makoto. Anyway, even if this ep didn't do it for me, I totally recognize what it was trying to achieve, and in that sense it's fine, though they could have done it in a way more interesting to me personally. ::shrugs:: 10 and 11 were so goddamn good it hardly matters though.

...ツズク Mansion is... is... .......

[something]

Episode 13:

- Woo! There's Shirakawa, the girl who gets eaten by catgirl vampire in a few episodes/a few episodes ago. Now we'll see how she got so smitten by Touka.
- Seems like they're on a trip together. Touka, Momoka, Makoto, Shouko, Kikyou, Haruhiko, Shirakawa... and isn't that Yumiko again? I thought it was her in a school uniform when we caught sight of her in 11, but now I'm not so sure. Sure as hell sounds like her tho.
- But either way, they get off the train and she's nowhere around o_O Oh, and Haruhiko noticed that all the passengers in the car behind them look almost... dead >_> Well, they've arrived at their destination: a 200 year old mansion/onsen.
- Ooh, Shirakawa is voiced by someone familiar... and so I find out that it's Iguchi Yuka. She does Haruka in Idolmaster, which is the first role I really noticed her in. I was hoping she'd do more, and so here she is.
- Wahaha, the Kochou are there as well XD Momoka goes around stealing sweets (dragging Makoto along), and comes upon a room, opens the door... and theres Kochou. She shuts it quickly, saying it must have been an illusion, and then reopens it to confirm... still Kochou XD
- Onsen <3 Girls... doing what anime girls always do in an onsen. TOUCH EACH OTHER'S BOOBS! Actually, so far theres been surprisingly little fanservice in this episode... THEY MUST CORRECT THAT!
- アイã‚*ャッãƒ�
- Kaya! She's working as a server at the mansion, and she's so cute~
- After dinner, Makoto and Shirakawa bathe again, then walk around the mansion and come across a piece of candy on the ground. They see two little girls run by, and assuming it's theirs, they follow them. The hall dead ends at a door. They enter the room.. and disappear.
- Outside, Kikyou prays at the graves and similarly disappears, and then Shouko gets grabbed by the room as well.
- Looks like the "niko niko niko" girl is at the onsen now, and as Haruhiko peeps at her, he's taken as well. Now only Touka and Momoka are still around.
- They investigate a bit more, and come across the landlady's diary. It tells of bad things that happened before, ending up in the death of her sister, Hikari. As Momoka and Touka prepare to leave the room, landlady comes at them with an axe (same axe she used to kill her step father...), and they run run run~
- They finally escape into a separate room and... ...and suddenly everything is over. They're back at their house, I believe. Haruhiko, Nene and Makoto are leisurely sipping tea outside. And there's a note on Yumiko's desk saying she's taking a break from writing...

Hmm. So again, they're stuck in one of Yumiko's stories. How much of this power of Yumiko's is her own, and how much comes, unconsciously, from Juna? At the end fo the first/last episode, we saw Yumiko back again, doing her writing, in a modern Japan setting where Touka and Momoka can... finally be together?

Furthermore, how much of this story as a whole, at least up to where June leaves Yumiko, is just Yumiko's unconscious doing? We saw it in the dog episode, we saw it in the ice skating episode, we've seen it many times. Either in her writing or just in her wishes, she's unintentionally shaping so much of what goes on in Kamitsuhara. This ability seems to leave her at the end of the story, after Juna manifests herself as a separate entity. Also, I'm assuming that the short haired "niko niko" girl who sounds like Yumiko is basically Yumiko's way of inserting herself into her stories, and is not Yumiko herself.

Anyway, definitely interesting... I want to see more about Yumiko as we go back into the past.

...ツズク Journey is... painful.

[Speedy Boris]

Hmm, Yamibou crossover. Having not seen more than one episode of Yamibou, I have to ask: Is Lilith always sick to her stomach in that show too? Eh, I think those who have seen Yamibou in its entirety will get more out of their appearances that I did, though it was still an all right episode. At least the regular characters still made appearances.

That yellow chick (bird, not gal) was pretty funny.

[something]

Episode 14:

- O_O OH MY GOD THAT'S LILITH! AND KEN-CHAN! AND HAZUKI! Even Kogechibi! I have no idea what the fuck is going on but that's just mind bogglingly awesome. This is perhaps the most perfect idea for a "cameo" ever. Lilith and Hazuki, on their YamiBou quest to find Hatsumi, enter yet another of the many, many books they traverse. And this one lands them in... Kamitsuhara. Oh god I am so happy to see these two again. Maybe this raises hopes of any TG license getting YamiBou as a tagalong? :sd: I wish...
- Bwahahaha, I think I'm going to have a stroke if I keep laughing like this XD Lilith and Hazuki (and Ken-chan) end up in the Kamiazuma compound, in Kiyohara's father's room. Kiyohara himself comes by, and upon seeing Lilith's GODLY HAT, starts writhing in agony on the ground, clutching his eye, and screaming. Lilith and Hazuki look at each other confused and nervous, and quietly tiptoe over him and out of the room XD
- Ken-chan has found a new woman... Momoka XD He gets slammed with a baseball bat for his effort :sd:
- Hazuki asks Lilith if there's any trace of Hatsumi in this world, and Lilith replies that there is... but not necessarily in this era. At some point, Hatsumi did come through here, but not in the time Touka Gettan takes place.
- Werird, Kaya is swearing that she's met Hazuki before. I'm racking my brain trying to figure out if that's a reference to anything we saw in Yamibou, but I don't *think* it is. I guess Nene bears a (very) minor resemblance to Ritsuko, but I feel liek that's simply attributable to the character designer being the same, and the way she draws hair. I guess from what we've seen, Nene can traverse different worlds as well, and so can Kaya then. She probably does so, following Touka and the rest, so it's entirely possible Kaya could have run into Hazuki and Lilith at some point in one of the countless worlds.
- Hazuki seems concerned about it too, and asks Lilith to look into this "Sarara" Kaya mentions. She does so, and asks Kogechibi to move the book back to that age...
- Meanwhile, Ken-chan is finding out that this isn't exactly one of the safest worlds he's been on XD He makes the mistake of oogling Nene next... and damn she's scary XD
- After jumping back to page 480, Lilith stays behind on the outskirts of the city to rest while Hazuki enters it to look around. She runs into what looks like a crying young Nene, and follows her...
- アイã‚*ャッãƒ�
- Hazuki overhears little Nene crying to her mother about being bullied, when a little Kaya starts rubbing all up against Hazuki's thighs for no reason XD
- Back in present-day Kamitsuhara, Ken-chan recalls what was almost the last thing he saw... Nene charging towards him yelling, in English of all things, "GO TO HELL" :sd:
- But it looks like he's finally found himself a slightly less dangerous (...for now...) woman - Yumiko =P She serves him all the sake he could want, and as he showers her with compliments, he passes out. Yumiko then rushes for help from... Nene :sd: Trouble!
- Parallel plot development! Back on page 480, Lilith is revived by the medicine the young girl's mother made. At the same time, Ken-chan (spared Nene's wrath by Yumiko's intervention) is revived by Nene's medicine. So it's definitely Nene and Kaya back then, but but how did Kaya know Hazuki before they'd gone back in time...?
- Someone calls to Nene. It's Sarara. Or more specifically... Hatsumi! Hazuki rushes towards her, but... but Kogechibi, as usual, screws around with the book and sends Hazuki and Lilith to another time. Ouch.
- Ken-chan, meanwhile, has found a new "woman" ...Touka :sd:
- Huh, I did not expect our first real-time glance at the Isabihiko backstory to come courtesy of Hazuki and Lilith's journey. Kogechibi's meddling set them back that far, though we don't see anything we haven't seen in flashbacks already. After they witness the carnage, they decide it's time to move onto the next book. Back to the library they go...

Well, this was "fanservice" of the highest order, if you're a YamiBou fan, as I am, and as most people watching Touka Gettan probably are. Obviously not all, but I think they know their audience well. I'm actually glad they didn't divulge any new information about the Isabihiko backstory here. Not because I don't want to know, but it would reek too much of using a plot device to relate a story they couldn't find a way to work into the storyline. Still, an awesome plot device though, that's for damn sure.

...ツズク Calendar... I wonder?

Is Lilith always sick to her stomach in that show too?
She explains it in the beginning of the episode. In one of the worlds they just visited, she drank wine for days straight and has a horrible hangover now. Normally she's not sick at all, instead she's busy trying to molest Hazuki.
Eh, I think those who have seen Yamibou in its entirety will get more out of their appearances that I did
To say the least. I was fucking estatic XD Oh, and if you haven't seen YamiBou, that's an oversight you must correct immediately, especially if you're enjoying Touka Gettan. Different stories, but similar "feeling", and in a good way.
That yellow chick (bird, not gal) was pretty funny.
Ken-chan is awesome.

[Speedy Boris]

She explains it in the beginning of the episode. In one of the worlds they just visited, she drank wine for days straight and has a horrible hangover now. Normally she's not sick at all, instead she's busy trying to molest Hazuki.
Yeah I know, I guess I was asking if she drank a lot of wine and got hangovers in Yamibou. I guess not.

[Speedy Boris]

Wow, "Deja Vu" is certainly an appropriate name for the latest episode. About halfway through it I was like, "Wait... I've SEEN this already!" :p Certainly an interesting storytelling technique, though I have to ask what the point of the episode was, at least in the grand scheme of the series plot.

[something]

Can anything top the YamiBou cameo? Let's see...

Episode 15:

- Good lord Yumiko is a whiney little brat :sd: I'm not sure how Nene doesn't smack her silly. But she's such a HOT little brat...
- HOLY CRAP SOUND THE BREASTS ALARM! Hot purple twintails with huge breasts appears! Touko, a friend of Makoto's. Hmm, so is she going to be a one episode character or what? I don't think we've seen her before. Also, can't confirm but it's definitely Miyuki's (Licky Star) VA, which seems fitting. Makoto notes that Touko is sickly, and that something happened to her earlier. Touko thanks her for helping her then, and I totally think she has a thing for her.
- Ahaha, strange animation glitch: when Momoka and Makoto are talking about the 'tako-san-weiners', it cuts to shot of all three of them, and Touka's purple hair is suddenly the same shade of blue as Momoka's :sd:
- Oooh... As Makoto plays her flute (the sounds of which waft all about Kamitsuhara), someone leaves her a love[?] letter in the grass and runs away. We see that it's Touko... Muahaha!
- HAH! I see where this is going XD Yumiko, amused that the word for the 10th of the month is the same as her son's name (Touka), refuses to tear the day off her wall calendar. So... the very next morning everything is exactly the same. The day is going to repeat. Yumiko's wishes are becoming reality once again. must ne convenient when you have a deadline.
- Interestingly, they don't seem to have forgotten the day. Makoto can't find the letter she got yesterday, and is upset, so she does remember what happened, but it's still the 10th.
- アイã‚*ャッãƒ�
- Or maybe it's just Makoto that notices. She's late going to school because she can't find the letter, and she runs into Touko (also late, and jiggling) who asks her similar questions to the day before. Then the conversation at lunch over the bento is the same, and Makoto wonders what's going on. Ditto for the meeting with Haruhiko and his invitation to steamboat (no seriously, wtf is steamboat? a bad translation or a real meal? it sounds like he just says good old 'nabe') and the poor girl who makoto scares off :sd:
- Ok, it bothers me that Makoto plays the flute without it even touching her lips. Isn't it supposed to be closer than that? =P
- And things gradually change. Haruhiko's shot misses the bullseye. The last Kochou notes insecurities in Makoto's playing. Shouko is as insane as evil (her laugh is disturbing) but when someone stops to leave a letter for Makoto again, Makoto anticipates it and runs after them.
- She loses sight of her, and runs into Haruhiko, who grabs a hold of her to keep her from falling. Shouko, that crazy bitch, sees this from a nearby building, LEAPS out of the building and down eight floors and punches him silly for (she thinks), stealing her Mako-chan :sd:
- At dinner that night, Makoto talks with Yumiko about the days being the same. Yumiko explains to her about deja vu, and Makoto takes it at that and lets it go. That night, Yumiko pulls the day off the calendar, and time resumes... though Momoka still sleeps in. Some things will never change =P
- The next morning, Makoto tuns into Touko again, and a letter falls from Touko's bag. Makoto picks it up, but Touko takes it back before she can be sure of what it is. And so Makoto never gets the letter... aww man.

Very good episode. I love Makoto, and so I love seeing the focus shift to her her. And the way they handled the repeated day storyline was clever and fun. I like, and I hope we see more Touko in the coming episodes...

And mmm, the ED is so soothing. Preview indicates more Kaya love!

...ツズク Stars... glitter.

Certainly an interesting storytelling technique, though I have to ask what the point of the episode was, at least in the grand scheme of the series plot.
Nothing, really, other than to drive home that there's something special about Makoto. She's the only one who noticed the repeat in the day. Kikyou probably did too, but she places a high premium on noninterference, so we can't really know.

That and it's the middle of the series. These would be the latter stages of the "character development" episodes in a series told chronologically, and so they are here as well. It's just a good opportunity to let us watch Makoto be Makoto, and cleverly done to boot. Whee~

[something]

Episode 16:

- Momoka invites Makoto to go stargazing with her that night, when a comet with a really long name will be its closest to earth in 449 years. Haruhiko stops by and notes that comets bring misfortune. I'm waiting for Yumiko to get some ideas into her head about this and make that come true :sd:
- Nene goes into the storehouse to find a telescope, and runs into a barely dressed Kaya. It looks like Kaya hasn't seen her in awhile, so this could be where she enters the story?
- WAhaha, they're walking along and Haya suddenly senses something... Juna! She rushes in and... finds Yumiko on the toilet :sd: Yumiko greets her politely, Kaya responds in kind, closes the door, and Nene smacks her good. Still, it's interesting that Kaya can so easily sense Juna, even when she's lying half dormant inside Yumiko.
- Wow, Kaya wants her sister badly. Nene introduces her to the household, and Kaya acts very nonchalant. As soon as she's alone with Nene again, she gets in hug mode and licks her ear XD Makoto interrupts, and Kaya uses magic to smack her in the ass with a leek XD
- The same continues to the halfway point. Kaya wants to celebrate her 'anniversary' with Nene, and every time she tried to molest Nene, someone interferes. She's acting very cold towards everyone else, treating them as little more than hindrances.
- アイã‚*ャッãƒ�
- Spurned by Nene, Kaya makes a little magical Nene doll that listens to everything she says XD
- Nene tells Momoka and the others that the 'anniversary' thing is something Kaya assigns to every silly little thing they ever did together. Almost every day is an anniversary, and so Nene ignores her to get the opint across that she can't be so clingy.
- But it seems like this time Kaya was thinking of an important one. When they were playing hide and seek as kids, they came upon a strange glowing tree. It seems that it only occurs every 449 years, along with the comet. And Nene forgot about it both previous times, just barely remembering in time this go around.
- Which, btw, makes them both over 1,500 years old. o_O Probably 2,000+ years old at the moment. Holy crap.

Sort of a laid back, simple episode, but I like seeing more of the minor characters.

...ツズク ...Moon.

[Speedy Boris]

Re ep 16: This show is so titillating.

[Speedy Boris]

Hmm, Makoto had her period. And got pretty sick. Oh well, I give her credit for not lashing out at everyone. :p

Also, this show is so titillating. I know I'm repeating myself but man, there were some more doozies in this one.

[something]

Episode 17:

- Makoto seems to be having an unhappy dream of some sort.
- Next morning, cut to a shrine and a hot purple haired miko drawing a fortune before heading to school.
- Blondie from the vampire catgirl episode is back, asking Touka to meet her somewhere during a break period. What was her name again... Shirakawa I believe.
- Mako on a toilet o_O Discovering something she didn't accurately prepare for, it seems >_>
- Oooh, hot miko is the... school nurse? Also, Mako-chan doesn't look like she's doing too well. And Shouko, nowhere near her, catches her "help me" vibes, recognizing the "MAKO-CHAN SOS" XD
- Haha, Haruhiko is amusing with her hair clipped back for cooking class.
- Makoto is definitely... out of sorts. She passes out on a bench, when Shouko come tearing in. Shouko sees Makoto, and wants to, uh, do CPR, when Makoto opens her eyes and says "I'm still breathing..." XD
- Momoka in cute braids = win
- Shouko "saves" Makoto by rushing her to the infirmary, but I think the bumpy car ride is just exacerbating Makoto's problems :sd:
- Haha oh god. Makoto has a dream about blood all over her hands, a giant tanuki appearing and then... then her crotch begins to glow from under the blanket o_O
- Oh wow. Makoto starts calling out her dragon in her dream, and Momoka (...FANTASTIC shot there O_O) starts inadvertently switching over to her Sei personality (oh and the microwave explodes). Reacting to this, Juna starts to erupt from Yumiko, and the Stone Sword starts to affect Touka, interrupting poor Shirakawa's confession. Man, so much hinges on Makoto :sd:
- アイã‚*ャッãƒ�
- Haruhiko gets stonewalled again. Momoka regains her senses in a gutted home ec classroom, having no idea why everything's blown up. Touka's Stone Sword comes out and he almost loses control before it returns (not before scaring the shit out of Shirakawa). Kochou make jokes about... Tanpopo :sd: And Nene realized that the Dragon Lord has finally awakened in Makoto. Makoto bleeds, all of Kamitsuhara erupts into chaos
- But seriously, how old is she? She's having her first now? Like I believe that :sd: Nothing about her exactly looks prepubescent =P Still, Shouko seems a bit surprised too, so Makoto is probably just, uh, late. Or with all the magic floating around, that could have inhibited it. At any rate, doesn't matter, because it looks like this is where a lot of stuff started. Momoka flirts with the boundaries of her Sei personality, Juna becomes aware of Sei, Makoto's dragon manifests, Touka experiences the allure of the Stone Sword... interesting~
- Oh yeah, and this is where Kaya assumes human form. We see her earlier in the episode as a cat, and the ripples of chaos flowing from... uh, Makoto's crotch... dispel her transformation magic, and we get to see her perched on a roof in a cat-like pose, completely naked in the golden sunset O_O Wow...
- Momoka and Makoto chat on the way home. Shouko did indeed note that Makoto's first came really late. Makoto asks Momoka when her first was. Momoka starts to think about it and realizes... she doesn't know. This shocks and disturbs her. How could she forget? What happened to the memory? Little exchanges like this really drive home how gradual the transformation is, how slowly they all awaken to their true powers and true destinies that we see come to a head in the last/first episode.
- Oh, and we see poor Shirakawa sobbing in the woods somewhere, so afraid of Touka.
- Ahahahaha, Kaya is incredible. She walks down the street, completely naked. A trucker sees her, can't believe his eyes, and crashes XD Kaya thinks "Oh it must be the ears that scared him! And the tail" She dispels both and only belatedly muses that it might be the fact that she's NAKED. She keeps walking, and causes another accident XD
- Heh, a couple strips by the beach to frolic in the sea. Kaya swipes the bra and panties the girl leaves behind (she's lucky she happened upon a top big enough :sd: ) and that's the outfit we saw her in the previous/next ep. She walks down the street like this, but is still causing accidents. "That one wasn't my fault!" XD

From a slightly weird premise comes an awesome episode. Man I wish I had the rest of this show to marathon right now <3

- ...ツズク ...Ocean.

[something]

Episode 18:

- Mmm, Yumiko in small purple bikini. Looks like she wants to go to the beach...
- Or rather, to bring the beach to her. This is Yumiko after all. Her wish is reality's command :sd: Suddenly, the ocean is mere feet from the Kamiazuma residence.
- And it looks like the students are going for a swim in their pool as well. Shouko has Makoto try on various swimsuits. And then gets extremely jealous when makoto hangs all over Momoka =P
- Good lord what is going on with this episode? :sd: Yumiko has strange little faeries making swimsuits. And she makes a very girls one for Touka >_> Meanwhile, Momoka is sad that she can't find Touka (who didn't go into the pool area after all), though shes having fun with Makoto. But then Shouko and the Kochou have another face-off, and it's... weird, and the voice acting seems off, and the animation is a little off too, and this is just a bizarre episode on the whole. And oddly, the three characters getting the bulk of the screentime are in very not fanservicey swimsuits. Though Momoka still looks incredibly hot in that red onepiece.
- アイã‚*ャッãƒ�
- Touka goes diving back home are the magical ocean Yumiko conjured up. And... he gets raped by fish. They even start tearing off his clothes o_o
- Momoka continues looking for him, and gets her clothes similarly torn by an angry cat.
- ...a glimpse into Yumiko's powers in action? She muses about how she should let Momoka experience the beach too. Next thing Momoka knows, she's being transported through a wormhole of sorts, and is plopped right into the sea :sd:
- ...disturbing scene with Momoka and a sea cucumber.
- She comes across the girls purple swimsuit Yumiko made for Touka. She tries it on. And oh goddddd yes, it looks great on her. Much better than it would look on Touka :sd:
- Ahahaha, the swimsuits were made out of the rice paper and seaweed Yumiko was waving around in the beginning XD Thats why Touka's swimsuit melted away, and Momoka's just did the same thing. Now they're naked in the ocean together >_>
- Heh, that was nice. Neither one wants to admit what happened or get up first, but they both seem to realize the situation. So Momoka suggests they hold hands and walk home, back-to-back. And so they do so, totally naked, a bit embarrased, but both sort of enjoying it in a cute way :sd:
- Sitting by the ocean that night, Makoto, Momoka and Touka enjoy the breeze, when Nene comes by in a sexy swimsuit, ready for a night swim. Well, until it all dissolves on her right then and there, because Yumiko is falling asleep and the power is fading. Bye bye to the beach too :sd:

I like how earlier on when we saw Yumiko's powers manifesting, it was a bit unclear just how it was happening. Was she really willing things into existence? Was someone else doing it for her? But they set it up in such a way that even thogh we're going backwards, her powers becomes MORE clear as episodes pass, rather than being obvious and then becoming gradually more obscure.

The first half of this episode was pretty off. I honestly thought some voice actors had changed or something, because it just didn't feel right. The second half made up for it though.

...ツズク Curtain is... revealing.

On to episode 19!

[something]

MASSIVE, ENORMOUS SPOILERS

Episode 19:

- Ok, this is clearly going to be a story-heavy episode. It starts out in a theater, where a play is about to begin. The first to enter the stage are Nene and Yumiko, with Yumiko talking about her terrible dreams, and how they're too much like reality. It reminds me of the scene where she's crying to Nene that she had a dream where Touka wasn't who she remembered him being.
- Then we go further back. Kiyoharu is seen as a child, playing the superhero fighting back an alien invasion. He's toying around with the small red-shining stone we see plunged into Kiyotsugu's eye during the flashback where the "real" Yumiko (Yuriko) dies in the first episode. His father (the one we saw as an old man screwing some woman) comments that it reminds him of a piece of "the mask". The mask that Mihashi was putting together? The mask we see worn by the man who tries to steal Sei from Isabihiko? Must be. But what's the significance?
- Kiyoharu's father introduces him to a young girl: Yuriko, his little sister. She'll be living with them now (she was staying elsewhere), sleeping in the room next to Kiyoharu's. Kiyoharu's father asks him to be a good brother to Yuriko.
- ...But Kiyoharu wants to be more than that. He comes into Yuriko's room late at night and wants to "play doctor". It... goes as you might expect.
- And it doesn't end there. Years later, they've fallen in love, and one night, they take things to their logical[...?] conclusion. Having gone so far, Kiyoharu's father is about to disown him. And who will replace Kiyoharu? The adopted Kiyotsugu. The man we see acting as Haruhiko's father, the man with the red stone in his eye. So what drove Kiyoharu to snap and attack Kiyotsugu?
- And Yuriko is pregnant, with Yumiko. As Yumiko says in the first episode, "Yuriko is my mother, and Haruhiko is my father. Who are you?" [pointing to Kiyotsugu].
- Oooh. Here we go. Kiyoharu snapped on Kiyutsugu because their father sent Kiyoharu to the hut in the mountain to "repent". all alone up there, separated from his sister Yuriko, he snapped. He came to hate Kiyotsugu. This is when Yuriko comes to visit, that fateful night.
- Oh wait a shit, I had one VERY important thing wrong. The woman who gets shot in the chest... that's Yumiko. It's *not* Yuriko. Nene explains that the Yumiko we know in the present is mentally scarred, able to live only because June inhabits her -- and it's Nene's job to watch over Juna. So there remain two questions this episode or coming episodes need to answer: Who the hell shot Yumiko? And what happened to Yuriko?
- Hmm. Is that the maid? The maid accidentally shot and killed Yumiko, but the shot also took out Kiyoharu. I was wondering how they dealt with him... That answers one of my questions. Now, where is Yuriko...
- A trainee nurse comes to explain to the father that Kiyotsugu has been saved, but that he believes he is not Kiyoharu. Kiyoharu had said that -- he was going to put all his memories (via the small stone) into Kiyotsugu. And so he has. Also, the trainee's name is, you guessed it, Hojou Misuzu. Misuzu-sensei from the Makoto period episode. Also, I don't think there was an eyecatch this episode, so... pseudo-アイã‚*ャッãƒ�!
- Kiyotsugu thinks he's Kiyoharu. And he thinks Yumiko is Yuriko. And... he does bad things to her. >_> I guess I can assume Yuriko is dead or something? Outcast from the family? Yumiko doesn't seem to know who her father is, or perhaps even her mother.
- Nene notes that persent day, Yumiko is living as a novelist. Kiyotsugu still tries to get in her pants. He thinks he's someone who is dead. He thinks she's someone who is now, as Nene confirms, also dead. Awkward...
- The play then shifts to Momoka and Touka. They wax philosophical about whether they and the world are real, and it's a really fantastic scene with them sitting back to back in a pool of stage light.

Since I probably screwed up a few names in the above, and don't feel like rpoofing it, let's recap, shall we?

1) Kiyoharu meets his sister, Yuriko.
2) They fall in love, and have a child, Yumiko.
3) Kiyoharu is disowned, and Kiyotsugu becomes the Kamiazuma heir. At some point later, Yuriko dies.
4) Years later, Yumiko visits Kiyoharu.
5) Kiyoharu attacks Kiyotsugu, plunges the mask fragment into his eye. Maid (Nene's sister Anna?) shoots Kiyoharu and Yumiko.
6) Kiyoharu dies. Juna possesses Yumiko. Kiyotsugu begins to think he's Kiyoharu, and that Yumiko is Yuriko.
7) The two live like that under Nene's care until the present, where enter Momoka, Touka, and the rest.

Some will say this was just a convenient way for the writers to deliver a condensed hit of backstory in an easy way. They're probably right, but I don't care. I *LOVED* it. It was creative, it was well paced, and using a play as the vehicle for delivery worked extremely well. Isn't this entire story just one big predestined tragedy unfolding on a much larger stage? It hardly exhausted the list of things to delve further into. They still have a lot they can tell in the more traditional way, because we need to go even one step further back in time, to the previous chaotic event: Isabihiko's rampage, Juna and Sei's battle, the origins of the mask, etc.

There may be only two of us on this entire fucking forum watching Touka Gettan, but like hell if that'll stop me from posting huge rants like this. Even if nobody reads it, it's worth it, because the show deserves it. As I think about it more and more, I like it more and more. As I type about it, it all comes alive in my mind. This show works for me on so many levels. Curtain is revealing, to say the least
Oh, and the preview was also awesome...

...ツズク Peach is... delicious. "Momo wa amai" in-fucking-deed, bitches! Ass~~~~

[angelx03]

Oh, I'm watching it also! I'm just posting what I though of in another forum. :P

[Speedy Boris]

Episode 18 was pure eye-candy, but I loved it.

Episode 19 was a unique approach to getting backstory out there. It was really kind of refreshing. If they had just done a generic flashback like they do in many shows, it wouldn't have been nearly as interesting.

In fact, between this, the deja vu episode, and the fact that the series is going backwards, there really is a lot of creative storytelling in this series. Glad I stuck with it.

[something]

Oh, I'm watching it also! I'm just posting what I though of in another forum. :P
Bah, we're better! All two of us...

At least it's being discussed somewhere.

[Speedy Boris]

Momoka behaving like a dog repeatedly in this episode was absolutely adorable. I loved it when she grabbed a peach before it hit the ground and a guy nearby said, "What are you, a dog?!"

[something]

Was hoping to get to this earlier, but whatever, I can think of far, far worse problems to have than "Too much good anime to watch."

So where do we go from the splendid ep 19? Something serious again, or something lighthearted?

Episode 20:

- Yumiko awakens from a bad dream where she's picking peaches with Touka, and Touka suddenly disappears. She wakes up, and we see she's sleeping next to a long haired Touka. What? Well, next day he's the same old Touka. Was he wearing a wig to suit her fetishes? :sd: We've seen him in long hair before but that was a long time ago/long time from now. Also, this dream was back when Yumiko had black hair, so it had to be before she was possessed by Juna (I assume. They never explained why her hair changed.)
- The Kochou lust over peaches, and decide to hold an all-you-can-pick peach picking event. Momoko wants to go with Touka, but he's his usual apathetic self.
- Course, this being Ninomiya, most people stay away. Only Touka, Momoka, Makoto, Shouko and Haruhiko show up. The catch is that 1/3rd of the harvest goes to Ninomiya, but other than that, it's all you can eat/pick.
- Touka grabs the peach too hard, and breaks the skin. Momoka says he needs to be more gentle, as if... as if he were fondling a girl. Momoka, you're amazing.
- For some reason, every time he picks one, some eeeeevil looking black aura oozes out. He tosses the second one away in alarm, and Momoka catches it out of the air in her mouth like a dog XD Touka notes that he has gone peach picking before, but he can't remember when... just like Momoka couldn't remember her first period. They've been realizing more and more that their memories seem... incomplete, maybe even false.
- As Makoto fondles the round smoothness of the peach, Shouko gets an eyeful of something even more deliciously round and smooth. Mmmm, nice ass, Makoto =D Oh, and Shouko mentions that peaches have the power to expel evil. Is that why they're reacting to Touka? To the evil buried within him?
- Oh hey, Kikyou. Nice of you to join us again. :sd: She seems... surprised at something.
- Makoto washes peaches in the stream, when a giiiant peach floats by. She recruits Momoka and Haruhiko to help her retrieve it, but Touka stays behind. Being near all these peaches is sapping his strength somehow.
- He walks through the groves until he comes upon a little dwelling. Inside are the Kochou. They invite him in, and tell him that they asked everyone to pick peaches in order to get rid of their adverse effect on evil beings. Since the Kochou are demons of a sort, they have a vested interest in this. And Touka has the Stone Sword, soaked in blood. He refuses to admit he's anything like them, but they find his denial a source of amusement. Then... something happens, and the four of them seem locked in the hut as a purple aura envelops everything. Why?
- アイã‚*ャッãƒ�
- Haruhiko takes a sword to the giant peach. Next we see, everyone looks... pretty grossed out. Shouko is puking, Haruhiko seems traumatized, and Makoto is grabbing her knees in a fetal position. What was in the peach? :sd:
- The Kochou tell Touka about the stone sword, and emphasize the "other" Touka. The Touka we saw as a child in all the flashbacks in the first episodes (I'm still a little foggy on exactly what all that was). The Touka that current Touka sometimes gets confused with by Yumiko (i.e. when in his girly appearance?)
- Hmm, that other Touka is around. It just made Haruhiko flash back to the scene where he gets slashed in the back.
- And other (female, far as I know) Touka just raped current Touka with a peach. Other Touka says that current Touka is just a replacement, just a doll, a mere vessel. And that he can have neither the stone sword not Haruhiko (I don't think current Touka wants either =P)
- As they're walking home, Kikyou stops Touka and asks if he wants to know the truth. He says that he knows, that he's not human, that his memories are false, and walks off. But she says that he doesn't yet understand.

They're piecing this dual Touka thing together gradually, though I guess the basics are that current Touka was meant to replace previous Touka, who presumably died/was sealed when Yumiko was taken over by Juna. Or something.

...ツズク Secret... Garden.

I loved it when she grabbed a peach before it hit the ground and a guy nearby said, "What are you, a dog?!"
"A guy nearby" ... :sd: Haruhiko gets no respect XD

[something]

Episode 21:

- Either my player is fucked up or this episode is in black and white. Even the OP. I should be able to tell shortly.
- Ah there's some color. This should be neat.
- This episode seems like it'll be about Momoka and her uneasiness about who she is. This late (early) in the story, she's still confused about who she is, what she is, and why all her memories feel fuzzy, indistinct, full of inconsistencies and dull edges. She has unpleasant dreams that reinforce this feeling of drifting, never being able to anchor down into any solid basis for her identity.
- She wanders outside to a grassy plain. Haruhiko told her once of a legend about a magical peach tree garden that is said to reappear in this area on moonlit nights. While she lies in the grass musing over her situation, Touka appears. They're surprised to see each other, and he claims he's just out for a stroll. Momoka tells him about some of her concerns, and why they make her value her friends so much. If she can't set straight her old memories, at least she can make new ones, and others can make memories of her. It's another way for her to solidify the truth of her existence. I imagine Touka feels much the same way.
- Even if he does, he just listens, silently. Momoka watches him, bathed in moonlight, and it's at this moment that she seems to fall in love, though she does not yet recognize it as such. She sneezes, he gives her his uniform jacket. She can smell him on it... or is it he himself that the sweet smell comes from? He counters and says she's the one the smell comes from. He sniffs around, gets close, his lips inadvertently brush her cheek. She's startled, he is too, and he suggests they go back because it's getting cold.
- Ever since that day she could only think of him and him alone. It seems like that day was some time before the events of this episode, which makes sense. But even now, Momoka still spaces out thinking about him at time... even when he's talking to her. :sd: One such time is now, and it ends with some hilarity and a popsicle stick landing in Touka's hair :sd:
- Aahaha, and he leaves it there. He looks like a unicorn XD
- Walking to school the next day, Momoka asks Makoto if she's ever wanted someone to touch her, to embrace her. In her innocence, Makoto says no, but she DOES want to hug Momoka (and she does, and it's cute). That's not what Momoka meant, but she doesn't press the issue. But then she sees Touka walking ahead of them, with... a girl (it's Shirakawa). He's not showing any interest in her, but she's being really persistent about something. Then she grabs his hand. Momoka can only stare, screaming inside her head "get away, don't touch him, don't, don't", and eventually she just turns and runs away.
- アイã‚*ャッãƒ�!
- When she gets home, Yumiko calls her in, and they're joined by Touka (in his girl clothes and fake long hair again...)
- Colors! Yumiko kinda, uh, wants to play dress-up with Momoka and Touka :sd: And all the colors of fabric she rolls out (with all sorts of traditional names) are depicted in real color contrasting against the monochrome characters.
- After playing around some more, she runs into Nene outside. Nene puts words to what Momoka couldn't really grasp by herself... she's in love. Realizing this lifts so much of the burden that was on her heart and mind until now.
- And then she runs into Touka himself. He asks if she has a moment, and brings her to the hill from the beginning of the episode. He tells her he can't give her a peach garden, but he can at least offer something else - a sunset. (It seems like the sun is going up though >_>) And as the light of the sun burns a range of hues into the horizon, color sweeps over the meadow and onto the screen, and everything is bathed in a pinkish color reminiscent of peaches. Momoka imagines she sees the mythical peach garden, and is unable to hold back her tears. She thanks Touka sincerely, and though he reacts in his typical nonchalant manner, she's realized that Nene was right.

She's completely in love, and who or what she was, and what she will become, is of no consequence. Everything that matters is right in front of her, right now.

Sure, it's all a bit sappy but it's done so well that I don't mind one bit. This was a wonderful entirely Momoka-focused episode, and it did wonders to her character. It depicts the roots of the unrelentingly cheerful Momoka we've known thus far, while also making clear that she wasn't always this way. As we slip into the final stretch and the initial climax that gave birth to the rest of the show, we'll probably see what kinds of things she had to overcome to get to this point. It happened for Touka too, albeit a little earlier (later).

We've seen their reunion in another world, we've seen their massive struggles against the destiny of those with the stone sword and of Kamitsuhara, we've seen the middle episodes where things were slowly developing bit by bit within a more lighthearted and comedic framework of stories, and now we're moving onwards to the past, finding out who they were and how they got there.

And I love it. <3 And we have just five episodes to go.


- ...ツズク ...Shadow.

[Speedy Boris]

Wow, those classmates were really acting like a-holes to Momoka. :(

[something]

Episode 22:

- So the Kochou send one of their underlings with a camera to film Touka and beam it back real time so they can watch. :sd: Momoka joins Touka on his walk to school, which obscures their view >_>
- When she gets to school, she finds out her school shoes are missing. Kikyou appears with them, and at the sight of her all the other students swoon. And they're blown away when their Kikyou-sama bends down to slip Momoka's shoes on her feet for her.
- After this, when Momoka tries to talk to anyone, they run away nervously. At this point in the story, Momoka is still pretty new to the school (having transferred in), and still needs to ask directions.
- Confused, Momoka runs to the roof to ask Touka to lunch, but Shirakawa appears to have beaten her there. And so we more of how she got to be so in love with Touka. She's a lot bolder now than she was in earlier episodes, after... something... happened. She's coming on pretty strong. Interestingly, Momoka isn't immeidately jealous, but thats because she doesn't realize her feelings about Touka until the previous episode.
- And Shirakawa seems to be connected to Ninomiya. She drags Touka along and the Nimomiya force him to play... a human sized board game, the note says it's roughly similar to Chutes and Ladders >_>
- Meanwhile, Momoka is having... a tough time. Tacks in her shoes, a fake shrine (as if she were dead) set up at her locker, and... and... are you serious? A used condom in her bento O_O
- アイã‚*ャッãƒ�
- Someone's really pulling out all the "school bully" cliches they can think of. Momoka isn't getting angry yet (just confused and depressed and more than a little hurt) but oh I so hope she goes Sei on some of these bitches.
- Oh, and the board game Asuna (Shirakawa) and Touka are playing involves... cosplay XD And it seems more like the game Life than anything else :sd:
- More abuse of Momoka, and getting more physical this time. The fuck is wrong with people? Man, from this episode to a few eps later (before) where Momoka seems perfectly accepted, things hanged hugely. And so I can only imagine Kikyou UNLEASHED THE FUCKING FURY... or something. Where's Haruhiko when you need him?
- !! God yes. Touka wins, and the Kochou give him a prize... Asuna. In a little red bikini, wrapped in some ribbons. O_O
- ...They cut up her clothes, and... drenched them i the blood of dead birds? This went from pranks to physical abuse to downright fucking sadistic.
- The Kochou angrily urge Touka to kiss Asuna...
- ...and another (headless) dead bird falls out of another locker, onto Momoka, covering her in blood o_O This is incredibly fucked up.
- But she's had enough. When some pervs throw a paper airplane note at her asking if she really whores herself out for a pittance, it's too much. And just like I wanted... IT'S SEI TIME, FUCKERS! DIE DIE DIE! Windows implode, people run screaming, yessss
- Well, alright. Touka runs out on Asuna, and finds a crying Momoka. He tells her he's there for her, and she's happy, just having him with her.

But... this may be the first time I've felt really dissatisfied with the backwards linkage. There's absolutely no transition between everyone doing horrible, sadistic things to Momoka and everyone just accepting her as an equal, even a friend. Kikyou didn't slap the bitches down, Touka didn't get a chance to stand up for her, Shouko or Makoto didn't set them straight... so what happened?.

Unless, of course, I was supposed to read the ending as the Kochou being behind everything, and controlling the students against their will. And I guess both they and Momoka forgot about it after Sei blew in the windows? That is a bit much to swallow, and it could have been conveyed better. But the idea that the student body as a whole suddenly rose up and decide to make Momoka's life a hellish nightmare and then just as suddenly changed their minds is a bit harder to swallow. Because in all the subsequent (i.e. previous) episodes we've seen it's not like they seemed to fear her, or only be kind to her because they were compelled to. They just... treat her like a normal person as if nothing weird ever happened. Unless I totally missed something.

So why did they do it, if it was the Kochou? Did they do it to draw out Sei? They mess around a lot but would they really do something that horrible to Momoka? Shouko maybe, sure, but Shouko can and will fight back twice as hard (and still lose). They're demons after all. Or did they just do it because Momoka gets in the way of their experimenting on and observing Touka? What a horribly shallow reason that would be for Momoka to suffer such things :sd:

Oh and ツズク Fox is... getting married ....?

[Speedy Boris]

But... this may be the first time I've felt really dissatisfied with the backwards linkage. There's absolutely no transition between everyone doing horrible, sadistic things to Momoka and everyone just accepting her as an equal, even a friend. Kikyou didn't slap the bitches down, Touka didn't get a chance to stand up for her, Shouko or Makoto didn't set them straight... so what happened?.

Unless, of course, I was supposed to read the ending as the Kochou being behind everything, and controlling the students against their will. And I guess both they and Momoka forgot about it after Sei blew in the windows? That is a bit much to swallow, and it could have been conveyed better. But the idea that the student body as a whole suddenly rose up and decide to make Momoka's life a hellish nightmare and then just as suddenly changed their minds is a bit harder to swallow. Because in all the subsequent (i.e. previous) episodes we've seen it's not like they seemed to fear her, or only be kind to her because they were compelled to. They just... treat her like a normal person as if nothing weird ever happened. Unless I totally missed something.

So why did they do it, if it was the Kochou? Did they do it to draw out Sei? They mess around a lot but would they really do something that horrible to Momoka? Shouko maybe, sure, but Shouko can and will fight back twice as hard (and still lose). They're demons after all. Or did they just do it because Momoka gets in the way of their experimenting on and observing Touka? What a horribly shallow reason that would be for Momoka to suffer such things :sd: I wondered the same thing. We didn't see any conflict between Momoka and the classmates in earlier episodes. Your theories are all intriguing, though.

[something]

Ep. 23

- Now that we're in the early phases of Momoka's stay at the Kamiazuma residence, we find out that she... was meant to be Haruhiko's fiancee? The heck? Pretty sure they never hinted at anything of the sort later on. I'm guessing it'll fall through by the end of the episode. Either that or they'll pretend it never happened, like with Momoka's school problems. I hope their well crafted backwards progression doesn't fall apart at the end, we're so damn close.
- Heh, Haruhiko is not getting along with his father, Kiyoharu (actually Kiyotsugu) :sd:
- It's only in spots, but something about the animation feels weird. I keep checking to make sure the aspect ratio isn't set weird or something. Not sure what's causing me to have this weird impression.
- Makoto meets up with Touka and Momoka, offering (demanding) to act as a tour guide for them, telling them about various secrets and interesting bits about the school.
- Hmm. Makoto leads them to the library, where they enter the archives. Makoto tells them a bit about the history of Kamitsuhara. The oldest records indicate that the former Kamitsuhara, inhabited by an advanced civilization of people who worshiped (and ate) gold, was burned in a great fire. The land was rendered barren until with the passage of time the Kamitsuhara of today was rebuilt.
- Momoka notes to Touka how amazing it is to come to live in a place like this - but then starts wondering, where did I come fom? Again, the first signs of her faltering confidence in her memory, which came to a head some episodes ago.
- But she's startled out of her musing by a scroll rolling off the table. Makoto goes after it, and sees a ghostly apparition (Kikyou). Makoto tells them that seeing Kikyou guarantees you good luck for the whole day. This is immensely ironic given what precipitated the events of the previous episode :sd:
- Hmm, yeah, I can definitely see this episode getting 'fixed' for DVD. There are just some scenes where proportions and perspectives are wonky.
- Kikyou stands on a balcony overlooking Kamitsuhara as a crowd of admirers (all female) gather below and swoon.
- It begins to rain and Haruhiko remembers a folktale about sun showers, one that involves marriage. Marriage = bride = Momoka = Haruhiko fantasizing some incredibly awesome Momokaservice shots. Yum~~
- アイã‚*ャッãƒ�!
- Makoto, Momoka and Touka run into Haruhiko. He goes on a rant about how, before they get married, he must go on a journey to find himself and surpass his father. As he's blabbing, they walk away and continue going through the forest :sd: I guess thats how they deal with the fiance thing... Haruhiko doesn't think about it because he's intent on becoming a better man first.
- As they wander more the come across the "fox marrying off his daughter" legend in action. A procession of masked figures carry another masked figure. The mask slides away and a skeleton face is revealed. It looks at Momoka and she's possessed by something, and starts following the procession, while Makoto and Touka are held in place by some force. There's a lot of "kekeke"ing going on, so I'm guessing this has something to do with creepy little Mihashi from many episodes ago. His first attempt at taking Momoka?
- Hm, no, just spirits of a bygone age of Kamitsuhara. Kikyou rushes in, beats the crap out of the spirits, and rescues Momoka. Seems like the scene where Kikyou brings Momoka her shoes in 22 isn't totally random - they already had met here. And other students saw Kikyou carrying Momoka, and so the jealousy started here too. That still doesn't explain why they never acted like that to her again afterwards, but I guess we can rely on the Kikyou to say that she showed them all the error of their ways, or something. Would be nice if they showed it though.
- Oh and this is where Shirakawa fell for Touka.
- Ahaha. So no wonder Momoka had no idea wtf Haruhiko was talking about with the marriage crap. He wasn't saying "Konjou nashi" (no backbone) or "Your fiance is Momoka". He was saying "Konjounashi", the name of his penpal, with whom he arranged a meeting between their children... Haruhiko and the daughter, "Mo Moka" :sd:

A good episode on the whole, if a bit weird (oh like that's unusual for this show). It does give some foundation for the jealousy against Momoka and Shirakawa's Touka obsession, as well as introducing the fiance issue and then dealing with it by the end of the episode. :sd:

It also might be hinting at the Isabihiko period with talk of an ancient Kamitsuhara that was destroyed. What pieces of that period we've seen indicate some pretty major clashes involving Juna, Sei, Fuu, and the stone sword (Isabihiko), as well as the mask Mihashi was so obsessed with. It requires no leap of faith to assume that chaos could have done in ancient Kamitsuhara.

When Juna and Momoka/Sei met earlier in the series, Juna said it had been... 300? 800? 1000? [whatever] years since their last meeting. Enough time for records of that civilization to be mostly lost to history, and a new Kamitsuhara to be created. And now after all that time, history begins to repeat, and Kikyou is determined that it will end differently this time around. Or so is my guess.

[Speedy Boris]

Episode 24: Yumiko doesn't want to do work and wishes to go back to being in high school, because it means no deadlines (outside of exams and papers) and "real world" work. Boy can I relate to that. Well, I wouldn't want to go back to -high school-, but college, sure.

The toast flying through the air and landing in Momoka's mouth was adorable.

BTW, I think it's pretty funny how, whenever there's a fanservice-y moment, a random background guy goes "Aw YEAH!"

[something]

Episode 24:

- Touka and Momoka's first day at the school. And wow, Haruhiko was seriously hot for Momoka at first. Not that I blame him, but he definitely doesn't show it much later. But as we saw in the previous eps, he has his reasons.
- That morning, Haruhiko wants to walk to school with Momoka. But he loes out to Makoto. Good choice, Momoka! On the way there, Makoto promises to show Momoka around, which we saw her do in the previous ep.
- During the opening ceremony, we get a look at the characters we've come to know. Touka and Momoka, Makoto, Haruhiko, Shouko, Shirakawa, Twintails McTitaslot (ok, I hardly even remember her). And apparently Kiyoharu is director of the school o_O Oh, and Kikyou was mentioning Shouko earlier, maybe this episode will focus on her?
- Before Kiyoharu can deliver his speech, he's suddenly struck with a pain in his eye. Touka's stone sword and Makoto's dragon are resolating with the stone in his eye (we get a glimpse of he mask Mihashi was obsessed with), and he's helped off stage in pain. In the hospital, the nurse confirms what we saw earlier, that she often was called into Kiyoharu's father's (Masayuki) room for... services. But it seems like she no longer fears him.
- The Kochou note that the Lotus Association must be coming back for the new school year, so this goes along with what Kikyou was saying when she said Shouko had been "called for" I guess.
- Shirakawa is totally getting her stalk on, first day of school. She manages to get a name out of him and then her immediate follow up is "Do you want to touch me?" Ahahaha. Before he even knows her name. At least the girl knows what she wants.
- Ahaha he just blew her brain up. He asks her her name, she hesitates... then he reaches straight out and grabs her boob, taking her up on her offer. He makes a somewhat impressed "Hmm...?" and then just walks off, leaving her... out of sorts.
- Aw yeah, this is definitely Shouko's entrance. She's daydreaming about cuddling Makoto in her car when she zooms past Momoka and Makoto, wondering who the hell this girl is who dares to fraternize with lovely Makoto. Then she runs into, uh... a Kochou hydra o_O They shift back to human form and give her their greetings. And so the epic battle begins :sd: Also, Shouko was cool as hell with that glasses trick XD
- アイã‚*ャッãƒ�!
- Haha oh man, Yumiko reminds me so much of Lilith right now. Pun pun pun! Yumiko doesn't want to work!
- !!! Oh god, little touches like that make me love this show so much. Yumiko whines that she wants to be a highschooler again because work deadlines suck. Well... remember that mysterious character who shows up at various school functions, who looks like Yumiko but is too young? Walks around going "niko niko~"? Yeah, that's a parallel highschooler Yumiko. And she was created right at this moment. That's just damn awesome.
- Shouko and the Kochou continue their faceoff. The Kochou make fun of Shouko's shoujo-manga-like worldview, and Shouko challenges them to a duel. They suggest a children's game (after transforming into sexy bunnygirls! Oh yes~~!)
- Then the Lotus girls get their own costumes going on... tshirts tied off at the side and panties! (or well, bikini bottoms but whatever)
- A young blue haired teacher thinks Makoto is snuggling up a little too close to Momoka, heh. He looks a lot like Touka. And I'm pretty sure we haven't seen him in any of the other eps.
- Shouko jiggle =D She gets her ass kicked in the game they're playing... and DAMNIT the Kochou are hot.
- Oh man, they're building up more of the "HAET MOMOKA" vibe the jealous bitches at school have going on. In addition to being jealous of Kikyou's attention towards her, they hate her for being so familiar with Touka. I'm glad they've developed the start of the hatred towards her, but I wish they'd have anticipated and dealt with the aftermath more. That's the one failing so far. But maybe I'll catch hints on a rewatch.

That night she's restless. She keeps thinking of Touka, especially after she saw him outside her window a night before. She wonders if he'll come again... unable to sleep, she heads out for a walk in the night air.

Then she comes across Touka, standing beneath a sakura tree, his large red robe fluttering in the wind. Three butterflies of light circle above him (the Kochou), and proclaim his beauty. The sakura petals swirl around, and the Kochou leave in a shattering of light. The light bathes Touka, and it's all just sooo damn pretty. The only thought that comes to mind is that "the world... is beautiful."

Damn. Really, really good episode. Though with only two left, I have no idea what direction they're going to take it. But I sooo want to see~~~

...ツズク ...X


----

Boy can I relate to that. Well, I wouldn't want to go back to -high school-, but college, sure.
Man, not college for me. I have a lot more free time now working 40 hours a week, I'll put it that way... Granted, it's still not enough but ah well.

The toast flying through the air and landing in Momoka's mouth was adorable.
Haha, yeah, though the Shoujo glasses trick wins for sheer awesome.

[Magewolf]

I have been watching and liking all of this show. But I think that when its over I will need to find the time to rewatch it to really understand it.

[something]

Exactly a month to the day since I got to watc 24 o_O But finally! The last two episodes! Yes!!!
Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure I've entirely lost my very thorough grasp of all the nuances of the story =( Definitely not the kind of situation you want to be in when viewing the last two episodes. I need to read my posts for the last few episodes before going on. A month is far too long.

[Note: This episode takes place as a retrospective look at Kamitsuhara through the eyes of those left behind when Momoka, Touka and the rest moved on to the next world/era in Episode 1. I couldn't find a good place to note that while watching, so I'm putting it here.]


Episode 25:

- It begins with Shouko and... Haruhiko?... playing janken in a television studio. Shouko loses, and complains that she doesn't want to wear a certain costume.
- And I can't believe I just noticed this for the first time, but in the OP at the 'awai ni shizumi de / miushinau' line, Isamihiko is reflected in Momoka's eyes for a split second.
- Here we go. They're narrating the Isa(mi?)hiko story almost as if it were the trailer to a movie. And yes, it says "Isamihiko/イサミヒコ", I guess we've all been mishearing it this whole time.
- Wow, I can't stop laughing. As they dramatically explain the events in Kamitsuhara, the camera pulls out of a landscape shot and we see it's a miniature on the set of a television show. Haruhiko and Shouko are the presenters. Shouko is in bloomers and a sweatshirt, and as she's trying to talk, the camera focuses on her boobs and ass and she makes surprised noises and tries to cover herself :sd:
- Uh oh. For a minute or two at least, we get... recap. I'd really like to think they know better than to spend the next to last episode recapping. While it might be nice to tie together and reemphasize some story bits, recap in episode 25 is a bad idea. They need to be really careful in how they handle this. At any rate, we are told of the land of Kamitsuhara; of the person who protects it, Kikyou; of the Joumi concert put on buy the girl who harbors the Dragon King, Makoto.
- Ah, new material. We're told of Touka's birth. It appears he was "born" at the age he has always been? That Nene came to him and brought him into he and Yumiko's household. That he replaced the daughter that Yumiko lost years before. This was an important question that hasn't been answered before, to my knowledge, i.e. exactly what was the young girl who we kept seeing? She was Yumiko's true daughter who passed away, and to replace her Touka is often dressed as a girl. Also, Nene is wearing a really hot maid outfit right now.
- I'd also like to note that this episode singlehandedly wrecks the idea of watching the show 'backwards' in chronological order. If I ever do watch it that way, as I might (though I'd never do so on a first viewing!), I'd have to skip this episode. It just so clearly has to be episode 25, not episode 2. It's temporarily breaking the reverse chronology as it breaks the fourth wall.
- Kaya is next. Nene had told us that the three of them (her, Kaya and also Anna, who we haven't met) had the job of taking care of the three goddesses (Sei, Fuu, Juna). But Kaya talks mostly about how hot she is for Nene, and behind her is their mother, Yukihime.
- So, we know that Touka was born to wield the stone sword. What about Momoka? The interesting piece comes from Makoto. She says that Momoka simply appeared on the train one day and ate Makoto's lunch. And if you think about it, it makes sense. How many times have the goddesses and Touka and others reincarnated so far? We see at the first/last episode that they went up in green sparkles again, so them *just appearing* makes perfect sense. Each time until now they've forgotten each other, but in the last scene/ep 1, they finally remember, and break the cycle. Or so we assume.
- Anyway... Makoto says she does indeed have a memento of Momoka. HER PANTIES. XD

- アイã‚*ャッãƒ� Subtitle... Ehhhhhhhhhhhhckkkkkkssssss~

- Back to Momoko. The narrator offers the massive understatement that Momoka was "bullied" at first but gradually came to blend into school. Well... I'm glad they addressed it, but I guess that means we really are just supposed to assume things got better on their own. :sd: Ah so, the one and only plot failing of Touka Gettan.
- Asuna is next. We finally find out what happened to her after she was bitten by scythe catgirl and taken by Kaya to their mother Yukihime. What happened was... Kaya had to give Asuna the medicine mouth to mouth =D
- Asuna is grateful to them for saving her, but Kaya has taken a liking to Asuna. A liking to pouncing on naked Asuna and licking her all over. Oh. My. God. I... yeah. This is where an image (http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t299/anon09876/gettankayaasuna002cap.jpg) says it far better than I can. "Their relationship is... indecent." Oh yesssss.
- Shouko and Haruhiko invite two guests into the studio. Kiyoharu (who complains until they change the name to Kiyotsugu) and his father Masayuki. Things get a bit awkward. Shouko tries to switch topics and display the maid uniform Nene wore at the Kamiazuma residence, but Masayuki wants to bid on it. XD Then he bitterly recalls that Nene was one woman he couldn't get his hands on. When he tried, she burnt down his room XD
- The narrator turns to the spell of annihilation that Touka uttered in episode one to remove the goddesses from this world. We find out that after all this went down... Yumiko was restored to life. The original brown haired Yumiko. Or is that Yuriko? Gah, I forget... But with Juna gone, Yumiko is no longer possessed. But Touka is no longer with her either. Sad as this is, she now has a second shot at life, and plans to make the best of it.

"After that, Touka and Momoka... met."

Just as with the 'theater' episode, this is in one sense an incredibly clever way, and in another sense an incredibly convenient way, to expand and develop backstory and/or reinforce what has been seen. Some people will lean towards clever, like me. Others will lean towards convenient in a negative sense, or perhaps they'd call it lazy. There's the old saying, "show me, don't tell me", and in a way this flies utterly in the face of that almost to the point of mocking. And that will not go over well with some people. But I think it should be "try to show me, but if you're going to tell me, then go all out and make it fun," and thats what they do here.

I really really liked it. I have no idea what 26 will bring, but I am going to find out right now. Finally!

I don't even know if anyone is left watching this since the only other person who really posted in this thread just swore off watching unlicensed shows, but hey whatever, I've come this far so there's no way I'll stop posting now.

[Speedy Boris]

I don't even know if anyone is left watching this since the only other person who really posted in this thread just swore off watching unlicensed shows, but hey whatever, I've come this far so there's no way I'll stop posting now. Heh, yeah, what a time to quit fansubs, with only two episodes left. ;) Anyway, if Touka Gettan were ever licensed I'd buy it. Despite some confusion towards the beginning (and that's pretty understandable, really), I soon began enjoying the show very much.

Unfortunately I don't know how likely TG will be licensed any time soon, not only because it doesn't seem to be a hugely popular fansub title (as evidenced by this thread, hehe) but I don't think it has a lot of mainstream appeal. To me, it has Geneon written all over it, but we both know what happened there. :( What would be nice is if TG was licensed with Yamibou, since they apparently occupy the same "universe" and have similar art styles.

[something]

And so, it ends. Begins.

Episode 26:

- A woman (I can't tell exactly who) places the doll and the stone sword in a clearing in a forest. I believe this is where Touka was found.
- Then three dolls in Kikyou's home react with the three butterflies, and the Kochou are born. They decree the middle sister the eldest, and choose their names: Hibari. Tsubame. Suzume.
- The doll placed in the clearing was an unfinished doll Kikyou was working on. It was stolen by Anna, the third Midou sister we had yet to meet. She contacted Nene, and we see the Nene-Touka scene from 25 playing out.
- Haruhiko also overhears the rumors of his engagement, to "mo-moka". As he's wondering who Momoka is, he stumbles upon pretty trap Touka, and wonders if she is Momoka. As he gets closer, Touka throws him straight off the porch and into the garden, where Haruhiko loses consciousness.
- Nene and Yumiko wake him up. He asks who Momoka is, and Nene wonders how he knows that name. At this point, Momoka is only an idea in her script. There is no Momoka. But at that very moment, an individual is materializing, coalescing into existence. Ka-wa-ka-be-Mo-mo-ka.
- Makoto is on the train she mentions in 25. She's a new transfer student, and she's talking with Asuna. And just like she describes, suddenly Momoka is next to her, eating their lunches.
- Shouko waits on the station platform for Makoto. It's interesting that she already knows Makoto when Makoto is a transfer student. What happened is that Shouko saw Makoto at a singing competition and fell in love with her at first sight. She's also the one responsible for getting Makoto transfered into Touka Academy. As she's fawning on Makoto, she realizes someone else is there. A mysterious blue haired girl who doesn't know that fireflies aren't a food.
- They complete registration for Makoto, but Momoka's name isn't listed. The record keeper goes over the list once more, and Momoka's name has appeared in a previously blank space. Shouko looks at Momoka and thinks "Kawakabe... isn't she connected to Yumiko?" I don't know if this is something Shouko genuinely thinks or if it's representative of Yumiko's story coming to life, anchoring itself more deeply in reality and in the characters' minds.
- As Momoka lies in bed contemplating the room she's found herself in, she suddenly decides to call her mother. She reaches out to dial a number... but what number? Mother? Who is her mother? For that matter, who is she?
- She doesn't know. She goes to take a bath to gather her thoughts. Makoto sees her (and it's hot...) and falls in love at that moment.

Lying in bed again, Momoka is restless. That utterly gorgeous background music track plays (the same one as where Touka stood under the shower of light from the Kochou in 24 or so) as soon as Touka's foot touches the roof he's just floated down to. He descends to the balcony outside Momoka's window. This is the scene she mentioned earlier in the show.

She asks if they've met before. He says there's no way that could be.
She asks him his name. He tells her, "Touka" and she responds, "I'm Momoka. Probably..."
He repeats, questioningly: "Probably?"

::sakura petals float through the air, moonlight bathes everything::

"I feel... I feel like I don't have any time left.
"No time...?"

::she folds her hands, closes her eyes::

"Yes. I don't have..."

::She opens her eyes and looks straight at him::

"...any time left."

::music fades out::

[tab][b]オ
[tab]ワ
[tab]リ[/bigger]

Gutsy. A really, really gutsy ending. I was floored by how quickly the last episode went by. The whole second half felt like it was barely three minutes long. I was completely sucked into every second of Momoka's life, and before I knew it, it was over.

No last minute attempt to link every nuance together. 25 handled that side, and looking back, I'm incredibly glad it did. The exposition in 25 allowed 26 to eschew all of that. Instead we got ~25 oh so fleeting minutes of gorgeous scenery, beautiful music, and a final scene I won't soon forget. It tried less to tell a story and more to harness pure emotions and put them to animation, and I feel that it succeeded spectacularly. I got shivers down my spine when I watched that scene. All four times.

I know this has little to no chance of getting an R1 license, but I do so hope I'm wrong. For the most part, it's a very good looking show. And in places, it'd drop dead gorgeous. I really hope to see this in DVD quality.

Touka Gettan was experimental, and I'm happy to call it a success. Sadly it's a relatively obscure show, that people dismissed all too quickly even before it was known it was going backwards. The chronology chosen was not a gimmick, it was an integral part of the show. Without it, Touka Gettan may have been something, even something almost as enjoyable, but it still wouldn't be Touka Gettan. That said, I do want to watch it chronologically in the near future, if only to experience it again and see what connections I may have missed. But watching it the intended way the first time was the right choice, that much is obvious.

Very highly recommended. A sexy, funny, rich and complex and often beautiful experience.

[Magewolf]

I am happy to have finally seen the last 2 subs. This has been a beautiful show if not always a easy one to understand.I hope that it is licensed because I want the dvds.
This would be a good show to have a manga adaption.If it would show the time between episodes and more backstory.

[roastedpekingduck]

Again, I have only seen bits of the show, but after listening through the soundtrack, I must say that the soundtrack is absolutely beautiful. Goddamn am I pissed at myself for spending money on the wrong soundtracks. There's been far too many shows that I haven't really seen with absolutely great soundtracks that I need to own. :sigh:

[something]

Again, I have only seen bits of the show, but after listening through the soundtrack, I must say that the soundtrack is absolutely beautiful. Goddamn am I pissed at myself for spending money on the wrong soundtracks. There's been far too many shows that I haven't really seen with absolutely great soundtracks that I need to own. :sigh:
Apparently the soundtrack that came out for this doesn't include what I think is the absolute best piece in the show: the music that plays over the absolute last scene. It also plays other times, but during that scene... oh god.

I guess they're sticking it on the other CD coming out in Feb to get people to buy more.

[roastedpekingduck]

Again, I have only seen bits of the show, but after listening through the soundtrack, I must say that the soundtrack is absolutely beautiful. Goddamn am I pissed at myself for spending money on the wrong soundtracks. There's been far too many shows that I haven't really seen with absolutely great soundtracks that I need to own. :sigh:
Apparently the soundtrack that came out for this doesn't include what I think is the absolute best piece in the show: the music that plays over the absolute last scene. It also plays other times, but during that scene... oh god.

I guess they're sticking it on the other CD coming out in Feb to get people to buy more.
I hate missing and scattered tracks. It makes collecting soundtracks so cumbersome. :sigh: I just checked CD Japan, and this thing of "bonus music" that they're coming out with costs 3500 yen, most comprised of the traditional seiyuu-sung character themes...and with "two background music tracks missing from the first album." :(

[something]

and with "two background music tracks missing from the first album." :(
Yep, a bunch of garbage and then probably the two best BGM tracks. Gotta love it.

[roastedpekingduck]

Looks like I'll know which soundtracks to get first in my next wave of importing, meaning that Touka Gettan will likely get passed over. I much much prefer soundtracks with tidy and no nonsense one or two disc releases. There's some soundtracks, such as 12 Kingdoms, that I've avoided for ages, because the actual BGM and random "image" tracks are interspersed across quite a few albums.

[something]

Looks like I'll know which soundtracks to get first in my next wave of importing, meaning that Touka Gettan will likely get passed over. I much much prefer soundtracks with tidy and no nonsense one or two disc releases. There's some soundtracks, such as 12 Kingdoms, that I've avoided for ages, because the actual BGM and random "image" tracks are interspersed across quite a few albums.
I've never been able to comprehend how they can get enough people to buy enough of the dozen CDs they release for every show over there to actually make money on any of them. OP, ED, multiple OSTs, image albums for every imaginable character... Who is buying all these!?

Side note: as of my reply, this subthread about OSTs is as long as or longer than every episode discussion subthread back from 7 onwards.

I hate you, AOD ;_;

[relentlessflame]

I've never been able to comprehend how they can get enough people to buy enough of the dozen CDs they release for every show over there to actually make money on any of them. OP, ED, multiple OSTs, image albums for every imaginable character... Who is buying all these!?
Continuing the length of the sub-thread... ( :sd: ), Avex (this show's publisher) is absolutely the worst offender on this front, bar none. This recent stunt with the compilation album is par for the course. The game they play is that the original character song albums are extremely limited, so they sell out quickly. Then, later they release compilation CDs with one or two new tracks on it so that people who already bought the limited CDs will buy it again. It's fine for those who wait and don't buy into the whole "it's limited -- I need to own it" mentality, but for those who do, well... it's not very friendly, to say the least... :sd: I've gotten caught up in that game on an Avex show before, and suffice it to say, some 30-some-odd CDs later, it's hard not to feel a bit screwed (despite the fact that I'm the one doing the buying). :sd:

That being said, I've no doubt they're profitable. Given the high cost of purchasing the DVDs (as opposed to just renting them), the CDs offer an alternative for people who still want to own a piece of the show. Not to mention the die-hard "collect them all" otaku. Even if each CD only sold 1,000 copies, at those prices it'd still be profitable. Add in Avex's somewhat-detestable "repackaging" practices, and you've got a formula that can extract enough money out of even poorly-selling shows (like Touka Gettan, for example, where the DVDs are selling extremely poorly).

[something]

extract enough money out of even poorly-selling shows (like Touka Gettan, for example, where the DVDs are selling extremely poorly).
;_;

But I'm not surprised. It was just so under everyone's radar, and a lot of people jumped ship early before it really established what it was all about.

So on the one hand, that bodes poorly for a license, because it's not popular. On the other hand, maybe it'll keep the license price reasonable... Come on, Media Blasters~~~

[roastedpekingduck]

With those business practices, the soundtrack definitely goes way down low on my priority list, since so many other soundtrack publishers don't do that crap.

[HitokiriShadow]

Well, the OP is nice but not one I'll be rewatching much.


.... and that was one of the most confusing first episodes I've watched in a long, long time.

What I understand is that there is some sort of world jumping going on (not surprising as this is from the people who gave us YamiBou) and it seems to involve switching bodies, or at least it did for Touka and Momoka. Touka appeared to be in Momoka's body while Momoka was possessing Yumiko. Or something like that. I think.

I went bug-eyed when Touka called Yumiko "Mama." The 'conversation' that followed was... odd, to say the least.

But more importantly Yumiko is smoking hot, and Momoka is cute.

So I have only the vaguest idea of what's going on, but I'm digging it.

[something]

But more importantly Yumiko is smoking hot, and Momoka is cute.
So I have only the vaguest idea of what's going on, but I'm digging it.
Ah so you've just started, I thought maybe you were a few episodes in already. Yeah, the confusion gradually drops off from here... but that's stating the obvious. You can't go much higher on the confusion scale than episode one, but that's what makes piecing it all together so worth it.

Yumiko is indeed... well, just one of the most erotic characters ever. Get too close and you'll drown in it. Also, sweater (with wonderful cleavage) + thighhighs? Is there possibly any better combination? And of course I adore Momoka, for all sorts of reasons.

Touka is pretty awesome as well, but then again all the main characters are. I don't think I disliked a single significant, recurring character in the entire cast.

[HitokiriShadow]

Ah so you've just started, I thought maybe you were a few episodes in already.

Yeah, I started watching it right after I joined in telling Reimu to start watching it. I was about to start and then remembered that you couldn't remember what else Reimu was supposed to watch other than Blue Drop. Since you keep mentioning that more people need to watch this, I figured this was on the list and was going to say something about it, but you had already remembered.

Yeah, the confusion gradually drops off from here... but that's stating the obvious. You can't go much higher on the confusion scale than episode one, but that's what makes piecing it all together so worth it.

I would certainly hope it starts making more sense before too long. I like shows that force you piece things together. That's what I loved about Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni. And I've heard that Touka Gettan is basically showing the episodes in reverse order. Provided there is a point to it and its done well, non-chronological order is something else I enjoy.

I guess we can thank Haruhi for that. I'm not aware of any anime before Haruhi doing this, but now in 2007 there were 3 shows (that I'm aware of) that did it: Touka Gettan, Hidamari Sketch, and Rental Magica (though I dropped Renta Magica after four episodes).

[HitokiriShadow]

Goddammit, I accidentally hit one of the affiliate links and erased my post. :grr: Let's see if I can remember what I wrote.

Okay, so Yuriko doesn't seem to be possessed right now and Momoka is in her own body.

"Can I have your panties as a gift" "What? Fuck no!" "Thank you very much!" LOL Makoto is love.

Hot triplets! ...with telekinetic powers? Sadly, they seem to be of a personality type I am not terribly fond of (the Ojou-sama type). And they are abusing Shouko and that's a no-no.

Girl/Girl kissing spotted! Rather sudden and unromantic, but its better than nothing.

And it ends with the ceremony and green flash we saw briefly in episode 1. This episode was still confusing as all hell but it made a bit more sense than the previous episode.

We've seen very little of Touka so far, and its mostly him angsting over his existence. So I really can't comment on him yet.

Makoto is love. I really like Momoka and Shouko as well, though we haven't seen much of her. Most of the other characters have had even less screentime than Shouko, so I can't really comment on them yet.

[something]

"Can I have your panties as a gift" "What? Fuck no!" "Thank you very much!" LOL Makoto is love.
Makoto is wonderful. She's lovable no matter the circumstance, there to inject cheerful innocence into every scene she shows up in. It's not that she's a vacuous bubblebrain or anything, she's just a really optimistic personality.

Hot triplets! ...with telekinetic powers? Sadly, they seem to be of a personality type I am not terribly fond of (the Ojou-sama type). And they are abusing Shouko and that's a no-no.
Kochou <3 As for Shouko, she's got that voice that takes me awhile to get used to. I did like her (as I said I liked everyone), but the Kochou, well, as you said, hot triplets who do everything in unison. Mmmm.... ::thrusts::

And it ends with the ceremony and green flash we saw briefly in episode 1. This episode was still confusing as all hell but it made a bit more sense than the previous episode.
There's a definite advantage to going into it knowing it's not forwards-chronological. I don't think it was announced ahead of time, or the show is so low profile that word didn't spread far, that this was the case. And so I and most others watched the first few episodes not knowing this, and thus is lost a LOT of people within two episodes. I'd say around ep 2 I had some inkling of what was going on, and with 3-4 I concluded for sure it was backwards. The creators publicly stated it somewhere around episode 6.

Just talking about it I really want to watch it again, but part of me wants to watch it in reverse order now that I've seen it the way it was meant to be seen the first time around. There are various reasons, though, that I don't think I'd want to do this, even though it would be interesting. It was just so obviously made with this order in mind (and thank god they didn't screw with the order on the DVDs like with Haruhi), that I don't think watching it "forwards" would work. That and I don't have time to watch 26 eps again right now :sd: Plus a few eps drag in the middle, though I still do want to rewatch them.

Touka Gettan is actually a bit different in its chronology than the Haruhi or Hidamari examples you mentioned, though I'll wait to discuss details.

[Westlo]

Well, the OP is nice but not one I'll be rewatching much.

.... and that was one of the most confusing first episodes I've watched in a long, long time.

I also just watched the first episode today and agree with you. Other wtf first episodes I've seen this year would be Baccano! and Prism Ark. Thankfully this came off a lot better than Prism Ark and I'm interested in continuing.

Oh yeah Yumiko is smoking hot and I liked the score in the first episode.

[HitokiriShadow]

There's a definite advantage to going into it knowing it's not forwards-chronological. I don't think it was announced ahead of time, or the show is so low profile that word didn't spread far, that this was the case. And so I and most others watched the first few episodes not knowing this, and thus is lost a LOT of people within two episodes. I'd say around ep 2 I had some inkling of what was going on, and with 3-4 I concluded for sure it was backwards. The creators publicly stated it somewhere around episode 6.

That sounds about right. I recall that when it started, I was hearing a lot of people saying it was confusing. I think I heard from someone really early (like around episode 2 or 3) that it was airing backwards. If done right, going backwards can work really well. Or it could potentially be a giant mess. I think I waited because I wanted to hear how it turned out before I invested time in something that was so risky.

But if this ever gets licensed and there is a free preview (or one included in a magazine) they had better do at least two episodes, preferably three. Otherwise, the preview will likely do more harm than good.
Just talking about it I really want to watch it again, but part of me wants to watch it in reverse order now that I've seen it the way it was meant to be seen the first time around. There are various reasons, though, that I don't think I'd want to do this, even though it would be interesting. It was just so obviously made with this order in mind (and thank god they didn't screw with the order on the DVDs like with Haruhi), that I don't think watching it "forwards" would work. That and I don't have time to watch 26 eps again right now :sd: Plus a few eps drag in the middle, though I still do want to rewatch them.

I'd imagine it would still be interesting and help make sense of some things provided you've already seen the whole thing. But I'm sure that watching it in chronological order for the first time would be a huge mistake. As you said, this was very much designed to be seen this way. I'm figuring that flashbacks are going to be an issue, since even though the main things we are seeing in these episodes are happening last, we are getting flashbacks that happen before the series begins. So the last episodes, despite occurring first chronologically, will assume the viewer already knows everything that happens later, like the flashbacks.

Touka Gettan is actually a bit different in its chronology than the Haruhi or Hidamari examples you mentioned, though I'll wait to discuss details.

Well, from what little I've seen of Touka Gettan, TG is going backwards while Haruhi and Hidamari jumped around. If there is anything else, uh, yeah, we'd better wait until I've seen more.

[Suwako Moriya]

I also just watched the first episode today and agree with you. Other wtf first episodes I've seen this year would be Baccano! and Prism Ark. Thankfully this came off a lot better than Prism Ark and I'm interested in continuing.

So I take it you dropped Prism Ark after a single episode? All I can say to that is that means by default you're smarter than me. It took me two episodes to realize I should drop it. Thankfully though Baccano! turned out to be a surprisingly nice series.

In any case I think the "confusing" aspect of the first episode of this series comes from the fact it feels like a lot is going on. Which I guess makes sense when one realizes about the "order". Either way it does a decent job of making one curious and well it has attractive girls. Which is definitely not a bad thing.

[Suwako Moriya]

"Can I have your panties as a gift" "What? Fuck no!" "Thank you very much!" LOL Makoto is love.

Ah maybe, Makoto should ask for a bra while she's at it. Then she should let us see what she looks like it in. And of course eventually remove... uh yeah.

Hot triplets! ...with telekinetic powers? Sadly, they seem to be of a personality type I am not terribly fond of (the Ojou-sama type). And they are abusing Shouko and that's a no-no.

Well it's a trade-off. Triple of what one loves at the price of triple of what one doesn't. Still whatever works in the long run. The Ojou-sama type can go either way for me. A lot of it depends on the laugh. Some Oujo-sama end up with that annoying generic laugh that's over done.

Makoto is love. I really like Momoka and Shouko as well, though we haven't seen much of her.

Right now Makoto is the one stands out because she has this strong cuteness to her. Momoka is pretty and darn it I already forgot who Shouko was. I guess the cast hasn't completely sunk in for me yet.

[something]

In any case I think the "confusing" aspect of the first episode of this series comes from the fact it feels like a lot is going on. Which I guess makes sense when one realizes about the "order". Either way it does a decent job of making one curious and well it has attractive girls. Which is definitely not a bad thing.
Oh god, three new people watching Touka Gettan, I am in my happy place! I don't know if all three of you will keep watching it, but for now... <3

[Suwako Moriya]

Just talking about it I really want to watch it again, but part of me wants to watch it in reverse order now that I've seen it the way it was meant to be seen the first time around.

Watching it in reverse order would be interesting to see how well it actually works "forward", but honestly the big question would be how long of a gap to have between the initial watch the proper way and a re-watch the reverse way. Still the key is seeing how far I get in the initial watch.

It was just so obviously made with this order in mind (and thank god they didn't screw with the order on the DVDs like with Haruhi), that I don't think watching it "forwards" would work.

Speak of which, I need to find out from people if Rental Magica is going to keep its none-chronological order for the DVD release which should effect the R1 release. That's assuming my precious Kuorha Manami gets licensed. I do I remember being told that Hidamari Sketch does. Ah well I'll find out eventually.

Edit: Apparently I'm an idiot who can't read a topic I post at on occasion. Seems Rental Magica retains the broadcast order.

[something]

Ah maybe, Makoto should ask for a bra while she's at it. Then she should let us see what she looks like it in. And of course eventually remove... uh yeah.
Makoto x Momoka just works on so many levels. Momo-senpai!

A lot of it depends on the laugh. Some Oujo-sama end up with that annoying generic laugh that's over done.
Oh, there is no end to the Kochou ojou-sama laughing, but they're so over the top about it that I can't help but love them. There are more significant reasons why I like them as well, but that's for later episodes.

and darn it I already forgot who Shouko was.
Green hair, leader of the Lotus Association, drives like a maniac, is all about Makoto.

[something]

Watching it in reverse order would be interesting to see how well it actually works "forward"
I'm thinking of various plot issues that I obviously won't explain here that make me think watching it purely forwards-chronological wouldn't work. On the other hand, I might see reasons why it *does* work. But I might also see those reasons if I watch in the original order again...

Well, at any rate, I can say that the order is part and parcel of what Touka Gettan is. Some events in the last few episodes make it DAMN clear they didn't intend it to be watched any other way. The original ending (story-beginning) also probably works better, interestingly enough, than the episode 1 story-ending, though both are very good.

[Suwako Moriya]

It has the same sense of playful, bizarre eroticism that YamiBoushi perfected.

Heh I've never seen that series so I guess watching this could give a partial idea what that was like perhaps. Oh just great I just had to go and confess again...

It was EPIC incest, no two ways about it. Just. Fucking. Wow.

It was certainly a rather strange moment as well. Part of me couldn't believe that was actually happening.

Also... Catgirl demon with a scythe!! This show is reaching new levels of AWESOME. And Momoka is toooootally hilarious.p

Catgirl + Demon + Scythe= The World is now a better place.

*Trips Touka and runs off with Momoka and uh Makoto as well* That should say plenty. Besides Touka should be fine with Momma. Speaking of Makoto that "Dragon" scene was curious.

[something]

Heh I've never seen that series so I guess watching this could give a partial idea what that was like perhaps. Oh just great I just had to go and confess again...
You haven't!? Damn, I was really hoping you had. I believe HS said he did. Not sure about Westlo.

I want to make a comment related to this issue, but I think even a vague hint could potentially ruin it. but yeah, damnit, you need to watch YamiBou next. I'm so not going to leave you alone about that, especially if you wind up enjoying TG.

It was certainly a rather strange moment as well. Part of me couldn't believe that was actually happening.
Damn, just remembering that scene makes me want to go ahead and rewatch...

*Trips Touka and runs off with Momoka and uh Makoto as well* That should say plenty. Besides Touka should be fine with Momma.
There are just so many girls to pick from... Where to begin~ And they're pretty much all just... so... so very healthy.

[Suwako Moriya]

and darn it I already forgot who Shouko was.
Green hair, leader of the Lotus Association, drives like a maniac, is all about Makoto.

Ah her the one that seems to change to that "dramatic" voice on occasion if I'm reading right. I guess she hasn't made a strong enough impression on me yet.

[Suwako Moriya]

but yeah, damnit, you need to watch YamiBou next. I'm so not going to leave you alone about that, especially if you wind up enjoying TG.

All I can say is that I'll think about it. I haven't really read up much on it to be honest. All I've heard is it's strange and involves uh yuri, I think.

There are just so many girls to pick from... Where to begin~ And they're pretty much all just... so... so very healthy.

Ah "healthy" is such a fun term to use, but well it's best to pick as many as possible because I'm greedy.

[something]

Note: this post is spoiler free, of course. Just making this perfectly clear ahead of time since I mention (but don't discuss) the ending and all. For anyone who has seen the show in full who wants to respond, please try to keep it spoiler free as well. If you do need to spoil, use tags and explicit warnings.

...Well, by "anyone" I mean "Speedy Boris" more or less, along with the 1, maybe 2 other people on AOD who saw the show. Funny, if Reimu, HS and Westlo finish the show, that'll just about double the number of AODers who've seen it =P

And to emphasize once again, I absolutely, positively, vehemently suggest against anyone watching from 26 to 1 in their *first* viewing. It's just a terrible idea. Second viewings are another matter entirely.

--------

Episodes 26-24:
So, I did decide after all to rewatch it. Three others getting into it for the first time makes me remember it all over again, and since I'm soooorta caught up on current shows, it should be okay. I initially started with episode 1, but it kept nagging at me that if I'm ever going to watch it forwards-chronologically, it needs to be now. Because while I love it, I'm not going to (nor have time to) rewatch it *twice* in a row, normal/broadcast and then reverse. And after this rewatch I probably won't rewatch again until I see a DVD version (with an R1 license or otherwise). So now or never.

I went for it. It was rocky at first, like I predicted. I think the final scene of the show (and the whole final episode for that matter) is simply beautiful, but it obviously loses oomph when it's not "the end" but rather "the end of the first episode". Had some tears in my eyes nonetheless, and still found it a beautiful episode. I just felt like I was cheating a little. The ep moved me, but I hadn't *earned* it. Well, no matter, I've already seen the show the intended way once, so I'm not trying to replace that or anything.

The next episode, 25, is *really* interesting as a "second" episode. :sd: I imagine if I had never seen the show in the original order, 25 as ep 2 would be as confusing as ep 1 is in the original order. I'll let you all find out why, of course. But it *was* great to watch, simply because it's a great ep.

I'm on 24 now, and plan to continue. I don't know if I'll get anything more out of this beyond what the original viewing gave me, but since it *is* a rewatch I expect to catch at least a few more details. As you three currently watching will see when you read my posts later in the thread, there was *one* piece of the story I don't think was handled as well as it could have been (there are logical ways to explain it, but the show didn't make explicit if thats what happened), and I'm wondering if I'll see something I missed the first time around.

Time to find out! ::continues 24::

[HitokiriShadow]

... Is Touka really a guy? That voice sounds really feminine. Er, some of the time. It sounded more masculine when he yelled at the triplets. And every time I see 'him' in that Kimono looking all girly, I find myself not caring that there is (probably) a penis down there. But at least he seems to know that when hot girls like that are near, go for the goods!

And those triplets are damn cute. Not exactly my favorite personality type, but they are growing on me extremely quickly.

Cue lots of flashbacks that don't make a whole lot of sense right now.

I spy a Makoto butt-crack. So Touka randomly appears in Makoto's room and gets a nasty wake-up call. Um, okay, whatever. The imporant thing is we got to see a good portion of Makoto's ass.

Oh god, Yumiko is so fucking hot. By the way she's acting, I think she's supposed to be his (adoptive?) mom in this world? Which start to explain the Mama thing from the first episode. Except Momoka was possessing her and Touka the conversation was like one between lovers... oh holy shit, they are lovers. :nosebleed: :virgin: :notworthy: Woooooooooooow, I can't believe that just happened.

Wait, so Makoto is living with Touka, Momoka, and Epic Milf of the Decade Yumiko?

Random shot to new cute blond girl with a scythe, who appears to be trapped in some magic cage.

And apparently Kikyou can teleport. And this doesn't seem to surprise Makoto.

You know, every time they mention this dragon sleeping inside, I keep wondering... who has the hamster? It's like yin and yang. For every dragon, there must be a hamster.

On another note, TG has some nice music. Perhaps nothing spectacular, but the music in the background during this portion is very nice.

Ara. ... Ara. ... Ara. ... Maaaaaaa~!

I think the interaction between Shouko and the Three Princesses of the Second Shrine are going to a good source of amusement. Heck, any scene with the three princesses will probably do.

Okay, so the blonde girl is Yurika and she seems to want to kill Momoka (or perhaps Sae?). And instead of worry about that, Momoka slaps her and insists she wasn't ditched. Awesome. I wand more Momoka, she hasn't been doing much so far.

[something]

oh holy shit, they are lovers. :nosebleed: :virgin: :notworthy: Woooooooooooow, I can't believe that just happened.
Yeah, that... that scene definitely would go on a list of the most shocking/unexpected scenes for me. Especially when it's being thrown at you in the third episode after two episodes of really crazy confusion. So wrong, and so very hot.

Wait, so Makoto is living with Touka, Momoka, and Epic Milf of the Decade Yumiko?
How nice it would be to join them...

You know, every time they mention this dragon sleeping inside, I keep wondering... who has the hamster? It's like yin and yang. For every dragon, there must be a hamster.
Haha... Haruhiko? Everyone seems to value him about as highly as a hamster. :sd:

On another note, TG has some nice music. Perhaps nothing spectacular, but the music in the background during this portion is very nice.
Oh it gets spectacular. One of my absolute favorite things about the show. But it's most noticeable in the scenes there there's not as much dialog, and they let the visuals and the music tell the story.

I think the interaction between Shouko and the Three Princesses of the Second Shrine are going to a good source of amusement. Heck, any scene with the three princesses will probably do.
One of the highlights, no question. So wonderfully over the top, often a nice respite from the seriousness of some episodes. Shouko cracks me up, because she's so damn passionate. Both with her cute side and her violent side. And the Kochou... oh god, <3 I think what I like about them is that they don't spend the whole show getting snooty and indignant like most ojou-sama types. Rather, they just turn everything into their plaything, and instead of getting mad, they get even.

There's other stuff I really think I could have safely commented on, but I'd rather err on the side of extreme caution.

I don't want to sleeeeeep, I want to watch Touka Gettan! But I know I'll crash right when it's time to go to work if I try to stay up.

[HitokiriShadow]

So, as the flashback in the previous episode suggested, Fuu and Sei (and Juna too?) are sisters or at least Fuu sees Sei as an Onee-sama.

Mihashi is a freak and his(?) laugh is annoying.

Oh god Yumiko is hot. Yes, this bears repeating every single episode that it is relevant to. And maybe even the ones that it isn't.

And Makoto is sitting there watching Yumiko get all hot and bothered while getting a massage from Touka. That must be awkward.

Or not. She's fantasizing about giving Momoka a massage. God I love Makoto.

They sure love showing Makoto in the bath. And in various other situations that allow them to show her less than fully clothed. I approve.

Since the triplets previously obeyed the little girl (who apparently isn't Touka) only because her mother was Juna, I guess that means they are servants or some sort of subordinates of Juna.

And Touka just sliced the annoying guy's head in half. And we get a random Shouko appearance.

It looks like the annoying guy was trying to revive that masked man who was trying to snog Sei in the flashback before Isbahiko or whatever killed everybody. Or at least he was trying to bring back something relating to him.

This episode was a somewhat self contained story compared to the previous episodes and as such it was much easier to follow. But it sure doesn't feel like it comes directly before the events in episode three.

[something]

Mihashi is a freak and his(?) laugh is annoying.
kekekekekekekeke.

kekekekekekeke.

keke-keeeeekekekekeke.

Oh god Yumiko is hot. Yes, this bears repeating every single episode that it is relevant to. And maybe even the ones that it isn't.
kekekekeke. Yumiko's hotness is always relevant. kekekekekeke.

And Makoto is sitting there watching Yumiko get all hot and bothered while getting a massage from Touka. That must be awkward.
Did she have a funny Italian word to describe the situation? Maybe kekekekekeioso.

Or not. She's fantasizing about giving Momoka a massage. God I love Makoto.
The girl has her priorities straight, definitely. kekekekekeke

They sure love showing Makoto in the bath. And in various other situations that allow them to show her less than fully clothed. I approve.
kekekekekeke. And so do the writers.

And Touka just sliced the annoying guy's head in half. And we get a random Shouko appearance.
kekekekekekraaaaaaaaaaghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh ::sputter gag::

Isbahiko or whatever killed everybody
To be quite honest I never quite caught it, but though it's always translated as Isabihiko, it turns out it's Isamihiko. They shouldn't sound so similar, but they ar. So yeah, that dude is Isamihiko, not that that's an important distinction. Another little translation messup is in the first episode, where Kiyoharu's father is doing the girl in his room, they say something like "Junior is gone". As you probably figured out (or maybe you read it in one of my posts, not sure if I mentioned it), that was "Juna" not "Junior"

This episode was a somewhat self contained story compared to the previous episodes and as such it was much easier to follow. But it sure doesn't feel like it comes directly before the events in episode three.
It definitely gets easier to follow from here on out, as the episodes definitely link together but are are a bit more self contained.

[HitokiriShadow]

kekekekekekraaaaaaaaaaghh hhhhhhhhhhhhhh ::sputter gag::


:D

Another little translation messup is in the first episode, where Kiyoharu's father is doing the girl in his room, they say something like "Junior is gone". As you probably figured out (or maybe you read it in one of my posts, not sure if I mentioned it), that was "Juna" not "Junior"

Yeah, you mentioned it in your post for the second episode.

[Suwako Moriya]

Mihashi is a freak and his(?) laugh is annoying.

Annoying brat is the only way to describe him.

Or not. She's fantasizing about giving Momoka a massage. God I love Makoto.

I'm loving Makoto even more now. Momoka x Makoto for the win.

They sure love showing Makoto in the bath. And in various other situations that allow them to show her less than fully clothed. I approve.

The creators of this series must really love us. Makoto definitely is one of those "motivating characters". Ie the type that motivates me to watch more of a series.

Since the triplets previously obeyed the little girl (who apparently isn't Touka) only because her mother was Juna, I guess that means they are servants or some sort of subordinates of Juna.

The triplets just love appearing as butterflies don't they?. At least that's the indication I'm getting. Still that little girl kind of scares me. She's cute, but she's also scary.

And Touka just sliced the annoying guy's head in half. And we get a random Shouko appearance.

Thank you Touka, I'm almost tempted to hug you for doing that. Random Shouko can be fun. In any case the fun part is deciding how to pace myself with this series. Watched three yesterday and so far one today.

[something]

The creators of this series must really love us. Makoto definitely is one of those "motivating characters". Ie the type that motivates me to watch more of a series.
Love us indeed. That's definitely a theme throughout the show - give us what we want, without compromising the emotional power of the show.

The triplets just love appearing as butterflies don't they?
Yeah, this is where the Kochou name comes from. I'm not sure what they're referred to most often as, but I took to the Kochou name. Chou/Kochou = butterfly.

Thank you Touka, I'm almost tempted to hug you for doing that.
With or without pretty kimono and long hair?

[Suwako Moriya]

Love us indeed. That's definitely a theme throughout the show - give us what we want, without compromising the emotional power of the show.

So in other words the show achieves harmonic balance and mystical stuff like that. Ah screw it what matters is being able to "study" Makoto.

Yeah, this is where the Kochou name comes from. I'm not sure what they're referred to most often as, but I took to the Kochou name. Chou/Kochou = butterfly.

Ah so that explains it. Still butterflies can be interesting sometimes and the triplets are pretty. Thus it just simply works in multiple ways for me.

With or without pretty kimono and long hair?

Hmm to hug Touka with or without? Uh my answer is I'll just use Momoka and Makoto as stand ins for Touka. Yeah that works much better.

[Suwako Moriya]

- Back where Kikyou is, Juna finally wakes up (with her clothes barely holding on, oh god O_O) after rolling around the futons a bit.

I love how this show does sexy in the good way rather than that annoying forced way that feels desperate. Granted the designs probably help a lot.

Then Shouko totally makes a move on her, and it's HOT. because everything in this show is HOT.

Hmm so Shouko loves Makoto and Makoto loves Momoka. There needs to be a three way then.

Kikyou tells her she shouldn't, because theyr yuri pasion might be so damn hot that it could have unintended, world-altering consequences. ...Ok, so I'm paraphrasing. But not too much!

There's an interesting and fun way to describe that scene, but whatever works in terms of getting us a chance to look at lovely girls.

- God Momoka has a fantastic ass. At any rate, she calls Kikyou out and says she wants to return to Kinomiya... and sleep forever. Kikyou asks her if it's okay to just leave Touka behind. Of course, Momoka says it isn't. And so, she's torn.

That scene was certainly interesting, but it also made me start thinking about how powerful the "hentai wind" is. At least I like to call it that.

As always, the episode introduces a lot of questions, but they're generally ones that reference back in the chronology (aka meaning we need more episodes first), rather than require you to move forward to see how things are resolved (aka by going back into the episodes).

Heh it seems in general this show instead of asking the question "What will happen next?" it instead asks the question "Exactly why did that happen?" It's kind of like how often you'll see the results of the "murder" early on in a story, but won't see how the murder happened until much later. Except this takes that idea to a more varied and detailed level. Or at least that seems to be the case here.

[Westlo]

So I take it you dropped Prism Ark after a single episode? All I can say to that is that means by default you're smarter than me. It took me two episodes to realize I should drop it. Thankfully though Baccano! turned out to be a surprisingly nice series.

I was initially going to watch the second episode but it took so long in coming out I said fuck it.

Oh god, three new people watching Touka Gettan, I am in my happy place! I don't know if all three of you will keep watching it, but for now... <3

I've only downloaded the first 2 episodes and I've already reached my download limit for my current monthly period. So until the 15th I won't be able to join in on any eps past 2 (which I'll watch soon). The only thing I'm going to download at this horrendous speed is MY 13, EF 13 and Wolf & Spices 1.

[Suwako Moriya]

I was initially going to watch the second episode but it took so long in coming out I said fuck it.

Ah well what matters is you're not wasting any more time on Prism Ark. Besides such time is better spent watching more of Touka Gettan as soon as you can. As of episode 05, I can say the show remains quite interesting. I won't say more than that.

I will freely admit I watched the first two episodes of Prism Ark in a form that requires dealing with a language barrier. However it should also be noted I am able to enjoy multiple series in that form. So the fact Prism Ark convinced me to drop it instead of convincing me to rewatch each episode when the time came is the fault of Prism Ark and not the way I watched it.

Still since this is a Touka Gettan thread and for the sake of being more on topic. Let's pretend I spend several hours posting about how I love Makoto. Yeah just imagine what that would be like.

[HitokiriShadow]

Er, is that Momoka? I didn't realize she was that healthy...no, I think that's Juna.

Yay, more nekkidness. The staff for this series really love me.

Yeah, that's Juna. Wow, she really is hot, you couldn't really tell before since she was always so dressed up. She's kinda cute too. Before she was always more sultry than cute.

Yay, Mako-chan! She's all happy that she gets selected to be the 'partner' for the concert, Shouko is so proud... and Momoka spies a chance to grab some grub.

Oh god Yumiko is hot. Even when you can't see most of her body. But her voice lets you know. God that voice is perfect for her, its cute and innocent yet sexy as hell.

And Nene can change one kind of food into another kind. I'm sure her powers are far more versatile (and combat useful) than that, but that's what she seems to be able to do for now.

I love chibi-Momoka. Watermelon a'splodes, Momoka wants to get paid for it (but it was Nene's...)

And Kekeke-kun is back. At least we know he gets is head split open later on.

Once again, Makoto shows her awesomeness. She knows damn well what 'something' Touka is implying but she wants him to say it. Striped pantsu!

And Momoka is quite the glutton. And she seems to be well aware of that. Fortunately, she's not also constantly worrying about her wait and quite calmly calls herself fat.

I love this sub group [note: sarcasm]. Somehow, they miss entire lines of dialog. Then we get great enlish like "I have always alone." They sure have some great QCers. At least they haven't inserted "Fart" in there... yet.

So Juna is apparently in love with Kikyou. Awesome.

Ah, Makoto, move your leg over a bit! I can't see!

Apparently, Juna and Kikyou have such awesome sex that it can potentially cause a typhoon in New York.

Thank you, O great gust of wind, for you have blessed me greatly. I can only pray that you might embrace the Negi Springfield effect in the future, if it is thy will, o great wind of fanservice. And thank you, Momoka, for wearing such ridiculously tight bloomers on that beautiful, beautiful ass of yours.

Okay, seriously, did no capable of reading coherent english check this before sending it out?

Heh, Momoka walking past food is big news and a sign of trouble.

And Kekeke-kun arrives. At least didn't see (or hear) much of him this time.

I actually watched the 'preview' for once due to letting the ED run while I checked the forums. That is the most bizarre 'preview' I've seen in quite some time. I need to start watching these since they are so incredibly bizarre they amuse me and they don't give away jack about the episode.

[something]

::has watched from 18 to 6 tonight:: We're almost on the same ep XD

And Momoka is quite the glutton. And she seems to be well aware of that. Fortunately, she's not also constantly worrying about her wait and quite calmly calls herself fat.
Gotta love a girl who spends the entire series eating and eating and eating and eating and never once considers "dieting". Of course, she has the benefit of being as mind blowingly sexy as the character designers want her to be, but whatever =P It all goes to her boobs anyway.

I love this sub group [note: sarcasm]. Somehow, they miss entire lines of dialog. Then we get great enlish like "I have always alone." They sure have some great QCers. At least they haven't inserted "Fart" in there... yet.
They do one thing like that that comes to mind, but it's not quite as stupid. But the awkward wording and painfully obvious trans notes don't stop. :sd: My biggest issue is just when the mix names up but it doesn't happen too much, and who they really mean is usually obvious. Still... I can't really complain. If not for them, I'd never have seen this show because nobody else showed the slightest interest in doing it.

I actually watched the 'preview' for once due to letting the ED run while I checked the forums. That is the most bizarre 'preview' I've seen in quite some time. I need to start watching these since they are so incredibly bizarre they amuse me and they don't give away jack about the episode.
Yeah, I should have mentioned that since you said you don't watch preiews. You can watch all the Touka Gettan ones, they're safe. Hell, I basically said what each one is when I did my posts :sd:

Lots of other stuff I don't want to comment on yet, other than to say yeah, damn straight this show is hot. As I've said before, it's in that triumvirate of surreal eroticism with Melody of Oblivion and Yami to Boushi to Hon no Tabibito. Touka Gettan is somewhat front loaded with the fanservice (in a good sense), I feel, but it certainly never stops.

[HitokiriShadow]

I actually watched the 'preview' for once due to letting the ED run while I checked the forums. That is the most bizarre 'preview' I've seen in quite some time. I need to start watching these since they are so incredibly bizarre they amuse me and they don't give away jack about the episode.
Yeah, I should have mentioned that since you said you don't watch preiews. You can watch all the Touka Gettan ones, they're safe. Hell, I basically said what each one is when I did my posts :sd:


I noticed in your episode 5 post (incidentally, the episode where I finally saw it) but I guess I just missed in the previous posts.

[HitokiriShadow]

*boing* I'm not sure what she actually said, but I heard "desu" and no "gomen" or "Sumemasen" (or whatever the heck it is), so I'm pretty sure whatever she said doesn't translate to "sorry".

Yay, triplets! And they can turn their fans into harps, apparently. And make tea appear out of nowhere.

Shouko is nuts.

Koucho-sama get the daily report. It's, uh, interesting and bizarre. They are perfectly okay with all sorts of supposedly "bad" news. Those three amuse me greatly. They appear to be part of something called Ninomiya.

Yay, more Makoto is always a good thing. She cheerfully delivers Shouko's "present."

Shouko is presented with the same 'new creation' the triplets were shown. She approves it for something called the Lotus Association for which she appears to be the leader.

It was sort of implied before, but this episode gives further evidence: Shouko seems to have the hots for Makoto. Shouko, you have great taste in women. Alas, Makoto has equally great taste in women and sadly it isn't you. Clearly, you need to convince Makoto that a threeway is in order.

I never knew cooking could be so magically explosive.

Shouko knows exactly how to girls should have their faces cleaned.

Momoka has a food radar.

Ah, its the scythe girl again. She's currently stuck as Kouchou-sama's plaything. I can't find it my heart to feel sorry for her.

Oh god Yumiko is hot. And its her turn to get nekkid. Hell yes.

And Kouchou-sama toy with Momoka. It seems Momoka isn't the brightest bulb in the box as she tries to capture the moon's reflection.

Er, uh, Kikyou is... very into her food. And is it just me or where those mushrooms very, uh, phallic? ... No, that was definitely intentional. And autumn thing makes no sense whatsoever. Cue random singing. And crying.

Really, Ninomiya should have been disqualified for using foreign ingredients for Japanese confections, but Kikyou lets them win as some sort of kindness due to their limited remaining time. Then we get more seriousness and Fuu appears.

Also, Shouko... has issues. Car and anger management issues. I guess she's still angry she didn't make it into Revolutionary Girl Utena.

What I really liked about this episode is that it finally shows us the characters when they (mostly) don't have to be serious and depressed about their inevitable fate. They are just having fun and its a fairly typical day.

Edit: On another note, I really wish people would learn how to post. I don't use threaded but I can still respond to the correct posts and make it clear what episode I'm talking about. Apparently this is too difficult a concept for some people and they ruin surprised as a result. At least this wasn't anything plot related.

[something]

And now we've passed each other. I just finished 5, you finished 6.

*boing* I'm not sure what she actually said, but I heard "desu" and no "gomen" or "Sumemasen" (or whatever the heck it is), so I'm pretty sure whatever she said doesn't translate to "sorry".
It's arguable that she sort of slurred out a "gomen desu". At the very least, it's pronounced so unclearly that anything is possible :sd:

Shouko is nuts.
Never change, Shouko, never change. Fucking lunatic.

Koucho-sama get the daily report. It's, uh, interesting and bizarre. They are perfectly okay with all sorts of supposedly "bad" news. Those three amuse me greatly. They appear to be part of something called Ninomiya.
I think this is just a translation choice, they left it as Ninomiya but it just means "Second Shrine". Since it comes up so much, leaving it Ninomiya is for the best though a note the first time would have been good if they didn't do one.

Er, uh, Kikyou is... very into her food. And is it just me or where those mushrooms very, uh, phallic? ... No, that was definitely intentional. And autumn thing makes no sense whatsoever. Cue random singing. And crying.
Yakitate Japan parody ftw.

Also, Shouko... has issues. Car and anger management issues. I guess she's still angry she didn't make it into Revolutionary Girl Utena.
Haha, yes, exactly. She goes through cars more often than underwear, and while the only Utena I've seen is the movie, I still got a massive Utena vibe every time she'd go driving around.

Edit: On another note, I really wish people would learn how to post. I don't use threaded but I can still respond to the correct posts and make it clear what episode I'm talking about. Apparently this is too difficult a concept for some people and they ruin surprised as a result. At least this wasn't anything plot related.
This is why, even if I ever used flat, I'd want to switch to threaded for discussion threads. I actually... REALLY recommend you do so for something that'll be coming up in your next day or two of watching, depending what rate at which you watch. It's the kind of thing your eyes will see in the post and just register immediately even if you don't read the post, and it'll spoil a delightful little surprise. I know it happened to me on my initial viewing. And while I don't like calling people out by name, pretty much everything posted by Speedy Boris from 7 or 9 or whatever on out was made shortly before my long posts, but was a reply to the most recent post - usually my post about the previous episode. Just keep that in mind while you read later on in the thread.

[Speedy Boris]

And while I don't like calling people out by name, pretty much everything posted by Speedy Boris from 7 or 9 or whatever on out was made shortly before my long posts, but was a reply to the most recent post - usually my post about the previous episode. Just keep that in mind while you read later on in the thread. Yeah sorry, I'm not used to this type of message board layout. I think I'm a little more conscious of this kind of thing now. I hope. :sd:

Anyway, all this re-ignited talk about the show makes me want it licensed so much more. It's definitely a niche show, so maybe Media Blasters? I dunno.

[something]

Anyway, all this re-ignited talk about the show makes me want it licensed so much more. It's definitely a niche show, so maybe Media Blasters? I dunno.
Yesss... honestly, they're the only remotely viable option, the way I see it. Either MB licenses this and YamiBou, or we probably never see them. I really hope they're dirt cheap licenses (and really, why wouldn't they be, relatively speaking?)

[something]

Note: I originally posted this a few days ago. Then last night, as I typed a post while 95% braindead and asleep, instead of making a new post I edited this one, deleted it, and typed over it o_O I thought it was gone BUT just noticed I had it open in another tab, so I'm reposting it and the 18-4 post.


---------

Again, spoiler-free post.

Episodes 23-19:

Time to find out! ::continues 24::

Down to and just finished the very interesting and clever 19, and its utterly beautiful ending. Simply wonderful. 19, like 25, seems a bit strange when watching from 26 to 1. Strange, but powerful, disturbing, and beautiful nonetheless. The background music in this show is beyond stellar, particularly with the slower pieces. The one used at the end here in particular just gives me chills.

The rewatch is going really well so far. Now, I can't say I've picked up any dramatic new insights yet. I mean, I *did* pretty thoroughly analyze it the first time through, spending probably an average of 2.5 hours per episode what with watching, rewatching and posting each time. So I'd like to think I didn't miss very much. But since this is the second time around things that took hours to work out before are coming back to me much more quickly. And you can never have too many viewings of the episodes where they give the backstory... it's so damn complex, there's always room for straightening it out in my mind a little more. I will say that my one major concern from the initial viewing wasn't really dealt with any better when viewed in reverse, so I'm willing to admit that no show is perfect. But I am gravitating a little more towards one of the possible explanations I mentioned before, and it's all not a big deal in the end anyway.

It's tempting to call it a night right here, given what a fantastic stopping point this is, but I really want to watch another. I'm determined to go into work tomorrow [Note: at the time this meant Monday] as tired and braindead as possible. >_> If it's all just a big mental blur, I can pretend that this was a 4 day weekend since I have Tuesday off... I know there are a few episodes coming up that might not be all that great to rewatch, but there's only one I plan on skipping (or probably just skimming through).

Really, this show desperately needs to get licensed. It's just drop dead gorgeous at times - or rather I can tell that it would be, with a proper encode and better video source materials. There are episodes where the quality drops from the perspective of design consistency, which encode quality can't help, but they're rare and the majority is really beautiful. And who knows, maybe a couple of those scenes got touched up for the DVDs. Oh, also, I adore the school uniforms.

Hugely enjoying this rewatch, and almost want to stay up all night, if only I thought I could make it through the day...

[something]

Note: Okay! Finally, I'm getting this post in, and without eating my other post. This was typed up last night but I didn't get to submitting it, because I fell asleep.

----------------------

Again, spoiler-free post.

Episodes 18-04:

I'm absolutely exhausted and only got 2.5 hours sleep last night as it is and my brain is mush but I wanted to post at least a short update.

So, today (edit: well, yesterday now) I watched 16 episodes of Touka Gettan. And I *wanted* to finish it, but I was already braindead enough during 4 (a shame, that's one I was most looking forward to revisiting) so I don't want 3-1 to be a wash.

Basically, I watched the entire middle chunk of the show plus a few episodes of the initial arc (the story's ending, though this show doesn't really have arcs) and its immediate causes. It's interesting in that there's a lot there that's self contained on an episode by episode basis, but the common threads still continue on, keeping it from becoming terribly episodic.

One nice surprise was that while I swore I remembered the actual consistency of the animation going down a little, on the rewatch I haven't really noticed anything like that. It's staying really good most of the time. And I still really want to see a DVD version of this.

While a lot rides on how the ending (eps 3-1) feels, I can say with confidence that watching it 26 to 1 as a rewatch is pretty satisfying. There are some issues, of course. 19 and 25, both very important, completely don't flow right this way. Also, interestingly enough there are a number of characters who in 1-26 order start out a bit more mysteriously, and you gradually learn about them as the story moves backwards towards 26, rather than forwards towards the "ending" at 1. You were just meant to notice them in 1-26 order, to wonder who they are, and then find out. There's also the way flashbacks were handled. And finally, the last episodes (24-26 and such) loose a little bit of impact when you've got 23 more to watch after them. And most fundamental of all... you aren't really piecing the show together in 26-1 order, you're doing a more passive "viewing". Piecing the show together was the best part. You can't just take that away from your first viewing and hope to have the same show. Okay on a rewatch though, because you're using it to clear the picture even more in your head.

But I'm almost done and will be completely done today, and it all makes me love this show all over again. I'd bump it up even higher in my list of best 2007 shows if the shows above it weren't so incredible. Come on, Media Blasters~-

[HitokiriShadow]

Thanks for the warning. I'll do that. I just really, really hate that fusion would allow flat users to switch to threaded easily like it apparently does the opposite for threaded viewers. There have been a few cases before, usually when raw viewers are several episodes ahead of subbed viewers, (like the StrikerS thread) where I wanted to switch just for that thread and then switch back, but its such a pain to do it that I usually don't bother.

[something]

Thanks for the warning. I'll do that. I just really, really hate that fusion would allow flat users to switch to threaded easily like it apparently does the opposite for threaded viewers. There have been a few cases before, usually when raw viewers are several episodes ahead of subbed viewers, (like the StrikerS thread) where I wanted to switch just for that thread and then switch back, but its such a pain to do it that I usually don't bother.
If you go into your options and make threaded your default, the option will be enabled. Then simply go into a thread and switch to flat, and it'll stick to flat until you feel like changing. Then you can change at will.

[something]

For the last time, following is spoiler-free.

Episodes 04-01:

And I'm done! I watched 4 again since I wasn't really awake when I did so last night.

These episodes bring everything to a close, in this order anyway, and it's done very nicely. Still, even though episode 1 is a more traditional ending than 26 (with the show going backwards that should be obvious), it doesn't quite pack the same punch because even as the show's coming to a close, it still feels like they're explaining things. One flashback in particular is particularly out of place in this order, but is important as early hint-dropping if you're watching the original order, 1-26.

But the visuals are there (some of the best), the music is there, and the character dynamics are there. It's just a very different feeling having already watched everything that led to this (twice now) *before* seeing it.

I already said most of what I'd normally say here in the 10-04 post, and it still stands. 26-1 is good for a rewatch, maybe even better than I expected, when you can focus on further clarifying difficult portions of the story instead of trying to make it your first exposure to the show. Just don't try and watch it that way the first time around.

[HitokiriShadow]

Episode 7

So it looks like this episode will show us how Juna left Yumiko's body.

So Momoka being Sei and Yumiko being possessed by Juna are only becoming known to Touka this late in the series? I thought that would be something that he would have known about for a while. I'm guessing he's late to the part and others, like Kikyou and the Kouchou have known about it for a while.

Blonde scythe girl is a nurse-nya.

Makoto sure likes speaking in Italian at random.

Momoka's ear is glowing for some reason.

And suddenly, the bruises on Momoka's throat are gone.

Oh god Yumiko is hot. They sure know what camera angles to use.

Kouchou-sama sure know how to handle a crisis.

Another little girl. She doesn't seem to be the same one we've been seeing before. I guess its supposed to be a young version of Juna. I'm not sure what to make of this scene but it clearly has something to do with Juna returning to her real/other body and leaving Yumiko.

Yay, yuri! And a very erotic kiss.


Episode 8

Ah, Momoka is so cute. And she's providing me with many great facial expressions and screen caps.

Yumiko has the sexiest sweater ever.

YES. That's right Touka, listen to Mama and all of you sleep together. ... OH FUCK YES. Yumiko is the best Mama ever.

Shouko is fucking insane. But Koucho barely even notice as she nearly removes their heads with her bumper.

I guess the goosebumps thing was supposed to be some kind of pun?

Ahahahaah. "ohohohoho- *splat, splat, spat*"

Oh god Yumiko is hot. The creator's of this show really, really love us. Yum, zettai ryouki.

"Yumiko is suitable for Touka-chan, Touka-chan is suitable for Yumiko~" :noodle:

Ah, they finally show us that dude with the rock in his eye again. And more hints on the Yumiko/Yuriko. Maybe it's Yuriko's body but Yumiko's mind or vice versa? I don't know, that hint ins't much to work wiht. But more importantly, twirling Yumiko!

Makoto is getting all fired up! And taking Momoka's virginity. ... Damn you, Touka! That's right Momoka, you give your virginity to Mako-chan.

Mmmm, delicious thighs.

Makoto's hair just sprouted flowers. 0_0 But this explains why her hair was funky two episodes ago.

Yep, Shouko is totally hot for Makoto.

I finally got some good screen caps of Makoto in this episode.

[HitokiriShadow]

Apparently Touka is quite respected and well liked in the school. We've gotten hints of that before but it becomes pretty apparent here that he's a campus prince.

That is a really long scarf.

I like Kouchou's use for the scarf better than Momoka's delusions.

No, Yumiko, don't put the clothes on! Unless they are somehow sexier than what you usually wear, but if they are supposed to keep you warm, that's going to be nearly impossible. ... Hmmm, I guess Santa Yumiko is okay. But we don't get to see it yet.

It looks like Haruhiko actually is pretty popular and is somewhat justified for being so full of himself. But that doesn't mean Momoka can't steal his food! No matter the rush, Momoka doesn't miss a chance to grab the goods.

.... and she even eats a cake right out of Makoto's hand. Poor Makoto. But Kikyou will make everything better... aw, what a tease!

Shouko has a green car for a change. It looks like Shouko's subordinates are used to this. They have a helmet ready and manage to stay in the car. ... Shouko's car can fly....

Oh god Yumiko-Santa-san is hot. Looks like Kiyoharujust wanted to see Santa Yum/riko and the "keeping warm" thing was just a ruse. She has a hat now, but she's wearing even less on her legs. And we get another partial view of her lovely rear.

Now Shouko's car is yellow. Or maybe it was just the light (or lack thereof) before that made it look green. The subordinates have managed to hang in there.

Ahahah, the license plate says "LOVE MAKO." With a heart making the hole in the "O". I love Shouko, you little psychopathic nut case. Car goes BOOM!

"This is bad." "This is a pinch." *calmly watches and does nothing while watching 500 foot tall tree topple*

Now Makoto is randomly speaking German. Kikyou doesn't seem too concerned either.

... and all it causes is a power outage and a tiny shockwave.

Yes, editor, I can figure that much out for myself, I'm not stupid, thankyouverymuch.

... that was the dumbest translation note ever. YES, you need to translate something when people are talking, no matter how mundane or obvious it may be to those of us who watch a lot of anime in Japanese.

So Touka gets a sock instead. Sock. Singular. Oh well, I guess that means Mama can make the other one.

[something]

Episode 7
Kouchou-sama sure know how to handle a crisis.
I like how they choose the "stand around and poke the catgirl-type-thing" option.

Also, about this ep, I love when Juna/Yumiko casts DIABOLIC EMISSION. XD Heh, reading your comments I almost didn't realize this was the ep with the big clash between Juna/Yumiko and Touka/Kikyou/Makoto. Gotta love Makoto and her dragon. Her role in the show is just unexpectedly major, so she's not just adorable as all hell, she's really, really important too.

Episode 8
Ah, Momoka is so cute. And she's providing me with many great facial expressions and screen caps.
And I love her voice too. All her "Hi-DOI!" and "Su-GOI!" exclamations always made me so happy.

YES. That's right Touka, listen to Mama and all of you sleep together. ... OH FUCK YES. Yumiko is the best Mama ever.
"It's like I'm being fondled by Touka-chan!" I think the best part of it all is how Touka sits there with Yumiko afterwards like nothing really happened.

Shouko is fucking insane. But Koucho barely even notice as she nearly removes their heads with her bumper.
I guess the goosebumps thing was supposed to be some kind of pun?
Yeah, I'm not sure what the joke was. Something about being used to the cold, because they're demons that... give people the chills/goosebumps? I really have no idea.

Makoto is getting all fired up! And taking Momoka's virginity. ... Damn you, Touka! That's right Momoka, you give your virginity to Mako-chan.
The way she just yells it out cracked me up. "It hurts to lose your virginity!"

[something]

I like Kouchou's use for the scarf better than Momoka's delusions.
Yeah, but they make poor Momoka sad in the process =( Momoka!! Don't cry. Watching her finally give up and start knitting furiously through tears at the end was so cute. I'm glad she managed to get him something in the end, and that he returned the sentiment.

It looks like Haruhiko actually is pretty popular and is somewhat justified for being so full of himself.
He's an interesting one... on the one hand everyone seems to treat him like he's not there, but then on the other hand most of the female population of the school wants in his pants.

But Kikyou will make everything better... aw, what a tease!
Face... so... so close. So very close yet so far. Oh well, we already know by this point that Kikyou is taken.

Shouko has a green car for a change. It looks like Shouko's subordinates are used to this. They have a helmet ready and manage to stay in the car. ... Shouko's car can fly....
Now Shouko's car is yellow. Or maybe it was just the light (or lack thereof) before that made it look green. The subordinates have managed to hang in there.
Ahahah, the license plate says "LOVE MAKO." With a heart making the hole in the "O". I love Shouko, you little psychopathic nut case. Car goes BOOM!
"This is bad." "This is a pinch." *calmly watches and does nothing while watching 500 foot tall tree topple*
Aside from the intense Momoka cuteness, the utter Shouko insanity is what makes this one of the best Christmas episodes ever. From the moment she drives out the windfow until the car explodes and the tree starts to fall... haha, so fucking over the top. Just like Shouko. Rokujou Shoujo-sama <3

Yes, editor, I can figure that much out for myself, I'm not stupid, thankyouverymuch.
Wait, you didn't think she was asking to become a magical girl? XD Yeah, this ep is the worst in that regard but there are some real... some real brain killing notes in this translation :sd:

[HitokiriShadow]

Yes, editor, I can figure that much out for myself, I'm not stupid, thankyouverymuch.
Wait, you didn't think she was asking to become a magical girl? XD Yeah, this ep is the worst in that regard but there are some real... some real brain killing notes in this translation :sd:

You know, I think that scene would be the perfect basis for a Mahou Shoujo Yumiko-chan spin-off. Fighting evil with her magic sweater by day, molesting girls (and sometimes boys too) by night.

As for the TL-notes... I was expecting as much after seeing who was translating this. Some of the TL-notes are actually useful (like letting us know what Mako-chan is saying) and only one or two of them (so far) have been *facepalm* inducing like that one. And they haven't resorted to fart jokes quite yet. I've been more concerned with their poor English and skipping entire lines of dialogue.

[something]

I've been more concerned with their poor English and skipping entire lines of dialogue.
Yeah. I can say though, having watched through it twice now, I don't think the mistakes/awkwardness ever result in the viewer missing an important point. That Juna/Junior thing in ep 1 is about as close as I remember it getting, and what was meant becomes obvious soon after anyway.

[roastedpekingduck]

Well, since Westlo started watching the show, I figured I should give Touka Gettan another shot. While I still can't exactly say I'm enjoying watching it (will not know that until I finish more of the series), I've liked the first three episodes more than I did last time, now that the wonderful soundtrack is more apparent along with the exquisite animation. I guess I've mellowed out after college apps, since while I quickly cut the show during summer, I'm now willing to keep on slugging forward. I'll probably try to continue watching the show after I finish up watching Honey & Clover.

[something]

Well, since Westlo started watching the show, I figured I should give Touka Gettan another shot. While I still can't exactly say I'm enjoying watching it (will not know that until I finish more of the series), I've liked the first three episodes more than I did last time, now that the wonderful soundtrack is more apparent along with the exquisite animation.
Just think of all the time you can spend analyzing every little detail to link the plot together, then you can consider it one of those "thinkin' anime" that tend to be right up your alley =P

Ungodly hot ass shots can just be a bonus you take or leave.

[roastedpekingduck]

Well, since Westlo started watching the show, I figured I should give Touka Gettan another shot. While I still can't exactly say I'm enjoying watching it (will not know that until I finish more of the series), I've liked the first three episodes more than I did last time, now that the wonderful soundtrack is more apparent along with the exquisite animation.
Just think of all the time you can spend analyzing every little detail to link the plot together, then you can consider it one of those "thinkin' anime" that tend to be right up your alley =P

Ungodly hot ass shots can just be a bonus you take or leave.
Admittedly, my brain is so fried that I haven't been doing much thought processing. The first time I was watching this show, I was thinking, "THE EROTICISM IS HERESY! INCEST IS BLASPHEMY!", but this time around, I'm thinking, "Well, tits aren't the worst thing in the world...and incest? I guess one could do something worse than that."

[Suwako Moriya]

I suppose the whole episode could be summed up as Kouchou having fun messing with people while Kikyou continues to show more concern for where things will be going in the near future, which we've already seen.

On that note, I'll say this episode ended up making me love the Kouchou aka Sexy Butterfly Triplets even more. Plus we got a bit of Makoto goodness, Shouko goodness, etc.

[Suwako Moriya]

Yesss... honestly, they're the only remotely viable option, the way I see it. Either MB licenses this and YamiBou, or we probably never see them. I really hope they're dirt cheap licenses (and really, why wouldn't they be, relatively speaking?)

Still the longer a given series goes without being announced the less confidence I'd have even in terms of a company like Mediablasters. Then again one could argue being older means a chance for the licensing cost to drop a bit. Either way it would be nice if MB could pick up Touka Gettan. Granted I have yet to watch YamiBou, but they may as well pick that up too.

[HitokiriShadow]

So it would seem the scythe girl is some sort of vampire. Or maybe she just likes sucking chickens dry for the hell of it.

It looks like some plan to retrieve the stone sword failed. It sounds like it was an epic failure. I can't wait to see it.

Some hot girl beat the shit out of some ninja dudes. Maybe she's the scythe girl's sister and the ninja dudes are members of the Lotus Association or something? Neither this girl (unless its the scythe girl in another form but that seems unlikely) nor the ninjas appear after this so it's hard to say.

Now some other girl we haven't seen. She probably has the hots for someone, but is it Touka or Momoka? Probably Touka since he was already at that location and there is already someone else that wants to get in Momoka's skirt.

And her name is Yuriko. I wonder if that's just a coincidence (I'm guessing no). ... Given how much Makoto is hesitating, there is probably more to her than what we've seen. We know there is a dragon inside of her but we don't know what that entails. Perhaps her situation is as complicated as Momoka and Yumiko's. ... Well that's an interesting line of logic but for the question I guess its appropriate.

Don't look so down, whatsyername, there is always room for a threesome. Or foursome. Or however many people you want to include in your little orgy.

Momoka's has magical disappearing panties. ... and Momoka seems to be getting wet (and I don't mean from the rain)? 0_0

More random Italian from Makoto and this time, if the TL-note is correct, it doesn't make any sense whatsoever.

Oh god Yumiko is hot. And her hair has a life of its own, it seems.

Ah, so the girl from earlier has something to do with Nene. So now maybe we'll finally get an idea of what Nene's role is because up until now, she's been an enigma.

Yuriko looks drugged. And she's a "virgin human eater." Well that's... interesting. I do hope she likes to play with her food before she eats... and it seems like she does. Yay!

When Nene asked if Yumiko liked traps, am I the only one that wondered if Nene had trained at the Sanezins (or however the hell you spell it) under Maria and Nagi and wanted to make a Nekomimi Touka?

In any case, Yumiko loves traps. She is quite enthusiastic about digging a hole in her room to make one. And she somehow digs one in seconds with an imaginary shovel (I guess she has powers too?). This is apparently perfectly normal to Nene, Touka, and Momoka. Uh, okay. Touka isn't thrilled about going, but Momoka seems to the adventurous type.

Yuriko enjoyed her meal and mystery girl doesn't look too well. She's probably dead or at least she should be. I guess now we'll see if this show has a probably with offing innocent(?) people or if they get free passes.

Momoka's hair seems to be doing something similar to what Yumiko's did before. Looks like it might be a sign of Sei's powers (and Juna's, in Yumiko's case) taking hold in response to the presence of enemies. ... yep, it is.

Okay, she's not dead after all.

And Koucho-sama find a new toy. "Ero desu wa!"

The mystery girl is named Shirakawa and Haruhiko seems to know her. Something isn't right... she's become a vampire.

It looks like Momoka knows the girl (Asuna) too. She needs to be taken to "Mother" Yukihime. And Kaya is the one that's going to take her to her. Well that explains why we don't see them later.

And the costume play begins. I love Kouchou-sama.

So in the end, we still no fuck all about Nene. She has powers, but it would have been surprising if she didn' have any. We now know she has a hot subordinate who probably has more than sisterly feelings towards her. And they know someone Nene calls "mother" (and is also known as Yukihime) but we don't really know what their relationship is with this "mother". That's it.

Oh well, I wasn't expecting major revelations at this point anyway.

[HitokiriShadow]

Looks like some males are going to get a bit of a role for a change, though probably only for laughs and a side show. ... and unsurprisingly, at least one of them seems to be gay. I don't really care for them, but they get to be new toys for Kouchou-sama, so they should help Kouchou amuse me and thus serve their purpose.

For once, Shouko is wearing something different and did her hair differently. I like her normal look better.

Momoka has her priorities straight and heads straight for the food. Then she conscripts Touka into helping her hit all the food stands.

This seems to double as a date for Momoka, but Touka doesn't see it that way. "Sausage... attack!" I love Momoka's face after she finishes but the video quality is too crummy to make a decent avatar out of it. Despite Makoto's apparent desire to bed Momoka, she seems pretty supportive of Momoka and Touka as a couple.

The school's idol contest included a swimsuit competition. Some girl that hasn't been shown before wins. I wonder if she plays a role in the later episodes? The scene seems pretty random and just fanservice otherwise, but fanservice that would have been served being used on a character we already know.

Oh god Yumiko is hot. Apparently all of the boys serving the drinks as well as all the other males in the vicinity are gay, because their should be about a dozen of them begging to buy her drinks or serve them to her. Or better yet, there should be a dozen cute lesbian girls doing the same.

Teppei tries to be cool for Yumiko... after he had to be told to sit next to her instead of his lover sempai. Then he gets jealous that Yumiko and Eiji are all over each other. And he's probably jealous of Yumiko rather than Eiji. Stupid little boy.

Good job, Nene. And she definitely trained under Maria.

Ooookay, Shouko is talking really weird. Ahaha, Shouko asked Mako-chan to help, but its looking like its just an excuse to get fresh with her. Yep, it is.

And now Asuna is apparently modeling for the Kouchou. .... oh my. Thank you Kouchou-sama!

Momoka is yaoi fan.

And the next guest is.... Kiyoharu (I think that was his name) in a giant dog costume. Talk about random.

"Sempai, look only a-" *fist meets face* *claps*

Touka just insinuated that Momoka was heavy (and thus, fat) and... she didn't react. I love this girl.

"We just need you to expose yourself to us." I'd prefer they said this to Momoka or Makoto, but <3 Kouchou anyway. ... and out comes the bondage gear. Eiji and Teppei attack!

And we end with the girl who one the beauty pageant on Shouko's show. She's too well designed to be a random character and she's got those two... things... with her. She'll definitely be showing up again later, er, earlier.

And this preview is a bit different. Rather than repeating the same thing three times, each line is different this time.

- The 15th Miss Touka Academy! Is... Yumiko! XD Wahahaha, she slipped out and joined the festival beauty contest.

I'm sure you've figured it out by now since you've seen the whole thing and rewatched it chronologically, but that wasn't Yumiko.

[something]

Looks like some males are going to get a bit of a role for a change, though probably only for laughs and a side show. ... and unsurprisingly, at least one of them seems to be gay. I don't really care for them, but they get to be new toys for Kouchou-sama, so they should help Kouchou amuse me and thus serve their purpose.
Ahhaha, those two were awesome. Especially the older one with all his absurd bishie poses. Even better when he's seducing Yumiko and the little one gets jealous.

Despite Makoto's apparent desire to bed Momoka, she seems pretty supportive of Momoka and Touka as a couple.
::sniffles:: So selfless... but making us so sad in the process =P Ah well, if there's any hetero couple I completely approve of, it's Momoka and Touka.

Good job, Nene. And she definitely trained under Maria.
I'm just wondering what a household would be like if she and Wilhelmina got together.

Momoka is yaoi fan.
I guess I can add the Kochou to my list of cute females drawing naughty doujins.

Touka just insinuated that Momoka was heavy (and thus, fat) and... she didn't react. I love this girl.
Momoka is, like, the ultimate healthy girl. In so many ways.

And we end with the girl who one the beauty pageant on Shouko's show. She's too well designed to be a random character and she's got those two... things... with her. She'll definitely be showing up again later, er, earlier.
Wahaha I wish I could watch this show for the first time again.

[HitokiriShadow]

And we end with the girl who one the beauty pageant on Shouko's show. She's too well designed to be a random character and she's got those two... things... with her. She'll definitely be showing up again later, er, earlier.
Wahaha I wish I could watch this show for the first time again.

Sometimes I really wish it was possible to selectively delete portions of one's memories for precisely that reason.

[something]

Oops, responded to 11 before 10.

Momoka's has magical disappearing panties. ... and Momoka seems to be getting wet (and I don't mean from the rain)? 0_0
Twice through and I'm still not 100% sure what that was about.

I do hope she likes to play with her food before she eats... and it seems like she does. Yay!
Pure and utter fanservice, but so very appropriate to the show. They can toss hot licking and groping into a scene where you'd never anticipate it, and yet after you see it, you're like, "Well of COURSE she stuck her hand up her skirt before sucking her blood. I mean, duh." It's... just normal.

It looks like Momoka knows the girl (Asuna) too. She needs to be taken to "Mother" Yukihime. And Kaya is the one that's going to take her to her. Well that explains why we don't see them later.
There's something oddly satisfying about meeting and saying goodbye to a character in the span of one episode, but knowing full well they'll probably be "back" in the next few episodes. Except, not back... they'll be front? =P

Oh well, I wasn't expecting major revelations at this point anyway.
Touka Gettan (usually) isn't big on major revelations anyway, especially since you start off by seeing the tail end of events. You get the results, and then pieces of causation, and then sort of reveal it to yourself by thinking about it and posting about it. I love it <3

[something]

Sometimes I really wish it was possible to selectively delete portions of one's memories for precisely that reason.
On the other hand, if that were possible, I would have starved to death at my computer more than a year ago, wasted away to skin and bones watching Haruhi ep 12 thousands upon thousands of times.

[Suwako Moriya]

Episode 7
So Momoka being Sei and Yumiko being possessed by Juna are only becoming known to Touka this late in the series? I thought that would be something that he would have known about for a while.

Well it seems quite common for a character to not find out the truth until late in the story. Still consider it this way. Episode 7 of Touka Gettan would equal Episode 20 if this aired in chronological order. Which I guess is later than some series, but it's also earlier than some others.

Blonde scythe girl is a nurse-nya.

I get this feeling they're going to be dressing her up quite a bit in this series.

Kouchou-sama sure know how to handle a crisis.

Heh I doubt Demon Scythe Cat-girl approves of their methods, but I'm certainly not going to complain. Those three are awesome.

Episode 8
Ah, Momoka is so cute. And she's providing me with many great facial expressions and screen caps.

That's a fact that can't be denied. Momoka is quite cute and pretty too. Haven't gotten around to do any screen capping. Used to quite a bit in the past, but eventually became lazy about it.

YES. That's right Touka, listen to Mama and all of you sleep together. ... OH FUCK YES. Yumiko is the best Mama ever.

The more I see of scenes like that the harder it becomes for me to believe they are actually happening. Must be a product of what I've been watching in the past. Still Yumiko is one of the more interesting Mamas. She has more than just the body going for her.

Makoto's hair just sprouted flowers. 0_0 But this explains why her hair was funky two episodes ago.

So a cool Dragon in episode 07 and pretty flowers in episode 08? Yeah Makoto has the bases covered.

Yep, Shouko is totally hot for Makoto.

Heh the only question is this. If the two ever get together will Shouko keep the glasses on or take them off? Not sure why I'm asking that.

In any case I find it interesting that the show seems to switch from "serious" to "fun" quite a bit even at this stage of the story. When your average series would often be 95% dead serious at this stage of the series. It's like they're trying to mix up the elements a bit more. Then again maybe I'm reading the episodes wrong.

[something]

So a cool Dragon in episode 07 and pretty flowers in episode 08? Yeah Makoto has the bases covered.
Big ass dragon and flowers on her head. Makoto needs to make friends with Caro.

Heh the only question is this. If the two ever get together will Shouko keep the glasses on or take them off? Not sure why I'm asking that.
Hmm. On or off as the mood allows. Keeps the relationship exciting.

In any case I find it interesting that the show seems to switch from "serious" to "fun" quite a bit even at this stage of the story. When your average series would often be 95% dead serious at this stage of the series. It's like they're trying to mix up the elements a bit more. Then again maybe I'm reading the episodes wrong.
No, your reaction much is like mine. It's another thing it has in common with something like YamiBoushi or Melody of Oblivion. Even when things get serious, there's always plenty of time for really bizarre, and bizarrely sexy, antics. Rather than be there despite the seriousness, the in fact go hand in hand in Touka Gettan.

[Suwako Moriya]

Big ass dragon and flowers on her head. Makoto needs to make friends with Caro.

*Wonders what the two could end up teaching each other* I know I'm going to get in trouble somehow for saying that. Not sure why, but ah like I care.

Hmm. On or off as the mood allows. Keeps the relationship exciting.

Oh sure give the safe and obvious answer. Makes the question almost pointless. Ah well the key is for Shouko to win Makoto's heart in the first place.

Even when things get serious, there's always plenty of time for really bizarre, and bizarrely sexy, antics. Rather than be there despite the seriousness, the in fact go hand in hand in Touka Gettan.

Which can certainly be an interesting change of pace. So far it works and only by watching more of time will I be able to find out if it continues to work. Work for me that is.

[HitokiriShadow]

Episode 8
Ah, Momoka is so cute. And she's providing me with many great facial expressions and screen caps.

That's a fact that can't be denied. Momoka is quite cute and pretty too. Haven't gotten around to do any screen capping. Used to quite a bit in the past, but eventually became lazy about it.

I normally don't bother with screen capping unless I've been using an avatar for a while (or simply become dissatisfied with the one I have) and am in need of a new one. But Touka Gettan has compelled be to start screen capping anything that looks interesting and/or avatar worthy. Touka Gettan has plenty of both.

[Suwako Moriya]

I like Kouchou's use for the scarf better than Momoka's delusions.

That's because the Kouchou are wise. Hmm it will be interesting to find out what point they decided to make the Demon Scythe Cat-Girl their personal toy.

.... and she even eats a cake right out of Makoto's hand. Poor Makoto. But Kikyou will make everything better... aw, what a tease!

If only Kikyou had just gone a bit further. Still the hairpin is kind of cute on Makoto. So whatever works.

Ahahah, the license plate says "LOVE MAKO." With a heart making the hole in the "O". I love Shouko, you little psychopathic nut case. Car goes BOOM!

Such an appropriate license plate for Shouko to have. I get this feeling Shouko has gone through a lot of cars. Still what matters is she survives to continue to show us both sides to her.

"This is bad." "This is a pinch." *calmly watches and does nothing while watching 500 foot tall tree topple*

Is it bad I kept expecting someone to save the tree before it fell? Still the fact they just let it fall is part of what makes this one of the better Christmas episodes.

Now Makoto is randomly speaking German. Kikyou doesn't seem too concerned either.

Random Italian and now random German? Wonder what's next for her to speak. Maybe Makoto is the master of random foreign words?

So Touka gets a sock instead. Sock. Singular. Oh well, I guess that means Mama can make the other one.

Or maybe it's the magical sock that you use whenever you lose a sock in the dryer. Heh knowing Yumiko if she were to make a sock, she'd make sure to act like she was having sex while doing it.

[HitokiriShadow]

After Touka kills the roach and then hands it to Nene, Momoka's face looks as if she just saw him eating babies. She looks absolutely horrified.

"You shouldn't walk around naked!" "It can't be helped, right?" This is my Yumiko. And Oh God Yumiko is hot. And Naked. (Other than the Apron)

Even a little puppy can have super powers, it seems.

And once again, Momo is at the Kamiazuma (or whatever the name is) household. She does seem to be living there.

... Momoka is trying to make the dog eat its food... by seducing it? The hell? Not that I'm complaining. Her reasoning is bizarre but it results in her getting (partially) undressed, so its okay.

I wonder if this dog is going to end up being someone (like Kaya) in disguise. That would explain the powers and Kaya was wearing a collar before (er, later).

It's the Kouchou doujin circle. <3 Kouchou ... and I finally figured out the meaning behind all those printers in episode 13. a little slow on the uptake there.

Later, Yumiko says that only the title page for her book is finished. But she's clearly written a lot here. I'm guessing what she's written so far is going to get destroyed somehow (probably something involving the dog).

Mako-chan is Shouko's puppy.

Hmmm, the puppy sure is acting pretty normal and Nene doesn't seem to recognize it nor does it seem to recognize her or care about her. It's probably a normal dog after all.

They are all worried about poor Wang-chan/Nero falling and hurting himself... but why? Touka tossed it into a ravine and still teleported back into the room. It should be fine. ... Except it is apparently incapable of teleporting now for some reason.

Touka is such a tsundere.

And there goes all that writing, down the drain.

...and the puppy was just a puppy after all. And now its a dead puppy.

It's probably her abilities to make her thoughts into reality that's causing this in the first place. That definitely seems to verify some things I was guessing at in later (aka prior) episodes.

I could see that her novel was similar to what was happening between Touka and the puppy, but I didn't catch that she was making it happen. The Nero thing should have made it obvious though. But this explains that magic hole in the floor.

[something]

If only Kikyou had just gone a bit further. Still the hairpin is kind of cute on Makoto. So whatever works.
The only thing that bugs me about that is... did we see her wearing it in any of the eps before this (i.e. after she got it from Kikyou?) I probably missed it, but if not that's a shame, it'd be a nice little bit of continuity fanservice.

[HitokiriShadow]

If she was, I didn't notice. I'm going to rewatch at least some of the episodes after I finish (particularly the first three) and I'll check then. Of course this doesn't prevent anyone else from checking before then. I don't expect it to be there, though.

[HitokiriShadow]

Ooh, Shouko in something other than her school uniform. Same for Makoto. I likey.

Ah, its Asuna. Maybe we'll get to know a bit more about her this episode.

And Kikyou too! Looks like she's in a kimono. Kouchou are bound to show up sooner or later.

And Asuna is with the idol contest winner. And her things. Of which there are now three.

Asuna is standing there with everyone, right next to Kikyou. As we saw later, they certainly know her and they must be somewhat familiar with her if she's hanging out with them so she doesn't seem to be a stalker but we've yet to see them acknowledge her existence. Idol contest winner, however, does not seem to be with them.

Kikyou's talking about "trying to find our love." I'm assuming she's talking about herself and Juna.

Momoka has the ethics of a thief. A hungry thief. <3 Momoka.

Yep, there's Kouchou-sama.

Asuna may have been playing the loli, but she definitely is NOT a loli. She's a very healthy girl. Just like the entire cast other than the cat-girl virgin human eater. Oh, and the cast finally acts like she's actually there and we see them interact with her.

Ah, yes. Even Touka Gettan cannot escape the inevitable comparison of busts. ... but considering what else they've shown, I'm surprised they showed basically nothing. The breast comparison at the onsen has become a huge cliche and I would have been happy to see them skip it altogether. But they did do it and, considering what else we've gotten, it should have been the most awesome breast comparison/examination ever. But they went the typical route and it was utterly unremarkable. On the positive side, this is a very minor complaint and its about the only one I have with Touka Gettan.

At least we got a nice look at Asuna and Makoto. Even if Asuna has no nipples. Poor girl.

And we get a shot of the idol winner too.

... oh shit, Hikari was being raped. And mommy was a prostitute. Hikari dies (suicide? killed my 'new daddy'? It isn't clear and doesn't make much of a difference, really) and Yukari, despite the vague language in the diary, seems to have a pretty clear idea. She kills 'new daddy'.

... the hell? Was this all a result of Yumiko's writing? That seems to be what the end implies. *goes back to check* Yeah, I guess so. She started writing, and then suddenly we see the two girls. Then everything ends after she can't write anymore.

Furthermore, how much of this story as a whole, at least up to where June leaves Yumiko, is just Yumiko's unconscious doing? We saw it in the dog episode, we saw it in the ice skating episode, we've seen it many times. Either in her writing or just in her wishes, she's unintentionally shaping so much of what goes on in Kamitsuhara. This ability seems to leave her at the end of the story, after Juna manifests herself as a separate entity.

I've begun to wonder the same thing. ... I've also noticed the name of particular character that has not yet shown up when I was looking up voice actors before. Let's just say I'm beginning to suspect links between this and YamiBou and the nature of Yumiko's ability fits in very well with certain aspects of YamiBou. At this point, I'm going to avoid checking the VAs until said character shows up.

EDIT: Okay, I was unable to avoid seeing the first line of your next post when I was going to reply to it and it looks like my suspicion was correct. Er, time to go actually watch it.

Also, I'm assuming that the short haired "niko niko" girl who sounds like Yumiko is basically Yumiko's way of inserting herself into her stories, and is not Yumiko herself.

I hadn't considered that. However, I'm going to pay closer attention to her little friends next time. But I don't think she's Yumiko at this point. It works here since she was writing the story, but not in the festival episode, where she wasn't writing and was physically present at the festival.

[something]

Ah, the one episode I skipped like 80% of on the rewatch.

... Momoka is trying to make the dog eat its food... by seducing it? The hell? Not that I'm complaining. Her reasoning is bizarre but it results in her getting (partially) undressed, so its okay.
She looked so damn hot there, too bad she was wasting it on the dog. She's lucky it didn't sink its teeth into her delicious thighs.

Later, Yumiko says that only the title page for her book is finished. But she's clearly written a lot here. I'm guessing what she's written so far is going to get destroyed somehow (probably something involving the dog).
Do you mean a lot in general over the whole series? I think Yumiko is working on multiple manuscripts at once, or over time, because I'm not sure how much time the show covers. But as a writer she probably does some short stories and other stuff, so I can see her having finished one and barely started another as a deadline approaches.

I could see that her novel was similar to what was happening between Touka and the puppy, but I didn't catch that she was making it happen. The Nero thing should have made it obvious though. But this explains that magic hole in the floor.
Yeah, by this point I had my suspicions, but this seemed to seal it. Who does Nene go to when she needs a magical portal to the alternate reality of Kamitsumihara opened? Yumiko! Dig, dig, dig!

[something]

If she was, I didn't notice. I'm going to rewatch at least some of the episodes after I finish (particularly the first three) and I'll check then. Of course this doesn't prevent anyone else from checking before then. I don't expect it to be there, though.
Just checked her scenes in the first six eps, and nothing. If it were to be anywhere it'd be during the Joumi concert or when she's with Kikyou before, but it isn't. Ah well, can't have everything.

[Suwako Moriya]

Just checked her scenes in the first six eps, and nothing. If it were to be anywhere it'd be during the Joumi concert or when she's with Kikyou before, but it isn't. Ah well, can't have everything.

Easy answer is to assume she lost it off screen or maybe she keeps it in a special place?

[HitokiriShadow]

Later, Yumiko says that only the title page for her book is finished. But she's clearly written a lot here. I'm guessing what she's written so far is going to get destroyed somehow (probably something involving the dog).
Do you mean a lot in general over the whole series? I think Yumiko is working on multiple manuscripts at once, or over time, because I'm not sure how much time the show covers. But as a writer she probably does some short stories and other stuff, so I can see her having finished one and barely started another as a deadline approaches.

At the time, I was thinking she was working on one thing over the course of the series. But at the end, when Nene mentioned reaching the deadline, I realized that she probably is working on a lot of things. I didn't think to write that in my post though.

[something]

Easy answer is to assume she lost it off screen or maybe she keeps it in a special place?
Or something. I know she wouldn't have it on before Christmas day itself, since she did the stocking thing, but after that it would have been a nice touch. So yeah, let's pretend she keeps it as a memento of Kikyou =P

[HitokiriShadow]

Okay, well it looks like my suspicions were correct. I had previously seen the name "Lilith" in the list of characters on ANN. That's one of the disadvantages of coming in late; if you want to see seiyu info, you may be spoiled on some things. Fortunately, this was pretty minor.

In any case... LILITH!!!!! ... and she has a nasty hangover. And its!!!... uh, what's her name... I forget, its been too long... ah, right, Hazuki!!!!

And it seems this takes place sometime during YamiBou.

And now its... some dude. Possibly the guy we saw banging the chick in the first episode.

Hazuki's voice sounds familiar.... yep, its Mamiko Noto. I watched YamiBou back before I payed much attention to this stuff. .... I really need to rewatch YamiBou.

So baldy is Kiyoharu(?)'s father... yeah, he must have been to guy with the chick in episode 1.

Ken-chan has a death wish. Go Momoka!

I like Kaya's way of identifying people.

Ken-chan really wants to die. ... Nene is scary...

Is that a young Nene? Must be because that is definitely a young Kaya. .... and I can't think of anyone the third little girl is supposed to be.

Little Kaya and Little Nene are so cute.

So her name is Anna. Unless her names and looks changed for the present, she isn't someone we've been introduced to yet. I'm guessing this woman is the "Mother" mentioned a few episodes ago.

"Go to Hell." In english. Awesome. ... And Yumiko is just sitting there, serving alcohol to the talking bird that flew in. And now he's her drinking buddy.

I definitely need to rewatch YamiBou. <3 Lilith

So now Nene is serving the same medicine to Ken-chan that she served to Lilith as a child.

"I wonder how I should feed him?" *lightbulb* *pours it on him* Yumiko is love.

Ah, its girly Touka, or at least someone that looks like girly Touka. We haven't seen him/her in quite a while.

Oho, it's that scene we saw in the flashback with Fuu, Sei, Juna and Isabihiko. As I had suspected in the flashbacks before, it looks like they wanted Isabihiko to activate the stone sword for some reason.

"Oh, he's become a bookmark" I suddenly have a craving for more Lilith goodness.

God this episode was awesome.

Sadly, it looks like this is the only episode we'll be seeing Lilith and Hazuki. But it was nice to stick them in there as fanservice for YamiBou fans. Man, I really need to rewatch YamiBou....

[Speedy Boris]

So yeah, all this talk about pics and avatars inspired me to change my avatar for the first time in two years. :blush:

[something]

Ah, yes. Even Touka Gettan cannot escape the inevitable comparison of busts. ... but considering what else they've shown, I'm surprised they showed basically nothing. The breast comparison at the onsen has become a huge cliche and I would have been happy to see them skip it altogether. But they did do it and, considering what else we've gotten, it should have been the most awesome breast comparison/examination ever.
Yeah, a weird point for them to cut back on the fanservice. Although, I always like the onsen bust comparison scenes =P

EDIT: Okay, I was unable to avoid seeing the first line of your next post when I was going to reply to it and it looks like my suspicion was correct. Er, time to go actually watch it.
Threaaaaaaded mooooooooooode. Then you wouldn't have his problem (when people post correctly). Did you try the trick of setting threaded as default so the quick-swap option is enabled?

I hadn't considered that. However, I'm going to pay closer attention to her little friends next time. But I don't think she's Yumiko at this point. It works here since she was writing the story, but not in the festival episode, where she wasn't writing and was physically present at the festival.
I can't wait until you get to the bottom of this little bit here, heh.

[something]

Okay, well it looks like my suspicions were correct. I had previously seen the name "Lilith" in the list of characters on ANN. That's one of the disadvantages of coming in late; if you want to see seiyu info, you may be spoiled on some things. Fortunately, this was pretty minor.
Yeah, I hate the ANN lists when I haven't seen a show or am behind on it, especially when they have episode numbers as well. Useful in some situations, but waaaaaay too easy to get spoiled. Especially when they list the exact range of episodes the character shows up in (which is totally unnecessary).

In any case... LILITH!!!!! ... and she has a nasty hangover. And its!!!... uh, what's her name... I forget, its been too long... ah, right, Hazuki!!!!
Forgetting the great sword wielding Noto Mamiko-voiced explosion of pure lesbian win is a grave sin!

And it seems this takes place sometime during YamiBou.
Yeah, with the way they jump around worlds and through time with the turning of a few pages, pretty much anything *could* have taken place during YamiBou if only they happened to open the book (even while watching YamiBou we get no sense of how long they were looking).

I really need to rewatch YamiBou.
I did so earlier this year, probably when waiting for Touka Gettan episodes. It was even better than the first time I watched it.

So baldy is Kiyoharu(?)'s father... yeah, he must have been to guy with the chick in episode 1.
Yeah, Kamiazuma Masayuki.

"Go to Hell." In english. Awesome.
One of the best lines in the show, I cracked up at the way she delivered it.

... And Yumiko is just sitting there, serving alcohol to the talking bird that flew in. And now he's her drinking buddy.
I'm pretty sure Ken-chan could never find a woman more perfect for him than Yumiko. She's exactly what he craves.

God this episode was awesome.
Sadly, it looks like this is the only episode we'll be seeing Lilith and Hazuki. But it was nice to stick them in there as fanservice for YamiBou fans. Man, I really need to rewatch YamiBou....
There was one potentially concrete link, albeit a very minor one, depending on how you interpret the Midou Sarara thing near 2/3rds in (minor Yamibou spoilers tagged for Reimu's sake, because we're totally making him watch it eventually) Do you think she really was an incarnation of Eve? Or just another false start for Hazuki? The only thing that makes me wonder about it is that the Midous clearly live a long time, but Eve only gets 16 years... of course if she can just rewrite memories that's no matter.

[HitokiriShadow]

EDIT: Okay, I was unable to avoid seeing the first line of your next post when I was going to reply to it and it looks like my suspicion was correct. Er, time to go actually watch it.
Threaaaaaaded mooooooooooode. Then you wouldn't have his problem (when people post correctly). Did you try the trick of setting threaded as default so the quick-swap option is enabled?

I was using thread mode (and yes, I'm using that "trick"). But in order to reply to your post, I still need to open it and that's where I accidentally saw the first line.

[something]

I was using thread mode (and yes, I'm using that "trick"). But in order to reply to your post, I still need to open it and that's where I accidentally saw the first line.
That's why I watch before opening. I type everything up in notepad++ first now, because I got sick of accidentally refreshing or hitting back and losing 2000 word posts. So then it's just a copy/paste deal.

Though, yeah, I do usually try not to put stuff like that in easily visible areas where skimming over the thread makes it pop out at you, but sometimes it's just too epic to downplay the formatting :sd:

Oh, and I checked something in episode 14 for me reply to your post... and next thing I knew I'd watched 14-26 all over again. o_O Just finished 26 a few mins ago.

I really need to bump this show up my 2007 favorites list.

[HitokiriShadow]

In any case... LILITH!!!!! ... and she has a nasty hangover. And its!!!... uh, what's her name... I forget, its been too long... ah, right, Hazuki!!!!
Forgetting the great sword wielding Noto Mamiko-voiced explosion of pure lesbian win is a grave sin!

Yes, I'm ashamed, but in my defense, its been about two years since I saw YamiBou and it was back before I really paid much attention to seiyu. I didn't take notice of Mamiko Noto until Hell Girl and I became a big fanboy of her just last spring when I finally watched MariMite.

God this episode was awesome.
Sadly, it looks like this is the only episode we'll be seeing Lilith and Hazuki. But it was nice to stick them in there as fanservice for YamiBou fans. Man, I really need to rewatch YamiBou....
There was one potentially concrete link, albeit a very minor one, depending on how you interpret the Midou Sarara thing near 2/3rds in (minor Yamibou spoilers tagged for Reimu's sake, because we're totally making him watch it eventually) Do you think she really was an incarnation of Eve? Or just another false start for Hazuki? The only thing that makes me wonder about it is that the Midous clearly live a long time, but Eve only gets 16 years... of course if she can just rewrite memories that's no matter.

I didn't even think about it, really. I completely forgot about Eve only getting 16 years.

[HitokiriShadow]

I was using thread mode (and yes, I'm using that "trick"). But in order to reply to your post, I still need to open it and that's where I accidentally saw the first line.
That's why I watch before opening. I type everything up in notepad++ first now, because I got sick of accidentally refreshing or hitting back and losing 2000 word posts. So then it's just a copy/paste deal.


I considered doing that after I accidentally killed one of my posts for an earlier episode but I just continued on the way I had before. I think I'll change that now. Having a bigger space to see what I've typed would be nice too.

[something]

Yes, I'm ashamed, but in my defense, its been about two years since I saw YamiBou and it was back before I really paid much attention to seiyu. I didn't take notice of Mamiko Noto until Hell Girl and I became a big fanboy of her just last spring when I finally watched MariMite.
Yeah, Ai is the one who really got her on my radar, and ever since then... ah, love.

And I think you left a chunk of my post in your reply. I was wondering why you were responding to your own previous comments, and saying the same thing I did, to boot. XD

I didn't even think about it, really. I completely forgot about Eve only getting 16 years.
I almost posted a response to this, forgetting you have the rest of the show to watch first. :sd: Not that it would really have been spoilery, but again playing it safe since I've see the show twice now, and the 2nd half three times. And really, add another time for the hours I spend rewatching and analyzing each episode when I posted about them initially :sd:

[something]

I considered doing that after I accidentally killed one of my posts for an earlier episode but I just continued on the way I had before. I think I'll change that now. Having a bigger space to see what I've typed would be nice too.
I have a 'scrappaper' .txt file where I do pretty much all my computer-based temporary note taking. I've also set it to white text on black background, so when I alt+tab from an episode over to type, I don't get blinded by a big bright screen (either white background text editor or the AOD page), seeing as how I flagrantly ignore all the anime warnings about watching 6 feet away in a well lit room... that's blasphemy, I can't enjoy my anime unless there's absolutely no ambient light at all!

[HitokiriShadow]

Yes, I'm ashamed, but in my defense, its been about two years since I saw YamiBou and it was back before I really paid much attention to seiyu. I didn't take notice of Mamiko Noto until Hell Girl and I became a big fanboy of her just last spring when I finally watched MariMite.
Yeah, Ai is the one who really got her on my radar, and ever since then... ah, love.

And I think you left a chunk of my post in your reply. I was wondering why you were responding to your own previous comments, and saying the same thing I did, to boot. XD

I noticed that right after I posted it but it seems you replied to it before I finished editing it. In any case, it's fixed now.

[HitokiriShadow]

A rolling Yumiko is fine too.

Yumiko wants to eat a steamboat?

A "new" character. And her boobs are gigantic, they are nearly bursting out of her uniform. ... Does she have the hots for Makoto too? No wonder we dont' see her after this; Shouko finds out and kills her!

I knew that voice sounded familiar; she's voiced by Yuko Goto!

Okay, Haruhiko's inviting Mako-chan over to his place to eat so I guess she doesn't live their afterall.

Shouko starts raving about Makoto and her talent and makes no fucking sense.

Yumiko is drawing Touka (and Momoka and Haruhiko). She should have followed Kouchou's lead and made her own doujin circle.

Makoto just found a love letter (can't tell if its for her or someone just dropped it). The person hiding behind the column appears to be Kikyou, based on the hair. I'm guessing its either someone else or the person behind the column didn't drop the love letter, because from what we've seen Kikyou wouldn't be giving a love letter to Makoto. Of course, it may not even be for Makoto at all. The way she reacts suggests she's jumping to a conclusion and it doesn't actually say its for her.

Lovely job on the subtitles. When text appears on the screen, it would be nice to know what it actually says. And yay for utterly inane translation notes.

... and now we seem to be rewatching the same day. I guess Yumiko is causing it because she likes this day. Though Makoto seems to still have her memories from the previous day.

Actually, looking at Touko's hair again, it must have been her behind the column and she probably dropped the love letter too.

So she is staying at the Kamiazumas. So why did Haruhiko invite her to dinner if she would be there anyway?

Makoto stares down the underclassman for no apparent reason. I'm guessing it has something to do with the love letter but I'm not sure what. I wonder Haruhiko simply dropped that love letter and it wasn't for her Makoto at all. It does look like the one she found.

Makoto is such an awesome flute player that she doesn't even have to touch her lips to the flute to play it.

Yep, Shouko has a hit list for her rivals. ... And she just jumped out like the fifth tenth floor of a building. Shouko is awesome.

So it looks like Touko was the one that dropped it and it probably was for Makoto. Still, I'm not quite sure what to make of the whole thing. Was the whole point of the episode to give a reason for Yumiko to say her lines and hint that something similar happened to Makoto before? It also told us a (tiny) bit about Makoto's powers and that could be part of that 'before'. Not that I'm comlaining about a Makoto-centric episode, mind you, though I would have preferred it involved more of her trying to take Momoka's virginity.

And it looks like Kaya has a Nene-nee doll next episode.

[something]

Yumiko wants to eat a steamboat?
Yeah, that was certainly a translation of nabe I haven't seen elsewhere.

Okay, Haruhiko's inviting Mako-chan over to his place to eat so I guess she doesn't live their afterall.
[and]
So she is staying at the Kamiazumas. So why did Haruhiko invite her to dinner if she would be there anyway?

That confused the hell out of me too. I assume she normally does her own meals, but sometimes eats with the rest of the Kamiazuma household at times, when invited or a special meal is going on.

Makoto stares down the underclassman for no apparent reason. I'm guessing it has something to do with the love letter but I'm not sure what.
I think she was simply trying to discern that it was in fact the same person, because she'd been getting incredibly suspicious and weirded out by the day repeating itself. It made her annoyed and uneasy, which is why Kochou mention her flute playing was off.

Makoto is such an awesome flute player that she doesn't even have to touch her lips to the flute to play it.
Yeah, noticed that =P Just blow into it from 2 inches away...

Yep, Shouko has a hit list for her rivals. ... And she just jumped out like the fifth tenth floor of a building. Shouko is awesome.
Poor Haruhiko.

It also told us a (tiny) bit about Makoto's powers and that could be part of that 'before'.
When I watched it I just felt like it was yet another way to show us Yumiko's powers, but also to reinforce that Makoto isn't normal. That and it's almost dead center in the series in the most episodic span of the show overall, so yeah.

[Nephenee13]

So I've started watching this, and whenever I see Makoto, the only thing I can think of is...Mako-chan.

Kikyou's my favorite though. And Nene. And the random demon catgirl.

[Nephenee13]

Needs more Mako playing the flute naked.

[Nephenee13]

This is easily the hottest show since Melody of Oblivion. The hints are even sexier than the full blown nudity. Yu(mi/ri)ko's bare shoulders and cleavage, Juna waking up with her kimono thing somewhat undone, the unusually high cut Buruma the girls wore in this episode...

[Nephenee13]

Well, that was an exceptionally odd episode. Yumiko hasn't been doing much lately, and there's been a severe lack of Nene in her underwear.

[Nephenee13]

Poor Haruhiko, he has no clue.

We need YumikoXNene. Hell, we need anything with Nene in something other than that fully covering maid outfit.

[HitokiriShadow]

That's a, uh, interesting comet name.

Heh, hearing Haruhiko talk about it makes them less interested in it.

Mmmm, Kaya. In a tiny bikini no less. ... No, don't wear proper clothes!

Hah, Yumiko almost doesn't react at all to being interupted while on the pot. Just a little "I'm a little busy at the moment..." at the end. And Kaya instantly switches from Angry Mode to Oh Nice to Meet You Mode.

Weee. Nene is all embarrassed to be seen by Touka while Kaya is hanging onto her and then acts like a schoolgirl caught holding hands with someone.

"Chance!" *hugs Yumiko* "I'm not bothering you, I'm only hugging you!" ... yay, it the eroticism that's been missing for the last six episodes (and it was missing in the onsen episode of all things). In any case, this finally confirms all those hints of more than sisterly feelings Kaya had been exhibitting. Up to this point it was possible to write it off as simply being very affectionate but still sisterly... now we know beyond the shadow of a doubt that her interest in Nene is most definitely romantic and sexual.

Mako interupts. Kaya is not pleased. Kaya spanks her XD

Momoka catches Kaya wearing her camisole, Kaya just yanks it off but Momoka... doesn't seem to have a problem with someone she doesn't really know stealing and wearing her clothes and then says that Kaya looks better in it than she does. I find this less realistic than psychi powers and jumping down ten stories unscathed. Not that I'm complaining or anything.

Ah, here's the Nene doll we saw in the preview. Despite what she says, she's clearly using it to try to get the real Nene's attention.

Okay, so they really are siblings it seems. You can never be quite sure until they say it themselves.

And Mako-chan declares herself Momoka's little sister. Nice.

"faster, faster, faster, faster..." Leave it to Yumiko to turn stargazing into a sexual experience.

.... okay, I guess this was implied in the Lilith episode, but Nene and Kaya live for a long time. Before, it wasn't apparent how far back they traveled, but they must have gone back several hundred years. .... holy crap, every 1347 years? How old are they?

And next next episode looks like it has a giant tanuki(?) attacking someone (Makoto, I think).



This seems to be Kaya's introduction, so we probably won't see any more her outside of flashbacks. Maybe. This is where she was introduced to the Kamiazumas but I suppose she and Nene could have met at some other point in the present prior to this.

[Nephenee13]

Interesting. Yumiko wants snow, and it snows. Yumiko wants power, and the power turns on.

I wonder if she's related to Drosselmeyer.

[Nephenee13]

But this means no more catgirl cosplay.

;_;

[Nephenee13]

Kinkiest school festival ever.

And I haven't seen a guy that unconcerned about being dressed up as a maid since Gravion.

[something]

That's a, uh, interesting comet name.
I want to hear Momoka say it every single episode. Multiple times. I loved it XD

Hah, Yumiko almost doesn't react at all to being interupted while on the pot. Just a little "I'm a little busy at the moment..." at the end. And Kaya instantly switches from Angry Mode to Oh Nice to Meet You Mode.
This is totally one of the best Yumiko scenes.

Mako interupts. Kaya is not pleased. Kaya spanks her XD
Leek spank! Too bad it stopped there.

I find this less realistic than psychi powers and jumping down ten stories unscathed. Not that I'm complaining or anything.
Heh, well, Momoka isn't exactly normal, but that definitely was a WTF moment. I think at this point she's just being absurdly deferential to Kaya because she wants to get on her good side, and thinks maybe being nice enough will get Kaya to chill out.

And Mako-chan declares herself Momoka's little sister. Nice.
And we know the show is okay with incest so... If only.

.... okay, I guess this was implied in the Lilith episode, but Nene and Kaya live for a long time. Before, it wasn't apparent how far back they traveled, but they must have gone back several hundred years. .... holy crap, every 1347 years? How old are they?
Every 449, Nene just forgot the last two :sd: But didn't Kaya say something about "2000 years ago" she met Hazuki when we see her with Nene and Sarara and Yukihime? Either way, yeah, they're really friggin old, which is why I was wondering about that Eve thing.

[Nephenee13]

Ninja Puppy.

Kinda meh episode though.

[Nephenee13]

Well, that was unusual.

I guess it was all just Yumiko's doing?

[Nephenee13]

Best cameos ever.

<3 Hazuki. <3 <3 <3

[Nephenee13]

Man, Touko must have the biggest tits in the show, and she's facing some stiff competition in that department.

[Nephenee13]

The sad part about "introduction" episodes in this show is that they mean no more of that character.

[Nephenee13]

Guess I spoke too soon about Kaya.

And so much chaos erupting from Mako's first period is very amusing.

[Nephenee13]

That was amazing. One of the absolute best episodes of anything ever. Every single bit of that episode could be transposed directly onto a real stage. No animation trickery or anything. Even the way the characters spoke was subtletly altered, to sound more like on stage diction than normal speech.

Amazing. Absolutely amazing.

[something]

That was amazing. One of the absolute best episodes of anything ever. Every single bit of that episode could be transposed directly onto a real stage. No animation trickery or anything. Even the way the characters spoke was subtletly altered, to sound more like on stage diction than normal speech.
Amazing. Absolutely amazing.
Yes yes yes so very yes. The way they consistently delivered the lines throughout the episode was perfect, and they never missed a beat. The way they used blackouts and curtains and the lighting blew me away, because it just looked so right (I've worked in a theater before).

And from the moment Momoka enters the stage, sees Touka's uniform, and then sits back to back with him as the gorgeous BGM plays and the wind whips around them, I was floored.

Then they come out, and silently bow with heads down and eyes closed. Touka looks up, the curtain falls. Subtitle, maku. Owari.

I shiver just thinking about it, and I've already seen it like 4 times. And just watched it again.

[Nephenee13]

KayaXAsuna forever!

Also, there are tons of spinoff possibilities with this series...

[something]

Also, there are tons of spinoff possibilities with this series...
If only it had done well enough to justify it. ::shakes fist::

This must be licensed for R1. Grarrghegrhghhhhhhh

[Nephenee13]

Wow, this show really was amazing. I'm glad I waited, if for no other reason than not having to experience the agony waiting for subs.

This is a show that anyone who's a fan of experimental, slightly surreal anime should try. Its as daring as Revolutionary Girl Utena and Melody of Oblivion, and succeeds in ways I don't think either of them even managed.

[something]

Wow, this show really was amazing. I'm glad I waited, if for no other reason than not having to experience the agony waiting for subs.
This is a show that anyone who's a fan of experimental, slightly surreal anime should try. Its as daring as Revolutionary Girl Utena and Melody of Oblivion, and succeeds in ways I don't think either of them even managed.
One down, at least two to go, and possibly 4 if rpd and westlo decide to continue. Not much in the grand scheme of things, but I'm extremely happy to see *anyone* give this show a chance and wind up enjoying it.

[Suwako Moriya]

Oooh, this episode will be about how the scythe-wielding catgirl becomes a captive of the Kochou.

Which should make this episode worth watching. Nothing like learning how awesome stuff begins. Or rather I should say does as I've already watched the episode.

Oh, and catgirl's name? Yuriko. Maybe coincidence, but interesting. She's also about to try and eat Makoto...

Ah yes now I can call her Yuriko the sexy loli Demon Scythe Catgirl. Well either way Yuriko was no match for an umbrella.

Next thing we know, catgirl is at the cave where the other girl was. She proceeds to feel the girl up a little (well, ok, a lot, and make out with her too) and then yum, blood sucking time.

Hmm I'm kind of confused about that scene. I guess maybe if I studied the scene multiple times, I'd be able to understand it better. *Realizes no one is buying this* Okay fine I'll admit the scene was hot and I'd like to watch it again as soon as I can. I wouldn't mind being eaten.

Hah and thats how catgirl comes into the Kochou's possession. After she's knocked unconscious by Sei's blast, the Kochou butterflies hover above her exclaiming how badly they want her.

The Kochou have very good taste if you ask me. Besides the catgirl deserves to wear as many outfits as possible.

Watching this all unfold just reveals what genius it all is.

Definitely as it progress the general idea of what the flow is trying to achieve is becoming clearer and clearer.

[something]

Hmm I'm kind of confused about that scene. I guess maybe if I studied the scene multiple times, I'd be able to understand it better. *Realizes no one is buying this* Okay fine I'll admit the scene was hot and I'd like to watch it again as soon as I can. I wouldn't mind being eaten.
Hey, the same excuse worked for me 26 eps in a row =D I don't think I ever finished watching/posting about a Touka Gettan ep in under 2 hours... More time to rewatch scenes =D

Well, except maybe the dumb puppy ep.

[Suwako Moriya]

Hey, the same excuse worked for me 26 eps in a row =D

Ah yes you've got to love the "I'm not perverted, I'm just studying" excuse. Still it's also a matter of finding the right time to do the "studying".

[Suwako Moriya]

For once, Shouko is wearing something different and did her hair differently. I like her normal look better.

Not sure which I prefer yet, but a change of pace can be good.

Momoka has her priorities straight and heads straight for the food. Then she conscripts Touka into helping her hit all the food stands.

I love how Momoka understands the importance of food. Many of us do as well. Too bad evil things like calories limit the amount one can reasonably eat in real life.

This seems to double as a date for Momoka, but Touka doesn't see it that way. "Sausage... attack!" I love Momoka's face after she finishes but the video quality is too crummy to make a decent avatar out of it.

Let's not forget the candy attack. Hmm maybe Momoka needs to be a playable character in a fighting game. Imagine what that would be like.

Despite Makoto's apparent desire to bed Momoka, she seems pretty supportive of Momoka and Touka as a couple.

Ah Makoto, you're not only lovely, but noble. Still have to feel sorry for her, but hey there's always Shouko for her.

Ooookay, Shouko is talking really weird. Ahaha, Shouko asked Mako-chan to help, but its looking like its just an excuse to get fresh with her. Yep, it is.

Any excuse to get this type of scene to happen is a good enough excuse for me. Ah one just has to love Shouko's dedication to Makoto.

And now Asuna is apparently modeling for the Kouchou. .... oh my. Thank you Kouchou-sama!

That scene was just short, but uh let's just use the word sweet. Yeah that's it sweet. Darn it this show is making me realize even more how perverted I really am. *Worships Kouchou-sama*

Momoka is yaoi fan.

Well everybody needs a hobby.

"We just need you to expose yourself to us." I'd prefer they said this to Momoka or Makoto, but <3 Kouchou anyway. ... and out comes the bondage gear. Eiji and Teppei attack!

One has to wonder how many people have become victims of the "Fetishes of the Kouchou". Still that's part of what makes them fun. Especially since how earlier okay later on they get a catgirl as a toy.

[Suwako Moriya]

In some ways this episode was a bit creepy due to the timing of the story writing scenes and the puppy scenes with each other. Heh all powerful puppy, but not stronger than the author apparently. Not one of the better episodes, but what it was trying to show was interesting in a sense. Yumiko or maybe I should say Juna is scary.

[Suwako Moriya]

Ooh, Shouko in something other than her school uniform. Same for Makoto. I likey.

Ah nothing like showing us proof that girls like Shouko and Makoto are capable of looking good in a variety of outfits.

Yep, there's Kouchou-sama.

Escaping the three of them is impossible probably. Open, close, open, close, forget it for they won't go away.

Asuna may have been playing the loli, but she definitely is NOT a loli. She's a very healthy girl. Just like the entire cast other than the cat-girl virgin human eater. Oh, and the cast finally acts like she's actually there and we see them interact with her.

Nice to see her get more focus and heck it proves the cat-girl was quite right when she assumed that Asuna was delicious. For she definitely is. Darn it now I'm thinking about that scene yet again.

At least we got a nice look at Asuna and Makoto. Even if Asuna has no nipples. Poor girl.

Maybe in the future she'll get a transplant? Ah well it's nice to see some of the goods.

... the hell? Was this all a result of Yumiko's writing? That seems to be what the end implies. *goes back to check* Yeah, I guess so. She started writing, and then suddenly we see the two girls. Then everything ends after she can't write anymore.

Taking into account the idea that Yumiko is responsible for the story and what the story for Hikari involved. I'd say her imagination is uh quite creepy.

[HitokiriShadow]

Momoka has her priorities straight and heads straight for the food. Then she conscripts Touka into helping her hit all the food stands.

I love how Momoka understands the importance of food. Many of us do as well. Too bad evil things like calories limit the amount one can reasonably eat in real life.


It's one of many reasons I sometimes wish I was an anime character. Curse you, reality!

[HitokiriShadow]

A Miko? I don't remember any shrine maidens shown yet... nope, that face doesn't look familiar.

"Sweet potatoe pie" in English. <3 Momoka

So it looks like Touka is the one Asuna is interested in. Unless she's just trying to get him to set up a chance for her with Momoka. But Momoka already has someone longing for her, so it would make more sense for her to be going for Touka.

Makoto is on the toilet. And she suddenly realizes something and gets upset .... what the heck?

Okay, so the Miko appears to be a teacher. Despite her smoking, I had thought she was a student.

... Did she have her first period or something? At her age, I would think she would be long past that point.

Shouko finds Mako and... target sighted! Preparing to engage target! She's still conscious! Mission aborted! Repeat, Mission aborted!

Shouko even has a siren built into her car(s).

Mmmmm, Momoka in long twin braids. We need more of this.

Ah, so she's the nurse. ... Shouko, I think you made her condition worse...

Replace tidy with physiology... what the heck are they talking about?

Yep, Makoto is indeed confronted by a giant Tanuki... thing.

Okay, so it seems this dragon is literally and physically inside Makoto, probably inside her uterus. Now the bathroom scene makes more sense. I had always thought that the dragon was inside her figurartively and spiritually, not physically inside her.

Momoka... really likes strawberries.

Now this view is far better than any stupid panty shot.

Hmmm, a cat.... I remember a certain catgirl... are they going to actually show the 'infiltration' they referred to? I don't think so, but it would be nice. That episode (9? 10? somewhere around there) made it look like that operation had just ended, so its probably something we won't see. But that operation wasn't necessarily their first attempt and we still don't know anything about those guys, so maybe they'll still show us something about them.

Well, it looks like that cat probably does have something to do with them.

"100 people were injured..." "Fuck that, Mako-chan isn't feeling well so they can bugger off!" XD

"Well, I may have exagerated a bit, but I got my finger burned..." -_-;

... so I guess it was her first period as well. I would have thought she would have had hers long before now.

Ah, so that was Kaya. I always thought she was kind of catlike, particularly her hair. It looks like she was indeed covering up catears with her hair.

Well, that's interesting, they are turning first periods into a plot point, or at least a hint about one.

Okay, nevermind, she just makes her ears and tail disappear. Her hair now looks like it normally does.



It seemed like Makoto was unaware of her dragon in this episode, but I'm guessing that was because of her being confused about her first period. Otherwise, they completely skipped showing us how Makoto found out about her dragon and started working with Kikyou. And that would be a rather important thing to skip, IMO.

[something]

"Sweet potatoe pie" in English. <3 Momoka
Momoka can turn anything into a conversation about food. Chiffon cake!?

Makoto is on the toilet. And she suddenly realizes something and gets upset .... what the heck?
Gotta love an episode that's one big metaphor for a girl's first period.

Shouko finds Mako and... target sighted! Preparing to engage target! She's still conscious! Mission aborted! Repeat, Mission aborted!
"I'm still breathing..." So close...

Momoka... really likes strawberries.
Now this view is far better than any stupid panty shot.
Momoka loooves (http://moe.imouto.org/post/show/8816) strawberries. If only more shows could learn from Touka Gettan what real fanservice can be if you know what you're doing.

"100 people were injured..." "Fuck that, Mako-chan isn't feeling well so they can bugger off!" XD
"Well, I may have exagerated a bit, but I got my finger burned..." -_-;
Haha, I love Haruhiko.

... so I guess it was her first period as well. I would have thought she would have had hers long before now.
And Shouko finds it so cute :sd:

Okay, nevermind, she just makes her ears and tail disappear. Her hair now looks like it normally does.
I don't think those truck drivers should be held responsible for their crashes. I mean, it was an act of (a) god(ly hot catgirl). "That one wasn't my fault~" XD

It seemed like Makoto was unaware of her dragon in this episode, but I'm guessing that was because of her being confused about her first period. Otherwise, they completely skipped showing us how Makoto found out about her dragon and started working with Kikyou. And that would be a rather important thing to skip, IMO.
Yeah, I don't see the dragon as being a physical entity any more than the stone sword is, i.e. it's not curled up in her body or anything. It's *within* her, but more as a power, physical form being irrelevant. It can manifest physically outside her body, but the whole thing with the period isn't necessarily when she found out about the dragon, but it would be when it metaphorically "awoke" within her, the power unleashed in the process exacerbating her normal physical issues. And we did see Makoto and Kikyou training her control over the dragon in earlier episodes, the only question at this point in the series being at what time Kikyou and Makoto met.

[HitokiriShadow]

Makoto is on the toilet. And she suddenly realizes something and gets upset .... what the heck?
Gotta love an episode that's one big metaphor for a girl's first period.

The surrealness of the this series reminds me a lot of Utena. Now I can add period metaphor episodes to the list.


Momoka... really likes strawberries.
Now this view is far better than any stupid panty shot.
Momoka loooves (http://moe.imouto.org/post/show/8816) strawberries. If only more shows could learn from Touka Gettan what real fanservice can be if you know what you're doing.

I suddenly have a hankering for Strawberries. And I really wish more anime would do fanservice the way Touka Gettan (I'm looking at you Rosario + Vampire).

[HitokiriShadow]

Yumiko in a swimsuit. Hell yes.

Heh, suddenly the Kamiazuma's have beachfront property. Everyday is an adventure with Yumiko around. Hmmmm, I wonder if she has a child (children? Touka is supposed to be her son, but Momoka's status is unclear) simply because she willed it.

A sunbathing Yumiko is good too. In fact, its great. So, this must be the beach episode, They've already improved over the onsen episode. Now lets hope they don't include child rape or something equally or almost as reprehensible here like they did in that episode.

Momoka sure is excited about the beach. Now we better see each in every one of these girls in bikinis. ... haha, Momoka is already prepared. And she has no problem proving in front of a ton of guys. Go, Momoka!

It's not just beachfront property, Yumiko has placed an entire waterpart on or next to the campus.

"Botique de Shoko"? This should be interesting. Makoto~, please put on that seashell bikini! Okay, the leapordprint one is almost as good.

Momoka's is a bit plain but it looks good on her. Unsurprisingly, she's got a crapload of food and is busy wolfing it down. And Momoka has... a Ken-chan swimsuit? In any case, it certainly suits her. And Shouko is as insane as ever.

Okay, those guys are definitely the ones that were with the idol contest winner. Maybe she was some incarnation of Yumiko after all.

And Kikyou is reffing a volleyball game. Haven't seen her in a while. In any case, the important thing is that she looks good in her bikini.

Shouko may be insane but she's also smart. She knows her rivals and she knows how to take advantage of situations. And Mako in a swimsuite = hug and hang on to for dear life.

Oh yes, I like Shouko's imagination.

You know, we haven't seen Kouchou yet. They should be showing up any minute now. And right on que... but why are they still in their uniforms? Hurry up and change!

"If it's this slide, we should be okay." No. It' from Kouchou, it is most definitely not okay. ... Okay, I guess it was safe for Momoka and Makoto, but there's no way Shouko is going to enjoy her trip down that thing.

Mmmmm, swimsuite adjusting. Mako-chan is happy but Shouko is not pleased. ... Er, wow, that is one insane waterslide. Just what I expect from Kouchou-sama.

The glasses are off! Trouble is a-coming!

Fish are eating Touka's clothes. Er, okay.

That cat really doesn't like Momoka. Maybe its "Yuriko"?

Er, while he's feminine at times, Touka is a guy or at least we've been led to believe that and he acts like it. SO why is he so embarassed about his top? Does he have some wierd scar, birthmark or symbols or somthing like that on his body?

Touka lost his clothes to fish, and Momoka's swimsuit is in tatters thanks to the cat. Sounds like its time for them to run into each other.

Interestingly, Momoka's chopsticks were not broken perfectly. In anime, they usually get split perfectly down the middle.

Momoka finds a sea cucumber and... can they even do that?

Momoka finds the top and decides to change into it. Of course, it is inevitable that Touka will walk in on this.

Okay, so he didn't walk in while she was changing. And apparently there was a bottom to it as well.

Once again, other shows take note: this kind of stuff is infinitely better than random panty shots

And the suit disentigrates immediately upon getting wet. Go Yumiko!

You know, what they did would be so incredibly awkward. Wouldn't it be far easier to just leave separately and have the second one wait a minute or so before leaving to give the other one enough of a head start?

But we got some cute moments between Momoka and Touka and a nice shot of Momoka out of it, so reason and logic can go die in a fire.

Goddamn TL note ruining a perfectly good (well, aside from the subs) screencap.

In any case, those spirits seem to be a manifestation of Yumiko's power. I guess someone or something had to build that waterpark. In any case, the idol winner girl must have been some incarnation of her. Or perhaps an incarnation of someone Yumiko wants to exist?

Next episode is... Ultraman?

[HitokiriShadow]

A bunch of people are watching a movie of Touka and Yumiko. It's kind of creepy.

Yep, as I suspected, Yumiko has willed Touka here. Whether he existed somewhere else previously or was created by her remains to be seen.

There's a kid and an older guy, presumeably his father. Based on the rock being played with I'm guessing the kid is Kiyoharu. Ah, a "mask". Presumeably the one that the man from the Isbahito flashback was wearing and Kikiki-kun was trying to rebuild.

Yep, its Kiyoharu. And the girl will probably be Yuriko, the Kamiazuma one not the catgirl, unless they really are the same person. Which would not surprise me. Yep, its Yuriko. And she is (supposedly) his little sister. The present day Kiyoharu's obsession with her is, uh, definitely not brotherly. It seems that incest runs in the family. I'm suddenly wondering the the events we saw at the onsen were not purely fictional but a reflection of something that actually happened.

Oh lord. It seems I was right. :( Kiyoharu molests her as children and then rapes her when they are older. And the fact that this is happening on a stage with a bunch of people watching it like entertainment (and even making couples all warm and fuzzy) makes it even more disturbing.

And daddy seems to be more worried about his plans for the festival than Yuriko's well-being. Sadly, we already know that this guy lives to the end of the series. I can only hope the woman he was screwing in episode one castrated him and stabbed him when they were finished.

Looking at her in this shot, she does look kind of like our dear cat girl virgin human eater.

So can he be the head of the household or not? That's a double negative there. Of course, what he really menas is obvious, but still.

Kiyotsugu... that was the guy who goes nuts in that flashback from 18 episodes ago.

And a giant rose appears in the background. But the stone sword always blooms for the blade to come out, so I'm guessing this has something to do with that.

The woman here sounds like the Yumiko we all know and lust over love. So maybe Yumiko was the one that died and Yuriko convinced herself that she was Yumiko. Or she made it so. Or its just mother and daughter being a lot alike. Actually, the mother killing her daughter and then willing a new son (and daughter?) into existence would make a certain amount of sense.

And.... jump to the Yumiko we know. So Nene's mission is to protect Juna. Yet Kaya hates Juna and seemed to be out of the loop...

So now we see Kiyoharu all crazed and with the stone/mask piece. As I recall, this guy sticks the stone in the sane one's eye... so does that mean the Kiyoharu we know is actually Kiyotsugu? Or perhaps my memory of that scene is just failing me.

So now we see Yumiko. It looks like my theory may be right as this definitely isn't the Yumiko we know. So rather than the daughter killing the mother, it looks like the mother may have offed the daughter.

Maybe Kiyoharu's forcing the rock into his eye makes him think he's actually Kiyoharu? To make him feel the real Kiyoharu's pain or something? ... Yep, looks like it.

That doesn't look like Yumiko. Maybe another sister/daughter? Wait, she hit Kiyotsugu so how did she also hit Yuriko who was standing a good five feet away?

There's the school nurse. She looks pretty much the same here as she does in the present. Her name is Houjou Misuzu, and this seems to mean something do daddy/granddaddy. ... Ah, she must be the woman he was screwing at the end. ... This family is really, really fucked up.

So here we have what looks like a younger Yum/riko... and now she's going to get raped (again), this time by her other (half-)brother.

And she's already insisting she's Yumiko, not Yuriko. Or maybe she actually is? The hair color is completely wrong, but it doesn't fit Yumiko or Yuriko, so that's not a good guide. Well, it looks like it is the daughter (Yumiko) and she didn't get killed from the shotgun blast. So what happened to the mother? And since this isn't an issue of the mother losing her children, what caused her to will Touka and Momoka into this world?

Momoka calls Yumiko by name, but she still seems to live there and be part of the family. While Touka is there due to Yumiko's motherly desires, what of Momoka? Is it because she is Sei or is Sei's presence in her just a side effect?

We finally get family name for Momoka (or did I just miss it before?) and her name is the same as the name of one of the families mentioned by the Kamiazuma family head. So I guess she's supposed to be a daughter of a branch family that is living with Yumiko much like Yuriko and Kiyotsugu lived with other families before.

"You [are?] me and I am you" Huh? Well that sure makes sense. The world belongs to Momoka. And she wishes to see things that she cannot see. Um okay. This will surely make more sense later, but it sure doesn't make any now nor help much in figuring out WTF is going on at the moment as its too vague and abstract.


Now there is a nice preview picture, I guess thats Momoka and the next episode will focus on her.




Well that was an interesting way of revealing things. But while I enjoy the surrealism (and it mad certain scenes even creepier - that couple was getting lovey dovey while Yuriko was getting molested!), I kind of wish they could have fit it into the story more naturally.

[Suwako Moriya]

Man, I really need to rewatch YamiBou....

Where as I need to watch it for the first time. Yeah I'm too tired to get into a longer post right now. However I'm posting now because I do want to say this much. After watching this episode my desire to watch YamiBou is a bit stronger now. For the record while Hazuki has a cool look to her, I'm more interested in Lillith right now. Her outfit is just awesome. Although I'm undecided on how soon to start it. Could be later or could be sooner. I'll know when once I start watching the first episode.

[something]

Momoka's is a bit plain but it looks good on her. Unsurprisingly, she's got a crapload of food and is busy wolfing it down. And Momoka has... a Ken-chan swimsuit? In any case, it certainly suits her. And Shouko is as insane as ever.
One pieces usually come off a bit plain but Momoka's looks great. Makoto's is cute in a strange way, though in a number of scenes her boobs just completely disappear in it. This was the episode I remembered having really off-model designs and that's one reason why, though on my two recent rewatches of it, it actually wasn't that bad.

And Kikyou is reffing a volleyball game. Haven't seen her in a while. In any case, the important thing is that she looks good in her bikini.
I think that's the only time so far we've seen her in something revealing, sadly.

Mmmmm, swimsuite adjusting. Mako-chan is happy but Shouko is not pleased. ... Er, wow, that is one insane waterslide. Just what I expect from Kouchou-sama.
The glasses are off! Trouble is a-coming!
The Shouko/Kochou showdown in this episode was classic epic Shouko insanity. Only the Christmas episode tops it.

Fish are eating Touka's clothes. Er, okay. Er, while he's feminine at times, Touka is a guy or at least we've been led to believe that and he acts like it. SO why is he so embarassed about his top? Does he have some wierd scar, birthmark or symbols or somthing like that on his body?
He's just Touka! =D Touka is cute! Wahaha. He was hilarious when the fish were eating his swimsuit. I think he's so used to crossdressing he gets... confused... sometimes.

Momoka finds a sea cucumber and... can they even do that?
So Yumiko wills!

You know, what they did would be so incredibly awkward. Wouldn't it be far easier to just leave separately and have the second one wait a minute or so before leaving to give the other one enough of a head start?
But we got some cute moments between Momoka and Touka and a nice shot of Momoka out of it, so reason and logic can go die in a fire.
Cuteness is its own logic.

Next episode is... Ultraman?
Ah, 19...

[something]

Replying only to what seems safe, leaving out anything that could be picked up later, though a lot of things are explained in this ep.

It seems that incest runs in the family. I'm suddenly wondering the the events we saw at the onsen were not purely fictional but a reflection of something that actually happened.
Sort of puts Yumiko's behavior in perspective, although since she wasn't born yet she couldn't have *seen* it per se. Maybe she just instinctively is influenced :sd:

Oh lord. It seems I was right. :( Kiyoharu molests her as children and then rapes her when they are older. And the fact that this is happening on a stage with a bunch of people watching it like entertainment (and even making couples all warm and fuzzy) makes it even more disturbing.
Well, Kiyoharu and Yuriko do love each other, although it's still incredibly creepy, yes.

And.... jump to the Yumiko we know. So Nene's mission is to protect Juna. Yet Kaya hates Juna and seemed to be out of the loop...
I think she just hates her because she keeps her beloved Nene busy.

Maybe Kiyoharu's forcing the rock into his eye makes him think he's actually Kiyoharu? To make him feel the real Kiyoharu's pain or something? ... Yep, looks like it.
Yeah, bingo. All along Haruhiko's father has called himself Kiyoharu and thus lusted after his sister Yumiko but... he ain't Kiyoharu at all. As he admits in the first episode, he's really Kiyotsugu.

That doesn't look like Yumiko. Maybe another sister/daughter? Wait, she hit Kiyotsugu so how did she also hit Yuriko who was standing a good five feet away?
That's one of the Kamiazuma maids I assumed, not someone returning. She's voiced by Shouko's VA far as I can tell, though I don't think there's significance in it. You'd almost think it could be a young Nene but there's no real evidence and presumably she ages more slowly than that.

And as for the ballistics... caus the story demands it. Or because the angle they can depict is constrained by the limits of the stage being used. Remember in the flashback, Yumiko was standing directly behind Kiyoharu. They just didn't quite depict that on stage.

So what happened to the mother?
I don't think they said here, assumption was just that she died or disappeared at some point after giving birth and Yummiko was taken in by the Kamiazumas anyway.

We finally get family name for Momoka (or did I just miss it before?)
I think you missed it, but I can't be sure without checking for it.

Well that was an interesting way of revealing things. But while I enjoy the surrealism (and it mad certain scenes even creepier - that couple was getting lovey dovey while Yuriko was getting molested!), I kind of wish they could have fit it into the story more naturally.
Hmm I figured that some people would react to it like that. I know it was abrupt and certainly an unusual way to do backstory, and there certainly is a convenience factor to it, but I still thought it was absofuckingloutely brilliant. The only other way to do it, really, was one giant flashback, or series of flashbacks. And that's sort of what this was, a flashback - just done in an infinitely more interesting manner. Easily one of my favorite episodes in the series.

[something]

Where as I need to watch it for the first time. Yeah I'm too tired to get into a longer post right now. However I'm posting now because I do want to say this much. After watching this episode my desire to watch YamiBou is a bit stronger now. For the record while Hazuki has a cool look to her, I'm more interested in Lillith right now. Her outfit is just awesome. Although I'm undecided on how soon to start it. Could be later or could be sooner. I'll know when once I start watching the first episode.
Well, after you finish Touka Gettan is as good a time as any, really. And yeah, Lillith has probably the best character design eeeeeeever.

[Suwako Moriya]

A "new" character. And her boobs are gigantic, they are nearly bursting out of her uniform. ... Does she have the hots for Makoto too? No wonder we dont' see her after this; Shouko finds out and kills her!

Does that means maybe we can spot Touko's marked grave laterin the story? Still she's looks kind of nice and sounds nice too. Plus I love her hair. So hopefully there is more of her earlier in the story.

I knew that voice sounded familiar; she's voiced by Yuko Goto!

Hence forth explaining why she has such a nice voice. Yeah with characters like Hiro (Hidamari Sketch), Bell (Night Wizard), and Kate (Sketchbook). Well I'm becoming fond of her.

Shouko starts raving about Makoto and her talent and makes no fucking sense.

In other words she's being completely normal I guess. Ah, but that's Shouko for you. Love makes one insane.

Yumiko is drawing Touka (and Momoka and Haruhiko). She should have followed Kouchou's lead and made her own doujin circle.

Yeah, but given the powers she has that could have scary results. Especially if she decides to pair up people that don't want to be together.

... and now we seem to be rewatching the same day. I guess Yumiko is causing it because she likes this day. Though Makoto seems to still have her memories from the previous day.

Kind of weird how Makoto was the only that noticed things were wrong. Which does make one curious. Still part of the fun was noticing the subtle changes in some scenes due to her noticing and reacting accordingly.

Makoto stares down the underclassman for no apparent reason. I'm guessing it has something to do with the love letter but I'm not sure what.

I think she figured since things seemed to be repeating themselves that she'd want to study the person in question this time. That way if the day repeated a third time, she could double check.

Yep, Shouko has a hit list for her rivals. ... And she just jumped out like the fifth tenth floor of a building. Shouko is awesome.

It looks like your theory that Touko was taken out by Shouko is becoming even more valid now. Ah poor Touko, we'll miss you.

Was the whole point of the episode to give a reason for Yumiko to say her lines and hint that something similar happened to Makoto before?

The episode mainly made me wonder if Yumiko is more aware of her powers than I would have previously thought. I got the impression from the thing that she knew full well the day was repeating.

Not that I'm comlaining about a Makoto-centric episode, mind you, though I would have preferred it involved more of her trying to take Momoka's virginity.

Shouko wants Makoto's virginity. Makoto wants Momoka's virginity. There needs to be a three way badly. Just a matter of getting Shouko to spare Momoka and having Touka be distracted by Yumiko. Meanwhile the Kouchou should watch Yuriko the catgirl make out with Asuna. I'm drawing a blank for the rest.

[something]

Hence forth explaining why she has such a nice voice. Yeah with characters like Hiro (Hidamari Sketch), Bell (Night Wizard), and Kate (Sketchbook). Well I'm becoming fond of her.
...And MIKURU!

Yeah, but given the powers she has that could have scary results. Especially if she decides to pair up people that don't want to be together.
I wonder if it's still considered a "fan" pairing at that point. If only I had that power, nobody would be arguing "ambiguity" in Marimite >_>

Shouko wants Makoto's virginity. Makoto wants Momoka's virginity. There needs to be a three way badly. Just a matter of getting Shouko to spare Momoka and having Touka be distracted by Yumiko. Meanwhile the Kouchou should watch Yuriko the catgirl make out with Asuna. I'm drawing a blank for the rest.
Well we have Kikyou and Juna as canon. Touko seems to want Makoto. Kochou can have epic threesome demon incest, then Yuriko and Asuna join for an orgy. Or maybe... I have to save one epic pairing for when you get farther in the show. Actually, it would be a three way!

I really should be doing work at work instead of thinking up yuri pairings at work >_>

[Suwako Moriya]

Hence forth explaining why she has such a nice voice. Yeah with characters like Hiro (Hidamari Sketch), Bell (Night Wizard), and Kate (Sketchbook). Well I'm becoming fond of her.
...And MIKURU!

I kind of forgot about her, but then again it's been awhile since I watched the series in Japanese. Plus well she's the type of character you stare at more than listen to. What? Either way I guess it would be good to eventually re-watch the series in Japanese. Just not sure when that will be.

I wonder if it's still considered a "fan" pairing at that point. If only I had that power, nobody would be arguing "ambiguity" in Marimite >_>

Which reminds me, I still need to finish watching the third season of that. *Checks* Okay time to start watching episode 04 now. After all Maria-sama is glaring at me.

Well we have Kikyou and Juna as canon. Touko seems to want Makoto. Kochou can have epic threesome demon incest, then Yuriko and Asuna join for an orgy. Or maybe... I have to save one epic pairing for when you get farther in the show. Actually, it would be a three way!

Ah so many brilliant ideas we could come up with here. Epic pairing(trio)? Hmm this could be interesting. Hence forth even more reason to keep watching.

I really should be doing work at work instead of thinking up yuri pairings at work >_>

The solution is to make it so thinking up yuri pairings is your career.

[HitokiriShadow]

Sort of puts Yumiko's behavior in perspective, although since she wasn't born yet she couldn't have *seen* it per se. Maybe she just instinctively is influenced :sd:

Well, she was raped herself and I'd imagine eventually she got wind of her mother's situation to some degree.


Well, Kiyoharu and Yuriko do love each other, although it's still incredibly creepy, yes.

They do, though that scene certainly didn't seem consentual on Yuriko's part.



I think she just hates her because she keeps her beloved Nene busy.

Yes, that would make sense. At the time, it seemed like she was surprised at Juna's presense but perhaps that wasn't the case.


Yeah, bingo. All along Haruhiko's father has called himself Kiyoharu and thus lusted after his sister Yumiko but... he ain't Kiyoharu at all. As he admits in the first episode, he's really Kiyotsugu.

I vaguely remembered the names being mentioned and Yumiko becoming Yuriko or something and saying something to him but because I had no context to put things and was trying to make sense of everything at the time, those first few episodes are rather blurry. I should probably rewatch the first three episodes before I continue on.



That's one of the Kamiazuma maids I assumed, not someone returning. She's voiced by Shouko's VA far as I can tell, though I don't think there's significance in it. You'd almost think it could be a young Nene but there's no real evidence and presumably she ages more slowly than that.

Yeah, she doesn't look like anyone we've met before. You had mentioned something about Anna and/or Nene's sister in your post. I vaguely recall a girl we hadn't met before in the Lilith episode and I guess that might have been her.

And as for the ballistics... caus the story demands it. Or because the angle they can depict is constrained by the limits of the stage being used. Remember in the flashback, Yumiko was standing directly behind Kiyoharu. They just didn't quite depict that on stage.

Yes, now that you mention in it, I recall the angle being different and it looking more sensible in the flashback. All the more reason to actually go back and watch those first three episodes.


I don't think they said here, assumption was just that she died or disappeared at some point after giving birth and Yummiko was taken in by the Kamiazumas anyway.

No, they didn't say it here, Nene simply says that she and Kiyotsugu are no longer in this world (which presumably means "dead" though I suppose they could reveal that she was in some other world later).

We finally get family name for Momoka (or did I just miss it before?)
I think you missed it, but I can't be sure without checking for it.

I probably did miss it.


Hmm I figured that some people would react to it like that. I know it was abrupt and certainly an unusual way to do backstory, and there certainly is a convenience factor to it, but I still thought it was absofuckingloutely brilliant. The only other way to do it, really, was one giant flashback, or series of flashbacks. And that's sort of what this was, a flashback - just done in an infinitely more interesting manner. Easily one of my favorite episodes in the series.

The episode was by no means bad and I did like what they did. It just feels a little awkward as the previous 8+ episodes revealed very little and then you suddenly have this massive info dump done in a manner completely different than everything else.

[HitokiriShadow]

Yumiko is drawing Touka (and Momoka and Haruhiko). She should have followed Kouchou's lead and made her own doujin circle.

Yeah, but given the powers she has that could have scary results. Especially if she decides to pair up people that don't want to be together.

I'd imagine that if Yumiko wanted two people to be together, they would want to be together. And really, at least one of them would have to want it for it to happen even at the behest of Yumiko's powers. ... Well, maybe not. Maybe there would be some giant invisible force making two people make out when they didn't want to. yeah, that would be... more than a little awkward.

Makoto stares down the underclassman for no apparent reason. I'm guessing it has something to do with the love letter but I'm not sure what.

I think she figured since things seemed to be repeating themselves that she'd want to study the person in question this time. That way if the day repeated a third time, she could double check.

Yes, that would make sense.


Was the whole point of the episode to give a reason for Yumiko to say her lines and hint that something similar happened to Makoto before?

The episode mainly made me wonder if Yumiko is more aware of her powers than I would have previously thought. I got the impression from the thing that she knew full well the day was repeating.

Another sensible explanation.


Shouko wants Makoto's virginity. Makoto wants Momoka's virginity. There needs to be a three way badly. Just a matter of getting Shouko to spare Momoka and having Touka be distracted by Yumiko. Meanwhile the Kouchou should watch Yuriko the catgirl make out with Asuna. I'm drawing a blank for the rest.

Kouchou would just watch? How boring. They should, at the very least, engage in "epic threesome demon incest." And I doubt they would miss the opportunity to humiliate and abuse shouko. As for the rest... I think I know the epic pairing something is talking about, unless there is something even better coming up past what I've seen. And we need to include Fuu in there somewhere. I was disappointed that she appeared so late in the timeline/early in the show and we've seen nothing of her sense aside from a tiny bit more of her in the flasback.

[something]

Yeah, she doesn't look like anyone we've met before. You had mentioned something about Anna and/or Nene's sister in your post. I vaguely recall a girl we hadn't met before in the Lilith episode and I guess that might have been her.
Which girl? The Eve reincarnation (that was the other Midou sister, Sarara). Or the older woman (Yukihime, their mother). Or someone else?

[HitokiriShadow]

I thought there was a third little girl along with Nene and Kaya.

[something]

I thought there was a third little girl along with Nene and Kaya.
::checks episode:: Anna, the... second or third sister, I forget how the ages work but Sarara was clearly the oldest, so I assume Sarara > Anna > Nene > Kaya

[HitokiriShadow]

After those revelations in the previous episode that help clear up a lot of things, now would probably be a good time to go rewatch some of the earlier episodes. I'm going to rewatch 1-5, the end of 6, 7, and 10 now but this time in chronological order.

*watches* 3 hours later... Okay, that reminded me of a lot of things I had forgotten about. Rewatching sort of confirmed my speculation that Touka is a replacement for Yumiko's child, the little girl we haven't seen since episode 4, at least in some sense. However, it also reminded me about Kikyou's dolls and Kouchou called Touka a doll at one point. In fact, Touka leaves behind one of Kikyou's dolls when he disappears. That's a pretty big blow to my "Yumiko willed Touka into existence to replace her lost child" theory. However, that doesn't necessarily completely kill it, its just more complicated than that and she didn't will (this) Touka into existence). She could, however, have influenced an existence into becoming her replacement child or otherwise influenced the doll.

Also, while I only noticed it a couple episodes ago, they have been showing Momoka splitting the chopsticks imperfectly a number of times. I was suspicious when I noticed it before, but doing it repeatedly... there is something significant about that, probably relating to the identity issues Touka and Momoka deal with. Yumiko had it a bit, but that was different and it was mostly Touka emphasizing, probably reflecting his and Momoka's issues more than Yumiko's.

I'm also really curious how Yurika fits into things. She appeared, claimed she hated Sei, then disappeared. We were never given much information on her. Considering how well put together this is, I doubt she was just random fanservice fodder and/or they just forgot about her. Or at least I hope that wasn't the case.

On another note, three sisters (Juna, Sei, Fuu), three demons of Ninomiya. I doubt that's a coincidence.

Rewatching all that ignited a lot of speculation and questions, but can't address all of them here. Heck, after all that, I can't even remember all of it now. I'll just deal with them should they become relevant or something reminds me of it.


Anyway, on to episode 20:



Looks like this episode will reveal more on the little girl. After watching the early episodes.

The girl's name seems to actually be Touka and its not just Yumiko mixing things up in her memories. Yet more evidence that the Touka we know is a replacement. Maybe. This is her dream and its presumably accurate, but you never know. I think its safe to assume it is, though.

Momoka lets no peaches go to waste. Safe! "Are you a dog!?" *squeals*

With all the cross-dressing Touka does as well as some other things, such as this peach stuff, I'm thinking Touka is more than simply replacing the previous Touka. I suppose it could be the Stone Sword's memories but I think its more than that.

MMmm, Yumiko has absolutley divine legs.

Shouko has her eye on the prize. Go, Shouko! Give us Get a nice view!

It's Kikyou! That reminds me, in episode 2, she is called the Ghost Princess of Okumiya. In episode 1, the head of the Kamiazuma's sends Kiyoharu-who-is-actually-Kiyotsugu to Okumiya... which is apparently where Yumiko and the others have been living. So I guess all of them are livining at Kikyou's place?

And there is a giant friggin peach just floating by. Momoka is a little shocked...

I like InuMomoka.

Er, something funny is going on with Shouko's legs. The heck?

So is this when Touka first learns of the Stone Sword? When Kouchou asks to borrow it, he doesn't seem to know what it is. ... Yep, this is when he first learns of it. Once again, something I thought would have been present closer to the beginning doesn't come into play until later.

Oh shit. Touka's been stabbed by his own sword.

Momoka can smell Touka. She really is a dog...

So is this when Haruhiko gets the scar or is his body just remembering the pain of a scar he already had? Since he's not bleeding now, he must already have it. And that just makes more sense.

And now they spell out that Touka is a doll just like Kouchou. At this point, I think Yumiko had little if anything to do with Touka's creation. I'm now suspecting he was created not for Yumiko's sake but for controlling Juna's powers or something else relating to Juna. ... But he is definitely a replacement, he just didn't become one the way I had originally thought.

So now the question is... what happened to the original Touka? She doesn't seem to be around, so how is she here? And what is she doing to her replacement?

Touka was... born from a peach? I guess this means she found him at some point? Or perhaps she found the original that way? Since she seems unable to distinguish between the original and the replacement, she probably means the original. But whether she means it literally or means something else... well, I guess I'll just have to find out.

On another note, how is Touka's hair suddenly changing? Maybe its a result of Yumiko's whims? Or perhaps its his own will that's doing this.

[something]

Also, while I only noticed it a couple episodes ago, they have been showing Momoka splitting the chopsticks imperfectly a number of times. I was suspicious when I noticed it before, but doing it repeatedly... there is something significant about that, probably relating to the identity issues Touka and Momoka deal with.
I dunno, I thought she was just eager to eat and didn't care about splitting them cleanly when there was food waiting to be consumed :sd:

Shouko has her eye on the prize. Go, Shouko! Give us Get a nice view!
Delicious peaches...

Er, something funny is going on with Shouko's legs. The heck?
They're "censoring" her vomit. :sd: Why she's vomiting, I'm not sure. That peach scene was... confusing.

So now the question is... what happened to the original Touka? She doesn't seem to be around, so how is she here? And what is she doing to her replacement?
Obviously I won't explain yet, but I will say it took until the 2nd or 3rd viewing to totally straighten this out for me, so if you aren't entirely certain when you finish, don't worry.

On another note, how is Touka's hair suddenly changing? Maybe its a result of Yumiko's whims? Or perhaps its his own will that's doing this.
Wouldn't it just be a wig? That's what I had always assumed. He does love to dress up (or to let Yumiko dress him up).

[Suwako Moriya]

Wow so Kaya loves and I mean loves her sister. A love that's lasted a rather long time. Ah the world of incest is strong here. Although given the past shows them as young children, I have to wonder what type of age process those two have. The one where it takes say X number of years to age 1 human year. Or the type where they age normally, but once they reach that certain age they stop aging.

[Suwako Moriya]

- Makoto seems to be having an unhappy dream of some sort.

Ah darn it, the only thing my Makoto should be having is wonderful happy dreams involving uh do I even need to say it?

- Oooh, hot miko is the... school nurse? Also, Mako-chan doesn't look like she's doing too well. And Shouko, nowhere near her, catches her "help me" vibes, recognizing the "MAKO-CHAN SOS" XD

So true love means the benefits of a personal radar? Well whatever works to get Shouko near Makoto is fine by me.

Shouko sees Makoto, and wants to, uh, do CPR, when Makoto opens her eyes and says "I'm still breathing..." XD

So close and yet so far. *Feels sorry for Shouko*

- Haha oh god. Makoto has a dream about blood all over her hands, a giant tanuki appearing and then... then her crotch begins to glow from under the blanket o_O

Any of those separately wouldn't be strange, but when combined together it's a WTH type moment. And I mean WTH instead of WTF.

Man, so much hinges on Makoto :sd:

Which is probably both a good thing and a bad thing. In any case it's scary how much trouble these "other sides" can cause the characters in the story.

At any rate, doesn't matter, because it looks like this is where a lot of stuff started. Momoka flirts with the boundaries of her Sei personality, Juna becomes aware of Sei, Makoto's dragon manifests, Touka experiences the allure of the Stone Sword... interesting~

Isn't wonderful how we can blame everything on a girl's period? Err yeah if anyone takes that seriously, I'm probably dead. *Finds human shield to use*

Oh yeah, and this is where Kaya assumes human form.

Ah so there is still some Kaya goodness to be had and who knows maybe the "cat" will show up in the earlier episodes. Yes obviously those who have seen more likely know.

She walks down the street like this, but is still causing accidents. "That one wasn't my fault!" XD

Ah Kaya destroyer of trucks and other vehicles. Her power is awesome. ;)

[Suwako Moriya]

Momoka loooves (http://moe.imouto.org/post/show/8816) strawberries. If only more shows could learn from Touka Gettan what real fanservice can be if you know what you're doing.
I suddenly have a hankering for Strawberries. And I really wish more anime would do fanservice the way Touka Gettan (I'm looking at you Rosario + Vampire).

Truth be told I've had a liking for strawberries even before this. However that image just makes the love even stronger. In any case I am rather impressed as to the way Touka Gettan handles fanservice. They make sure it feels sexual rather than forces. As for the random "Rosario + Vampire" comment. All I'll say is the less I see of that the better.

[HitokiriShadow]

Hmmm, its in black and white.

So it looks like Momoka asking about her first period wasn't the first indication she had that things weren't all right. It was just yet another reminder on top of others. Her memories are a mess and she knows it and has recurring dreams of soemthing or another. Perhaps dreams of Sei's memories?

Momoka questions and worries about her identiy. And now Touka and Momoka are smelling each other. I guess they are wearing some really nice (and strong) perfume/cologne.

I had thought that the black and white (or perhasp grayscale would be more accurate) view was indicative of Momoka dreaming, but she doesn't seem to be dreaming anymore. ... After wondering if perhaps I had pressed some key that changed my player's display to black and white, I could see that there definitely was some color and they even did the OP in grayscale... mostly. The text was red and they cherry blossoms were still pink. Interesting.

Uh oh, the food is melting, better eat it quick. Now her hands are a mess, but fortunately, Touka his there to help out... or not. And the popsickle stick is jammed in his head.

Makoto starts lusting after Momoka... and telling her about said lusting right to her face. And then she jumps her. Go Makoto! Don't fight it, Momoka!

Momoka sees Touka with Asuna. Momoka doesn't like that...

Momoka doesn't seem to be surprised at Touka dressing up all girly, so this must be a regular occurance... or she just doesn't care because its Touka and he awesome and cute and beautiful and can do whatever the fuck he wants.

Ah, now we are getting some color.

Now there's a nice view of Yumiko. A shame its not in color...

It always amazes me that there are all these different names for these colors. To me its just Blue, dark blue, slighly lighter dark blue, really light blue, etc. And I'm not just talking about Japanese. In English, you get all these slight variations with their own name like Super Pearl Earth Quasi-Pink White because its slightly different from Heavenly Pure Salt White and, dammit, we need to name them all!

"Why don't you apply it on each other?" Momoka is shocked and doesn't seem particularly appreciative of the idea (but I love the face she makes when she reacts to it). I think Yumiko's on the right track, she just needs to try again when its Momoka and Makoto.

Touka, on the other hand, wastes no time preparing. And this clearly is not his first attempt at this.

Momoka has opened her heart and is feeling relieved to do so. I'm guessing the color will return soon as a symbol of Momoka attaing peace in her heart. ... Or maybe not.

Okay, so perhaps when she opens her heart to Touka instead. That would make more sense anyway considering their relationship. .... Nope, it was the sun that restored color to the world.

And we get a bunch of cherry blossoms, much like we saw in land of Kamiazuma in episode one, after everyone finished the concert ritual.


The whole episode was very nice and gives a better understanding of Momoka's character. It also really helps put the later lines between her and Touka about her identity ("Momoka is Momoka! Say you're Momoka" from the episode in which Juna awakens, for example) in context.

[something]

Momoka questions and worries about her identiy. And now Touka and Momoka are smelling each other. I guess they are wearing some really nice (and strong) perfume/cologne.
He was getting all up in her personal space with that sniffing. Naughty Touka. I was expecting him to see if her crotch smelled nice too.

And the popsickle stick is jammed in his head.
And he just walks away with it there >_>

"Why don't you apply it on each other?" Momoka is shocked and doesn't seem particularly appreciative of the idea (but I love the face she makes when she reacts to it).
Heh, she totally appreciates it, it just makes her nervous as hell.

Okay, so perhaps when she opens her heart to Touka instead. That would make more sense anyway considering their relationship. .... Nope, it was the sun that restored color to the world. And we get a bunch of cherry blossoms, much like we saw in land of Kamiazuma in episode one, after everyone finished the concert ritual.

The whole episode was very nice and gives a better understanding of Momoka's character.
Well, peach blossoms (momo blossoms!) I assume, though I have no idea how biologically different they are. Also puts her interest in the Kochou's peach pickin event in context. Although I guess "I'm hungry" was about all the Momoka context that needed... But yes, great development for Momoka, who she is and why she's like that, what she hopes for and what she fears.

It was a beautiful scene, and I'm pretty sure I got a little teary eyed the first time. Momoka just looks so profoundly happy when she thanked Touka. There are a number of really drop dead gorgeous scenes like this: the end of 19 and curtain call, the Kochou in butterfly form "doting" on Touka as Momoka recalls how beautiful the world is, and of course an upcoming scene.

[HitokiriShadow]

Something just ran past Momoka.... looks like it took a chunk of her hair with her. Could this possibly have anything to do with Yurika? Given how the failed "infiltration" she seemed to be a part of happens 10 episodes later, it seems unlikely. But I hope it is because it would be nice to actually know something about her as at this point it seems like her sole purpose in the show was to be the Kouchou's toy.

Yay, its Kikyou. We haven't seen her actually do anything since.... I don't remember, it's been a while. And it looks like this is before Momoka (and Touka?) have become well known and are still newcomers.

Kikyou finds Momoka's shoes then puts them on Momoka's feet herself... and just walks off. The whole scene awes the nearby students.

Is Asuna lusting after Momoka afterall? Perhaps she just wanted to meet with Touka to have him help her get closer to Momoka?

Looks like the girls are ignoring Momoka. I guess they don't like her because of the thing with Kikyou? But I'm not really getting jealous vibes right now, just mild discomfort with her presence. Perhaps something to do with Kouchou, since two of their servants were watching and seemed to have ill intentions.

Or maybe Asuna is interested in Touka? Maybe she wants both of them.

At this point, Momoka doesn't seem to be jealous. Or maybe she's just acting happy about the food to cover it up? No, she seems somewhat torn or confused herself about how she feels about this. I guess at this point, her feelings haven't quite developed enough for her to be jealous of other girls.

It would seem Momoka has earned the wrath of other students after all. Unless something happened prior to this that they will show later, it probably has to do with Kikyou from earlier.

But the Kouchou seem to have had Asuna bring Touka to them for whatever they currently want to do to amuse themselves and they were annoyed with Momoka earlier do to her interfering.

Ha, they want Touka to play a giant board game for their amusement. ... and Asuna is really appreciative of the "Onee-samas"

Oh, gross. Someone stuck a semen-filled condom in Momoka's lunch. Even Momoka has limits to what she'll eat, and this most certainly doesn't meet her standards.

*pause for thought* Bad things were happening to Momoka even before the incident with Kikyou, so that probably isn't it. Kouchou was angry at Momoka, but this really doesn't seem like their style. They are more direct and less malicious. So I think the bad things happening to Momoka are a result of something else. Perhaps Yurika, who we know hates Sae but not for what reason, is doing something. Or maybe Asuna is much crueler than we've thought but for some reason stops after this episode is done. Time to watch and find out, begin part 2.*

Even Mako-chan seems to be ignoring her now, or she just couldn't hear Momoka before the other girls dragged her off. The last seems most likely.

And now someone taped a picture of Momoka's face over a lewd poster. I guess photoshop hasn't been invented yet. Momoka's face is priceless. I mean, poor Momoka.

I like Asuna's new outfit. Haha, its a cosplay board game. <3 Kouchou. I wonder what Touka is wearing... "Punish the bad guys!" "Okay!" Asuna is realy enjoying this.

Something tells me Momoka isn't going to like this gift... yep. This really strikes me as the kind of thing an evil bitch would do to a romantic rival she hates. Like Asuna... but that would require Asuna to somehow convince all these other students to abuse Momoka for her sake and I don't see how she could do that. And she did seem to be hot for Momoka as well... unless she was just hot for her destruction. But while I could kind of see that being the case, I am highly skeptical of it and I don't think that's what's going on.

And now Asuna has a baby Yumiko in a baby carriage (along with her spirit buddies). And now she has an eggplant. I guess that's some Japanese joke based on wordplay or some othe cultural thing.

Asuna is hot. And very willing. Any sane guy would jump at this oppurtunity.

Random girl A is being groped by random girl B while random girl C is half undressed. And we get another lovely shot of Momoka's rear. Yum.

And now someone killed a chicken and used its blood to paint Momoka's uniform. My god, someone really hates Momoka... or Sae. Asuna is using this chance to get to Touka but... I just don't see her doing this kind of thing, let alone convincing the student body to do her will. I still don't see this as the kind of thing Kouchou would do. I could see the new girl getting the campus goddess's attention to be something that would rile a few feathers and that seems the most logical explanation at this point, but this is so extreme and everyone seems to hate Momoka... I just don't think that can be explained away by people being jealous of Momoka getting Kikyou's attention. And then there is the fact that things were happening to her before that and there was that shadow at the beginning of the episode, and the episode is titled "Shadow" after all...

Momoka flips the hell out. Take that bitches! Go Momoka, er, Sei!

One of the Kouchou is holding "baby" Yumiko. It's.... really cute.

So this is where Momoka becomes a super glutton.

And then it ends, with Kouchou watching them. None of Momoka's abuse is explained and it just stops since everyone seems to be fine with Momoka the next time we see them at school. I guess the next episode will explain it. I hope. At this point, the only explanation offered is that Kouchou was doing it but... at the moment, that doesn't make much sense either. Yes, they were annoyed at Momoka for blocking their view of Touka's mole, but this just isn't the kind of thing I can see them doing and influencing the behavior of everyone in school seems beyond their powers.

I think its either Yurika causing it or its something to do with Momoka's existence and her "birth" (but there are 4 episodes left, so it seems to early/late for her to be coming into existence now), perhaps a necessary ritual that involves her absorbing everyone's hatred... or something like that. But that seems like more than a little bit of a stretch, and it didn't involve everyone, since as far as we can tell, Shouko (who we never even saw) and Makoto didn't seem to be involved, even if this "ritual" was some mystic unconscious thing that compelled everyone to do it. So basically, I think it's related to Yurika or something else entirely. And if its supposed to be Kouchou that's causing all of it, I'd just be really disappointed.

[something]

Of course, database error for the 30 seconds I try to submit this reply >_>

Well, not that I can say much of anything really.

At this point, Momoka doesn't seem to be jealous. Or maybe she's just acting happy about the food to cover it up?
I love the bizarre stretchy boingy rubbery thingie she does here. And the sound it makes.

Ha, they want Touka to play a giant board game for their amusement. ... and Asuna is really appreciative of the "Onee-samas"
Asuna and Touka playing a giant game of Life while Momoka gets horribly abused. Oh Touka Gettan.

Oh, gross. Someone stuck a semen-filled condom in Momoka's lunch. Even Momoka has limits to what she'll eat, and this most certainly doesn't meet her standards.
It was here that I knew the episode was going to be brutal.

Even Mako-chan seems to be ignoring her now, or she just couldn't hear Momoka before the other girls dragged her off. The last seems most likely.
Has to be the latter, Makoto would never go along with this.

Momoka flips the hell out. Take that bitches! Go Momoka, er, Sei!
That was so satisfying. Too bad it didn't last longer.

Can't comment on anything of substance, though I'm sure I'll forget what I wanted to say by the time you'd feel comfortable revisiting these points.

[HitokiriShadow]

Momoka already seems to be on the gluttonous side, though she hasn't dedicated her second heart to food yet.

I just want to reitterate that Yumiko is awesome. <3 Yumiko. Right then, moving along...

Apparently, Momoka is Haruhiko's fiancee. Uh, well that's an interesting development. He poors salt in his tea like Momoka did, but he doesn't seem to like it.

There's Makoto... wearing a cute little hat and armband and holdling a flag. Is she supposed to be a traffic director or something? ... Ah, she's a tour conductor. A very cute tour guide. You can guide me, Mako-chan~!

At this point, Touka and Momoka have not yet met Kikyou, nor even know who she is. Apparently Kikyou's Lucky Power wasn't working right in the last episode. Now it makes sense!

And now we know why everyone hated Momoka: She made fun of their weather forcaster. I guess they were going to punish Touka later.

Haruhiko has a very healthy imagination.

Oh, now where have I heard that laught before? Uh oh, strange shit be happening...

I'm suddenly wondering, during that whole Isabahiko thing with the sword... where the heck was Kikyou?

So this is when Asuna first meets Touka and seems to fall in love with him at first sight. A bunch of other girls are watching and admiring Kikyou and wondering who the new girl is... but absolutely no signs of jealousy or anger.

So Haruhiko isn't engaged to Momoka after all. Well that explains why we never heard anything about him and Momoka being engaged before.

Touka tries salt in his coffee (or is it tea?) and he seems to like it.

.... and then it ends.



So we get no goddamn explanation or hint as to what happened in the previous episode. Then again, that episode seemed to hint that Yurika was involved and its been over ten episodes since we last saw her. Maybe they'll yet give a reason for her existence and an explanation for Momoka's abuse.

There are now three episodes left with a lot of questions left to answer. Here's hoping they can cover everything well.

[something]

So Haruhiko isn't engaged to Momoka after all. Well that explains why we never heard anything about him and Momoka being engaged before.
Mo Moka Conjounashi! That cracked me up.

There are now three episodes left with a lot of questions left to answer. Here's hoping they can cover everything well.
*I* think they do but I'm increasingly convinced you won't think so. And I think I can predict the reason, heh.

[HitokiriShadow]

Hmmmm, that worries me a bit. If they never really explain Yurika's motives, that won't be a big deal. I'll be more disappointed if they don't explain all that abuse Momoka was getting and how it suddenly started and then stopped... that would be disappointing and unsatisfying. That's a pretty big thing to do and then just not make any sense out of. Still, it wouldn't have a huge impact on the series as a whole, just a noticeable little blotch. If it's something else... well, I'll just have to see.

[HitokiriShadow]

So now we have Haruhiko meeting Momoka for the first time and thinking she's his fiancee. He is... quite happy. Creepily so.

Makoto and Momoka seem to already be acquainted.

Momoka is in high school and doesn't even know what a school is. It makes sense as she's just been "born" but that should be a pretty big warning sign that something is up right there.

She thinks its Touka Academy. XD Wait.. it is Touka Academy?

"Rokujou Shoukou is being sent" Shouko's been quite the mystery up until this point. We know she has her own little group and hates the Demons of the Second Shrine, but we don't know what that group really is or why she hates them.

There's Touko! And she's really out of it...

Kiyoharu gave quite the impressive speech. We are once again reminded of Mako's dragon. Another plot point that needs to be wrapped up in these remaining episodes. I don't think we are going to see when she learns of it or when she begins training and working for Kikyou, but I guess that's not really necessary.

Now we see the hot nurse again. Unsurprisingly, she was not terribly thrilled with sleeping with the old man and she has no intention of ever doing so again. Maybe she wasn't the woman in the first episode after all.

It seems that Kouchou are already familiar with Shoukou and the Lotus Association, so they aren't new here. Or at least they aren't unfamiliar to Kouchou.

Oh, so Asuna has met Touka before. And its lust at first sight.

Asuna is all sweet here. Nothing like the nymphomaniac we see two episodes before. She is rather forward though, no stammering "ano, ano, ano..."

And Shoukou already has her Mako license plate. I guess she knows her already, too.

Okay, Asuna is already showing that she is very willing. She flat out says "Do you want to touch me?" ... And Touka obliges. He doesn't seem satisfied though. Poor girl, he just walks off after groping her.

It's.... a giant three headed duck dragon thing... the Shouko abuse begins! <3 Kouchou.

Hahah, and <3 Shouko as well. And it would seem that the Lotus Association is bigger than just a school club. And she has the heart of a prince in love with a young girl!

Yumiko is freaking out. I think this is the first time Yumiko has appeared the least bit stressed. Well, other than episode one, when she breaks down in tears (and made me cry too, on the rewatch).

Ah, now we know why we keep seeing Yumiko's alter ego at various points in the series. She wants to be a high school student again to escape the stress of adult life. And there she is! *smile, smile*

So Kouchou are the "eight headed dragon" Cue more puns to taunt Shouko.

I just noticed that the three Koucho all have their eyes drawn differently. Not like I'm going to bother trying to tell them apart. Kouchou bunny-girls!

"OH YEAH!" LOL

Oh? A new character that we haven't seen before (though he may have been hanging out in the background at some point). It's a teacher. He sounds pretty young. And familiar.

So Makoto is a transfer student as well. I'm guessing she's part of the Lotus Association. That would explain how Shoukou already knows her, and probably Kikyou as well.

Good catch, Momoka! It seems Makoto couldn't see Yumiko.

Maybe this is what pissed so many people off. Or they just aren't going to explain it. It still doesn't explain why the guys cared. ... yep, this seems to be why they hate Momoka. Good. It still doesn't explain why so many guys seemed to be in on it or how they suddenly stopped caring, but it is an explanation for it and it absolves Asuna and Kouchou (not that there was much a a chance they were actually involved anyway, but still), so I'm satisfied.

"You can't do that Haruhiko-kun" Indeed. Bad Haruhiko-kun. Though I can certainly sympathize. He puts up a lame excuse but Nene doesn't seem to buy it.

And the scene with Touka at the end... very nice. Beautiful even.


Well, they gave an explanation for the events in episode 22, so that's good. I guess the shadow at the beginning was just one of the girls. I stopped expecting any explanation for Yurika around episode 16 and if they do give one, great, if not, no big deal. Only two episodes left, so I hope they can wrap things up well and explain everything, or at least all the important points, properly.

[something]

Ok, I think I can actually respond to most (but not all) of this now.

She thinks its Touka Academy. XD Wait.. it is Touka Academy?
Heh, I swore they mentioned the mane many times before. But maybe not... seeing something 3-4 times warps your sense of when minor things happen, especially when it's backwards.

Kiyoharu gave quite the impressive speech.
::stare:: ::grasp eye in pain:: ::get helped off stage:: Great way to give the new student body confidence.

Okay, Asuna is already showing that she is very willing. She flat out says "Do you want to touch me?" ... And Touka obliges. He doesn't seem satisfied though. Poor girl, he just walks off after groping her.
I read that as either impressed, but he also measured her against mama and found her lacking. :sd: Though almost none of the Touka Gettan girls can be called "lacking"...

Hahah, and <3 Shouko as well. And it would seem that the Lotus Association is bigger than just a school club. And she has the heart of a prince in love with a young girl!
Hanaichimome~~ (or whatever it was) Bunnygirl Kochou is so sexy~ Though I like the Lotus Association's choice of uniform as well.

Ah, now we know why we keep seeing Yumiko's alter ego at various points in the series. She wants to be a high school student again to escape the stress of adult life. And there she is! *smile, smile*
That was hands down one of the most brilliant things in the show. All along we're wondering, "Who the hell is this Yumiko-like thing?" And it was all simply because of THAT. Amazing.

I just noticed that the three Koucho all have their eyes drawn differently. Not like I'm going to bother trying to tell them apart. Kouchou bunny-girls!
Yep, I noticed that as well, though I didn't bother trying to remember either. :sd: I just figured the one in the middle would always be "onee-sama".

yep, this seems to be why they hate Momoka. Good. It still doesn't explain why so many guys seemed to be in on it or how they suddenly stopped caring, but it is an explanation for it and it absolves Asuna and Kouchou (not that there was much a a chance they were actually involved anyway, but still), so I'm satisfied.
Hah, surprising, you were more satisfied by that than I was. it certainly helped a lot but I still think the Momoka bullying is the least well explained major plot aspect. To be honest, I sort of feel like they wanted to make it REALLY dramatic, but in doing so were too successful and created a situation where viewers started expecting a really detailed, concrete explanation of WHY.

There are a number of semi-plausible explanations I've thought of. Kochou being uncharacteristically harsh. Kochou needing Sei's power to manifest [Edit: Hell, if it was a necessary development, Kikyou might have even been in on it too... I never considered that before. She had to know the shoe event would spark intense jealousy, and it would explain why she made no effort to protect Momoka despite saving her just the episode before]. Rogue elements in Ninomiya taking their dedication to the Kochou a bit too far. The students snapping when Momoka is shown to be close not only to their Touka-sama but also to Kikyou, which could explain why the guys get in on it too. Or a combination where the student explanation is exacerbated by the Ninomiya explanation, with Kochou or rogue elements (or whoever else) capitalizing on existing student jealousy and mistrust to make a far more extreme situation than would have materialized otherwise.

Regardless of what it's supposed to be, it's a fact that Momoka is given nary a dirty glance for the rest of the story after the abuse episode. Well, there is one small thing - she runs into a girl and gets an annoyed look even though she apologizes, but I don't think that was intended to be a connection, and arguing it is might just be a result of trying too hard to absolve the writers of a mistake :sd:

Even so, one major thing tempers my criticism of this whole event. That is: It's not like Momoka is ever extremely popular at school. She doesn't go from getting beat up to becoming the school idol. When you look back at 1-21, you realize that she's almost never depicted talking to anyone else. At school she's friends with Haruhiko, Touka, Makoto, Kikyou and simply by association Shouko, but that's it. She never really "fits in" completely, and one major aspect of her character is how she's always flitting around from food source to food source essentially alone, not being actively scored by the student body but also never quite integrating with them. She's like a bumblebee dashing around a field, largely ignored by the flowers until she lands directly on one. And while the students seem to accept her and Touka to some degree during the ice skating episode, that could be explained with the passing of time. So even if they never properly show the transition from "headless chickens in your locker" to "never teasing you again", they do nonetheless set the stage for her somewhat disconnected relationship to the rest of Touka Academy.

...Or maybe they were too lazy to draw scenes of her interacting with unnamed characters. Even so, we have what we have and it satisfies me a little more.

One important point I couldn't work in above is the role of Sei's power. If the students were under the influence of something, having Sei manifest and take out a wall of windows could certainly dispel it. Or alter their memories (we already know the goddesses can have some effect on minds). Or at the very least scare them all shitless...

"You can't do that Haruhiko-kun" Indeed. Bad Haruhiko-kun. Though I can certainly sympathize. He puts up a lame excuse but Nene doesn't seem to buy it.
He's thousands of years too young to put one over Nene. ...Literally.

And the scene with Touka at the end... very nice. Beautiful even.
I totally forgot that was this late in the series. Beautiful indeed, one of my absolute favorite visuals. Good god this needs a DVD transfer (coughLICENSEcough) badly.

Only two episodes left, so I hope they can wrap things up well and explain everything, or at least all the important points, properly.
Your reaction to 25 is going to be... very interesting, regardless of how you come down on it. I loved it, but that goes without saying.

[HitokiriShadow]

Heh, I swore they mentioned the mane many times before. But maybe not... seeing something 3-4 times warps your sense of when minor things happen, especially when it's backwards.

It's entirely possible I missed it and they've mentioned it before.




That was hands down one of the most brilliant things in the show. All along we're wondering, "Who the hell is this Yumiko-like thing?" And it was all simply because of THAT. Amazing.

It's things like this that make the reverse chronology so rewarding.




Hah, surprising, you were more satisfied by that than I was. it certainly helped a lot but I still think the Momoka bullying is the least well explained major plot aspect. To be honest, I sort of feel like they wanted to make it REALLY dramatic, but in doing so were too successful and created a situation where viewers started expecting a really detailed, concrete explanation of WHY.

Yeah, it could have been handled better but they did actually explain it, if only implicitly and vaguely. With nothing at all about it in the previous episode (and everyone seeming to have no problem with Momoka) and so much material left to cover, I was just glad they bothered explained it at all. At this point, I'm more worried about how they are they are going to explain everything else in the remaining two episodes.



There are a number of semi-plausible explanations I've thought of. Kochou being uncharacteristically harsh. Kochou needing Sei's power to manifest [Edit: Hell, if it was a necessary development, Kikyou might have even been in on it too... I never considered that before. She had to know the shoe event would spark intense jealousy, and it would explain why she made no effort to protect Momoka despite saving her just the episode before]. Rogue elements in Ninomiya taking their dedication to the Kochou a bit too far. The students snapping when Momoka is shown to be close not only to their Touka-sama but also to Kikyou, which could explain why the guys get in on it too. Or a combination where the student explanation is exacerbated by the Ninomiya explanation, with Kochou or rogue elements (or whoever else) capitalizing on existing student jealousy and mistrust to make a far more extreme situation than would have materialized otherwise.

I like the explanation of Kouchou (and even Kikyou) needing Sei's power to manifest. One possibility I had considered was that maybe her existence was one intended to absorb not people's hatred or simply needed to for some yet to be explained reason and it caused people to act in a vicious and cruel manner towards her. As it stands, they've chosen one of the least interesting explanations for the whole thing but my "Worst Case Scenario" was that they never explained it or that it was Kochou being uncharacteristically cruel due to the mole thing. They didn't go with either of those, so it was a decent, if not great, explanation in my book. I have mixed feelings on Asuna being behind it, but that certainly would have been an interesting twist, I think.

Regardless of what it's supposed to be, it's a fact that Momoka is given nary a dirty glance for the rest of the story after the abuse episode. Well, there is one small thing - she runs into a girl and gets an annoyed look even though she apologizes, but I don't think that was intended to be a connection, and arguing it is might just be a result of trying too hard to absolve the writers of a mistake :sd:

I'm more annoyed at that than I am at the explanation they give. It would have been easy to hint that some girls really hated Momoka's guts. They should have replaced the puppy episode (which I didn't dislike as much as you, I think, but was still very weak in comparison to everything else) with these girls trying to get Momoka again, ending with Kikyou and/or Touka getting pissed and laying a royal smackdown on them.

Even so, one major thing tempers my criticism of this whole event. That is: It's not like Momoka is ever extremely popular at school. She doesn't go from getting beat up to becoming the school idol. When you look back at 1-21, you realize that she's almost never depicted talking to anyone else. At school she's friends with Haruhiko, Touka, Makoto, Kikyou and simply by association Shouko, but that's it. She never really "fits in" completely, and one major aspect of her character is how she's always flitting around from food source to food source essentially alone, not being actively scored by the student body but also never quite integrating with them. She's like a bumblebee dashing around a field, largely ignored by the flowers until she lands directly on one. And while the students seem to accept her and Touka to some degree during the ice skating episode, that could be explained with the passing of time. So even if they never properly show the transition from "headless chickens in your locker" to "never teasing you again", they do nonetheless set the stage for her somewhat disconnected relationship to the rest of Touka Academy.

...Or maybe they were too lazy to draw scenes of her interacting with unnamed characters. Even so, we have what we have and it satisfies me a little more.

Hmmm, well, your first explanation makes it a little easier to swallow. In any case, It's a blotch on an otherwise excellent show, but its not something that really hurts it as a whole, so its a minor annoyance at worst. At the moment, even with these flaws, its an A+ in my book and I can't conceive of it failing hard enough to drop lower than an A- minus when all is said and done. They would have to have enormous plot holes or do something incredibly stupid for it to drop into the B range at this point.



One important point I couldn't work in above is the role of Sei's power. If the students were under the influence of something, having Sei manifest and take out a wall of windows could certainly dispel it. Or alter their memories (we already know the goddesses can have some effect on minds). Or at the very least scare them all shitless...

And I think that last point is why they stopped.



I totally forgot that was this late in the series. Beautiful indeed, one of my absolute favorite visuals. Good god this needs a DVD transfer (coughLICENSEcough) badly.

I want this licensed ASAP, but even with MediaBlasters, I think its chances are low. Those first 2-3 episodes are a pretty big barrier to people who are unwilling or unable to use a few brain cells to put things together. I think a lot of people would watch the first disc (even with 6 episodes) and be too confused and simply not bother. And in this case, I think preview episodes (via web or magazines) would have the opposite of the desired effect. I'd imagine licensors would look at this and think something similar.


Your reaction to 25 is going to be... very interesting, regardless of how you come down on it. I loved it, but that goes without saying.

I'm intrigued... time to go watch it.

[something]

I want this licensed ASAP, but even with MediaBlasters, I think its chances are low. Those first 2-3 episodes are a pretty big barrier to people who are unwilling or unable to use a few brain cells to put things together. I think a lot of people would watch the first disc (even with 6 episodes) and be too confused and simply not bother. And in this case, I think preview episodes (via web or magazines) would have the opposite of the desired effect. I'd imagine licensors would look at this and think something similar.
Yeah. It was a gutsy move by the creators, but the R1 market sometimes doesn't handle gutsy shows very well. Especially not a show with such dismally minor hype on its initial release. And if the complex story doesn't turn people off, the fanservice might... or if they like the fanservice they might not like the complex story, or... BAH! I can only hope this means the show would be dirt cheap, since as far as I know it didn't sell well in Japan either.

[HitokiriShadow]

Oh, this time they go straight the episode, no opening (or maybe its delayed).

Yep, its delayed. I wonder, will they be taking an alternative approach (for lack of a better word?) like they did in epsiode 19? If this is supposed to be leading up to Touka and/or Momoka's birth, that would certainly make sense. Touka and Momoka couldn't have been around for very long (like, less than a day, probably) when last episode started..

Ah, now perhaps we will finally see the Isabahiko thing in whole. Wait, now its Isamahiko? Make up your minds...

In any case, the masked guy was a king. It seems that the three goddesses were 'born' due to this ceremony. I'm going to assume they mean that they became goddesses due to this ceremony, not that they were created from it, and that the three sisters were born and human prior to it.

Ah, its Yurika!

Ha, Haruhiko and Shouko are hosting a documentary. yep, alternate approach. And they are even breaking the fourth wall. On another note, I like the cameraman(woman?).

Well, this is certainly a side of Shouko we haven't seen before.

It's Yurika again. Looking far more competent than she ever was when she was around.

Oh good, now we get to actually know what Makoto was singing.

As usual, Shouko kind of ignores everything around her and just goes on about how cute Mako-chan is.

So it would seem that Touka arrived right after a Joumi concert and then leaves after the next one.

... they are trying to keep Touka anonymous and failing miserably. And, uh, they even identify him by name.

Etrenal life, perfect exterior, life force... I'm assuming this is referring to Kikyou.

Once again, they cover up Nene's eyes, but identify her on screen.

Nene is working at a maid cafe after leaving Yumiko. Awesome. Might as well put those maid skills to good use. And she's damn hot in that uniform.

So the Midous basically live to take care of the goddesses.

Wait, there are four daughters? Yeah, I guess so: Nene, Kaya, Anna, and Sarara, I assume.

Man, Kaya is hot. This camera(wo)man sure earns his/her pay. And Kaya really, really, really likes Nene. And she really, really, really, really likes touching her. All of her. Hah. "Anna told me, but... who cares about that?"

Touka exists to carry the sword. Wow, how shocking. I'd imagine Momoka exists to bring Sei back, but its entirely possible she had some other purpose as well.

Heh, Haruhiko keeps thinking of his (real) fiancess's name and saying Mo Moka instead of Momoka.

They've gathered information from lots of people.... and its a montage of Momoka eating various foods. Shocking!

It's Yurika! In person! They're interviewing her! Yes! "I forgot. But I want blood!" And she attacks the interviewer. And, uh, seems to kill him. I assume its a him, since death was instance and there was no, uh, foreplay.

So Momoka just suddenly appeared on a train. It seems Momoka and Asuna knew each other already, which would explain how Asuna could come with them during the onsen episode.

Makoto is asked if she has a memento of Momoka. She blushes as she recalls the panties she stole from was given by Momoka. And she actually shows them to the camera.

Seriously, what's up with the blacking out of the eyes?

Now we get to see Asuna as she's recovering from Yurika's attack. Ahaha, I love the way Kaya adminsters the medicine. Yukihime just watches stoicilly. Haha, and Kaya continues to molest Asuna after that. WOW. OH GOD YES. "It's kind of erotic (NO SHIT)..." "Don't interupt" Haha, that was awesome. I was hoping they'd find time to include another scene or two like this, it's been a while.

I guess this is that other epic yuri pair mentioned before. Oh yes, its epic and I love it.

Now its Hot Nurse-sensei. "Asuna was cute." Just about everyone lusts after Asuna, it seems. No wonder Kouchou used her for their popsicle show at the school festival. And Makoto-chan was cute too. Okay, I guess Misuzu-sensei likes high school girls. No complaints from me.

Now its Masuyuki and Kiyotsugu, though they still call him Kiyoharu. And Kiyotsugu corrects them.

So Misuzu did go back to Masayuki? Or maybe he's just reminiscing of the good old days. In any case, this makes Shouko and Haruhiko uncomfortable.

Haha, Masayuki tried to bed Nene, and she nuked his room. I vaguely recall her making that flame once, but I don't remember when it happened. I guess Kiyotsugu had just told her to go see Masayuki and that's why she was readying her flame. I do remember her saying "Even I can do this much."

You know, before, I could have sworn I heard Isabahiko. But now that I listen, I do hear the m.


Wow, that was an awesome episode. I loved it. That is an awesome idea. We didn't actually see the end in the first episode afterall. And based on how the episode ends, I'm guessing the next episode will show us Touka and Momoka in their new world.

At this point, the big question is, will they go into any more detail on the Isab/mihiko stuff? Because they gave a very vague explanation for it in this episode. I hope they explain it a bit more, but I'm not really expecting it. And at this point, they've implied, at best, what's up with Kikyou's dolls. I hope they go into that in the last episode. If not... not a huge deal, but a bit disappointing.

[something]

Edit: Uhh okay, as of the time I'm posting this, quotes seem to be broken and I can't find a way to make them show up right.

Ah, now perhaps we will finally see the Isabahiko thing in whole. Wait, now its Isamahiko? Make up your minds... [and from later] You know, before, I could have sworn I heard Isabahiko. But now that I listen, I do hear the m.
Haha, yeah, I misheard it the whole series long, though part of that is that when something is close, what you read will influence what you hear. Once they showed theイサミヒコ on screen, I promptly started hearing "Isamihiko" loud and clear :sd: Oh, and it was Isa*bi/mi*hiko not Isa*ba/ma*hiko.

Ha, Haruhiko and Shouko are hosting a documentary. yep, alternate approach. And they are even breaking the fourth wall. On another note, I like the cameraman(woman?).
Once again, even when it's being blatant Touka Gettan knows its fanservice. It's all the funnier with the weird noises Shouko makes.

Nene is working at a maid cafe after leaving Yumiko. Awesome. Might as well put those maid skills to good use. And she's damn hot in that uniform.
I still think she needs to form an alliance with Wilhelmina, Maria, Mahoro, Emma and all sorts of other awesome maids. ...On second thought that's a truly disturbing grouping of individuals >_>

Wait, there are four daughters? Yeah, I guess so: Nene, Kaya, Anna, and Sarara, I assume.
Correct. Though obviously one of them can't be around anymore.

Man, Kaya is hot. This camera(wo)man sure earns his/her pay.
And that's only the appetizer...

Heh, Haruhiko keeps thinking of his (real) fiancess's name and saying Mo Moka instead of Momoka.
Somehow, the way her name is pronounced is one of the funniest thing in the show.

It's Yurika! In person! They're interviewing her! Yes! "I forgot. But I want blood!" And she attacks the interviewer. And, uh, seems to kill him. I assume its a him, since death was instance and there was no, uh, foreplay.
And our hosts don't seem too concerned :sd:

Seriously, what's up with the blacking out of the eyes?
I know it's somewhat common in Japan (like when I see images on blogs and random bystanders are Laughing Man'd) so maybe it's just making fun of that :sd:

Now we get to see Asuna as she's recovering from Yurika's attack. Ahaha, I love the way Kaya adminsters the medicine. Yukihime just watches stoicilly. Haha, and Kaya continues to molest Asuna after that. WOW. OH GOD YES. "It's kind of erotic (NO SHIT)..." "Don't interupt" Haha, that was awesome. I was hoping they'd find time to include another scene or two like this, it's been a while. I guess this is that other epic yuri pair mentioned before. Oh yes, its epic and I love it.
And the delicious main course~ This may have been the single best fanservice moment in the show. And yes, that was totally the other pair. Kaya's catlike behavior comes in handy.

Okay, I guess Misuzu-sensei likes high school girls. No complaints from me.
Masayuki probably made her less than happy with men.

So Misuzu did go back to Masayuki? Or maybe he's just reminiscing of the good old days. In any case, this makes Shouko and Haruhiko uncomfortable.
Definitely the good old days. The days before "The Neneocolypse".

I vaguely recall her making that flame once, but I don't remember when it happened. I guess Kiyotsugu had just told her to go see Masayuki and that's why she was readying her flame. I do remember her saying "Even I can do this much."
I think they're disconnected events, though I can't remember exactly where we saw that. But I imagine she burned his room long before the events of the show. You have to figure he would have wanted to get in her skirt almost as soon as he met her.

Wow, that was an awesome episode. I loved it. That is an awesome idea.
Yay, was hoping you'd come down on the "like" side. I can imagine some people might get uppity about breaking narrative flow right before the last episode, but it worked so well. Touka Gettan manages to cram a hell of a lot of explanation/backstory/revelation into 2 of 26 episodes, but it just felt perfectly *right* to me. It also meant they could keep the bulk of the story in the present, without jumping back in time for a flashback every 5 minutes.

You better be watching the last ep right now as I type this reply! =P The very end is just one of my absolute favorite moments in the show and in 2007 in general.

Also, what did you think about the scene with Yumiko? Not so much what she says (that makes sense), but rather the fact that we also saw her at the end in episode 1, again writing a novel. If Yumiko is back in Kamitsumihara (with her old hair color before being possessed) but also in the new world... What does this say about who or what Yumiko is? The same Yumiko? But we see this Yumiko *after* Touka and Momoka have left.

What I wondered is whether Touka and Momoka's new world is really a new world or just somewhere else on this world. But for that matter, what is this world? Kamitsumihara is, as far as I can tell, a real place in Japan on our earth, like any other, except that it's been twisted by demons and darkness over time, as Kikyou often notes. So did Touka and Momoka just materialize somewhere else in Japan?

Or to confuse things more, should this all just be viewed as various "book worlds" in the YamiBoushi library? But then again what is the nature of those worlds anyway? Are they pre-existing worlds that are simply accessed via the books, or are they worlds that only came into existence with the books? And who "wrote" the books anyway? ...but I guess that's discussion better suited for a YamiBou thread.

Lots of ways to look at this, apparently.

[HitokiriShadow]

It's the last episode. *cries*

So I guess this episode is the very first episode chronologically and will show us how everything started. I guess I was wrong about this taking place after episode 25 unless they do half and half or some other mix.

Now it looks like Kikyou is giving the Kouchou their bodies.

Haha, Kouchou are deciding the leader and call the middle one "old" and argue amongst themselves. Very briefly. Then they decide their names, based on birds.

Oho, it looks like Nene took a half-finished doll from Kikyou without permission. Or Anna, perhaps. Since she contacted Nene.

So it seems that Momoka just appeared one day sometime before Touka arrived but Touka had to be created.

And it seems that Haruhiko arrived around the same time, though he was just out of the country, not non-existent.

Haruhiko thinks Touka is Momoka. For his mistake, he gets to fly.

Oh, so what was mentioned before was just from the script. Touka did arrive first. And in the first episode, Nene did mention Momoka being from Yumiko's book (hence all my prior speculation about Yumiko creating Momoka and Touka... and in Momoka's case, I may yet still be right).

So it looks like Momoka was coming into existence and then Sei tagged along for the ride. It makes sense, really, since Fuu and Juna didn't need special existences to house them. Fuu just materialized herself and Juna at some point possessed Yumiko, which perhaps we will see in this episode.

Makoto and Asuna meet! So they didn't know each other before, they both just met on the train to school and Momoka appears soon after.

So they finally flat out say that Makoto is living at the Kamiazumas. But they haven't said the reason yet. Before, it seemed implied that Kikyou lives in that same house. So if Makoto already know Kikyou, perhaps that's why she's staying there.

I like Shouko's outfit here. She seems to be waiting for Mako-chan. More evidence that Shokou already knows her, and in turn evidence that Mako is probably part of the Lotus Association or if not an official member, connected to them due to her dragon.

Oh, it's Juna, along with those skeleton things we saw before. And there's an explosion of magical energy... stuff...

The lunchboxes are gone! XD Momoka is here. A lunch thief from birth.

And it seems that Shouko is familiar with Asuna as well. And this pretty much confirms that she has some sort of connections with Kouchou. "She's just a dress up doll!" Hah, so that's the connection. She was a willing dress-up doll for them, so when she was attacked, they turned her attacker into their new dress up doll!

Ah, so they met during a (the?) concert. And it was love at first sight. I guess Makoto isn't connected to the Lotus Association after all. Though I suppose its possible Shokou recognized the dragon's presence as well.

Momoka wants to see fireflies. And she does, two episodes ago, surrounding Touka.

Makoto tries to call her mother, but can't. Which reminds me of Yumiko's comment in episode one about her cell phone and how it shouldn't be able to ring in Kamitsumihara.

Momoka decides to call her mother... and then realizes she has no idea who her mother is. This seems to tell her that something is seriously wrong.

And now Makoto is walking into the bath while Momoka is in. Similar to what we saw in episode 1, minus the "memento." We get more rose imagery. Makoto is awestruck and falls in love.

Almost immediatly after she is "born", she begins to question her existence. So its not like she was oblivious for a while and suddenly began catching on. And they meet... Momoka seems to think they've met before, while Touka states the obvious.

"I don't have any time left." The End.




While it actually took place at the beginning rather than continuing after the end, my fears proved to be mostly true: while they explicitly showed Kikyou's use of the dolls (though we had a petty clear idea of what they were for already), there were no further explanations of the goddesses, Makoto's dragon, what Kochou's purpose was, or what the heck happened with Yumiko's daughter, among other things. It was still a very good series and I enjoyed it immensely but they seemed to have left lot of loose ends (or beginnings). A lot of things were explained vaguely at best or simply left hanging. I plan to rewatch this in chronological order (26,24-1,25) and see if some things become more clear, but I expect very little to suddenly make sense.

On the whole, I loved this series and it had its flaws, mainly the Momoka abuse which could have been handles better and a bunch of loose ends, but it was still very enjoyable. I loved the reverse chronological order as well as episode 19 (though it goes against some principals I have regarding revealing things, it was a unique way of doing it and I liked it), the cast full of nymphomaniacs and psychos, and the documentary episode 25. It had a great story, it just didn't explain a number of things. Overall, it's an solid A with all those unanswered questions dropping it from an A+.

[HitokiriShadow]

I had the same problem when I was making my post. I fixed it by removing my quotes from your post, but you don't seem to have that problem you just have too many quotes. And the only way you can fix that is splitting up the post or removing quotes.

Once they showed theイサミヒコ on screen, I promptly started hearing "Isamihiko" loud and clear

Yeah, same for me. And I can't display kanji, katakana, or hirigana on my computer, so they just so up as ?, so that's why you're seeing it that way here.

I know it's somewhat common in Japan (like when I see images on blogs and random bystanders are Laughing Man'd) so maybe it's just making fun of that :sd:

I guess so. I also found it funny that they suddenly drop it right at the end when they are showing Juna (or was it Sei?) crying.

Masayuki probably made her less than happy with men.

Yeah, I figured that probably played a role in it.

I think they're disconnected events, though I can't remember exactly where we saw that. But I imagine she burned his room long before the events of the show. You have to figure he would have wanted to get in her skirt almost as soon as he met her.

That's probably true. After I saw that, I thought Kiyotsugu maybe said something about Masayuki calling for her but I couldn't remember. I'm probably remembering something that didn't happen.

Yay, was hoping you'd come down on the "like" side. I can imagine some people might get uppity about breaking narrative flow right before the last episode, but it worked so well. Touka Gettan manages to cram a hell of a lot of explanation/backstory/rev elation into 2 of 26 episodes, but it just felt perfectly *right* to me. It also meant they could keep the bulk of the story in the present, without jumping back in time for a flashback every 5 minutes.

Part of my beef with episode 19 had to do with interrupting narrative flow (but it was mainly the "show, don't tell" thing) but I didn't have that issue here. Maybe its the placement, the fact that ep 19 already did something to interrupt the flow, that Momoka and Touka had just been born and school was just starting so there wasn't much to interrupt, or maybe I just wanted answers so damn bad and it was so fucking awesome, but I just didn't have those issues here.

You better be watching the last ep right now as I type this reply! =P

Yep, I was.

Also, what did you think about the scene with Yumiko? Not so much what she says (that makes sense), but rather the fact that we also saw her at the end in episode 1, again writing a novel. If Yumiko is back in Kamitsumihara (with her old hair color before being possessed) but also in the new world... What does this say about who or what Yumiko is? The same Yumiko? But we see this Yumiko *after* Touka and Momoka have left.

What I wondered is whether Touka and Momoka's new world is really a new world or just somewhere else on this world. But for that matter, what is this world? Kamitsumihara is, as far as I can tell, a real place in Japan on our earth, like any other, except that it's been twisted by demons and darkness over time, as Kikyou often notes. So did Touka and Momoka just materialize somewhere else in Japan?

Or to confuse things more, should this all just be viewed as various "book worlds" in the YamiBoushi library? But then again what is the nature of those worlds anyway? Are they pre-existing worlds that are simply accessed via the books, or are they worlds that only came into existence with the books? And who "wrote" the books anyway? ...but I guess that's discussion better suited for a YamiBou thread.

Lots of ways to look at this, apparently.

I think they are letting us think whatever they want about that. :sd: It was really vague. It always seemed like Kamitsumihara was cut off from the rest of the world to some degree or another but it just left that to our imaginations. They really don't give us anywhere near enough information about all that to do anything but talk out of our asses and make "What if" scenarios.

I didn't even think about what it meant that we saw Yumiko with her normal hair in episode 1 and her pre-possession hair in 25. Since 25 takes place after 1 and we know they can freely go from Kamitsumihara to the outside world (presumably Japan, but of what universe is anyone's guess) so I just assume it gradually returned to normal after the possession ended and there is still only one Yumiko. Actually, her pre-possession hair was black, and her hair while Juna possessed her was blond, but its brown (or at least I think it was) in 25, so it seems to be in an in-between state. In any case, I think there is only one Yumiko, we just see her in 25 after some time has passed and her hair has begun to change as the possession effects are wearing off. They also found Yurika and Nene, and presumably both had left Kamitsumihara. I'm not sure if the Midou estate (now Kaya and Asuna's love shack) was supposed to be in Kamisumihara or not.

[something]

Obviously since you're done I'm going to respond to as much as I can. I might mention some thing you'd catch on a rewatch but since you have watched the whole show I take it you won't consider them spoilers as such. I'm not necessarily correct on everything but I do think there are some things I can be very confident of.

Oho, it looks like Nene took a half-finished doll from Kikyou without permission. Or Anna, perhaps. Since she contacted Nene.
Anna, yes. We never see her up close as a grown up, but that is her placing the doll taken from Kikyou and intended to be a vessel for the new Touka, who in turn is a vessel for the Stone Sword. A vessel that, unlike the original human Touka (see below) will be able to withstand the mental and physical pressures of the sword.

and Juna at some point possessed Yumiko, which perhaps we will see in this episode.
I'm really not 100% without digging for the scene, but I believe Juna said she possessed Yumiko for something like 10-15 years, long, long, long before Touka and Makoto and Momoka came into her life.

So they finally flat out say that Makoto is living at the Kamiazumas. But they haven't said the reason yet. Before, it seemed implied that Kikyou lives in that same house. So if Makoto already know Kikyou, perhaps that's why she's staying there.
Touko did say in the repeating-day episode that Makoto was living at the Kamiazuma household, I believe. And I mean, we see that she has a room there and eats there, etc.

As you saw later in the episode, it's all because she's a transfer student, and her home stay is there... which makes sense given her role in upcoming events.

And it seems that Shouko is familiar with Asuna as well. And this pretty much confirms that she has some sort of connections with Kouchou. "She's just a dress up doll!" Hah, so that's the connection. She was a willing dress-up doll for them, so when she was attacked, they turned her attacker into their new dress up doll!
Haha, yeah, kinda :sd: You have to wonder how many the Kochou have had over time. We need a spinoff Kochou Gettan series where we go through each of their playthings.

I guess Makoto isn't connected to the Lotus Association after all. Though I suppose its possible Shokou recognized the dragon's presence as well.
I do think she did, yes.

there were no further explanations of the goddesses
My assumption is that, as goddesses of Kamitsumihara, they play a role similar to Kikyou - watching over the land and protecting it if necessary. And that's what they did in episode 1-2. By uttering the words of annihilation and sacrificing the goddesses (though permanently or not we don't know, not that it's that important), they completed a ritual that was meant to cleanse the land. It seems all sorts of spirits and demons were drawn to Kamitsumihara over time, and some of those (like Mihashi) we know for a fact were drawn to the goddesses.

And going along with that demonic invasion theme... Yurika. She's just a member of yet another Kamitsumihara invasion force, who gets left behind after she drops the radio and comes into contact with makoto.

I was actually quite surprised all this time with how many times you mentioned Yurika, because when I watched, I never thought all that much about her. Her role, to me, really *was* just to molest Asuna and be Kochou's plaything. I kept wanting to comment on it but had to wait until after you saw the last ep. :sd: My take is that there was no significance to Yurika beyond that - she's just a way to put a human (or inhuman demonic catgirl) face on a phenomenon they mention a number of times.

Makoto's dragon
I guess it's up for debate just how much explanation was needed here. The crux of the story is the cleansing of Kamitsumihara, and she was a necessary part of that. But I never actually found myself expecting a lot in terms of explanation of Makoto, just like I didn't ask where Shouko got her powers from. In 26 episodes you can only say so much, and these weren't at the top of my list of things to worry about, I guess. They set Kamitsumihara up as a place where magic is very much alive and well, particularly when you consider the legends about prior inhabitants

Also remember, while I'm not 100% on the chronology, the significance of the talk Makoto gives in the "tour" episode about the former Kamitsumihara. A great land where people ate gold and thrived. A land that was destroyed in a great fire, like a land-based Atlantis. I don't believe they put a date on it, but Juna mentions to Sei that they hadn't met in... 300 years? That's perhaps time enough for history to fade into legend. My guess is that the destruction of Kamitsumihara was tied to the original Isamihiko disaster, and the goddesses parted ways at that point.

So Kamitsumihara has always been a land drowning in spiritual energy, and I can certainly see families with magical abilities existing to the present day. And perhaps two of those were the Rokujou family and Inukai family, in addition to the Midou family, etc.

what Kochou's purpose was
My final take on them is that they were to some extent agents of Juna. They tell the real Touka at one point that they won't listen to her anymore "because Juna is no longer your mother". If I'm right in that Juna had possessed Yumiko 10-15 years back, that would possibly go back to when original Touka was still alive, and so the Kochou saying this would further indicate they were in some way linked to Juna.

And if we do ascribe some of Momoka's bullying to the Kochou, that makes some sense in light of Juna's simmering hatred of Sei. And since they were born of three of Kikyou's dolls, that again connects Juna and Kikyou.

Or barring that, they *are* demons, and a demon has little need for "reasons". Satisfying their curiosities and indulging their desires is motivation enough to do all sorts of things.

or what the heck happened with Yumiko's daughter
She died. She became the wielder of the stone sword, but as the Kochou (and others, I think) say, a human cannot wield the stone sword properly, especially not at such a young age. Young and fragile, Touka was warped by the Stone Sword. See for example her desire to kill Haruhiko as an expression of love, or the delusional look on her face as she asks Yumiko "Give me the Stone Sword. Where is the Stone Sword?" There's also that shot of her wielding the sword, looking like she's lost control of herself, with a burning building behind her. It was too much for her, and she inevitably was overwhelmed and killed by it all, and that's what sent Yumiko into such a state of grief. It also makes sense then that the replacement 'doll' meant to wield the Stone Sword would be given to Yumiko/Juna as a new child.

And I'm fairly certain I now have over 100 posts in this thread..

[something]

I had the same problem when I was making my post. I fixed it by removing my quotes from your post, but you don't seem to have that problem you just have too many quotes. And the only way you can fix that is splitting up the post or removing quotes.
Oh, right, Fusion's stupid quote limit. I've never actually hit it before. Ah well.

Yeah, same for me. And I can't display kanji, katakana, or hirigana on my computer, so they just so up as ?, so that's why you're seeing it that way here.
No it comes through in the quote. You should get things set up to display Japanese, it's useful even if you can't read the characters. And a good way to learn/keep up what you learned before. I'm constantly amazed how well I can navigate sites and grab information from them with katakana and hiragana alone.

That's probably true. After I saw that, I thought Kiyotsugu maybe said something about Masayuki calling for her but I couldn't remember. I'm probably remembering something that didn't happen.
Possibly, but even then I'd think it's just Nene confirming her fire still works, in case Masayuki didn't learn his lesson :sd:

In any case, I think there is only one Yumiko, we just see her in 25 after some time has passed and her hair has begun to change as the possession effects are wearing off.
Makes enough sense for me. It's just that we see her again (or it's obviously hinted) in 1, and what was going on there, I just don't really know.

I'm not sure if the Midou estate (now Kaya and Asuna's love shack) was supposed to be in Kamisumihara or not.
Not sure. It is in the same "world book" as Kamitsumihara, but that doesn't necessarily mean anything.

[HitokiriShadow]

and Juna at some point possessed Yumiko, which perhaps we will see in this episode.
I'm really not 100% without digging for the scene, but I believe Juna said she possessed Yumiko for something like 10-15 years, long, long, long before Touka and Makoto and Momoka came into her life.

Yeah, I thought of that later. I think she was supposed to have possessed her when she got shot. Maybe? We know she was Juna when she had Touka but we don't know quite when that was. Presumably, Touka was the result of Kiyotsugu raping her after the incident. It was after the Kiyoharuh/Kiyotsugu incident that her hair changed color as well, so that's probably when it happened.



Haha, yeah, kinda :sd: You have to wonder how many the Kochou have had over time. We need a spinoff Kochou Gettan series where we go through each of their playthings.

I was thinking about this this morning and it doesn't make sense. Kikyou had just given the Kouchou bodies and they just named themselves, so they hadn't been around before. So how did they already have a dress up doll? I feel like I must have missed something.


I was actually quite surprised all this time with how many times you mentioned Yurika, because when I watched, I never thought all that much about her. Her role, to me, really *was* just to molest Asuna and be Kochou's plaything. I kept wanting to comment on it but had to wait until after you saw the last ep. :sd: My take is that there was no significance to Yurika beyond that - she's just a way to put a human (or inhuman demonic catgirl) face on a phenomenon they mention a number of times.

I had more or less come to accept that by around episode 17 or so, I guess. It was just that "I hate Sei" thing that made me think they might eventually tell us why she hated her. It's not a big deal though, I'm satisfied with what her role was.



My final take on them is that they were to some extent agents of Juna. They tell the real Touka at one point that they won't listen to her anymore "because Juna is no longer your mother". If I'm right in that Juna had possessed Yumiko 10-15 years back, that would possibly go back to when original Touka was still alive, and so the Kochou saying this would further indicate they were in some way linked to Juna.

And if we do ascribe some of Momoka's bullying to the Kochou, that makes some sense in light of Juna's simmering hatred of Sei. And since they were born of three of Kikyou's dolls, that again connects Juna and Kikyou.

Or barring that, they *are* demons, and a demon has little need for "reasons". Satisfying their curiosities and indulging their desires is motivation enough to do all sorts of things.

In light of the peach garden episode, it seems that perhaps their purpose was to help awaken the stone sword. We never really see them do anything other than indulge themselves and piss off Shouko for the rest of the series and they were involved with the original Touka and her stone sword as well. Their conversation with the original Touka basically said they were servants of Juna, but you never see them with Juna or Yumiko during the series, so they must have some other purpose than just serving her. And this again begs the question: they seemed to just get bodies at the beginning of episode 26, so how where they around before? I suppose they could have existed in some other form, but little Touka seems to recognize them.


She died. She became the wielder of the stone sword, but as the Kochou (and others, I think) say, a human cannot wield the stone sword properly, especially not at such a young age. Young and fragile, Touka was warped by the Stone Sword. See for example her desire to kill Haruhiko as an expression of love, or the delusional look on her face as she asks Yumiko "Give me the Stone Sword. Where is the Stone Sword?" There's also that shot of her wielding the sword, looking like she's lost control of herself, with a burning building behind her. It was too much for her, and she inevitably was overwhelmed and killed by it all, and that's what sent Yumiko into such a state of grief. It also makes sense then that the replacement 'doll' meant to wield the Stone Sword would be given to Yumiko/Juna as a new child.

I knew she died, but it was the rest that never made a whole lot of sense. But I guess your explanation makes sense.

I'm going to rewatch the whole thing in chronological order in a few weeks, so I'll see if anything makes more sense that way.

[HitokiriShadow]

No it comes through in the quote. You should get things set up to display Japanese, it's useful even if you can't read the characters. And a good way to learn/keep up what you learned before. I'm constantly amazed how well I can navigate sites and grab information from them with katakana and hiragana alone.

I guess even though its displayed as a ? it keeps the code information so people that can display it can still see what its supposed to be. I'll try to figure out how to get my computer to display Japanese at some point. I used to have to it set up but my computer crashed at one point and I never got around to setting it up again after that.

[something]

Yeah, I thought of that later. I think she was supposed to have possessed her when she got shot. Maybe?
That's my guess. She was probably dying, and Juna possessing her let her survive it.

I was thinking about this this morning and it doesn't make sense. Kikyou had just given the Kouchou bodies and they just named themselves, so they hadn't been around before. So how did they already have a dress up doll? I feel like I must have missed something.
I get the sense they've manifested many times over a long, long time. They and Shouko were aware of each other before we saw them meet, so maybe they pick out new names each time. Or rather, they choose their roles each time, witness the randomness with which they elect one "onee-sama". So I think Kochou are always Kochou, it's just a matter of what form they take and when.

I had more or less come to accept that by around episode 17 or so, I guess. It was just that "I hate Sei" thing that made me think they might eventually tell us why she hated her. It's not a big deal though, I'm satisfied with what her role was.
I think she hates Sei because of that scene where Nene brought Touka and Momoka into the alternate dimension thing and Sei singlehandedly wiped out the invasion force Yurika was a part of, not to mention sending Yurika crashing down on her ass. :sd: