(L) Genshiken 2 (Nidaime)

[Kazu-kun]

^ Personally, I agree with henwy. It's just wish fulfillment fantasy.

Honestly, I can't believe this is Genshiken. The first series was so interesting. This one's a joke in comparison.

[Utsuro no Hako]

I wouldn't mind if it were just a love triangle between Hato and Angela -- being caught between a sex-crazed American who just wants to hook up with an otaku, and a sexually confused transvestite would suit Madarame -- but throwing Sue and Keiko in is going too far. I mean, Keiko's barely had any interaction with Madarame, and nothing we know about her would suggest that she'd actually like him.

It's time for Madarame to be relegated to a side character so the series can actually focus on the current Genshiken. I want to be reading about Ogiue's career, those two girls from the manga club, and Yoshitake and Yajima arguing with each other.

[aohige]

Originally Posted by Alhazred

As displayed by her expert analysis of his state of mind (when he quit his job) and her subsequent vamping on him in the club room, i think Keiko has the strongest handle on Madarame's personality - and unlike the others, her perception of him is entirely divorced from any kind of fetish or fantasy. I do hope Kio develops her and Sue's sides further, though. In terms of character development Hato does have kind of an unfair advantage. ^_^;

Keiko also has the advantage of being close to Saki - who is probably the best role model and is the most perceptive of Genshiken characters. It feels like she' learning from her senpai.

Originally Posted by Kazu-kun

^ Personally, I agree with henwy. It's just wish fulfillment fantasy.

Honestly, I can't believe this is Genshiken. The first series was so interesting. This one's a joke in comparison.

Yeah, uh-huh.
I bet you feel the same way about current Berserk or Vinland Saga as well.

[Kazu-kun]

Originally Posted by aohige

I bet you feel the same way about current Berserk or Vinland Saga as well.

I think Berserk is fine, and I don't read Vinland Saga.

And my point stands.

[Alhazred]

Originally Posted by aohige

Keiko also has the advantage of being close to Saki - who is probably the best role model and is the most perceptive of Genshiken characters. It feels like she' learning from her senpai.

I actually don't think she's all that close to Saki; it does not appear that they've met up at all since Saki and Kousaka graduated, else she wouldn't have been so excited to see them at the culture festival. Rather, her brother described her apparent 'wisdom' in the ways of the world as the result of from making a lot of stupid mistakes - which i think makes her more interesting than just a 'replacement Saki.' She'd getting to somewhere similar, but going about it in a completely different way. ^_^;

Originally Posted by Kazu-kun

And my point stands.

You're using that phrase the wrong way. In order for an arguing point to 'stand' it has to be uncontested, and there seem to be a few people here that would disagree your opinion that the current Genshiken is a 'joke' and comparatively uninteresting. If you're talking about the wish fulfillment fantasy part, that is henwy's point; you just agreed with it. As nobody here has directly disputed it that point does stand for the moment. We just think that the current situation in Genshiken is still interesting despite the use of this well-worn trope.

[AstroNerdBoy]

Originally Posted by Kazu-kun

Honestly, I can't believe this is Genshiken. The first series was so interesting. This one's a joke in comparison.

Well, the first series had a broader appeal. While the manga itself may have been focused on Japanese otaku and the porn attached to it, Genshiken could appeal to sci-fi/fantasy fans in general. A couple of friends of mine who really aren't into anime/manga but are into Star Wars, Star Trek, and games like The Elder Scrolls series got into the [b]Genshiken[b] manga when I lent it to them. They could relate to the same enthusiasm for what they like as the Genshiken guys had for their stuff.

Genshiken Nidaime has a much narrower scope. It is no longer about otaku in general, touching various aspects of otakudom, but is almost solely about fujoshi BL otaku and the cross-dressing guy who's into that stuff while claiming to be heterosexual, even though he wants to "cross the streams" with one of the former male club members. So yeah, I can understand your lack of enthusiasm for this latest installment.

As an aside, rereading Genshiken, I laugh at the irony of the in-manga series Kujibiki Unbalance, where the Genshiken guys talk about how the series isn't the same without the original characters in it.

Originally Posted by Utsuro no Hako

I wouldn't mind if it were just a love triangle between Hato and Angela -- being caught between a sex-crazed American who just wants to hook up with an otaku, and a sexually confused transvestite would suit Madarame -- but throwing Sue and Keiko in is going too far. I mean, Keiko's barely had any interaction with Madarame, and nothing we know about her would suggest that she'd actually like him.

Sue isn't going to far by any stretch as far as I'm concerned. In the original Genshiken, he was the one she "rode" during their temple visit at the new year celebration. When Genshiken Nidaime started, Sue was the one who had Madarame's phone number and knew were he lived. I think her sexual attraction to Madarame came from seeing Ogiue's hentai drawings of him.

As for Keiko, she's some some signs of interest. She gave him her hostess club card and has tried to get him to come see her there. Granted, you could blow this off as her hustling for business, but in an omake story in volume 1 or 2, Keiko tries to get Evangelion cosplay added to the hostess club. In my mind, her only reason for trying to do this is to tempt Madarame to come over.

I'm not saying Keiko is head-over-heels for Madarame, but there are little signs that she likes him at some level, including showing up at Comifes.

Originally Posted by Alhazred

I actually don't think she's all that close to Saki; it does not appear that they've met up at all since Saki and Kousaka graduated, else she wouldn't have been so excited to see them at the culture festival.

Even assuming she hasn't seen Saki in some time, which wouldn't surprise me since Saki lives and works in another city, I think they are close. When Keiko was doing her college entrance exam, it was revealed that she was calling Saki. Further, she addresses Saki as "Saki-neesan", which unfortunately is lost in the Del Rey adaptation and I think the Kodansha version as well (not sure as I don't have my manga volumes at hand at the moment). To me, that indicates that Keiko at least feels close to Saki like she's an older sister.

[Anh_Minh]

I think it's more a mark of respect than closeness.

[Utsuro no Hako]

Originally Posted by Anh_Minh

I think it's more a mark of respect than closeness.

I take it as more that Keiko thinks she's close to Saki.

[aohige]

Ch92 - OBLIGATORY FAN SERVICE CHAPTER!

Spoiler:

Bathing scene for everyone! Man, I need to visit one of these Super-Sentou sometime, it looks freakin' awesome.
Ahaha, it's pretty much beginning of an all out war over Madarame in the new chapter.

Oh and awesome Hellsing reference

I haven't visited the 2ch thread in a while, took a peek at it and looks like some shipping wars brewing there.
I never thought Genshiken would have one of those ahahahaha.

[mangamuscle]

Originally Posted by AstroNerdBoy

I'm not saying Keiko is head-over-heels for Madarame, but there are little signs that she likes him at some level, including showing up at Comifes.

I think it is quite obvious that Keiko is not in love of Madarame, but that does not mean she is not interested. Let's think about it, Keiko is the kind of girl that has dated quite a lot of guys and has discovered that dating the hottest guys does not mean they give a **** about her. No doubt she can see that Madarame is the supportive kind of guy which would do his best to please the woman he marries and Keiko can easily get along with (albeit she will never say it out loud) WatanabeMadarame. So, she realizes she can't stay in her line of work forever (specially in a youth crazed country like Japan) so she is no doubt thinking it would be nice down the line to hook with someone like Madarame. She obviously thought he would be an easy catch, a forever alone guy that would bit the hook, line and sinker if ever given the chance; so she only checked on him now on then to see what's up and when she got the chance she "seize the day" prompting Madarame to confess to Saki to speed up the process. But now she realizes she is competing with a trap, a legal(?) loli and F cup blonde.

Poor Madarame, being unemployed means any of these four might show out of the blue and he can't just say the typical "I am busy/tired, go away" line :lol:

[aohige]

Hold that thought until you read more chapters, because it's directly addressed.

[Hata]

Originally Posted by aohige

I haven't visited the 2ch thread in a while, took a peek at it and looks like some shipping wars brewing there.
I never thought Genshiken would have one of those ahahahaha.

the good old days of following School Rumble...

to me I am more interesting in who Hato will end up with instead of Madarame, if the story proceed to next school year, two more people are foreshadowed to join the club as new students, together with Yajima Hato could form his own harem.

but in any case, I am a Sue faction, SueXMadarame or SueXHato both looks good to me! I think the story will only end with Hato, being the main character, sorted out his life and make his choice.

[kazzuya13]

They made the senior guys (and Kikuchi) to escort Madarame home and while they play in the festival

[AstroNerdBoy]

Originally Posted by Hata

the good old days of following School Rumble...

to me I am more interesting in who Hato will end up with instead of Madarame, if the story proceed to next school year, two more people are foreshadowed to join the club as new students, together with Yajima Hato could form his own harem.

Hato x Risa all the way. *nods*

[Hata]

Originally Posted by AstroNerdBoy

Hato x Risa all the way. *nods*

the most obvious choice, the girly man and the manly girl, however, I personally would be disappointed if that is indeed the case, I am more for Konno>Yajima>Risa, even if from the setup Konno is sort of hopeless,

a lot depend on what kind of person Hato decide he will be for the rest of his life.

[AstroNerdBoy]

Originally Posted by Hata

the most obvious choice, the girly man and the manly girl, however, I personally would be disappointed if that is indeed the case, I am more for Konno>Yajima>Risa, even if from the setup Konno is sort of hopeless,

a lot depend on what kind of person Hato decide he will be for the rest of his life.

I'd forgotten about Konno. ^_^; She'd be a good choice too. I know Yajima is in the running, but I just don't feel that for some reason.

[mangamuscle]

Originally Posted by Hata

the most obvious choice, the girly man and the manly girl, however, I personally would be disappointed if that is indeed the case, I am more for Konno>Yajima>Risa, even if from the setup Konno is sort of hopeless,

IMO in this setup the manly girl is Yajima, not Lisa, which might be a tall athletic pettanko but still made a quite girly sound when Kuchy touched her nipple (and is easily bullied by her smaller oneesan). Yajima has proven to be physically stronger than Lisa and Mentally stronger than Rika. Konno might have a chance if later on the author decides to expand on her background, atm they could have removed her from the anime and no one would have noticed.

[Utsuro no Hako]

On a side note, I just received the third volume of Gundam: The Origin and it contains a bonus chapter by Shimoku Kio in which Madarame and Sasahara meet Amuro Ray. It also has a cool color page with all the Gundam women drawn in Genshiken style. Sayla looks a lot like Saki.

[AstroNerdBoy]

Originally Posted by Utsuro no Hako

On a side note, I just received the third volume of Gundam: The Origin and it contains a bonus chapter by Shimoku Kio in which Madarame and Sasahara meet Amuro Ray. It also has a cool color page with all the Gundam women drawn in Genshiken style. Sayla looks a lot like Saki.

WHAA! I'm jealous. I *should* have mine this week sometime. ^_^;

[kniteowl]

Chapter 92 is out

Originally Posted by Hata

the good old days of following School Rumble....

Don't remind me... Onigiri, Jersey, Kids Meal... The good old days, I miss them so!


This Chapter alone made me like Sue more, she went from a 9-10 out of 10 to a 11 out of 10. She's so kool and resolving the dispute between Angela and Keiko lol. I also found it amusing that by the end of Angela's and Keiko's competition, they understood each other without a translator, well communication is 70% body language and 20% voice tone. And the Rivalry showdown/stare down during the bath scene between Angela and Keiko was exactly what I've been waiting for. So many awesome moments this chapter, and I can only expect more next chapter. Sue and Madarame alone in a room will be very interesting.

I also found it intriguing that Angela and Keiko easily allow Sue to vist Madarame to check on him.

I can only assume that Angela is only in the game to help Sue, but the one night stand is still on the table. While Keiko let Sue visit him because she doesn't consider Sue a threat, especially since she's still in denial. But I reckon by the end of the next chapter when Sue visits Madarame, she'll realize her feelings for him.

Still unsure how Hato's role will play in this, he says he wants to go home for new year's break and sort out his thoughts, maybe he'll get some advice from kaminaga onee-san.

Here I thought Chapter 92 will be highlight of genshiken nidame, I was mistaken, I'm expecting chapter 93 to be better.