Quote:
Originally Posted by phoku
Just when I thought the basic premise of the show would get trite and repetitive this episode convinced me that they used the simplistic formula in order to prove that they can produce something amazing despite of it.
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On the other hand, despite very much enjoying the episode in general, I did get a bit of a 'christ not this again' feeling upon hearing Nadeko go 'save me, oniichan'.
I finally caught up with this series. As I'd known from the very first episode, my confidence that this would be incredible storytelling was fully warranted.
At the time one of my posts got modded out of the (now 'General') Bakemonogatari thread, I was trashing on the Senjougahara idolization. Unfortunately, just after watching what I felt was a very strong episode that was perfectly entertaining despite her absence, I came here to see people still complaining that the show isn't all about her. Christ.
On the other hand, this episode has helped me realize that what this idolization, and correspondingly my irritation, is all about, has much more to do with Senjougahara's
relationship with Koyomi than Senjougahara herself. Thus ironically, despite the Senjougahara idolatry being the fan expression I least sympathize with, it's actually Araragi-kun
within the show I'm most disgusted with (disgusted is too strong a word; I'm very warm on Bakemonogatari in general).
It's not that Senjougahara is too good for him--to the contrary, despite her 2D wetdream looks, marks, athletic ability (yeah, stationary wielding counts as that too), she is an emotionally stunted girl, and probably only worth the time of somebody desperate. My issue is, rather, despite Koyomi's supposed 'kindness' or altruism being the foundation, the fact that this story is about a precisely desperate relationship anyway. It's just kinda ugly to watch: all that threatening, ridiculous teasing, and bullshit violence--and for what? Only 'cause Senjougahara wants to make sure Araragi stays with her, and Araragi wants to get laid.
I kinda get the feeling that all those Senjougahara fans
loved that scene in episode 6 where Senjougahara stood above Koyomi's face in a skirt, but to me that was just fucking ridiculous. Who would get turned on by that? How in that kind of situation, with that kind of attitude? But this is the sort of thing Senjougahara offers--this, and 'what are you planning to do about your future', and I just can't believe so many people
idolize her for it.
Overall, then, these are my (major, minor, whatever) issues with the series:
- Araragi is a desperate perv. I don't mind the perv part (in fact I can quite sympathize) but the desperate part quite bothers me;
- Senjougahara
wants that desperation, and conciously demeans herself to take advantage of it, out of insecurity;
- Ooshino is a ridiculous self-satisfied bastard (you wanna see someone where personality covers actual substance, here ya go); and,
- you've even got people
asking Araragi for help now, like he's some desperately average main character in a story who often lets his 'altruism' get the better of him and goes around 'saving' people from various oddities--and everybody knows it.
I am greatly enjoying the perverse and psychological tone aside from this though. And of course the humour is very solid: I was quite glad to see both Hachikuji and now Sanbaru being interesting characters who could buoy up the show with fresh dialogue even outside their arcs.
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Author
. Kanbaru having that kind of information is definitely a dangerous thing. It does make you wonder.
