(CR) Kakkou no Iinazuke (A Couple of Cuckoos)

[larethian]

Looks like Hikasa is getting used to her BBA roles after so many years of teasing from her peers. She definitely sounds more like one in some cuts compared to previous episodes.

[thundrakkon]

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Originally Posted by grecefar

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Yeah, that thought came to mind immediately, considering the type of show we are watching. It's usually one out of two types.


1) Childhood confession and promise, and one side changed so much, they don't recognize each other (not likely scenario).
2) Nagi's parents also promised Hiro's parents. Hiro knows she is engaged, but doesn't know to who.


She is probably determined to be the best to either 1) be so good that she can stand on her own to get out of the engagement, or 2) it was the deal to get out of her engagement to graduate at the top of her class.


Well, it will be interesting to see what her real reason to wanting to be #1 is.

[Frontier]

Originally Posted by larethian

Looks like Hikasa is getting used to her BBA roles after so many years of teasing from her peers. She definitely sounds more like one in some cuts compared to previous episodes.

It's so surreal for me that she and Kimura are parents in this. Not very good parents, mind you, but still .

[Lex79]

The second heroine has an interesting characterization instead of being "generic shy girl who is in live with the protagonist but never confesses until it's too late".
We got a confession in the 4th episode instead of having to wait 5 seasons.
Characters get along with each other.
So far this show is much better than I was expecting.

[FlareKnight]

I do hope we continue to give Sachi a bit of focus. Unlike the other two, she's got the biggest hurdle for this to make much sense. Switching from brother almost her entire life to love interest requires a bit more build up.

It's funny that Nagi doesn't think of calling out Hiro with a note himself. She already messaged him once that way. But I guess once he got on the path of "follow her around all day until she's alone" he couldn't think of any other options.

But he makes up for that oversight with actually following through with his darn confession! Deserves more props than a lot of protagonists out there. Though of course the contradiction of liking smarter people but not wanting to lose makes things pretty amusing. Honestly the character dynamics in the show are really solid. There's good banter and it isn't one side just talking at the other the whole time. Any of the main two pairs we've seen so far have good chemistry. Ironically the (sort of) siblings probably have the worst chemistry, but there's room to grow.

Get to see strengths and weaknesses pretty cleanly. Nagi has his big plan, but he himself makes it less effective. He wants them to help each other, but he also stick his nose into everything. But the characters work things out themselves. And at least the sisters are getting along ok. Probably helps that Erika says she won't go ahead with the engagement. But obviously it isn't going to be that simple. But at least for the moment there's peace and friendliness. And honestly good for the characters. Sachi's parents were kind of dumb in that sense. While it's nice for them if Erika and Nagi get engaged for the whole big family plan, Sachi is part of this. Shouldn't letting their daughters interact and start forging family bonds be a factor? Otherwise just makes them seem entirely selfish and only focused on their connection to this situation.

[Lex79]

While it's nice for them if Erika and Nagi get engaged for the whole big family plan, Sachi is part of this. Shouldn't letting their daughters interact and start forging family bonds be a factor? Otherwise just makes them seem entirely selfish and only focused on their connection to this situation.

That would definitely be more natural than forcing an engagement. Outside of meta reasons (the plot requires Nagi and Erika to spend time together), I suppose they have to be considerate towards the Amano family that wouldn't gain much from Erika and Sachi bonding as sisters.

[Frontier]

Well, yeah, it kind of figures Nagi wouldn't feel that motivated to go to school knowing Hiro's there and he's trying to work through how he should respond to her being engaged...good thing he didn't throw up on the train though! I love the peoples' reactions to him looking like he was going to barf .

What a surprise! Hiro going out of her way to meet Nagi and study with him together! It's a pretty cute moment between these two academics, and it also leads to another surprising match of which of them has the most shrine stamps...but Hiro's got Nagi beat. But it also leads to them growing closer, so Nagi can live with that loss .

Hiro keeps mentioning "memorials," so I guess Nagi doesn't know she's a shrine maiden yet? Judging by the Opening .

Nagi thinks things are sailing smoothly on the Hiro relationship front and nothing can shake it up...up until Erika transfers to his school and his class. Because of course the main girl has to go to the same school as the protagonist and add even more Harem romcom antics to his school life. Erika knew the whole time and made sure he went to school so she could surprise him and get his reaction. Also, she wears the uniform very well .

Well, that kind of sucks that Erika got expelled from her school because a photo of her and Nagi got out and it was assumed they were dating, and she didn't get a chance to explain it because she focused on taking care of Nagi when he was sick. Still, it's not like her dad needed much excuse to put her into the same school as Nagi to help foster deeper relations between the two, and maybe this will be a good switch for Erika. It doesn't seem like she had any friends at her old school .

Erika's a celebrity and not always sure how to interact with people, so I guess it's no surprise that no one knows how to approach her, but I guess if anyone can it's the class rep and school idol Hiro. It was really sweet seeing these two come together and become friends .

Of course Nagi's thinking doomsday scenario and that he's inevitably going to come up between them...but they're just too close and too surrounded by gawkers to get a word in edgewise .

Thank you for the classic locker room undressing scene, show! Not only do we get to see Erika and Hiro's boobs but their choice of bras as well .

Erika looks good in a tracksuit! And she's got the athletic prowess of her biological mother! Meanwhile, Nagi face makes for a good rest for a volleyball .

So it turns out Hiro is actually a massive Erika fangirl and practically sees her as a Goddess, and was so moved by becoming friends with her that she was brought to tears. Luckily they were able to right off Nagi acting familiar with Erika by saying he's a fellow fan, but Hiro looks like she'd kill him if he said he was a bigger fan than she was .

Nagi may not have had to intervene, but his defending Erika and saying she's a good person seems to have really endeared him to Erika .

Well, now the trio are basically stuck together as study partners to help Erika adjust to her new curriculum. This should be fun .

[grecefar]

Well right now segawa is looking better than erika and sachi as romantic partner, she has good chemistry with nagi.

Of course is only for now, there's a lot of chapters left.

[AndrewR5D4]

I feel like we all know how this series will end. It's clear Nagi doesn't like anybody but Segawa. He and Erika have been trying to end this engagement, and Sachi still grew up with Nagi as his little sister. If there's one thing I know from reading the author's previous works, it's that the end pairing will always be obvious from the very beginning of the story.

[thundrakkon]

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Originally Posted by AndrewR5D4

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Meaning it's Erika and Nagi? Since, well, harem authors since the beginning of time has always pushed that type of ending, and the original pair that likes each other but couldn't confess throughout the story has always failed because they are not interesting enough for the authors.


At least in this case, Nagi was able to confess.

[WingedAccelerator]

Everyone should watch this with the notion that Yoshikawa Miki is utterly predictable when it comes to writing. By that I mean the main heroine winning, aka Erika here. And it still will take more than 200 chapters based on her track record with thousands of Hiro cockblocking.

Anyone else is a welcome surprise, it doesn't matter if people hate the character or not.

I saw the remark that this is poor man's Nisekoi. Quite fitting description, but Nisekoi was only good for 50 chapters, the rest is disgusting stalling. Unlike Nisekoi, the setup here has zero stakes. Nagi and Erika are not forced to marry each other seriously, it's just the convenient resolution the horrible parents would like to see. Meanwhile Raku and Chitoge had to pretend to be a couple to prevent a gang war that could wreck their city and the people in it, so I can understand why did they glue them together.

Is Yoshikawa Miki are to tell me that the whole purpose of this work is for Nagi and Erika to fall in love with each other and marry because THEY WANTED IT and they are not doing it because of their parents? That's the whole plot? If yes, then introducing Hiro and starting with Nagi being attracted to her is just reeks of the Onodera fate for Hiro. Worst case scenario, Hiro will be revealed as Nagi's actual biological sister just to spit on the character's grave.

[AndrewR5D4]

Originally Posted by thundrakkon

Meaning it's Erika and Nagi? Since, well, harem authors since the beginning of time has always pushed that type of ending, and the original pair that likes each other but couldn't confess throughout the story has always failed because they are not interesting enough for the authors.


At least in this case, Nagi was able to confess.

No, I meant Nagi and Segawa. She's obviously the only person he has romantic feelings for and actively pursues. It's clear from his interactions with the other girls that none of them stand a chance. Although their progress is stagnant at times (like in many romance manga), it's clear their interactions always show romantic interest in each other. With the other girls he's mostly confused about the nature of what he feels, and it's incredibly awkward for everyone.

Bottom line, this author is very predictable...

[Frontier]

Just going off what I've seen so far, it feels like Nagi and Erika is definitely a slow-burn, and Erika has Main Heroine cred but Nagi and Hiro gel very well and seem to be developing at a steady rate even if there's still the engagement issue they have to sort out.

I'm just curious where Sachi fits into it because it seems like she has the biggest disadvantage (little sister, doesn't live with him/go to his school, etc.)

[grecefar]

Really?, as much I like the nagixsegawa ship now I mean even without knowing the author as explained how she is it seems obvious the endgame here is erikaxnagi.

[Decel]

Everything but the start at the library and last few minutes of the episode felt boring.

Actually thinking of dropping this series. I can't really pinpoint what happened, but I don't feel the same interest I had in the first 1-2 eps.

[Lex79]

So far Nagi x Erika seems the obvious endgame. Of course he has feelings for Hiro, and he even managed to confess, but I totally expect that by the time the matter of Hiro's engagement will be cleared he will have developed stronger feelings for Erika.
Having said that, I have no problems with main heroine winning as long as she's likeable and the story is good.
Speaking of Hiro, on one hand it's nice that she wants to be friend with Nagi, on the other hand becoming closer to him might not the best approach if she wants him to move on, at least in the immediate. Though to be fair she gave him a clear response so if he's still after her it's fully on him.

[Frontier]

Originally Posted by Lex79

So far Nagi x Erika seems the obvious endgame. Of course he has feelings for Hiro, and he even managed to confess, but I totally expect that by the time the matter of Hiro's engagement will be cleared he will have developed stronger feelings for Erika.
Having said that, I have no problems with main heroine winning as long as she's likeable and the story is good.
Speaking of Hiro, on one hand it's nice that she wants to be friend with Nagi, on the other hand becoming closer to him might not the best approach if she wants him to move on, at least in the immediate. Though to be fair she gave him a clear response so if he's still after her it's fully on him.

I feel like Nagi in getting mixed messaging from Hiro .

[AndrewR5D4]

Originally Posted by Lex79

Speaking of Hiro, on one hand it's nice that she wants to be friend with Nagi, on the other hand becoming closer to him might not the best approach if she wants him to move on, at least in the immediate. Though to be fair she gave him a clear response so if he's still after her it's fully on him.

She wants more than friendship, but her own engagement is what prevents her from accepting Nagi's confession. The mixed messages thing is mostly for her own emotional protection. It's not unheard of for a character in a complicated situation to wrap themselves in layers of protection, yet being unable to entirely suppress their true desires. This is Segawa.

If we look at it from Nagi's side, this situation reminds me of what Yoshikawa did in Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches. Shiraishi and Yamada had their confession early in the series, and despite being constantly surrounded by several other girls who liked him, Yamada's eyes never left Shiraishi. He always moved forward with their relationship as his end goal, and when the other girls took turns confessing, they were shot down in a giant bloodbath. Segawa is Nagi's Shiraishi.

[Lex79]

Actually, I see more Erika as Nagi's Shiraishi, since she is the one more central to the plot.
I guess we'll have to wait and see.

[Anh_Minh]

Originally Posted by AndrewR5D4

Bottom line, this author is very predictable...

I guess she can't be that predictable, if people can't agree on what the predictable outcome is.

I'm betting on Erika. Nagi may have more feelings and compatibility with Hiro, but the title is "a couple of cuckoos", so checkmate, girls who weren't switched at birth.

Unless the hospital was even more of a shell game than presented at first, which is possible.

Originally Posted by Decel

Everything but the start at the library and last few minutes of the episode felt boring.

Actually thinking of dropping this series. I can't really pinpoint what happened, but I don't feel the same interest I had in the first 1-2 eps.

In ep 1, I thought that Nagi was refreshingly competent. I haven't felt that in the later eps.