(CR) Hourou Musuko

[Haak]

I'm kinda surprised his sister was actually not that bothered about the idea of him dating her friend. I would've thought it'd be more of an issue. But still this was pretty funny:

Spoiler for this is the look of pure disappointment:

I totally support NitorixAnna btw. =3
I can't believe it actually happened so quickly. Nitori, you legend. XD

More insight into Saorin. I think Saorin really needs to get over Nitori, or atleast be more realistic about relationships (though it's not like she's feeling any different to how we would feel at her age, which just goes to show the change will happen eventually). Anyway:

Spoiler for really inappropriate:

This is just screaming for someone to make a crack about it, and it's taking everything I've got in me not to do it.

[MeoTwister5]

Is it the pose or the quip? It's the quip isn't it?

[John Smith]

Rather than not being bothered by it, Maho is willing to actively play the matchmaker. Given the entire picture it isn't odd but I don't think the anime elaborates on it enough to draw any conclusions besides that her behavior isn't conventional.

I think it's the combination. That's my favourite Chiba scene in the series. It just cracks me up.

[Kanon]

Originally Posted by ThereminVox

Spoiler for ep07:

Anna is just adorable. Omochikaeri.

"Want another milkshake?"
"I'm in love!!"
"... with your milkshake?"

The translation made that scene even funnier than it was in Japanese

[Simon]

Originally Posted by MeoTwister5

Is it the pose or the quip? It's the quip isn't it?

Spoiler for Episode 7:

Her mother's worried response to that cracked me up. I've probably said this before, but I like how Shimura sympathetically portrays the adults in her stories (even if Shū and Maho do occasionally treat their mum like the tea lady). The other part where Saori's mother shone was the tactful way she handled Yoshino's admission of guilt - to just let it go and smooth things over like that was absolutely the right response. You can see where her daughter gets her thoughtfulness from.

And I don't mean this in a way that would get me arrested, but Saorin is actually pretty darn cute with her hair all messy.

Originally Posted by Kanon

The translation made that scene even funnier than it was in Japanese

Spoiler for Episode 7:

Yeah, that was a pretty significant change on the translation's part - in this case it didn't hurt, but in other contexts it could completely skew the meaning of a scene. I hope CR don't make a habit of it. (For anyone wondering, suki in the original is usually translated as "like", not "love", although like most Japanese words it can carry different nuances.)

Anna's tsurime facial expressions have been great throughout the series, but especially here - her response to Shū was hilarious in its understatement. But the winning line for me was Mako's thoughtful "So the key is the follow-through..." There's definite Kyon potential in that lad.

[nojay]

The story writers have had to chop a lot of small sub-plots out of the manga storyline to fit what they want into the 22 minutes of each episode but it's fun to spot the visuals they leave in even if they don't make a drama out of them.

Spoiler for Cut for very slight manga spoilers:

Note that Takatsuki-san isn't wearing a uniform ribbon like Saori-san -- this is a running gag from chapters 51 and 52. We also get to see Sarashina-san's stripey tie which is again not remarked on in the anime but which gets a few pages in the manga.

[Guardian Enzo]

Originally Posted by Simon

Anna's tsurime facial expressions have been great throughout the series, but especially here - her response to Shū was hilarious in its understatement.

I love it when Horie Yui gets the chance to go against type, because while she's the best genki girl in the business she's capable of so much more. Anna is a great vehicle for her.

[garbage]

wooh going out with one of the models and with anna my favorite > I approve
laughed at that scene where maho and anna was shouting and mako overheard.
but there were lots of signs before i guess, at least from anna's side like the strap the cellphone pic. etc. At least nitorin realized she's a great gal.

sadly thou it seems it will not last, looks like nitorin and takatsuki still affect each other so much. guess they are destined... which is ok too

horou continues to entertain in its own way, much appreciated.

[Kaoru Chujo]

Another great episode. Surprising developments. Anna is so interesting. I'd like to get a better sense of her personality and feelings -- like, is she going out with him because she thinks he's a cute little brother, or an actual attractive guy? Her blank face and lack of obvious emotion hide a lot -- and also generate an interesting tension.

But for me, Nanri Yuka as Chiba-san stole the show once again. I love the slightly sticky feeling of her voice, and the emotion it expresses or hints at.

I like how economical they are with the way things are told: Chiba-san enters the room where her mother and Takatsuki are having tea, then we cut immediately to the two of them alone in her room.

I also liked how much of the episode was taken up with characters' reactions to Shuu and Anna going out. The budding relationship was great, and the cloud of reactions was great, too.

[frubam]

I thought Yoshino would take Shuu having a gf a bit harder. It seems like she had an "Oh, okay" attitude, like it didn't bother her. Maybe it didn't. Or maybe it hit harder than the surface showed. She did end up telling Saorin that so hastily, but I can't tell whether that was some kind of subtle angst going on or that she just wanted to piss Saorin off. Regardless of what it was, I guess that was one of those 'innocent cruelty' moments that children do, much like when Sarashina was excitingly asking Shuu did he crossdress or not.

I knew Saorin wouldn't take Shuu going out with Anna easily. It feels like they keep giving her the short end of the stick. Can't she catch a break? Can't she get some love? Well, at least Yoshino is trying to make amends for her actions, even though I still don't like her =0<.

Next episode should be very VERY entertaining to see animated >=03.

[Guardian Enzo]

I had a totally different take on Yoshino's reaction - I thought she was devastated. My impression was that she was just doing her best not to show that - both for Shu's sake and because that's just how she is. And I think Shu is perceptive enough to pick up on that.

[frubam]

Originally Posted by Guardian Enzo

I had a totally different take on Yoshino's reaction - I thought she was devastated. My impression was that she was just doing her best not to show that - both for Shu's sake and because that's just how she is. And I think Shu is perceptive enough to pick up on that.

It's not like she was dating Shuu before or anything, so I can't see why she would feel that way. It seemed like she was being considerate as in trying to NOT cause a misunderstanding with Anna rather than her feeling devastated.

[Guardian Enzo]

Originally Posted by frubam

It's not like she was dating Shuu before or anything, so I can't see why she would feel that way. It seemed like she was being considerate as in trying to NOT cause a misunderstanding with Anna rather than her feeling devastated.

She may not have been dating him, but he was there just in case. He was hers if she changed her mind about his confession, and even if not they were still best friends and confidantes. Sharing him or even worse, losing him to another girl would be a bitter pill. But she's not going to say any of that out loud, because she rejected his confession and she's considerate enough to realize she has no obvious reason to complain.

[Haak]

I thought Yoshino was devastated aswell, but probably because she lost her crossdressing buddy.

[Simon]

Originally Posted by frubam

She did end up telling Saorin that so hastily, but I can't tell whether that was some kind of subtle angst going on or that she just wanted to piss Saorin off. Regardless of what it was, I guess that was one of those 'innocent cruelty' moments that children do [...]

My take on that scene is that Yoshino was feeling cranky because her period had just started - immediately before she tells Saorin you see her throwing what looks like a sanitary napkin in the bin, then grumbling "crap, it's back" to herself. Rather than Yoshino being deliberately cruel, I think Saori ignoring her was just enough to raise her hackles and that she immediately regretted it - that's why she made such an effort to make amends later.

[nojay]

If you didn't spot it, take a good look at the start of episode 8, at the bike shed in the background of the schoolyard. Bunch of clowns, yes?

[ars89]

Spoiler for ep 8:

So new classes and everyone is split up. Seems like everyone is growing apart.

An old enemy in Doi is now a friend. Maybe he thinks Nitori is cool because he knows a grown up woman.

I think Anna is one of the most understanding girlfriends ever. I wonder if she really likes Nitori though. She's so friendly and laid back. Her reactions to Nitori cross-dressing was great. Also liked when she suggested that Taktasuki join the modelling agency. I thought it was awesome how she told Chiba that she had an attitude problem, but then liked her singing.

Have to say i like Taktasuki with longer hair. Hopefully the compliment from the teacher will boost her confidence. Great how she spilled the beans to Anna about the whole situation and Nitori just ignored it.

Chiba obviously still has feelings for Nitori. Her reaction to the kissing and then asking Taktasuki was just great.

The ending when they said that they should get together again like old times brings more effect to the growing apart theme. The boys didn't walk home with the girls either.

[Kaoru Chujo]

Originally Posted by Guardian Enzo

I had a totally different take on Yoshino's reaction - I thought she was devastated. My impression was that she was just doing her best not to show that - both for Shu's sake and because that's just how she is. And I think Shu is perceptive enough to pick up on that.

Some mixture of devastated and confused. She was certainly doing her best to hide her feelings.

Spoiler for ep8:

More of the standard wonderfulness of this show. Everybody's emotions are just barely under control. They are so delightfully confused by everything. Anna is just spending time with Shuu. She likes him partly as a little brother (or sister, depending on what he happens to be wearing at any time). She's not into kissing him yet, but there are many ways of loving someone. Of course, one expects Shuu and Yoshino to be the final couple, but we shall see.

[ThereminVox]

Spoiler for ep08:

This series does detailed character "moments" in ways that you just don't see anymore. It reminds me more of the way things used to be lively and active in the backgrounds of OVAs in the 90s. Perhaps it's the simple designs that allows for this sort of thing.

I'm going to go back and watch the first few episodes again. I bet I missed out on some juicy details because I spent so much time trying to keep all the characters straight. I base that off of how many moments there have been to pick up on in the last two weeks.

The show really isn't afraid to let you sink or swim, and if you miss something, it doesn't have any interest in holding your hand and explaining it. I have to kind of respect that, even though it's likely born mostly out of the necessarily economic use of airtime.

More great stuff from Anna. Nitori is obviously attracted to her, and it must make him feel good to have a girl who understands him. It's pretty clear he's still not over Takatsuki, though. As for Anna herself, her lack of clarification on how she feels about him for two straight episodes is telling. Does he merely fascinate her? If so, he did it at first sight, since she took a picture of him the first time she saw him. She loves to dress him up, but I wonder if that's all he is to her.

I have completely turned the corner on Chiba. I can't help but love anyone who is so blunt that she can even shock Chi. Ordering beer, or declaring that she'll solve all her problems by becoming someone's mistress in "eff-y'all" monotone is pretty ballsy.

There's a palpable tension to this show, and the introduction of the new (to me) boy is only fueling it. It isn't an unpleasant tension, like the sort of dread you get from most teen-angst stories, it's just something simmering beneath the surface, that makes you feel like everything is teetering precariously, and could go over at a moment's notice. I can't look away.

[Kismet-chan]

I wish Maho would stop being such a bitch...