(L) Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge (The Wallflower)

[physics223]

It's irritating that they put her in chibi-mode for the most part of the series, but I guess we'd have to deal with that.

[Mizuno]

nice to see the relationships develop more in ep 10. how everyone was there to defend sunako was really great. perhaps sunako will start to change now because she has friends that accept her.

[nadare]

Wait... Aint episode 10 the first episode ever where sunako didnt get a nosebleed?

[Matt Soulblade]

Great episode...

Spoiler for 10:

I think the crime-discovery-part was handled better in the manga (the hostess didnt appear as the guilty so easily) and sunako was a little... dense, but then, the "ugly" thing in the warehouse and the rest of the episode was very well done. Also with a lot of Sunako non-chibi supercool mode. Ranmaru getting owned was a great thing to see too .
And one of my favorite scenes got animated (the kiss).
Goth loli, tackled by a train. Fan-requested scene?

It is getting better, thats for sure.

[physics223]

I loved the episode. I hated the chibi-Sunako, but the episode gave light into how Kyouhei felt towards Sunako. He feels quite deeply for her - of course, they both deny it.

[Sorrow-K]

Yeah, but even despite the somewhat movement in the plot in ep 10 (I still can't say it was overly decisive or conclusive, either, since it seems Kyouhei still sees Sunako as more a plaything than a person), it's still hard to like this show because the almost-ten episodes of unfunny attempted comedy have made it really hard to care about the characters. Well, maybe that's harsh... the show averages about one or two chuckle-inducing moments an episode, but out of the mountain of jokes they attempt every episode, that's pretty poor.

[daddygoat]

I'm still loving this series.

In both the manga and the anime; one of my favorite parts is the subplot between Oda and Noi, and I think the anime is showing that quite well. As far as Sunako and Kyouhei go, it's a matter of pacing. If the series is going to be 24 or 26 episodes, then I think it's developing fine. If it ends at 13, then Houston we have a problem.

The running gags, chibi's and various exaggerations I see more as setting the tone than attempts at laugh out loud humor. More Excel Saga than Ouran (given the director, no suprise).

If it just continues like this to the end then I'll be disappointed, but I'm starting to see the progress that will make it all worthwhile.

[Vexx]

Its a short series so.. indeed there is a problem. Major storyline faux pas in favor of repetitive lame time squanders (e.g. goth-loli) far too many "omigod she's scary switch to white blob mode" minutes....

I did start reading the manga as a result of seeing that there was a story buried under this.. so in that respect the anime was a success but the director really missed a lot of opportunities here.

[physics223]

ep11 was decently funny and there was, again, some plot progression. But the manga is honestly just far and away in quality from the anime ... it's not even comparable.

I wish somebody more competent directed this ... why the fuck did they choose Shin'ichi Watanabe? I hope that with the last 2 episodes there'll be some clarity and resolution, but that's shooting for too much in a 13-episode series having gone this far.

If this isn't a 13-ep series then there's still hope. Otherwise, it's going to have an ending of BS.

[Sorrow-K]

Yeah, the successful joke ratio was a lot higher in ep 11 And, for the first time in this series, we actually got an inciteful commentary on Sunako's character. But, as is typical, this ep also had a ton of low points. I particularly thought the whole revelation that Kyouhei needed a police escort in the past was ridiculous beyond words.

Anyway, unlike everyone else, I'm hoping this series only has two more eps at most, since I don't think I could survive through another season of unfunny comedy just to see some progression in the relationship of two relatively flat characters. This thing needs to be put to bed, as far as I'm concerned.

[ani_d]

I just saw episode 13 (raw) and it definitely doesn't end there. ^.^ In fact, episode 13 is probably my most fave episode yet.

[Vexx]

After seeing the source material ... <sigh> There's about 3 or 4 minutes in each episode that give you a glimmer of what it could have been (much funnier and less low-budget animation disguised as "humor").

[Pellissier]

Originally Posted by Vexx

After seeing the source material ... <sigh> There's about 3 or 4 minutes in each episode that give you a glimmer of what it could have been

Actually, it wouldn't be that difficult to spot, because if the manga were exactly like this, I doubt it would have never had sold enough to stay alive, or that the mangaka hadn't get instantly fired.

Everytime Sunako turns into "normal" mode the anime becomes interesting, everytime we can see her inner thoughts we can see the potentiality of the product. But since as at episode 11 this is what we got to see, this series is sadly marked with a D+ on my book.
Despite that, I'm not dropping it, even at cost of producing myself autodamage, I'll go ahead watching, and I hope in a full 26 eps resolution.

Episode 11, the usual trite stuff (.. meh.. I get the feeling I've already heard this) for a quite a bit, but latter some gags actually worked (the whole "nerd" thing and the preparation for the math test + the math test itself). Though it was incredibly stupid that Sunako failed because she marked the wrong lines. (couldn't they bring a better excuse?)
By the way the last 3-4 minutes saved the whole. And gave that little hint of hope for the near future.

[Vexx]

Pellissier and I appear to be trapped in the same tragic "must finish" place in the Twilight Zone and have similar opinions on ep 11.

[Sorrow-K]

Originally Posted by ani_d

I just saw episode 13 (raw) and it definitely doesn't end there. ^.^ In fact, episode 13 is probably my most fave episode yet.

I'm gonna struggle with this series then. I really am, particularly considering how pessimistic I am about it getting better. On the other hand, I very rarely drop series, especially when I'm this far in.

I don't struggle as much wading through bad anime like Shuffle! or Maburaho because I can at least turn my brain off and enjoy the pretty pictures and fanservice. I don't have that luxury with this.

[Vexx]

I guess this is going to become the support group therapy after each episode.

....

[physics223]

We can do it, guys. We've already gone this far.

[Sorrow-K]

I love that. At any other forum, the response would be "it's crap, stop watching". Here, it's "it's crap, keep going".

[Trax]

Wouldn't go as far as calling it crap, generally speaking I still like it. But it does have its share of downsides, such as unsuccesful gags and way too much Sunako-chibi. >13 episodes does seem like a bit much, although at this point wrapping it up in 2 episodes would make the ending too rushed.

[physics223]

In the (very miniscule) hope that I see Sunako and Kyouhei turn it on, I will keep watching ... maybe they will ... maybe Nabeshin develops a brain later on with the series turning into a series with half of Honey and Clover's quality ... maybe. But anyway, even if it didn't (but I hope to God it would) I will still watch it. Just because Sunako is there, and we've already gone THIS far.

Desho?

(Oh, and I don't think the series is crap. It lacks quality, that much is evident ... but crap is something of Zaizen Jotaro or Musashi caliber. )