If the conversations in Bakemonogatari were verbal games of chess, then a Nisemonogatari conversations are full-contact grappling. They aren't just trying to one-up one another anymore, they're angling for the submission. Literally, in Kanbaru's case.
I really love the dynamic Araragi has with his sisters. The two girls fit many of the patterns of the other Bakemonogatari cast, but the family dynamic puts all three of them in a situation where it's hard to BS each other without setting off alarm bells. Araragi's insight into his sisters' tendencies gives him a certain leg up on them, but it works both ways.
Moving on to the elephant in the room: How the crap did Nadeko manage to fix the Twister spinner so that they ended up in THAT position?
I let out one barking "HAH!" when Nadeko bolted the door. This show is so great at saying so much with less than a dozen frames of animation. She also does a great Shaft hair-flip.
Maybe it's just me, but Nadeko's bit unfolded in a way that I would classify as the opposite of how her previous scenes have gone: In Bake, she would usually begin a scene irresistibly adorable, and then slowly transition into something more uncomfortably sensual, and seductive. In this episode, she's a (
very dangerous) pretty young thing from the start, but in the end, she's squeaking and babbling cutely out of fear that her mother might catch her wearing
precisely the outfit she picked out to show Araragi. D'awww.
Araragi chivalrously pledges not to do anything untoward to the sweet, innocent Nadeko. Just think, if only he'd invert his stances on how he treats Mayoi and Nadeko, there would be two less vexed girls in the world.
Meanwhile, Araragi discovers that the best way to troll Kanbaru is to insinuate that she isn't really that much of a pervert. It backfires spectacularly, but not before he gets to enjoy his brief victory. I know that the shovel in Kanbaru's room is intended as symbolism, but let's explore the two reasons it might actually be there:
1) Kanbaru's room is filled with such varied refuse and bric-a-brac that a shovel is not out of place enough to warrant a mention, or
2) Kanbaru and Araragi have determined that they will require such an implement of destruction in order to tackle the Sisyphean task of cleaning her room.
Really, are either of those two scenarios
that far outside of the realm of possibility?
Karen's OP is great, and fits nicely with the pattern of catchy character song OPs for the series. Meanwhile the Claris song used in the ED has been growing on me since it was first used in the previews. Overall, I'm happy with the series so far, but I'm itching for them to get into the meat of the Karen Bee story. I assume Tsubasa is still owed a moment in the sun, though.
). 
Author
"Focus entirely on me, you ordinary soldier."
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If anyone attacks Shaft
