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On balance, I’d say this episode of Haganai had just about everything you’d want – humor, irony, fanservice and even a little pathos.
I don’t know if I’ll call this my favorite episode, but it’s certainly one of the best. The Hippocratic oath for Haganai is “First be funny”, and that was certainly accomplished this week – and that hasn’t been the case every week. And as this show does at its best it managed to add some deeper elements on top of that, and had a strong presence by everyone in the main cast. Starting with Kobato, things were good and kept getting better. I loved how she was inspired to change into summer clothes (which she looks much cuter in than her goth loli garb, IMO) by her heroine transforming on television. I’m not so sure I need that much fanservice with a character that young, but I guess you have to remind yourself that she’s a teenager despite her appearance – and it was nice to see Kodaka finally acknowledge the fact that she looks absurdly young for her age.
On the subject of service, I thought this was the week that Yukimura’s cover – and I’m more convinced than ever it is a cover – would be blown, but she managed to skate by. Yes, “she” – sorry, but there’s no effing way that’s a guy. You can see curvature, first of all, and I’ve seen enough traps and reverse traps to recognize that her behavior isn’t that of a conventional trap. It might be possible that she even thinks she’s a boy, but at the very least she’s adamant that she wants to be. There’s irony in the notion of a girl who wants to be a boy trying to become one by pretending to be a boy dressing as a girl, but then this show is good at irony. I about lost my lunch when Maria said she almost “broke the cigar off this she-male”. Pretty absurd dialogue a ten year-old would never say, but hilarious nonetheless. And did I mention that I find what Yozora is doing to Yukimura and Maria pretty despicable?
Speaking of irony, it’s become clear that the central irony of this show is that the members of the Neighbors Club have become friends, do everything that friends do, and yet go through the motions of being friendless and looking for friends and seem to have no idea that they’ve already accomplished their goal. Sure, their friendships are dysfunctional but let’s be honest, most friendships are. That absurd reality is the spine that runs through the whole series, with everything building off that, and it’s a good premise. I suppose it’s just a reflection of how socially clueless they are, and more than ever this week I felt sorry for the lot of them, even Yozora in the end. It’s certainly sad that she and Rika were so genuinely uncomfortable in the massive crowds at the water park that they jumped right on a bus to go home. That was uncharacteristically serious but still in line with the overall tone of the show, I think – and a reflection of how their social awkwardness isn’t just a gag, but a real disorder bordering on phobia.
Despite all that, the episode still managed to be very funny. And it managed to do it at the expense of its misfit characters without being too mocking or unkind, which is a delicate balance Haganai usually (bot not always) manages to walk. I continue to yearn for more Rika, who consistently makes me laugh. Her offer to play “strippy strippy” with Kobato, first of all, and then her declaration that Yozora saying “I won’t gag” was turning her on, even as she was fighting nausea herself (not to mention her litany of swimsuit options). The whole notion of Sena and Rika’s obsessive interest in Kobato was a bit edgy, perhaps even wrong, but still sort of in character. There’s that balance thing again.
So next week we finally get the visit to Sena’s house to meet with the Chairman, and it looks like Kobato will tag along. Any opportunity for Kodaka/Sena development is a good thing (we saw a bit of it poolside this week). Sena isn’t a trope that I’m normally crazy about, but she’s totally won me over. Perhaps it’s because her tsun side is so completely transparent – this is an insecure girl who desperately wants to be loved (and I don’t mean sexually), specifically by Kodaka but really by anyone who’ll have her. Ironically for a galge addict Sena is a complete innocent – naïve about the way people behave (which makes her an easy target for Yozora’s cruelty) and about how hurtful they can be. I adore the way she throws herself into everything she does, whether it be gaming, a cell phone, a group outing, with complete enthusiasm and abandon. It’s easy to picture her as a girl who grew up in a sheltered and privileged environment, but probably a somewhat sterile and cold one as well. Sena’s vulnerability and desire for affection is the heart of Haganai for me, and she exemplifies the true nature of the series better than anyone else.
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belatkuro
November 25, 2011 at 8:21 pmFYI, that bus scene with Yozora turning away from Kodaka and Sena didnt happen in the novels.
They mailed that they would go home coz they felt sick and nauseous from earlier in the bus and from being around a lot of people. Kodaka wasnt able to catch up nor did he try to chase.
Then they stayed for a while but decided to leave since it was so full of people.
While it did made it a bit serious at the end, I felt it was a bad move to do that. It changed the reason why Yozora left so early and made this matter complicated when it isnt.
Oh well.
I was laughing so hard at the shark bad end coz I knew what was gonna happen next.
And I have to read it for myself about Yukimura before I call the gender(nothing yet on B-T translated parts).
Fencedude
November 25, 2011 at 8:32 pmGotta agree entirely about Sena. She's such a good, sweet girl, but doesn't really have any clue how to interact with people.
Not that I don't thoroughly enjoy Yozora's verbal abuse of her though.
Karmafan
November 26, 2011 at 12:39 amYozora's verbal abuse and tricks (like what she did to the nun this week) are too mean. There is teasing and joking and there is going over the edge. The last few weeks Yozura has gone off the edge big time to the point that I can't stand her character and wanna see her get the bad end.
Seishun Otoko
November 26, 2011 at 1:34 amWhat's with all the underage fan service this week? Kobato loves stripping in front of his onii-chan huh
admin
November 26, 2011 at 3:22 amModesty clearly not a factor there.
leokiko
November 26, 2011 at 5:49 amBrazilian bikini? LOL. I wish. D:
leokiko
November 26, 2011 at 7:12 amAlso: That game was awesome haha
admin
November 26, 2011 at 7:53 amBand-aids were my favorite…
deafvader
November 26, 2011 at 8:13 am@Enzo: that scene you took of Kobato changing… Her chest got a temp upsize?
Just wondering who that other nun is. She has silver hair like Maria, just she would make an appearance soon. I hope Sena's dad is not a perv, or if Sena and Kobato has the same mum…
belatkuro
November 26, 2011 at 9:01 amBreast size is one of the inconsistent things in this show .
And band aids ftw.
deafvader
November 26, 2011 at 9:39 amPride!! FTW
admin
November 26, 2011 at 5:31 pmYes, others have noted that power-up for Kobato. It's funny, because right after that Kodaka mentioned that she might not be growing and she looks scared and peeks inside her shirt.