Amagami SS+ plus - 11 - Lost in Anime

Without question, the writing staff over at AIC know exactly what they have with Haruka, opening the episode with “Hey, look at her Man. She’s really hot!” – which just about says it all – and titling it “Sexy”.

I try to be as open-minded as I can, but I must admit I’m genuinely baffled that there are viewers who prefer any of the other girls in the cast to Haruka, the God-Queen of all that is sexy, sweet and lovable. The show is utterly transformed by her presence – the writing is sharper and funnier, it’s much, much sexier, and the chemistry with the leads is an order of magnitude greater. I even like Junichi when he’s with Haruka – his oversexed puppy mode is by far his most likable personality. I can honestly say I’d like to watch an entire romcom built around these two as a couple.

What is it about Haruka? Well, there’s the obvious – she’s absolutely gorgeous and absolutely sexy, and she breaks free of the nonsense tropes we see anime heroines bound to. She’s not dumb, she’s neither tsun or dere, she’s got a healthy interest in sex to match her boyfriends without being a nympho, and she goes through life looking like she’s in on a joke she can’t wait to tell you. Plain and simply, I adore her – I have very few anime crushes, but she’s one of them. Of course none of that would matter if Kimura Noboru hadn’t written a good premise around her, but fortunately he’s cooked up a clever and entertaining story that’s just serious enough without being heavy.

One thing I do wonder sometimes about this season is if the final episodes of the S1 arcs really happened, because these couples definitely don’t act like ones that have already had sex (as most of the S1 pairings did, even not counting the timeskip epilogues). Nonetheless I do like the awkwardness mixed with intimacy that forms the heart of the Junichi-Haruka relationship, and they even return to the scene of the “crime” here – the scene being the shed and the crime being the knee-kissing scene from S1, one of the most erotic moments in mainstream anime last year (and proof that sensuality beats porn every time). No fun with ramen yet, but there’s still next week’s finale.

The overall premise here involves Haruka’s desire to get proposed to on her graduation, as her one-year-older English cousin “Sexy Jessica Morishima” did. It starts out with an innocuous offer to Junichi to meet her parents, but when Haruka gets together with best friend Tsukahara (Asakawa Yuu) the wheels really start turning and Haruka ropes Tsukahara into a series of increasingly ornate fantasy role-plays – a mock wedding (Yuno? Is that you?), a pregnancy, a family dinner with Tsukahara as the daughter… It should be slightly disturbing but this fantasy aspect of the romance is so intrinsic that it feels natural and organic – though I do have mixed feelings for Junichi’s sake. He certainly is the luckiest guy in the world to have this girl want to stampede him into proposing, but that isn’t really something a guy who’s not even a senior in high-school should have to think about…

The fun goes on overload when Sexy Jessie shows up in Japan for Haruka’s graduation, and indeed she does look like Haruka with blond hair and blue eyes (Junichi’s Doublemint Gum fantasies are written all over his face). There’s some Engrish (better than unusual) and Jessica generally acts like a tease and plays up the blonde foreigner stereotype to its sexy hilt. She also acts to try and nudge Junichi into popping the question, trying to frighten him with stories of English boys just waiting to steal Haruka’s heart. But Haruka’s reaction is refreshing as always, laughing it off and telling him he has nothing to worry about – she isn’t thinking of anyone else but him.

The series wrap looks like it’s going to be staged around Haruka’s first visit to Junichi’s house, with Miya conveniently staying over at a friend’s (again – did that hotel scene in S1 actually happen?). I can’t help but wonder if Jessica might return from her sightseeing trip to Kyoto a little early and walk in on them, not that Junichi would mind too much. With these two, there just isn’t a need for a lot of padding and big roles for the rest of the cast, so a simple episode staged at Junichi’s house should work splendidly. I’m just hoping we get another end card anywhere close to this one.

10 comments

Beckett

March 16, 2012 at 6:32 am

It was everything I dreamed it would be and then some. Haruka is the heroine worth enduring 10 inferior episodes for <3 <3 <3.

Tsuki

March 16, 2012 at 7:25 am

Didn't realize you were such a huge Haruka fan, lol.

Well, I have to say Haruka's arc is already more fun than all the other arcs in this second season so far. Only one I think I enjoyed almost as much as this episode was in Nanasaki's arc.

And heck, Haruka's arc isn't even over yet. I'm looking forward to the final episode, yet it's also kind of a shame that the series is drawing to a close.

Ishruns

March 16, 2012 at 7:47 am

The Queen of kinky is back. Not with as much finesse as I was hopping, but a helluva lot nonetheless. I agree that Haruka is by far and a way the best heroine in this show and everything becomes so much more lively when she is around(in comparison to Sae where everything becomes dreary).

Imagine if Amagami had followed Kimikiss with Haruka as the lead. The thought is very excitable.

So with effectively the best episode in the series so far and an even better to follow hopefully, lets all board the Haruka train; something she would not mind in the least.

The_Magus_Killer

March 16, 2012 at 10:56 am

"I try to be as open-minded as I can, but I must admit I’m genuinely baffled that there are viewers who prefer any of the other girls in the cast to Haruka, the God-Queen of all that is sexy, sweet and lovable. The show is utterly transformed by her presence – the writing is sharper and funnier, it’s much, much sexier, and the chemistry with the leads is an order of magnitude greater." – quoted

That's because we all have different tastes in women. I for one prefer Ayatsuji Tsukasa above all others since I can relate to her "elder-sibling-who's-more-flawed-but-still-liked-better-than-you" issues. I think it all boils down to whose girl's personality you can relate the most with. =)

belatkuro

March 16, 2012 at 3:09 pm

^I agree with Kiritsugu here 😛
It all comes down to preferences and who you can relate to. I've said it before but I like Ayatsuji the most for her strength to face challenges and also showing that she too is human that can feel weakness. I kinda want to be that person she gets her support 😛

Nevertheless, this episode just tickled my bone down to the very core.
I said before that I didn't quite like Haruka before in the 1st season(ranked 4th out of the 6) but I warmed up to her after reading several adaptations of the manga. And with Itou Shizuka's heavenly voice, just…wow.
And what's more, double dose with a look-a-like Jessica and the same seiyuu.
I can't hold it in….HHHNNNGGGG.

Episode was pretty good. Worth the wait for the fans. I'm also a fan now so it's also worth the wait for me.
Now how would this house visit go. Really excited now.

Dat ED card.
*looks down on the pic*
Is that what I think I'm seeing?

Anonymous

March 16, 2012 at 3:21 pm

Wow!

Snuckerpooks

March 16, 2012 at 3:37 pm

Apart from all of the "Haruka rules" posts, I think this episode was probably one of the better ones in the series as a whole. As a viewer, Junichi is sometimes just to hard to watch. Especially in the Sae arc I had to just plain skip sections because I felt uncomfortable watching him, his dialogue, and creepy acts. I know the first season the whole back of the knee kissing thing was weird, and I still think it is (like wtf?), but so far in this second series hes been pretty chill and actually being a boyfriend that adores his girlfriend. BUT OF COURSE, we have to have the possibly awkward episode and hesitation from both sides.

I just hope Haruka's arc doesn't become to uncomfortable to watch.

Seishun Otoko

March 16, 2012 at 10:10 pm

Haha… I guess some people would find Haruka too intimidatingly perfect.
Indeed, she's hot as hell and her playfulness is always fun to watch but I can't say I can relate to her all that much.
Much prefer the spunky osananajimi with her gorgeous sex hair 😉

admin

March 16, 2012 at 11:15 pm

I respect that, but it's funny how folks can't seen to talk about any of the girls in the cast without using their "label" – except for Haruka. That's one of the things I like best – she's not a trope. She's a Haruka. Unless God-queen is a trope…

Anonymous

March 16, 2012 at 11:46 pm

Hmm … well, while I can certainly respect other people's preferences for Amagami heroines and such, I still hafta say that Ai is my fave of the bunch. 🙂

I just like both her and "the best" that she brings out of Junichi.

Must admit that I do not like how Junichi behaves around Haruka though … maybe that contributes some to my personal lack of interest in her in the sense of her "holding the top spot" or such.

Then again I hafta admit – there are NO Amagami heroines I dislike! Only bad presentations and storylines that are given them. Sometimes the manga adaptations of the VN are way, way more interesting. 🙂

– Flower

Amagami SS+ plus – 11

Guardian Enzo

10 comments

Beckett

Tsuki

Ishruns

The_Magus_Killer

belatkuro

Anonymous

Snuckerpooks

Seishun Otoko

admin

Anonymous

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10 comments

Beckett

Tsuki

Ishruns

The_Magus_Killer

belatkuro

Anonymous

Snuckerpooks

Seishun Otoko

admin

Anonymous

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