Sukitte Ii na yo – 03

October 23, 2012Guardian EnzoUncategorizedAnime, reviews, Sukitte Iia na yo

Girls are scary.

There’s a funny sort of reversal happening with Sukkite Iinayo. Usually you have fans of the source material decrying the shortcomings of the adaptation, and how it never manages to capture the magic of the original. Here, there are seemingly endless “Yeah, the anime seems really good but…” posts warning of the shortcomings of the manga. I’m at the point know where I’m thinking it’s time to accept the possibility that the anime might just be as good as it seems to think it is.

Sukitte isn’t perfect, mind you, not even the best shoujo romance of the season so far – but I find it refreshingly direct and even brutally honest. It seems to have escaped the twin terrors of shoujo extremes, butterflies & rainbows fantasy and virtually dystopian despair. It’s just a good, solid romance series that’s grounded in real experience and does a good job of portraying the emotions of adolescence without exaggerating much in either direction. It’s also very stylish and attractive visually, from a studio not renowned for such things.

One thing we’re definitely seeing a lot of this season is depiction of just how cruel teenaged girls can be to each other. I must say this episode showed it pretty much as I remember it – the guys physically bully the weak and the girls savagely brutalize each other verbally, targeting each other’s weak spots with unerring accuracy. Mutou Aiko (Uchiyama Yumi) is the focal point of the karmic violence this week, turning her jaundiced eye on Mei after a chance meeting in town when Mei and Yamato are on their first “date” (though she’s clueless about what that really means). Aiko is one of the many girls Yamato has slept with and tossed aside so her irritation is somewhat understandable, but her conversation with Mei in the bowling alley is still a brutal thing to see, and it’s no wonder it turns Mei from a turkey-rolling bowling genius into a shambling mess.

There are no heroes here, so far. Aiko casually toys with her current “boyfriend” Tachikawa as thoughtlessly as Yamato did with her. Yamato carries the responsibility for the many times he’s toyed with girls’ affections, and for failing to help his friend who was being bullied in middle school (getting angry about it doesn’t excuse inaction). Adolescence can be a dangerous and terrible place, and Sukitte isn’t shying away from that experience, but it’s depicting it with a lack of florid embellishment, letting the inherent drama speak for itself. I like that, and I like the series so far. It would be nice to see Mei step into herself a bit more and become something more than a piece of driftwood being buffeted by forcer greater than she – she’s sympathetic but lacks the strong identity that Shizuku has at the center of Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun. Plus, Yamato’s personality swings from week-to-week are a bit too dramatic. But these are small quibbles – on balance, this show is definitely a keeper, and deserves to be judged on its own merits.

Guardian Enzo

22 comments

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Anonymous
October 23, 2012 at 2:52 am
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I still like this series better than Tonari…. 😀

But it is interesting that you are identifying more with Shizuku than Mei without having read the manga. Umm … I assume that you have not read the manga?

If you are enjoying both series I would be interested having you reading the manga sources and comparing them with the anime adaptations and evaluating both again.

For me I was way more involved with Mei than Shizuku based on the manga sources.

Just pondering aloud….

– Flower
admin
October 23, 2012 at 3:17 am
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No, have not read either manga. I think it's fair to say I identify with both, but for me, Shizuku has come across as a more dynamic and three-dimensional figure so far.
A

Anonymous
October 23, 2012 at 3:58 am
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I haven't read the manga of Sukkite and Tonari, so I can't say that I know better and can only rely on the anime version…it's more an apple-to-apple comparison this way I guess in my view. I like Shizuku better — she's evolving and more fun to watch. I also like Haru better — at least he doesn't have that weird hairdo. I can't like Yamato at this point — what's with all the kisses in ep 2 and all of a sudden asking for a permission in ep 3 — something isn't right and it's too forced.

Well, this is just my personal view.

~Ronbb
H

Highway
October 23, 2012 at 3:09 am
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As I probably said last week, I'm still enjoying all three shoujo series, and I'm really enjoying the fact that all three are so different. This one seems like a more classic romance, and I still think Yamato doesn't seem as bad as he might appear at first blush. I want to give him credit for seeing something in Mei, and sticking up for her, and sticking with her. And I think Mei has actually been pretty good at staying true to herself, as much as she can in such a situation that is different from her.

And yeah, their schools are pretty brutal.
A

Anonymous
October 23, 2012 at 3:56 am
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"Aiko casually toys with her current “boyfriend” Tachikawa as thoughtlessly as Yamato did with her."

I get the sense that Yamato only slept with Aiko once. I certainly think that he should have rejected her plea instead of going with her offer (out of pity?). Maybe he wanted to boost her esteem in doing so, although I won't say that this is certain, but I think that whatever intentions he had were not as bad as Aiko's current intentions. She is basically sleeping with people due to an inferiority complex, and engaging in a lot of this activity makes her feel better (more attractive) about herself. I don't think she really feels anything for Masashi, as her mind wanders even when they are in the same bed. She has always been bitter about how more attractive girls could do less work than her and gain as much attention from guys. It clearly stings Aiko that Mei, who does not even have to put any effort into her looks, and came to a date dressed plainly, could attract Yamato's attention.

"It would be nice to see Mei step into herself a bit more and become something more than a piece of driftwood being buffeted by forcer greater than she"

This probably has to do with what occurred in Mei's childhood. Near the beginning of episode 2, she said that she didn't believe that Yamato would actually come to her aid. This shows that even before the time she was blamed for murder, she was used to people letting her down. Episode 2 was the most dynamic that Mei has been, and that was to try and catch Yamato "betraying" her by making a move on Arai. She probably won't start being more assertive until further along her recovery (maybe next episode?).
K

Kenji
October 23, 2012 at 1:31 pm
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"Aiko is one of the many girls Yamato has slept with and tossed aside so her irritation is somewhat understandable"

Υamato didn't toss her aside.What was he supposed to do?And they are still on talking terms after what happened. He did what was asked of him, mostly out of pity. Both might have been feeling pretty down so they tried to raise their self esteem a bit by having sex. The one who should be irritated is him for being used by Aiko after her disappointing relationship, but that's alright with him, he doesn't seem to mind.

You also said that "Yamato carries the responsibility for the many times he’s toyed with girls’ affections"¨which is also not true. Just because half the school is crazy with him, that doesn't mean he has a responsibility for that. The ones toying with him are most of the girls who are objectifying him, turning him into a "teen-sex-god-idol" and fighting for his attention. And even then Yamato is actually behaving responsibly by being nice to everyone even though he doesn't have to.

And giving them what they want , by kissing every girl in school, is actually a pretty selfless thing to do.
admin
October 23, 2012 at 1:52 pm
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No, it's not. It's taking advantage of his good looks and getting a little, figuring no one gets hurt so what's the big deal?

There are no good guys in this situation – for me, I think that's basically the point. The girls are being shallow and objectifying Yamato, and he's using that to his advantage. I think there's an element of wanting to go after Mei simply as a challenge, too, although that seems to be less of a factor as he finds out he actually really likes her.
K

Kenji
October 23, 2012 at 2:08 pm
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But no one should get hurt because of a kiss that was wanted by the girls in the first place. It's not his fault if a girl gets hurt because he wasn't serious enough. That's how he is. And he is not pretending to be something else. Taking advantage of his looks may not have a nice ring to it, but even if that's true, why shouldn't he use his assets to try and improve his life.

And there are no good guys, period. Nor girls. But Yamato may be the most likable of them all.
A

Anonymous
October 23, 2012 at 2:21 pm
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I must have hit undo by accident, but I intended to comment on your perception of his personality swings.

I don't think it was strange for him to be so forceful in episode 2 compared to episode 3. In episode 2, Mei showed her interest in Yamato by calling him about Arai and stalking him. Assuming that he picked up on that, he could tell that Mei was interested in him. He wanted to kiss her and since he believes that she is into him, it did not occur to him that there would be an objection to this. When Yamato saw Mei's negative reaction, he feared that he might have screwed up before they even started a relationship and given Mei the impression that she was disposable, so he asserted himself to make a point.

Yamato is basically used to being the guy at the top of the social ladder after he had his growth spurt, which is why he resorted to intimidation with the stalker, and is also used to doing whoever he wants, as he stated to Mei. Seeing Mei's reaction in episode 2, and her clearly not wanting to be in an isolated space with him in episode 3, are indications to Yamato that he should try approaching her differently. He is not an idiot, so he probably realized that, and asked for permission to kiss.
A

Anonymous
October 23, 2012 at 2:27 pm
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And I meant doing "whatever" he wants, not "whoever."
A

Anonymous
October 23, 2012 at 2:34 pm
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I didn't like Mei's decision in episode 2. She actually went to all that trouble in order to stalk Yamato, being afraid he will do something with that other girl. That was kinda pathetic of her. She is actually no better than Aiko, getting jealous over any girls who approach Yamato romantically. We already know she has no self esteem, but that was kinda… It's not her business what Yamato does and even though I like the guy, he seems to go into the obvious route of settling down with one girl, even though that's contrary to his personality and way of life. He should keep things open and not prison himself in a suffocating relationship. I'm not saying he shouldn't hang out with Mei or any girl or guy for that matter, it's just that Mei has shown signs of wanting him all for herself and that's unsettling and weird.
A

Anonymous
October 23, 2012 at 4:04 pm
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Enzo, that was kinda "sexist" for lack of a better word, of you, blaming Yamato for what happened between him and Aiko. She was the one that approached him and asked for sex in the first place, so where exactly did you find the whole "slept with and tossed aside" thing? She got exactly what she asked for and still she complains.
admin
October 24, 2012 at 12:42 am
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I can hardly believe you actually read the post if you think I don't blame Aiko just as much as Yamato. That's the whole damn point.
D

Doddle God
October 23, 2012 at 6:21 am
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Well, I am not convinced yet that Yamato was a male gigolo since there is no evidence of that other than "rumors". And even this so called rumors, it's how he kissed every girl, not how he slept around. I am not being prudent by any means 'cos yes, I read the manga after this came out and in manga he was not a player and pretty much Aiko was the only one he actually boffed -and even that was a pity sex. It's actually a bit sad. Poor boy. oh ha ha ha

Anyway since they changed things around for anime, who knows, he is actually a player in the anime version. Perhaps it's more realistic that way.

Also just want to comment that "Sakurasou no Pet na Kanojo" is actually turning out to be quite decent. It's very rather fearless (one might say "relentless") on teenage sex and all lewd innuendos for a slice of life comedy show and the drama aspect is quite good as well. I was about to dismiss it as being another shameless ecchi show, but it's a keeper in my book. This season is not bad. Not bad at all.
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Vanth
October 23, 2012 at 7:41 am
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>"It’s just a good, solid romance series that’s grounded in real experience and does a good job of portraying the emotions of adolescence without exaggerating much in either direction"

Lol did you miss the part where a scout literally walks up to him in the middle of the street to recruit him for her agency?

Is it not painfully obvious that he's popular at school and lauded by everyone for his looks? But the show has to drum it in constantly.

The show may be brutally honest but in a very cheap sort of way because it loves to exaggerate at every turn.
admin
October 23, 2012 at 10:30 am
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I don't share your bias on this, but to each his own.
V

Vanth
October 23, 2012 at 2:45 pm
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Well, maybe you'll see down the road that its not really a bias but a real observation.
admin
October 23, 2012 at 2:49 pm
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And I'll reiterate what I said in the post:

I’m at the point know where I’m thinking it’s time to accept the possibility that the anime might just be as good as it seems to think it is.

On balance, this show is definitely a keeper, and deserves to be judged on its own merits.
V

Vanth
October 23, 2012 at 3:32 pm
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But I am judging it by its own merits. At least I'm trying to.

The female lead needs to be protected physically and emotionally. Yamato was practically idolized by the show in this episode and it was hardly subtle.

Even the jealous woman told off Mei and she took it lying down. Mei has a very low opinion of herself and even though Yamato insists that they are a couple, she thinks that she's not worthy of him. And its just because he's popular for his looks alone and nothing else.

But my point will be clearer when Yamato constantly would end up protecting her from all the demons that are gonna attack her because of his popularity. If that doesn't happen and Mei can hold on her own then I'll say that I made an erroneous presumption.

The show breaks its realism by being too obvious. I think there's a difference there from being too blunt.
B

Blueicegal ♥
October 23, 2012 at 10:55 pm
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i think my one problem is where he kissed her around that stalker guy. i felt like he took advantage of a situation when there were other ways to go around it. liking him or not is not the point. despite the fact that she had feelings for him there should be a line and sense of respect. taking into account that it was her first kiss too. it's exactly why he should never had done it. i know for a fact if had that been me (regardless if i liked him or not) that fool would have gotten his ass karate chopped! 😛

as for the one night stand he had with the girl who basically begged him for it. again, he should have known she was vulnerable. but at the end of the day if they did it and it was agreed by both parties then there's only so much you can say there. basically she knew he wasn't into her and should have been prepared to have been turned down. so that one is on her too.

and i agree with you enzo. it was a little annoying when he started pursuing her. just because it seemed SO apparent that he was doing it not only because she was a challenge but because she didn't fawn at him like other girls. his reasons are all wrong but through the recent episode i can now see why she might appeal to him. but it begs to be asked. what about her? is she feeling the same because she's been ignored and isolated for so long and suddenly the most popular guy in school is pursuing her?

i'm watching this and tonari but i don't really know which one i prefer more 🙂

i don't see either of them as all that deep really, if i'm honest. they kind of seem to follow your average cliche that you'll get from any other high school romance. but its got my attention so it must be doing something right 🙂

keep up the great reviews!
A

Anonymous
October 24, 2012 at 12:34 am
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"he should have known she was vulnerable."

They were both 15-16 year olds,vulnerable is the norm.
B

Blueicegal ♥
October 24, 2012 at 1:26 am
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i probably should have been more clear there. she was vulnerable due to the fact that she was just dealing with a recent breakup. (in her case where she had been cheated on). she's not at her best, to be honest. and if she's dealing with low self esteem or wanting affection to feel better about herself (which is the gist that i got, and i'm sure he was aware of it too – hence why he felt bad for her) then i would assume that it would make sense to just back off. and keep in mind that i do think they are both at fault here. i just feel like both were very flawed in the situation. then again it's anime, random shit happens.

Sukitte Ii na yo – 03

Guardian Enzo

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