sonicsenryaku summed up my take on Clear Card-hen pretty well last week – “not necessarily doing anything wrong but just not doing enough”. That about says it all for me – this show is very good for what it is, but right now what it is seems to be mostly fanservice for CCS fans. There’s nothing wrong with that but it doesn’t really offer a compelling reason to blog it.
With that being said, it’s worth considering that this series is two cours (short ones notwithstanding), and it may just be taking its time building up to something meatier. The past three episodes have followed the exact same formula, with minor variations – lots of kawaii hijinks, Tomoyo vamping, a new card being introduced, talking about what’s going on with said new card, and very little interaction between Sakura and Syaoran with a cookie thrown to the audience at the very end. If that’s still the case in a few weeks, I’ll be very worried indeed.
For now, Sakura doesn’t know much about going on with these new cards, and neither do Kero-chan or even Yue. It may or may not have something to do with the new student Shinomoto Akiho, who seems quite suspicious even if Syaoran says he senses no magic from her. In the meantime Sakura takes the lead in making her feel welcome and Akiho betrays nothing of any secret motives she may have. Can the fact that she used to live in Hong Kong (among other places) really be a coincidence, though?
As for someone who may know what’s going on, Eriol pretty much heads the list – and he’s still ignoring Sakura’s mails and calls. But he’s hiding lots of somethings, and so is Syaoran since Eriol isn’t ignoring his calls (which suggests the two of them are trying to protect Sakura). All of this is pleasant enough, but I’m ready for the story to really take advantage of the new setting (and character ages) and give us something a little more eventful and a little less comfortable. If that happens next week, I’ll be here to write about it.
Mayuf
January 29, 2018 at 7:51 pmThanks
sonicsenryaku
January 29, 2018 at 9:38 pmFirstly; thanks for the small shout enzo XD. Secondly, while watching this ep, thoughts of original series surfaced in my head, particularly the implied romantic feelings Tomoyo has for Sakura due to there being more of a focus on their friendship rather than fleshing out the one between Sakura and Li’s (baby steps are being taken though) and then it occurred to me that Sakura and Tomoyo are actually second cousins, a detail the series never seems to bring up. That’s CLAMP for ya and their love for slight incestual/homosexual undertones. Tomoyo’s mother is Sakura’s mother’s 1st cousin, which would indeed make Sakura and Tomoyo second cousins.
Guardian Enzo
January 29, 2018 at 10:04 pmSeriously, this is anime – do you really think being second cousins is any kind of taboo? ;-P
Tomoyo’s feelings what they are, it’s pretty clear that in this canon Syaoran and Sakura are mutually attracted. What’s frustrating is that Clear Card makes a big deal of setting that development up and thus far at least, isn’t much interested in doing anything with it. That may change of course, but I’d like to see signs of it soon.
sonicsenryaku
January 29, 2018 at 11:06 pm“Seriously, this is anime – do you really think being second cousins is any kind of taboo? ;-P”
Hahaha silly, silly, me. It’s just sooooo odd that they hang out with each other all the time and not once have they ever had a moment of enlightenment where they’re like, “Gurl……we aint just best friends….we also second cousins.” Like, dude…why aren’t you guys acknowledge this fact? Not to mention I’m pretty sure Tomoyo’s mom was also in love with Sakura’s mom as she was also quite fond of vamping her and was extremely jealous of Sakura’s dad swooping in and marrying her; explains where Tomoyo gets it from. But yea, a big part of the first cardcaptor series was Sakura growing out of her childish crush for Yukito and learning what it truly means to feel an intimate closeness with someone that spurred feelings inside her beyond glorified admiration i.e. her deepening bond with Li. That’s why it’s such a shame clear card is exploring the consequence of their romantic growth at such a snail’s pace. Whatever Syaoran is hiding from Sakura, if it ends up shaking the foundation of the story, I hope it’s substantial enough character drama to make up for their lack of shared screentime.
Panino Manino
January 30, 2018 at 10:09 amLOL… no, seriously, LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL
I have to laugh because… in this corner of the world where I live, sometimes, rarely but not so rarely, it “is” “not” “unusual” or “strange” to have “first sexual experiences”, “of some sort”, “or just for fun”, with cousins, even of first degree.
Not sure how this information would change my view of this relationship because I’m still not watching.
sonicsenryaku
January 30, 2018 at 4:45 pm??? I’m actually quite aware of corners of the world where it is not “unusual” or “strange” to have one’s first sexual experiences with cousins. I actually know quite a few people who have had similar experiences like that in their childhood. The point of highlighting that message was more about bringing attention to the fact that Sakura and Tomoyo (or anyone in the series for that matter, especially considering how important Sakura’s connection with family is in this series) have never once acknowledged that they are second cousins and that their strong friendship has a consanguineous core to it.
Panino Manino
January 30, 2018 at 5:03 pmI wonder if this will be relevant at some point.
And asking you whom is a viewer, there’s actual expectations for development in the romantic relationships? Romance in anime have a tradition of disappointment, and this one is for youngsters. I can’t imagine any actual development happening in this sequel.
sonicsenryaku
January 30, 2018 at 6:31 pmI’m not sure how romantic relationships are handled in the clear card arc of CCS as i’ve not read the manga iteration of this work; however, with what i remember from the original CCS, certain romantic relationships were implied, and any other romantic developments between side characters was to spur Sakura into maturing emotionally as a person. A big bulk of the original series’ romantic lens was about Sakura understanding what it really means to care about someone romantically and the show handled it as innocently and sensually (culminating nicely in the second cardcaptor movie) as you’d expect from a story about two elementary school kids. It’s charmingly sweet and handled in a sterling manner. It’s not cross game levels of good but it’s still touching which is why im a bit let down that clear card is not exploring that as deeply now that they’re middle schoo students
Guardian Enzo
January 30, 2018 at 8:02 pmWell yes, that’s the main issue for me. You have this opportunity to take advantage of the fact that the kids are older now, so why is the series materially the same as it always was? It does seem like a bit of a waste.
Brian
January 30, 2018 at 6:37 amI wasn’t into anime when the first CCS aired but semi-binged it around 3 years ago. My thoughts then were ‘repetitive, aimed at younger age viewers’. My watching of the first 3 episodes of this season did not change that thought; to me, the only thing that has changed is the school uniforms. As was pointed out by Enzo above, the formula for each episode has not changed and had become boring to me. I’m not watching as of now but will continue to read the reviews in case something does change.
ruicarlov
January 30, 2018 at 1:03 pmAccording to some comments I’ve seen, with this episode we’re up to 50% of the currently published chapters. Meaning we’re now entering aditional content (filler if you call it), just like the original CCS did by introducing more cards (and characters).