My Home Hero – 06

I might be cutting My Home Hero loose for the sake of time after this week.  There doesn’t seem to be too much of a following here in any event – but I will likely be watching til the end.  I’m curious to see how this whole clusterfrick plays itself out, as Tetsuo digs himself and everyone unfortunate enough to be connected to him deeper and deeper with his desperate flailing.  It’s all pretty preposterous but entertaining in a pulpy way.

His master plan to get Nobuto’s password so he can leave a comment on his video is elaborate, I’ll say that much.  And Tosen somehow extrapolates “Cap” into the lock code, so the plan can go ahead.  But you know, the mob are professionals at this sort of thing.  Seeing through a bogus video isn’t really all that hard (by a person’s gait is one way, yes).  Kyouichi was never really buying it anyway, and as unhinged as he is Kyouichi has basically guessed right about almost everything (it takes a bullshitter to spot a bullshitter).

Then we have the whole laxative in the coffee thing, which is what happens when Tosen takes the initiative (slipping her husband the same mickey for authenticity’s sake).  You’d think the jig is up here, surely, even if Kyouichi didn’t find the blond hair in the compost pile.  But it isn’t of course, as we’re only halfway, so it’s fun to imagine what new contortions Tetsuo – and My Home Hero – will come up with to extract themselves from this one.

Ao no Orchestra – 05

I’m in sort of a funny place with Ao no Orchestra.  I’m not convinced that it’s a really good example of what it’s trying to be.  But we speak the same language, so it connects with me anyway.  I’m not saying it’s bad or anything – it’s pretty good on the whole, I think.  Aono is a relatable lead with an interesting personal story, and the performances – the audio – are very good.  But the visuals are bang average for the non-performance scenes, transitioning to pretty grim when the music starts.  And the writing strikes me as a bit clunky at times.

Does all that matter?  I guess it comes down to what your priorities are in following a series.  I’m pretty much a captive audience here in the almost literal sense, because watching events like this episode depicts captivates me.  The dynamics of what’s happening here are fascinating, the music is beautiful, and it echoes sports anime in the way performing arts series often do.  I think the story is either going to level up or down when Aono’s father inevitably re-enters the narrative, but for now it’s chugging along fine for the most part.

The Hajime-Saeki Vivaldi duet was certainly teased long enough, but it mostly delivered.  The animation is less a problem with solo or duet pieces than orchestral (like we saw to close the ep – woof).  And the cat and mouse between them was fun.  Saeki-kun wasn’t really being a jerk, he was just having fun – knowing full well the club leaders would be able to tell his skill even if the performance was disjointed (which it was).  He didn’t do Hajime any favors and eventually he got the bit in his teeth and decided two could play at that game.  It was discordant but fun to listen to.

Unfortunately once the veep spilled the beans about his identity (she only “suspected” before, supposedly) the gossiping started and Hajime’s PTSD kicked in.  I feel for him – he’s introverted to borderline socially anxious levels, which probably made playing in front of an audience a struggle at the best of times.  After Dad blew up his world and left him to fend with the carnage that became worse.  I know we were supposed to think Akine’s performance was a big improvement, though TBH she sounded the same to me – but that wasn’t the point.  She volunteered to take some of the spotlight off Hajime, so kudos to her for that.  She’s pushy and annoying but at least she’s loyal.

Getting past the CGI the sempai performance was certainly seamless.  Harada-san is clearly the Kami of the orchestra club.  I’m just waiting for his hidden dark side to surface – but he does indeed show Hajime something to strive for.  The obvious question is who would end up as the first violin once Harada graduates, but that’s one you wouldn’t expect to see come up for quite a while – by which point Saeki and Hajime will have developed what has the potential to be the most interesting relationship in the series.