Anne Shirley – 04

From a blogging perspective, I do worry a bit (well, more than a bit) about Anne Shirley. This sort of premise doesn’t always grab me, and the pacing of this adaptation is fast enough that even an anime-only(ish) can’t help but notice it. I also know because fans of the books (and earlier versions) keep reminding me that this take is rather “toned down” in certain respects. Rounded off at the corners, you might say. And I kind of feel like this sort of story needs all the sharp edges it can get.

This episode certainly held my interest less than the first three. I find Diana a bit of a snooze to be frank – a sort of “Canadianadeshiko.” And while it’s nice that she and Anne are so devoted to each other, there’s not a lot of drama in that (apart from the manufactured kind). I mean how many times are we going to be subject to their rhapsodizing about how much they adore each other? I’d like things either a bit darker or a bit more irreverent, but so far this adaptation has a very “point to point” quality to it. Keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel.

The cordial thing was funny, but there was a lot of untapped potential there. And the kerfuffle in its aftermath just struck me as sort of silly. Diana’s mother way overreacted, and then turned on a dime when Anne saved Diana’s sister from the croup (usually caused by diphtheria and no joke – often fatal in those days). Again, point to point. I imagine the pacing just is what it is here, but the tone is probably what’s going to make the difference for me. There’s some potential for comedy in Anne’s one-sided “rivalry” with Gilbert but I have no idea how much focus that will get, and I like her vibe with Marilla and Matthew (mostly). But I don’t know if that adds up to a series or not.

Shoushimin Series 2nd Season – 04

As the other bubble series have mostly taken a half-step back (well, some of them), Shoushimin Series has quietly crept up the board. As you know if you read the check-in post I didn’t include it in the Patron Pick vote this time, but only because it’s already won it once. I’ll make an up or down choice on this season myself, but I’m not quite ready to do that yet. I can say conclusively though that so far at least, it is a step up from the first.

As I watch the Urino Takahiro saga play out, I can’t help but be reminded of the insightful analysis of Billy Mumphrey by Cosmo Kramer: “Billy was a simple country boy, you might say a cockeyed optimist, who got himself mixed up in the high-stakes game of world diplomacy and international intrigue.” So is Shoushimin Series S2 a story about love, deception, greed, lust and unbridled enthusiasm? Well, the last one, anyway. Poor Takahiro is in way over his head, and without Kengo to keep his enthusiasm in-check, he’s running roughshod over the newspaper club in pursuit of justice (or at least his scoop).

The story wants us to suspect both Osanai and Hiya-kun. And with that train-noise phone call, Osanai is certainly in the crosshairs. But I still say arson is way too broad for her. She knows who’s doing it I imagine, and could even be manipulating them to. As for Hiya, his refusal to go on Takahiro’s patrol was an obvious means to cast him under suspicion. Continuing the use of the other club members as pawns, Kengo recruits Itsukaichi-kun to facilitate Jougorou’s plan to get to the bottom of all this from the inside. You have to feel a little sorry for Takahiro at this point.

The really weird element this season is the relationship between Jougorou and Nakamaru, which continues to make absolutely no sense in any way. As in, I can’t figure out what either one of them gets out of it either on the level or on the sly. That “Maelstrom” (ROFL) family restaurant “date” was odd and awkward on par with the first season. I’m still not sure why she’s here in any capacity, which almost makes me suspect she’s involved in the fires somehow (though that would certainly be against type).

Witch Watch – 04

That was more or less back on track. Not that I disliked the third episode or anything, but something didn’t quite work the way the first two did. This was more like it, and as usual with comedies it’s can be hard to put your finger on why it works or doesn’t. But it did, and I suppose that’s the most important thing.

Kan-chan comes on a bit strong, but he could potentially make a worthy addition to the mix. His obvious role on both side of the fourth wall is to be a foil for Moi-chan, from whom he’s basically opposite in every way. Blonde, outgoing, irresponsible and a total kid. Add in the ancestral antipathy between oni and tengu (which reminds me the Cubs-White Sox dynamic in that one side can’t be bothered about the other’s existence and the second hates the first obsessively) and you have a volatile mix.

Nico does her part to turn up the crazy with a couple spells. First she gives Kan’s umbrella the ability to speak, and since Brelly is voiced by Chiba Shigeru that’s certainly welcome. And talk he does – he’s quite the gossip, and his speech patterns come from too many Tora-san movies on TV. Then she casts a spell to make two people friends, except it just makes the first person obsessed with the next person who eats the food in question so we wind up with a daisy chain of kids and a dog putting their arms around each other. Then a possessed sweater in a box of clothes from Nico’s mom captures her, grows eyes on her boobs and takes off into the sky, forcing the oni and the tengu to team up for a rescue.

All in all this was quite fun, just as the first two eps were. It’a already’s obvious that Moi’s house is going to increasingly fill up with weirdos connected to Nico, giving him plenty of opportunities to exercise his role as the eternal straight man. Between Shinohara Kenta and director Ikehata Hiroshi, there might be enough charm here to keep the spell intact, but it’s too early to say for sure.