You know, in the final analysis Uchi no Otouto-domo ga Sumimasen is pretty messed up. It’s so affable that one tends not to perceive it that way a lot of the time, but the whole thought process behind these events is quite twisted. I think I should be at the point now where I’m not even trying to apply common sense to the proceedings, but it’s easier said than done. It’s not like the series is overtly fantastical so one does tend to view events through the lens of common sense.
Temperamentally I’m inclined to sympathize with Ito. She’s certainly more likable than Gen, and overall appears to behave more sensibly and show more consideration. But “appears” is the key word here. Because, when it’s all said and done, pretty much all of this is her fault. All this weirdness and ill-advised development. Well of course, the parents – I hate them by the way – are really to blame if you take a step back. But as they basically don’t exist in the story you have to look at the players who do and among them, she’s the driver of events.
I actually find myself sympathizing with Gen more and more, despite his being basically a jerk. Sure he handled Ito’s interest in him badly – but I mean, what would you expect? She was the one that initiated all this and I think it’s safe to say if she hadn’t, he would never have done so himself on the grounds of it being a really bad idea. Then, once he finally meets her in her space, she pulls back and tells him to forget the whole thing. Anybody would be annoyed and confused, but especially a presumably pretty inexperienced kid. Which Gen is, despite his gorilla-like appearance.
As for Ito, well – I mean, did she really never stop to consider what all this actually meant? Did the prospect of “you know what” never cross her mind (in fact we know it did, since she’s the POV character for 90% of the narrative)? It’s like she never connected the dots at all. It’s understandable in that she’s a kid too, of course. But she’s supposed to be the responsible and mature one theoretically – she certainly thinks of herself that way. She’s really the one who’s led the family down this garden path.
It seems Gen has responded to her rejection and the reasons she cited by deciding to move out of the house, which would be a very logical next move from his perspective. In fact after getting wind of that, Ito has the idea to bring their parents into this formally on the grounds that they’ll put a stop to all this once and for all. But because these are horrible and comically irresponsible parents (she doesn’t even get both of them first of all – Dad is absent from his absentee location) that’s not what happens. Mom is glibly fine about the whole thing – in fact she tells her daughter she’d have gone for Gen herself if she were younger. Seriously?
I often find myself wondering when anime goes nutter butter like this whether the writing wants us to feel that way, or actually is just fine about what’s happening. In this case I sense Please Excuse My Younger Brothers is the latter – there’s no evidence that mangaka considers any of this to be ill-considered or a mistake, I do get the idea that one should act based on their heart rather than worrying about what others think, but – as Ito realizes herself – in some situations there are consequences for other people which have to factor into your decisions. But in this bizarro world, that seems to be no obstacle at all.
