Comments on: Itazura na Kiss 2-6: the tenacious Kotoko and the tsun-tsun Naoki http://www.concretebadger.net/blog/2008/05/24/itazura-na-kiss-2-6-the-tenacious-kotoko-and-the-tsun-tsun-naoki/ Get decultured Fri, 21 Nov 2008 06:30:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Martin http://www.concretebadger.net/blog/2008/05/24/itazura-na-kiss-2-6-the-tenacious-kotoko-and-the-tsun-tsun-naoki/#comment-45291 Martin Sun, 08 Jun 2008 23:34:37 +0000 http://www.concretebadger.net/blog/?p=516#comment-45291 @Owen: yeah, at least we're spared the cliched bath scenes in this show! That conversation in the garden was a highlight for me though - it said so much about what the characters are *really* thinking and justified why I spend so much time sitting through the generic and predictable moments where I wanted to slap some sense into everyone bar Kotoko (who is, by the way, cute in the extreme even if she's acting like a lovestruck idiot). I'm banking on Naoki becoming more likable later on, which is why I'm giving this show a chance. Hell, he's gonna have to become more likable, right? @Owen: yeah, at least we’re spared the cliched bath scenes in this show! That conversation in the garden was a highlight for me though - it said so much about what the characters are *really* thinking and justified why I spend so much time sitting through the generic and predictable moments where I wanted to slap some sense into everyone bar Kotoko (who is, by the way, cute in the extreme even if she’s acting like a lovestruck idiot).

I’m banking on Naoki becoming more likable later on, which is why I’m giving this show a chance. Hell, he’s gonna have to become more likable, right?

]]> By: Owen S http://www.concretebadger.net/blog/2008/05/24/itazura-na-kiss-2-6-the-tenacious-kotoko-and-the-tsun-tsun-naoki/#comment-45287 Owen S Sun, 08 Jun 2008 08:31:28 +0000 http://www.concretebadger.net/blog/?p=516#comment-45287 <blockquote>Getting back to the Reverse Love Hina idea earlier, Naoki’s character is essentially a male tsundere…the potential consquences of which promise great things indeed.</blockquote> Too bad for the girls (or should I say, good thing for the guys?) that the prospect of Kotoko accidentally stripping/groping/walking in on Naoki while changing/bathing will never happen, eh? :P In all seriousness I'm glad you're enjoying it as much as I am, and that you found the conversation in the garden at episode 05 to be as epic as I thought it to be. It was certainly a "whoa" moment that made me realise that this wasn't just your average shoujo manga, and despite being stuck at ep 07 due to a massive backlog that I need to download with sporadic internet, I can see myself watching this all the way to the end. Needs less horrible encodes by m33w though.

Getting back to the Reverse Love Hina idea earlier, Naoki’s character is essentially a male tsundere…the potential consquences of which promise great things indeed.

Too bad for the girls (or should I say, good thing for the guys?) that the prospect of Kotoko accidentally stripping/groping/walking in on Naoki while changing/bathing will never happen, eh? :P
In all seriousness I’m glad you’re enjoying it as much as I am, and that you found the conversation in the garden at episode 05 to be as epic as I thought it to be. It was certainly a “whoa” moment that made me realise that this wasn’t just your average shoujo manga, and despite being stuck at ep 07 due to a massive backlog that I need to download with sporadic internet, I can see myself watching this all the way to the end. Needs less horrible encodes by m33w though.

]]> By: khronos http://www.concretebadger.net/blog/2008/05/24/itazura-na-kiss-2-6-the-tenacious-kotoko-and-the-tsun-tsun-naoki/#comment-44820 khronos Tue, 03 Jun 2008 13:04:06 +0000 http://www.concretebadger.net/blog/?p=516#comment-44820 Naoki is pretty much a jerk, yeah. Though I don't have quite the hate for him that some folks do. Mine mellowed when I actually pondered the initial situation from his point of view; what do you do when you've made the clearest statement of disinterest you can think of and the girl won't take 'no' for an answer? Especially with a girl who's behavior borders frequently into the territory reserved for stalkers? From that perspective some of the early Naoki actions can be seen as the escalating steps in a 'what do I have to do to get this girl to take the hint?' Naoki is pretty much a jerk, yeah. Though I don’t have quite the hate for him that some folks do. Mine mellowed when I actually pondered the initial situation from his point of view; what do you do when you’ve made the clearest statement of disinterest you can think of and the girl won’t take ‘no’ for an answer? Especially with a girl who’s behavior borders frequently into the territory reserved for stalkers? From that perspective some of the early Naoki actions can be seen as the escalating steps in a ‘what do I have to do to get this girl to take the hint?’

]]> By: Martin http://www.concretebadger.net/blog/2008/05/24/itazura-na-kiss-2-6-the-tenacious-kotoko-and-the-tsun-tsun-naoki/#comment-44084 Martin Tue, 27 May 2008 22:23:00 +0000 http://www.concretebadger.net/blog/?p=516#comment-44084 @Avid Elite: I'm not sure how far you've watched into this show because you're absolutely right about Naoki for the first couple of episodes. After that he mellows a bit and shows a bit of humanity; that said, he's still an ass so I've no idea how the writers are going to resolve that later on. @Teeif: character development is the key - I just hope it happens at fast enough pace for me to keep interest. The way in which it plays out over such a long time is a refreshing change though. @Hanners: As much as I don't like repeating myself, I feel the need to agree again that Naoki's nastiness is a bit overdone. It makes Kotoko's coolness shine all the brighter but yeah, the fact that I only made a passing reference to her friends indicates how little I care about them! Hopefully I'll find time to watch ep #7 later this week though. @Avid Elite: I’m not sure how far you’ve watched into this show because you’re absolutely right about Naoki for the first couple of episodes. After that he mellows a bit and shows a bit of humanity; that said, he’s still an ass so I’ve no idea how the writers are going to resolve that later on.

@Teeif: character development is the key - I just hope it happens at fast enough pace for me to keep interest. The way in which it plays out over such a long time is a refreshing change though.

@Hanners: As much as I don’t like repeating myself, I feel the need to agree again that Naoki’s nastiness is a bit overdone. It makes Kotoko’s coolness shine all the brighter but yeah, the fact that I only made a passing reference to her friends indicates how little I care about them! Hopefully I’ll find time to watch ep #7 later this week though.

]]> By: Hanners http://www.concretebadger.net/blog/2008/05/24/itazura-na-kiss-2-6-the-tenacious-kotoko-and-the-tsun-tsun-naoki/#comment-43786 Hanners Sun, 25 May 2008 20:48:42 +0000 http://www.concretebadger.net/blog/?p=516#comment-43786 I've got to admit, I think the writers have hugely overdone Naoki's nasty streak in this show - I was willing to buy the aloof guy with a soft centre concept for a while, but over the course of the series so far he's gone beyond that to the point where I hate him only marginally less than Code Geass' Suzaku, and that really isn't a place you want to be as the male lead in a romantic comedy. This guy has publicly humiliated her, upset her numerous times, pretended that he was going to rape her for a brief second (which pretty much finished my chances of crediting him with much in the way of likeability), and... well, you haven't covered episode seven here, so I'll shut up. :p However, I will concede that Kotoko's character is a redeeming shining light for the series over the arsehole she's in love with, and her immensely annoying and grating friends. It's just a shame they've placed her decent character in with such a bunch of unlikeable morons. I’ve got to admit, I think the writers have hugely overdone Naoki’s nasty streak in this show - I was willing to buy the aloof guy with a soft centre concept for a while, but over the course of the series so far he’s gone beyond that to the point where I hate him only marginally less than Code Geass’ Suzaku, and that really isn’t a place you want to be as the male lead in a romantic comedy. This guy has publicly humiliated her, upset her numerous times, pretended that he was going to rape her for a brief second (which pretty much finished my chances of crediting him with much in the way of likeability), and… well, you haven’t covered episode seven here, so I’ll shut up. :p

However, I will concede that Kotoko’s character is a redeeming shining light for the series over the arsehole she’s in love with, and her immensely annoying and grating friends. It’s just a shame they’ve placed her decent character in with such a bunch of unlikeable morons.

]]> By: Teeif http://www.concretebadger.net/blog/2008/05/24/itazura-na-kiss-2-6-the-tenacious-kotoko-and-the-tsun-tsun-naoki/#comment-43630 Teeif Sat, 24 May 2008 14:22:12 +0000 http://www.concretebadger.net/blog/?p=516#comment-43630 For me, the appeal comes from two sources, the characters and the plot (which is character development primarily). As you say Kotoko is the lovable underdog but you needn't go to length as great as genderbending the cast to illustrate this. Merely, describe Kotoko is the ordinary girl, or Cinderella chasing her prince of amazing riches and coolness. That would be solely interesting even if we didn't have the batty mum and others providing the luls. It's a heart-warming setting, but avoids becoming mediocre or predictable trap because the character development is so good. The plot is perhaps a little understated, or rather the pace of it. It's 8 episodes in and they've already graduated high school. You can visibly tell Naoki's character change little-by-little as the story progresses. For me, the appeal comes from two sources, the characters and the plot (which is character development primarily).

As you say Kotoko is the lovable underdog but you needn’t go to length as great as genderbending the cast to illustrate this. Merely, describe Kotoko is the ordinary girl, or Cinderella chasing her prince of amazing riches and coolness. That would be solely interesting even if we didn’t have the batty mum and others providing the luls.

It’s a heart-warming setting, but avoids becoming mediocre or predictable trap because the character development is so good. The plot is perhaps a little understated, or rather the pace of it. It’s 8 episodes in and they’ve already graduated high school. You can visibly tell Naoki’s character change little-by-little as the story progresses.

]]> By: Avid Elite http://www.concretebadger.net/blog/2008/05/24/itazura-na-kiss-2-6-the-tenacious-kotoko-and-the-tsun-tsun-naoki/#comment-43624 Avid Elite Sat, 24 May 2008 13:28:45 +0000 http://www.concretebadger.net/blog/?p=516#comment-43624 Wow, I found this so surprising that anyone would like this show. When my crew and I got together this show ranked dead last for "episode ones" this season. I'm not some action-only retard that thinks Naruto or Fullmetal Alchemist is the end-all and be-all. I've watched, enjoyed, and perfer to enjoy the more dramatic things like Hanbun no Tsuki, Asatte to Houkou, and even Kare Kano. In the first episode she was stepped on emotionally so very completly SEVERAL TIMES that I found myself not respecting her as a character or a person for not getting the hint when it's been put up in neon letters: THIS GUY IS AN ASS. The house falls down, excellent bit of drama and comedy, but the next day he tosses her change to compound (a) his image as a jackass (b) her already strained life. Then she meets the little brother, both of whom insult her within five minutes of entering this house which is supposed to be a refuge for her. The last scene, where it fades to black as the two brothers close the door with an evil smile on their face left me wondering if she'd survive the night, or at least escape without being beaten or raped. In short, they spent entirely too much effort developing the older brother's cold "I'm so awesome I don't need anyone" image that if left me totally hating him. Also, because she was given SEVERAL reasons to leave him in the past and NO reason to even hold the elevator door for him, I have no respect for either as characters or people, and that speaks poorly to the writers in my book. "He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire." And she is such a doormat her middle name should be "Welcome". Email me back if you care to continue the discussion, I enjoy a good intelligent debate about the deconstruction of anime plots and characters. Wow, I found this so surprising that anyone would like this show. When my crew and I got together this show ranked dead last for “episode ones” this season.

I’m not some action-only retard that thinks Naruto or Fullmetal Alchemist is the end-all and be-all. I’ve watched, enjoyed, and perfer to enjoy the more dramatic things like Hanbun no Tsuki, Asatte to Houkou, and even Kare Kano.

In the first episode she was stepped on emotionally so very completly SEVERAL TIMES that I found myself not respecting her as a character or a person for not getting the hint when it’s been put up in neon letters: THIS GUY IS AN ASS.

The house falls down, excellent bit of drama and comedy, but the next day he tosses her change to compound (a) his image as a jackass (b) her already strained life.

Then she meets the little brother, both of whom insult her within five minutes of entering this house which is supposed to be a refuge for her. The last scene, where it fades to black as the two brothers close the door with an evil smile on their face left me wondering if she’d survive the night, or at least escape without being beaten or raped.

In short, they spent entirely too much effort developing the older brother’s cold “I’m so awesome I don’t need anyone” image that if left me totally hating him. Also, because she was given SEVERAL reasons to leave him in the past and NO reason to even hold the elevator door for him, I have no respect for either as characters or people, and that speaks poorly to the writers in my book.

“He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire.” And she is such a doormat her middle name should be “Welcome”.

Email me back if you care to continue the discussion, I enjoy a good intelligent debate about the deconstruction of anime plots and characters.

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