Ouran High School Host Club ch80

The way that everything is suddenly coming together in this chapter is reminding me of when I was reading Fullmetal Alchemist a while back: all the characters are now gathering together for the final showdown. Well, I sure hope this isn’t the final showdown, since I would love for Ouran to go on forever (another hopeless wish, along with a second season of the anime… T-T). From random-glasses-girl a few dozen chapters ago, to that-guy-who-loved-oranges-and-hated-Kyouya, to several nameless Tamaki fangirls, this chapter brought numerous familiar faces back, minor characters included.

「 Ouran High School Host Club – 80 」
Read online @ Onemanga


I know it’s been settled a while ago (with the whole dying of the hair thing), but the fact that we’re still capitalising on the differences between Hikaru and Kaoru is really nice to see. They’ve evolved into completely different people; Hikaru being the louder, boisterous one to the calm, almost Kyouya-like sensibility of Kaoru.

Ouran had a plot that seemed to be mostly made up of fillers at the beginning; normally this wouldn’t sound so great but it’s still managed to become my favorite shoujo of all time. When we weren’t following the “family’s” crazy escapades, there was also some actual romantic drama thrown in. One such key point was the love triangle between Haruhi, Tamaki and Hikaru (well, Kaoru too, I guess, but that got resolved pretty quickly…?).

T^T

I’m still hurting for Hikaru ;w; Even though he accepts that the two leads of a shoujo are going to get together, he still has such a melancholic look in his eye… There doesn’t seem to be a happy ending for him. It’s not like there are any backup characters to pair him up with (unlike Shugo Chara… but that’s another matter entirely).

I loved the scene where the host club members break into Tamaki’s mansion. Mori and Honey orchestrate a most dramatic entrance, and, conveniently, Haruhi’s glasses break just in time for her to give Tamaki those last motivational words. What I love about Ouran is that despite all the cheese, it never fails to poke fun at its own seriousness.

Thanks for interrupting the clichéd dialogue, Haruhi… I really needed that. The whole chapter is layered with tacky parts, but it probably can’t be avoided; I love Ouran for its humor and its characters, first and foremost, but the drama isn’t half bad. Hikaru/Kaoru’s individual indentities > Kyouya’s family angst > Tamaki’s tragic family history > Honey’s obsession with cake in the drama department. For me, that is. Different scenes will resonate differently for everyone ;D.

I found it interesting how the finale of the anime had them all rushing in order to stop Tamaki from leaving to meet his mother, and in the manga, we’re doing the exact opposite- whoa, wait, WHAT?!

*cough* I would like to direct your attention to the bottom right panel... hand holding! *cough*

She left! Without him! So much for a predictable shoujo ending… (I was imagining Tamaki flying off and then returning for a reunion years later.. >_>) Ouran is Ouran; poking fun at its own clichés, utilizing dramatic entrances through windows and helicopters (and… cruise ships? O.o Nice to see Tamaki is following the rule of cool), all while featuring the most lovable characters/family unit around.

Overall Thoughts: I mentioned that all the characters of chapters past were assembling together for what seems like a finale, and Renge and Kuze’s later appearances reinforced that. Haruhi even starts reminiscing about how the club has changed her as a person; I think we all know what that means. All good things must come to an end. The anime weaved a similar theme throughout its run wih the metaphor of a certain fairy tale: the host club was nothing more than a temporary creation of Cinderella’s fairy godmother, and it would have to split up once school was over. Mori and Honey’s graduation seemed to foreshadow that, but then it turned out to barely affect the storyline at all; it makes me wonder how the actual finale will be handled when the manga will eventually end.

We’re going to have to wait until July to see what happens next, and Ouran will enter its “final part”. So I suppose this was its climax? All that’s left is the falling action and, hopefully, a satisfying resolution. And, apparently, “a big announcement about a project regarding the climax.” Hmm…

So, overall, I think that this panel sums up my feelings for our little makeshift family of Ouran, and the prospect of letting them go:

The twins must be REALLY upset about Tamaki's "departure".

/ 8 Commentsleave a comment /

• Mint says:

  May 4, 2010

  That's right! It always lightened up whenever some moments got too drama heavy.
  ASDKJHLASAL; THOSE LAST PAGES/PANELS/I CAN'T THINK PROPERLY. Let those two have a happy ending. Please. Next issue is July, I think. Gah >.<

  Hmm… I read a little too sporadically to know. It's nothing as major as CLAMP's crazy art shift, but that may be. I always preferred the anime's designs, actually (and that is the only anime adaptation in which I have ever thought that. Ever. Bones, Takuya Igarashi, you are amazing).

  Reply
• Kyokai says:

  May 3, 2010

  Thanks for posting! This finally caused me to go read chapter 79 and 80 that I missed. This smells of finale with all the nostalgia and old characters coming together. I liked how all the girls came out in full force to support their "King", not to mention over extravagant entries and exits! Like you mentioned, this is what makes Ouran fun, filled with so much cliché yet the individuality of characters somehow take it all home.
  My recent post Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood – 55

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• Mint says:

  May 3, 2010

  You just spoke exactly what was on my mind; I marathoned some Ouran lately, too, and I was pretty sad to see that things seem to be reaching a conclusion. Although it's definitely making me feel nostalgic, I'm going to enjoy it while I can!

  Reply
  • Kyokai says:

    May 5, 2010

    It's sad but all good things must come to an end! :( The only good thing is that we'll find out in 3 months!
    Just like you, I'm going to enjoy while I can. :)
    My recent post Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood – 55

    Reply
• starburst0927 says:

  May 3, 2010

  This chapter had the usual vibe of Ouran it had about 30 chapters ago mixed with just the right amount of cliche :)
  THE LAST FEW PAGES ALSO MADE ME FANGIRL :D
  but it is oh soo sad that the next issue isn't coming until …June?
  btw, is it just me, or did the drawings of Tamaki specifically get sloppier? (since even before they started getting into the current situation)
  My recent post Starburst’s dictionary of words,acronyms, and other terms

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• starburst0927 says:

  May 4, 2010

  NOTHING IN THAT COMMENT I DIDN'T AGREE WITH. :D
  (Y)
  but a two month wait is just a bit too much anticipation for me,
  (I write manga release dates on my calendar LOL)

  My recent post Starburst’s dictionary of words,acronyms, and other terms

  Reply
• Vivi says:

  May 11, 2010

  I could never get myself into the manga, I'm not much of a shojo/romance person, but I will but away my pride and admit the anime was really funny XD I love all of your italicized injections, they're cute & funny~~

  Reply
  • Mint says:

    May 19, 2010

    Sorry for the late reply! orz And thank you, hehe. Shojo definitely doesn't appeal to everyone, but the anime is one of my favorites ^^

    Reply