The Tatami Galaxy 2

What are we watching?

First on the docket, if watching a man climb a wall made of multi-coloured boobs is your thing, baby, you’re gonna love The Tatami Galaxy episode 2. Last episode I predicted a few patterns that this show may take. And I am pleased to announce that I was right on almost all of them. It seems that time is indeed repeating itself in the world and each episode will portray Watashi joining a different Circle and then showing how the relationship started between himself, Akashi and Ozu. I was also right about the promise between Akashi and Watashi being an important continuing factor of the time repeat. It’s too bad that the ramen stand wasn’t in this episode, but this episode did solidify the fact that the room Watashi sleeps in is separated from the outside world, and that is how the cake from the previous episode was still there, though he assumed it was just Ozu being messy.

.............nuff said.

Summary:

The episode begins with Watashi and Ozu spying on Jougasaki, who later turns out to be a senpai from the film circle that Watashi joins. Here he also met Ozu and Akashi who are both the same as in the previous episode, even down to Akashi’s interaction with others. Jougasaki is a douche who makes films with the purpose of feeding his own ego. This leads Watashi to make his own collection of short and idiotic films, something that Akashi repeatedly tells him, but also says that she didn’t hate them.

Literally being caught with your pants down.

Watashi decides to film a documentary on the tyrannical Jougasaki to expose his doucheness to the world, something that Ozu helps him with by editing the film to the point where it depicts Jougasaki as the dirtiest of the dirty. During Jougasaki’s premiere of his new film, Watashi replaces one of the film containers with his own, and thus all of Jougasaki’s audience see’s him doing the worst of the worst, including tricking his mother, being the scum of the earth and having sexual relations with a doll; something that the first scene of the episode proves that he actually owns.

........no comment.

Needless to say, Jougasaki is pissed, so Watashi and Ozu go and pack up their film stuff and plan to take shelter for a little while. Akashi catches Watashi while he’s doing this and tells him that she preferred his other films. She also asks him if he remembers their promise but tells him to run away when they hear Jougasaki coming. Watashi returns to his room where he contemplates what she said and then the clock starts to roll back again.

That's some freaky contemplation.

Thoughts:

This was another great episode, I hope they can keep repeating time the way they have done here as this is no endless eight. Everything was fundamentally different while also keeping the same characters and how the characters met one another. Ozu was already in the film club and Watashi met Akashi later and she is a year younger, exactly the same as the tennis club. Watashi and Ozu are also doing the same thing; they are taking revenge on the club that has shunned them by working together.

Akashi-san is pretty as always.

I loved his explaination of how all his movies were terrible and that Akashi was the only person who laughed out loud in them, especially considering she never laughs. This explores another part of their relationship that I thought was missing last episode; a reason for Akashi to love Watashi. Watashi’s movies touched a place in Akashi’s heart that caused her to laugh, giving her a reason to talk to him, get to know him, and stick with him. This gave the promise he gave her this episode more meaning.

Too........cUte.......oVErLoaD.......*BANG!!!*

The promise here was that he would make the film about true love that he told her about. Something that he again forgot about when she had to cover for him so he could make his escape. The scene where he made his promise was almost identical to the previous episodes scene. This confirms my belief that the promise and the small toy that she has lost that is in the titular room will be recurring events in each episode.

Friday night in the AV room...

Something hinted at this episode is Watashi’s understanding that he has done these events before, from the multiple cases of déjà vu he experiences that we know he’s done before. It also hinted that the old fortune teller and even Ozu are aware that time is repeating. Ozu’s line that no matter what Watashi does, he will always end up in the same place sets up Ozu as being a final barrier that Watashi will have to cross. Another thing that led me to this assumption was Watashi’s belief that Ozu and Kamotake have known each other “for a while.”

Mirror, Mirror on the wall, who is the biggest douche of them all?

I’m still really enjoying this show, albeit we are only on the second episode but I feel that Funimation, for once, has got it right licensing this and House of Five Leaves. Both shows are character driven and great fun to watch.  I think we can assume that each episode will show scenes that are both unique to the circle that Watashi is a part of that week, and events that recur throughout the show. I want to know why Watashi keeps forgetting his promise to Akashi and if the promise will change each week until the promise reaches something that directly influences love. I love quirky romance stories like this and if you aren’t watching, get on it!

/ 5 Commentsleave a comment /

• Kyokai says:

  May 10, 2010

  This show is freakishly awesome! Few repetitive factors keep the viewers rooting for Watashi and Akashi to move along. Would he remember to give it back next episode? I don't think so.

  I especially like the humour of this series. Jougasaki is such a tool! Ozu is total win, always coming up with wacky lines. Lovin' this!
  .-= Kyokai´s last blog ..Kaichou wa Maid-sama! – 06 =-.

  Reply
• Hellomotto says:

  May 11, 2010

  I was definitely surprised when the episode started back to the beginning of "Watashi's" college life. I mean, sure, the last moments of the first episode hinted at that, but I still wasn't expecting it.

  The promise, of course, will be a recurring "theme" throughout the series. What I'll be patiently waiting for, however, is the episode (if it ever occurs) that potentially breaks from the formula.

  Look forward to your next post.
  .-= Hellomotto´s last blog ..Yojo-han Shinwa Taikei 2 =-.

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• Joojoobees says:

  May 11, 2010

  Very interesting show. I agree that it is no "endless eight" but hope that they can give the viewer a sense of forward motion in the plot, despite the time loop.
  .-= Joojoobees´s last blog ..Durarara 17 – love triangle =-.

  Reply
• Vivi says:

  May 11, 2010

  One of my favorite current anime so far! Akashi-san is so cuuute~

  Reply