Hanasaku Iroha 07 & 08
I think that deep down, I’m a little scared of ending up like Tomoe, if you replaced the need to settle down and get married with finding that real raison d’être in life. (The crappy weather over here has made me extra moody and existential lately. Seriously, it’s been raining for three weeks straight!) Just the idea of dredging through the years doing the exact same meaningless things, every single day, is a little terrifying to me.
Um, anyway, I really enjoyed seeing things from Tomoe’s point of view. Take away Ohana’s shiny optimism and, for one week at least, Hanasaku becomes a quiet story about a middle-aged woman who missed out on her quirky-slice-of-life-coming-of-age anime and is stuck with a job that she just doesn’t care about who decides the hell with it and decides to get fired with a bang. The results were predictable (of course all of her plans backfire on her in the end) but they were still pleasant to watch. Pleasant is a nice in-between word for another simply good episode that isn’t overly entertaining, or hilarious, or overdramatic, or heartwarming– just decent.
Tomoe’s situation mirrors that of Ohana’s back in the first episode. But while Ohana is presented with a new opportunity to get out of that mundane cycle of normalness (and makes the best of it with loads of enthusiasm and pluck), Tomoe pretty much resigns herself to it because she isn’t young anymore. Is that what being an adult is like? Giving up on things because you missed those opportunities? Psssh. At any rate, I liked how Tomoe isn’t just that gossipy christmas cake for comic relief now, although she still plays that role well; but I love that they took the time to make her less shallow than that.
The only downside to this episode is that the girls became props, basically. Talking props, but their dialogue was so flat and stilted that they were pretty much devoid of all personality. Speaking of background elements, the scenery is still GORGEOUS. Even when it’s just Tomoe riding to work in the morning, it’s beautiful. I love this show for being so pretty. Even the nameless guests at the inn in episode 8 have amazingly detailed character designs.
The next episode is back to what looks like the first arc of the series (I can’t see it being drawn out for another season, at least): ‘saving’ the inn, which is kind of clichéd, but it’s executed decently. Even though grandma’s sudden illness and Ohana’s dramatic run to find Tohru was like something straight out of the ending of a chick flick. But Ohana’s musings on why her grandmother is so focused on tradition and her standards for customer service make the tone more like one of those classic dramas, that, combined with lighthearted SoA antics makes it a little hard to predict what kind of episode the next one will be. Those previews don’t really do much to help either. What kind of plot twist lies behind those open doors?!
And Ko finally makes the trip to the country, which and I’m thinking a) yay finally, because everyone at the inn is starting to bore me, and b) why does he look so girly?. Minko is also waaay less aggravating all of a sudden. All that blushing and bland moeness doesn’t make her any more sympathetic, because it just lacks… meaning, or a real purpose. Besides, Ren trumps all with that knife line, nya.
Totally plausible predictions of the week? The show ends with a 10 years later… epilogue, where Ohana takes Tomoe’s place as the resident pitiful-lady-going-through-a-midlife-crisis-stuck-at-the-inn-for-the-rest-of-her-days, and Minko is the only friend she has left. They both work at Kissuiso until they turn 80 and slap around the next generation of optimistic teenage girls. Terrifying indeed.
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Ohhh man episode 7 had me laughing the whole time! Those military guys made the episode so fun, sad to say I laugh more with this than a few other shows.
Episode 8 what? DRAMA? Who's with me thinking Ko is going to walk in on Ohana and misunderstand something? Somehow I picture that happening, also funny thought from Sea Slugs how is Nako going to get home now? Ohana stole her bike!
My favorite scenes were when the military guys would do something completely ridiculous only for the camera to zoom out so you can see the others' reactions. xD
Ko's unannounced train ride is a misunderstanding just waiting to happen (aaargh that will be frustrating)! I just can't imagine them meeting up and nothing going wrong. Let the dorama begin ;D
ARRRGHHH now I'm so conflicted. My precious Tohru x Ohana ending resulting in Minko's suicide is such a pleasant thought, but I remembered how adorable Kou is thanks to this episode. >.<
Also, I sort of see what you mean about Minko suddenly becoming more moe. It's like they realized that she was impossible to like.
My recent post Hanasaku Iroha 07 & 08
LOL maybe after Minko dies, Ko and Ohana can get their happy ending? I'm just glad that Minko is starting to tone things down, although I don't think I'll ever really like her as a character… the damage is done =_=
NGYAAAAAHHHH!!!
how could just they end the episode like that?!??!? release the next ep already!!! >.<
and i want Tohru to end up with Ohana <3
would Tohru thinking of Ohana after she had dressed in the kimono be a sign perhaps? ;D
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Heh there are plenty of little signs that Tohru's interested in her, and maybe the other way around too. It's much more subtle than Minko's crush though huh? And they seem to like cliffhangers in this show! It's almost as bad as when the one with the writer in episode 2 :P
Tomoe couldn't possibly be a day over 28, although I guess in asian culture it is expected of women to have a spouse or something at that age. I still think she's awesome and tbh, she's one of my favs of the bunch lol (we need more Yuina). It was awesome to see the story focus on her and it was nice to have her seen as a sisterly figure from now on.
As for Ko, I dunno bout the guy…..he's so unassuming it makes it kind of uncomfortable for me to watch. Maybe it's cos I relate more to Tohru and his big-brother act. But hopefully he can win me over.
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According to tvtropes the cut-off age is 25 :P I guess that must be another element of tradition, along with grandma's moral code. This episode definitely made Tomoe a more interesting character to me. And it's a nice subplot :D I liked Ko most from his ep 1 lines so I'm wondering if his characterization will take a hit now that the writing is less… good. Hopefully!
Tohru's love rival has finally arrived!
… Isn't Tohru's love path illegal anyways? He's like 23 and Ohana is 16… cough.
I honestly found myself bewildered by episode 7. To me, it was just straying away from the series itself and just going for a whole new genre for an episode. I don't know why, it felt like one of those "Is this a filler?" feeling to me. Episode 8 on the other hand was decent.
I thought that episode 7 looked like a standard 'spotlight on a minor character' episode but if they continue with Tomoe's story (and wrap it up nicely by the end) hopefully it'll feel more natural with the main story. The situation with the military guys was definitely filler-like customer of the week stuff though. XD
Is Minko illegal too? Sheesh Tohru. :P
I’m pretty happy about the last two episodes, they weren’t amazing but they were definitely an upturn in quality. Episode 7 was… okay it was predictable and pretty much filler, but if Hanasaku is going to become more comedic I really hope we get more episodes as goofy as this. Tomoe was a lot of fun to watch and the episode was a reaction face goldmine, though I do agree that the three girls were pushed hard into the background. Pretty fun episode, hope we see more of the supporting cast in the future.
Episode 8 was half great and half okay. I was really getting into it until the consultant and writer showed up to ruin things again and Ohana decided it would be a good idea to just storm out alone to find someone she thinks is a creep. Even then I like seeing Ohana’s grandmother get plot focus again, and her illness and the inn’s troubled future could make for a good arc. Probably the best episode since 2, even if the second half faltered a bit.
I’m not too sure what I think about Minko, tbh. I’m glad that she’s less unlikable, but I don’t think that her defrosting felt particularly organic as much as the writers realizing that she came off as a bully instead of the tsundere I think the writers wanted her to be and trying to fix her. I don’t even hate her anymore, she’s just kind of there. At least she isn’t saying “balut” as much…
Agreed sooo much, especially with Minko's sudden lack of… anything really. Although since the spotlight's been away from her lately, I've been enjoying the latest episodes a lot more ;P Everything's been nice and decent, pleasant to watch but not as engaging as I'd like (the urge to multitask instead of devoting all my attention to watching the show is strong lol).
Those reactions were excellent indeed XD Out of everyone, Ohana's uncle hasn't had much of a chance to shine so maybe he'll have a spotlight episode down the road. I wonder what her mom is up to, too. That would be something to look forward to. Thanks as always for the insightful comments, MC :D
BABY GET SOME.
I can totally see your prediction becoming true because Ohana seem like the person to choose the inn instead Toru and Ko, but com'on KO X OHANA needs to happen. They're just soo cute together.
Someone should seriously fire that business consultant, she's horrible at giving logical and good business advice. OTL
TIME IS MONEY!! I'm not sure if anyone is actually paying that lady, or if she just wants something to do xD And b'aww I have a feeling we're going to have to wait a while yet to see anyone get their happy endings. But yes, so cute ><