Nothing changes in this anime; nothing since the first episode when Ohana was sent to Kissuiso. In the end, everything returns to the status quo and that’s not what makes a good story.
When we last left off, Ko was on his way to see Ohana. Ohana, however, was busy looking for Tohru because the inn is incredibly busy and they could use another cook in the kitchen. Ohana runs around frantically, tripping and falling all over herself.
Dejected in her inability find Tohru, Ohana retires to a stairwell. Ko calls her up and, after hearing her story, offers his friend plenty of encouragement. Sadly for Ko, Ohana isn’t a very good listener. After getting what she wanted, she interrupts what Ko has to say to run off and look for Tohru again. Ko never even got the chance to tell her that he was on his way to see her.
Ohana finds Tohru and they ride back to Kissuiso. Everyone rolls up their sleeves and they get the job done. Minko even got to work a frying station and everyone compliments her cooking. That’s, however, not what I meant when I said I wanted either character or story development. In the end, Ohana’s grandmother returns from the hospital and the inn is back to normal. That’s exactly the problem.
Going back to Ko, he couldn’t find a place to stay. Typically, you book a room before taking a trip, but maybe he was being impulsive; he did this out of love, after all. Nevertheless, without a room to rent, Ko hops right back on the train to return home. What the hell? What was the point then? Ko could have given Ohana words of encouragement just as easily from home. There was no need to play up the whole “Ko is coming to see Ohana” angle and then just dump it at the last minute.
In fact, you could take away the last two episodes and it wouldn’t have mattered one damn bit. Ohana/Ko relationship remains unchanged. Everyone worked hard so the inn got good ratings. Sui returns from the hospital. Everything’s absolutely back to normal. So do you know what the last two episodes were? Filler. When nothing of impact happens and the narrative returns to the status quo, it is filler.
Oh, I’m sorry, Minko got to fry some food. Whoo!
So after all that work it came to nothing? Thats terrible. They should strike!! Though on the flip side, when Ohana’s grandma smiles, it give me a warm feeling inside. Odd huh? I guess Ohana’s gonna stand stand up to grandma now. You go girl Woo!!! I just hope that the last two episodes aren’t just filler, although creepy soldiers in an inn… so yeah…
Does tsundere grandma make you feel moe?!
Not moe. To me she’s the most interesting character in show so far. I felt sad when she got sick. I’m glad she got better. She’s not tsundere…ok, maybe a little. She reminds me of Marilla Cuthbert from Anne of Green Gables. My hope for this series is that granny sees Ohana as Ohana only. I hope that clears up that little misunderstanding.
It’s a joke man. I don’t care either way how you feel about the grandma, though I don’t really see her as much of a character. One thing I’ll never understand is how she’s faded into the background since the first episode.
Wait, wait – you totally should’ve titled this post “Return to the Status Ko”.
Damn…
If I may put on my critical hat for a minute (I mean when don’t I ever have it on?), there is some progression in the background. While I agree that the situation was resolved a bit too quickly, I don’t necessarily think things have returned to how they were two episodes prior.
Don’t get me wrong, I’d like to see some change. This isn’t some comedy that can thrive on returning to a blank slate each episode, it’s an unintentional train wreck marketed as a somewhat lighthearted drama. And while there has been some subtle change, apparently in Tohru throwing hints Ohana’s way to Minko’s chagrin, it isn’t enough to really make it feel like the show’s moving forward.
Let’s put it this way — if the last two episodes didn’t happen, would it matter significantly? If all we got was Tohru acting slightly friendlier to Ohana, then I think we have a pretty sad state of affairs.
Honestly, I think it would. There was that connection established, which is going to flub Ohana’s efforts to get Minko to stop acting like such a callous bitch. Which, I’m sure, will become more than a “Durr hurr, Minko’s such a bitch!” side thing.
Thinking long term, it could have an impact. Then again, it’s HanaIro, so it likely won’t.
We have a difference of opinion then. I think two episodes should communicate more than that.
And I think that any progress is good progress. Then again I’m not picky, as long as I’m entertained.
At the very least I can see what you’re getting at though. I more than acknowledge that the series will likely more than likely fuck up and completely throw away what it’s gained in favor of… well, the post title should give it away.
In short, I think this is a chance for it to move forward, it’s taken some baby steps, and I’m hoping it’ll continue on this path… though it very possibly won’t. Either way, it’s fun to argue about it.
You are far too lenient, man.
Again, as long as I’m entertained, I tend to let some things slide. If I’m not, then that’s when I analyze what’s going wrong. Of course, HanaIro has great potential for proving more frustrating than entertaining, sothe notion that I will come down hard with criticism at some point in the near future isn’t too hard to imagine.