Ooof, I can definitely feel the love from here.
Oh Boy, Was I Wrong About Her Ep. 9
Haruki reveals that she’s that famous actress’s illegitimate daughter. I kinda hate that term, but I won’t get into it. She also explains how she was tempted to lean on Hayato for support, but she felt as though she couldn’t burden him with her issues. Kinda stupid, right? After all, he would be even more troubled if he knew she was wandering the streets in the rain all alone. But this just leads to the kids going on and on about how they both need to “get stronger” in order to support each other in the future! Vague platitudes and all that.
Ultimately, Hayato hands Haruki a key to his family’s apartment. It’s a nice gesture. It’s also quite an intimate one (even though he’s still living with his family). So these two might as well confess their feelings and start dating, right? Hah. Instead, Haruki and Hayato continue to dance around that topic even with Kaido trying his best to make the girl jealous. All of a sudden, Haruki needs to become more feminine for Hayato’s sake, which might lead her to reconnect with an old childhood friend. Even so, this sort of thing has always seemed foolhardy to me. I mean, Hayato likes Haruki as she is now, so why mess with that? Tomboys deserve love, too. But I remember a mangaka — I can’t remember who it was anymore — explaining how the tomboy can never win. It always has to be someone who exemplifies the ideal Japanese maiden. Haruki probably doesn’t have to completely transform herself, but she certainly feels that anxiety.
Love Unseen Beneath the Clear Night Sky Ep. 9
Koharu’s attending physician is a smoker, which isn’t uncommon. But I wouldn’t trust a doctor who smokes, would you? Nevertheless, he’s obviously here to reveal everything, so have at it, smoker. The doctor proceeds to explain that the girl has liver cancer, not brain cancer. As a result, it’s not her illness that has made her forget Kakeru. Someone going through chemo might exhibit symptoms of chemo brain, where their memories are foggy. He doesn’t think she has that either. So what is it, doc?! It’s psychological! She’s sealed her memories up as a defense mechanism, so she’s technically not lying! Bro, whatever. I’ll just do that the next time I don’t want to discuss something unpleasant. But seriously, just make her a liar. It’s a much simpler explanation, and it’s okay for characters to be flawed.
Also, what happened to doctor-patient confidentiality?! Apparently, in Japanese cultures, they feel strongly that family members should be informed if a patient has a terminal illness. Kakeru ain’t family, though. But this whole series is weird like that. It was weird how Kakeru and his friends could just wander through the hospital and eventually find Koharu. It’s weird now how Koharu’s own mother encourages him to enter her room where she’s getting treatment. The blind girl then has to wake up to him making a noise, thus scaring and angering her. Koharu has repeatedly told him to stay away. How is he just allowed to follow her wherever she goes? Does this hospital have no guidelines whatsoever? It makes no sense. Yes, the ultimate goal is to remind Koharu that she doesn’t need to push her loved ones away right before she dies. But it defeats the purpose if you keep violating her privacy and stressing her out!
Nevertheless, Kakeru has a clear mission: he needs to find a way to unlock Koharu’s memories. Basically, he needs a grand gesture that will show her how much he loves and cares about her. I was a bit confused initially when the guy from the fireworks club suddenly showed up outta nowhere. After all, he had like…. mere minutes of screentime out of eight previous episodes. But of course, Koharu never got to experience those fireworks. If Kakeru wants to jar those memories loose, then it’s obvious what he needs to do.
Buuuuuut it’ll take a few months before they can get the fireworks ready, so we get to have a bit more relationship drama before these two can end up together (if only for a short while). I think there’s value in watching or experiencing a story that gives you a good cry. Crying can be pretty therapeutic. This show, however, feels unrealistic enough where I can’t even tear up.
Saved by the Ice Cold Prince’s Embrace Ep. 8
As I thought, the queen being all mad at the end of last week’s episode was just another pathetic attempt at a red herring. In reality, she is utterly enamored with Katrina. Clarence suddenly announces his intention to marry Katrina, but no worries, ’cause she doesn’t hesitate to return his feelings. Wow, so much progress! Maybe we should do this with all romance series: cut them down to just six minutes. Sasaki and Yamada would probably have kids by now at this rate. Anyway, Clarence also wants to remove Katrina from the family register. Oh yeah, that’s totally a thing in certain Asian countries, huh?
Hana-Kimi S2 Ep. 10
Mizuki agrees to model for Akiha, which prompts Sano to tag along as well. They snap a few photos in absolutely ghastly outfits. Terrible silhouettes, boring colors, Mizuki looks like a lil’ boy, so on and so forth. But hey, maybe this was considered trendy back in the late 90s/early aughts. No matter. A couple of episodes ago, we saw a model get pissed simply because Akiha was more interested in Mizuki and the boys. Well, that same model is back. She tries to retaliate by cutting up the roll of film from the photo shoot. As a result, the model and Mizuki have a minor confrontation, which leads to (drumroll) utterly nothing. All Mizuki does is tell the jealous model that she will try even harder! Funny, ’cause it sure feels like whoever wrote this story did the exact opposite. I keep asking myself, “Hm, was this considered original and interesting back in the late 90s?” But I just can’t see it.
So what happens next? Uh, they do a second photo shoot, but this time, it takes place in the city! In the middle of Shibuya, in fact! Afterward, Mizuki and the boys have their faces plastered all across the city! And just like that, Akiha fucks off back to Italy. So what the hell did this arc even accomplish? What progress did we make? Is Mizuki any closer to Sano? No. Did any of the side characters take a single step forward? No. So what the hell, man? Akiha showed up, took some photos, then left. That was literally it. Christ, this show keeps being a waste of time.
Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You Ep. 8
To kick things off, Yamada loses the pocket ashtray Sasaki had gifted her. She takes this really hard, too. She’s all down in the dumps and everything: “Sorry, I lost it. Sorry, it’s gone. I’m so sorry.” It’s not a wedding ring, it’s an ashtray. Yes, it’s the first gift she ever got from him, but c’mon. Well, Sasaki overhears her talking to the dog about losing it, so he shows up the next day with the pocket ashtray in his possession. See, I initially thought he simply went and bought a new one. After all, how much can one of these things cost? Five bucks at most? It’s not some precious memento either; you dump disgusting cigarette ash in it. But no, it turns out he actually went looking for the one Yamada lost, and eventually found it in a storm drain. Bro, just fucking buy a new one. “But it’s sentimentaaaaaaal.” Again, we’re not talking about a wedding ring. We’re talking about a fucking ASHTRAY. I feel like I’m in crazy land!
In the second half of the episode, these two addicts still light it up in the middle of a raging typhoon. After an awkward silence, Yamada wants to know how Sasaki started smoking in the first place. He almost said he was forced to by his college girlfriend, but guess what? He was too embarrassed to say the word “girlfriend.” A man in his 40s is too embarrassed to admit he had a girlfriend. He instead switches it up to “The woman I dated.” That’s the same fucking thing! UDFlkajgsd;soafkjdlfaksdf… I can’t take this guy. He’s not real. This is not a real adult. Fuck it, I’m out for the week. Yeah, yeah, I’ll be back for the next episode, but I can’t take any more of this dude until then. Adult romance, my ass…
Please Excuse My Younger Brothers Ep. 9
There’s no drama with Raku. He simply overheard Ito talking to the playboy, so he now knows her secret: she is in love with her younger (by one day) brother Gen. The problem, however, is that he’s dealing with Dumb and Dumber. When Raku tries to tell Ito that he has no problems with her ending up with Gen, the subject of the conversation ends up overhearing them. Just not the entire conversation. And because Gen is an idiot, he thinks Ito is in love with Raku. He even starts trying to pair those two up. The only way out of this mess is for Ito to come clean. Look, if you’re going to fall in love with your stepbrother, you might as well have the balls to confess to him. And she was about to do it, too! But Gen thinks she has a fever because she was blushing, so he tucks her into bed instead. I’m tellin’ ya, Dumb and Dumber! Thank god for 4x speed…
Also, look at these shit-ass parents not even making it back for their kids’ birthdays.
Rich Girl Caretaker Ep. 9
So to recap, Itsuki doesn’t want Mirei to leave school and move away for her arranged marriage. He wants her to stay, so he asks her to “slum” it up with him one last time. Y’know, see what it’s like for commoners to have fun. As a result, Itsuki takes her to various places like an arcade, a bowling alley, a karaoke bar, et cetera… but we only get to see them at one of those locations. Sheesh, I know she isn’t the canon waifu, but at least throw her a bone. Girl can’t even get a proper date with the harem lead.
As always, these fictional rich people are so out of touch that it’s laughable. To tempt Mirei to stay, Itsuki tells her that they can always do this again! Y’know, more dates! To which, she replies, “Arranged marriages are a vital matter on which the Tennoji family’s future hangs.” Right, right, her family would absolutely fall into financial ruin if Mirei marries the wrong man, or better yet, doesn’t get married at all. I’m sorry, but what fucking world do you guys live in? It certainly ain’t mine. But it’s the framing that gets me the most. Itsuki, the pauper wearing the guise of a rich man, must liberate these poor maidens from the clutches of neo-feudalism! But it’s like charging at windmills, because nothing we see on this show remotely resembles real concerns for real people — not even real rich people.
In the end, Itsuki delivers his “come to Jesus” rant about how her parents love her first and foremost, not their family name or financial status. Most of all — as if he’s more important than her parents’ love for her — Itsuki wants Mirei to be happy. Yeah, yeah, cue the waterworks. I’m sorry, but I can’t take any of this seriously. Not only does Mirei not know what her parents want, she thinks she’s the main character. She thinks she’s the fulcrum for her family’s success. Give me a break. But just like that, Mirei is convinced to reject the arranged marriage and stick around a little longer… just until Itsuki seals the deal with Hinako, of course.
The second half of the episode is everything returning to the status quo. As always, Mirei and Hinako compete for the top score in class. Mirei obviously likes Itsuki, but she won’t press the issue. She scolds her father for bringing it up. The only small bit of development that has occurred is her inviting Hinako over to her house as a friend. But we don’t even get to see them interact in any meaningful way, so this friendship is honestly superfluous.
Anyway, the sports competition is coming up, so it looks like it’ll be Narika’s turn with the harem lead.
The Duke’s Son Claims He Won’t Love Me Yet Showers Me with Adoration Ep. 9
The first half of the episode gives us Jarmo’s backstory, but I almost mistook the kid version of him for Julius. I mean, they both kinda look the same. Anyway, to make a long story short, Jarmo intends to wreck Julius’s marriage simply because “daddy” (Duke Parnilla isn’t his real father) never loved him. Kinda dumb, huh? I actually had a longer paragraph typed out, but I deleted it because I frankly don’t give a shit about any of these characters. Nothing I saw today emotionally affected me even in the slightest. Meanwhile, I felt a pit in my stomach when I almost dropped the lasagna while taking it out of the oven earlier today. Dude, that’s my lunch and dinner!
Uh… what else happened…? Some kid runs off in tears when he finds out Elsa is married. See? Julius is now making orphans cry! What a horrible man! No wonder Jarmo wants to cuck him. Speaking of Julius, he has to go on yet another business trip, but he invites Elsa to come along with him this time. Okay. Cool story.
The Ogre’s Bride Ep. 9
Reiya continues to behave in a way that would send any sensible woman running for the hills. To prevent danger from ever befalling Yuzu, he literally wants to plant a bug on his future wife. But our girl is too dumb. In fact, she’s preoccupied with obsessing over whether or not Reiya might be gay. I mean, just look at him! Clearly, the ogre is making out with his secretary right there in broad daylight! Clearly! So instead of running for the hills, she actually dives headfirst into his arms and kisses him. “Please, please don’t be gay!” she exclaims (I’m paraphrasing but close enough), “’cause I love you and your controlling, stalkerish ways!” Hearing this, the ogre calls his former fiancee to the mansion annex. Uh-oh, looks like someone’s going to lose access to AO3 and all those zesty fanfics! Reiya even confiscates and burns Sakurako’s doujins! No, not the sacred texts! Guys, c’mon, who among us have not drawn gay porn of their friends and former fiances? So don’t be throwing stones when you live in glass houses!
After that, everyone takes their turn bowing to each other. “Forgive me!” Sakurako pleads! “No, forgive me!” replies Yuzu, who intends to learn everything there is to know about her obsessive husband-to-be. So on and so forth. Well, not Reiya, of course. He bows to no one.
Also, Karin is still bitter and buttmad, but like… what can she even do? Youta can’t defy both his clan and the ogres. Her parents got cut off from Youta’s family, so they’ll probably have to cut her off as well. If she goes near Yuzu at the upcoming demon banquet, Reiya will just torch her. Yes, Karin needs to be humbled, but why would you write such a one-dimensionally delusional antagonist? What is even the point of keeping her around anymore? To humiliate this strawman of a character even further. I just feel like the author is projecting. They probably have this one sibling they absolutely wish they could rake over the coals, and we’re now seeing the result of that unaddressed family resentment. But I’m just guessing, ’cause I really don’t see the point to this subplot.
Hanaori-san Still Wants to Fight in the Next Life Ep. 8
It’s funny to see a recap at the start of the episode, because this show hardly needs one. It barely even has a plot. As always, Ryusei and Meteor get slightly more lovey-dovey with each passing week. But what has them particularly concerned this time? Well, portals keep opening all over the place. Ryusei worries that he won’t be prepared for future foes, so he is almost tempted to revert back to his old demon lord ways. Meteor, however, slaps him upside the head for even considering it. Is this the first real fight between the “couple?” I guess so. But that’s all the crumbs you’re gonna get out of this… “story.”