03-11-2013, 06:35 PM | #102 |
時の彼方へ
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Lafayette, Indiana
Posts: 20,578
|
Rewatched Season 3 Episode 4. This was a solid episode! I remembered it being the episode where we first meet Hitomi, but I had forgotten that it was also ...
Spoiler: show Watching Season 3 Episode 5 right now. I've forgotten almost all of these. Spoiler: show
__________________
|
03-12-2013, 04:29 AM | #103 |
Soul Badge
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Saskatchewan, Canada
Posts: 1,488
|
I re-discovered the only time Chiaki was more crestfallen than after Mako-chan rejected her after going to the beach. When she lost her pet rock, Yamada.
Spoiler: show
__________________
Smoking Gary sez: "Stay in school kidz" |
03-17-2013, 04:52 PM | #104 |
時の彼方へ
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Lafayette, Indiana
Posts: 20,578
|
__________________
|
03-17-2013, 10:41 PM | #106 |
時の彼方へ
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Lafayette, Indiana
Posts: 20,578
|
__________________
Last edited by Talon87; 03-17-2013 at 10:43 PM. |
03-17-2013, 11:39 PM | #107 |
Soul Badge
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Saskatchewan, Canada
Posts: 1,488
|
Yeah I don't necessarily think Hayami likes Hosaka "in that way", I just like the idea of it. I agree that their friendship is indeed sweet and we should get some more background information on it.
Another thing we found out this episode: Chiaki used to cry if Kana wasn't there when she woke up. That is too adorable!
__________________
Smoking Gary sez: "Stay in school kidz" |
03-18-2013, 12:10 AM | #108 | |||
時の彼方へ
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Lafayette, Indiana
Posts: 20,578
|
Quote:
Spoiler: show Quote:
Spoiler: show Quote:
But yes, your idea makes me weep for the episode we might have gotten but did not. I am dying for ... Spoiler: show
__________________
Last edited by Talon87; 03-18-2013 at 12:13 AM. |
|||
03-21-2013, 01:56 AM | #109 |
Soul Badge
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Saskatchewan, Canada
Posts: 1,488
|
Remember how I was talking about how Haruka will never get a boyfriend, because she's too angelic, and then you brought up the joke about her being a banchou? One thing she did that actually does strike me as a bit of a bitch move is when she punched Natsuki after he fell face first into her breasts, even though she KNEW he was pushed by Maki. She punched an innocent man in the face as some kind of self-preservation measure!
That, and her willing participation in the financial exploitation of dear cousin Takeru.
__________________
Smoking Gary sez: "Stay in school kidz" |
03-27-2013, 02:08 AM | #110 |
Soul Badge
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Saskatchewan, Canada
Posts: 1,488
|
A bit of a slow episode this week, don't feel too bad about missing out Talon. Not a bad episode by any means, just a laid back one.
But the time for nice, cute episodes is now over!! The season finale is upon us, and this is their last chance to break out the big guns and give us that epic 10/10 skit we've all been waiting for. According to the next episode preview, there's going to be another encounter between Hosaka and Chiaki. Is it going to be yet another Curry Song rehash? Or is it the beginning of the greatest scene in Minami-ke history, with it alone putting season 3, NAY, season 1 to shame?! Tune in next week for MINAMI-KE ZEEEEEEEEEEEE!!
__________________
Smoking Gary sez: "Stay in school kidz" |
04-01-2013, 12:49 AM | #111 |
Volcano Badge
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,878
|
What a lackluster finale. People talking about Makoto picking his nose is amusing, but otherwise nothing really special for me.
For the most part, this season of Minami-ke is nothing more than okay to me. I got a few chuckles here and there, but nothing really made me laugh. Actually alot of the jokes were forced out the ass. I guess as a show to just chill out to and enjoy the cute characters, this is good, but I went in expecting comedy. The 4th season of Minami-ke gets a 6 from me. |
04-25-2013, 04:47 PM | #113 |
時の彼方へ
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Lafayette, Indiana
Posts: 20,578
|
Episode 12 was quite cute. It wasn't anything super-special -- it's very probably in the bottom half of Season 4 -- but it still had quite a lot of cute moments. I quite enjoyed most every scene. Since it's been a month since the episode aired and more importantly since nothing that went down in this episode is a big-time spoiler for non-initiates ... no spoiler tag this time! Exercise common sense if you haven't seen the episode already.
The first scene (half pre-OP, half post-OP) was the Minamis' third or fourth New Year's shrine visit. I liked Studio Feel's and/or Sakuraba Coharu's approach to this: they gave us some fun visuals, like the girls' gorgeous kimonos or various static screenshots of the various activities they did that day, but they didn't really waste our time on anything we'd already seen done before. This scene set the stage for what would follow: a lot of little highlights but nothing too major. Like ... I liked Chiaki's little hairbun balls. Or like ... I liked just how much fun Kana seemed to be having without getting into any trouble. It was good. The portion before the opening credits, involving the girls disrobing one another in turn, was probably yet another made-for-TV scene, but it was cute enough for what it was. I definitely appreciated it for giving us such close-up looks of the girls' exquisite dresses. The second scene of the episode was "Uchida the Freeloader" / "Uchida's Put On Some Weight" / "Chiaki the Demon Instructor". It was a cute little scene for anyone who's a fan of Uchida. And I'm a pretty big fan of Uchida, so I had lots to love here. When I was first watching the episode and Kana pulled out that photograph (seen above), I thought "Geez, Studio Feel sure gave Uchida some gumdrop boobies " and looked away, disturbed and disappointed by what they'd done. But in putting together this post, I took a closer look at the picture and discovered ... those aren't boobs, those are cups! D'awww, poor Uchida. ^^; So anyway, yeah. Kana pulls out that photograph and orders Uchida out of the house and into the public swimming pool. Chiaki tags along, Yoshino is invited, and pretty soon the foursome ... ... decide to have lunch. Before this point, though, Chiaki appoints herself the "Demon Instructor", determined to give instructions to Uchida since she has never known what it's like to order someone else around in the swimming pool, having always been the student herself. Yet Chiaki soon mimics a behavior foreshadowed by Uchida earlier in the episode -- a siesta following food. So ends this cute little scene. Not much substance, but a lot of little smiles. The third scene of the episode was simultaneously my least favorite and one of my favorites this episode. What the scene had going against it was that it was a 5-second gag stretched into five minutes, and also that it was a gag that didn't translate very cleanly into English (though kudos to UTW for doing their best). But what the scene had going for it was the fun nature of the gag. Hearing Riko sprinkle her Tokyo dialect with hints of Kansai-ben was amusing, and I liked that we got a little backstory for her (i.e. that her grandmother lives in Kyoto). Not much else to say here though. The gag really did overstay its welcome. ^^; The fourth scene of the episode was another one which really hammered home the theme of Episode 12: lots of little laughs but nothing much in the way of big-time awesomeness. Haruka is too lazy to get out from under the kotatsu and sends Kana and Chiaki on an errand for groceries. So the two put on their winter clothes (Chiaki is so god damn adorable! ) and head out. On their way, they run into the elementary school gang and decide to have a snowball fight, something the kids had previously begged Haruka to join them for. So they get fighting, but soon it's 4-against-1 as the elementary schoolers all team up against Kana and utterly obliterate her. This was played for laughs and was pretty funny -- we don't usually get to see Kana so overwhelmed by the little munchkins, but this time she was, and it was indeed cutely funny seeing her sprawled out on the snow like that. Haruka then arrives, having braved the cold to add two important items to Kana's shopping list, but makes a hasty retreat for the promise of warmth under her beloved kotatsu. And then ... ... Kana decides it'd be a good idea to throw a snowball at Haruka. And Haruka does a classic Haruka something that only Haruka can do : she just goes completely still and quiet, bends down, makes a snowball without uttering a sound, and WHAMMO! decks Kana as hard as she can, square in the nose! >_< Haruka, the original Banchou! The final scene of the episode explores a facet of Japanese New Year's celebrations I first learned about eight years ago. "Oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi!" ("Demons, begone! Good luck, come hither!", lit. "Demons, outside! Fortune, inside!"), shouted while throwing beans around the house, is something which many Japanese households do every new year's. Especially loved by children, as we can see here, it's entertained by adults in spite of the mess it makes ... as also seen here. ^^; In fact, real quick note: in the previous scene when Kana throws the snowball at Haruka, what she mutters is a variation on this very catchphrase, only with "sister" substituted in place of "demon". So anyway, back to this episode. It's pretty surprising to me that Makoto would never have heard of this holiday before, so I can appreciate the Minamis' shock that he doesn't know about it and their enthusiastic invitation to let him try it out for himself. The highlight of the episode for me, though, is the very last scene. A sucker for Haruka always , I just loved it when Chiaki puts on the demon mask and thinks she can maybe persuade Haruka to omit carrots from tonight's dinner, and then Haruka just delivers this ohmygodyouaretoomuch sugary sweet "Daaaaa~me!" (THAT FACE! That face.) And that wraps up Episode 12 of the fourth season of Minami-ke. With just one episode to go, I've simultaneously high hopes and low expectations for a scene that will knock me into outer space with its awesomeness and officially crown Tadaima as the second best season of the series. Oh, don't get me wrong! Season 4 has been quite the blast, with some particularly memorable scenes I'll not soon forget. But Season 3 was no slouch either, and so far I think it still has the edge over Season 4 for content. And (to use the baseball analogy) with two outs and this being the bottom of the ninth, it's not looking too promising that we're going to get something that matches or exceeds the very best of Seasons 1 and 3. Still! I have hope. So ... on to Episode 13!
__________________
|
04-25-2013, 07:36 PM | #114 |
Soul Badge
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Saskatchewan, Canada
Posts: 1,488
|
I always love it when Haruka displays that HIDDEN POWER. The bubble gum blowing scene from season 1 is one of my all time favourites. That was part of an already STACKED episode featuring a bunch of Hosaka gags.
__________________
Smoking Gary sez: "Stay in school kidz" |
04-28-2013, 07:30 PM | #115 | |||
時の彼方へ
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Lafayette, Indiana
Posts: 20,578
|
Watched Episode 13 just now, and with that finished Minami-ke Tadaima! It was an okay episode, but yeah, it wasn't the strong finish we were all hoping for. Before I write up my own scene-by-scene reply for the episode, I'll go ahead and reply to some of what you guys had to say.
Quote:
Like Fujioka himself said in an earlier episode this season: Spoiler: show Quote:
Oh gosh, this is tough. I'm not sure if I can pick just one. Makoto and Uchida were involved in many of my favorite scenes this go-around (and actually helped Team Chiaki to fare very well in the three-team war for our love and attention), Haruka was a pleasure as always, and Kana and Chiaki were really, really solid. Your MVP choice of Fujioka makes sense too, for all the reasons you listed, but I mean ... I dunno. Nobody really stood out to me this season as the one true MVP. Like, Season 1? No doubt, it's gotta be Hosaka. Seasons 2 thru 4 are harder for me to say though. Season 3's especially tough since Hosaka and Natsuki are exclusively involved in several of my all-time favorite scenes in all of Minami-ke. Quote:
Season 1 > Season 3 (Okaeri) > Season 4 (Tadaima) > Season 2 (Okawari) I feel like Season 1 gets a 10, Season 2 gets a 7.5 rounding up to 8, Season 3 gets a 9, and Season 4 gets an 8.5 rounding down to 8. It's a shame that it makes it look like Tadaima is such a regression from Okaeri when I really don't feel that it is -- and in many ways think it's an improvement upon the situation for our beloved franchise, namely the animation -- but like you've said, I'm not happy with the Simpsons / Sazae-san "fruit juice" Coharu's having us drink. I want plot progression. I'm not saying "Make Minami-ke a plot-driven story," no. Because it never has been one and that would be completely losing perspective of what Minami-ke is all about. But I am saying that look, even the most plot-minimalist slice of life series like Azumanga Daioh and Nichijou have got some plot progression to them. In Azumanga Daioh, the kids end up graduating at the end of the year. In Nichijou, a character we'd seen previously outside of school later enrolls. There is some consequence for people there, consequence we've been longing for in Minami-ke for a long time now. If we confront the obvious elephants in the room that would appear to be terrorizing Sakuraba Coharu, they are ...
__________________
|
|||
04-30-2013, 03:31 AM | #116 |
Soul Badge
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Saskatchewan, Canada
Posts: 1,488
|
Yeah, I don't want it to become a plot driven show either. I don't mind if they remain frozen in their respective schools forever, and no one even has to get into an actual boyfriend-girlfriend relationship. I just want one or two big happenings per season! I mean damn, I'm not asking for heavy Clannad After drama here (can you imagine if Seinfeld had a serious episode? "KRAMERRRR, WHY'D YA HAVE TO DRINK AND DRIIIIIVE!").
Right now, Hosaka is this mythical creature known as the Curry Fairy that Chiaki admires from afar. As you suggested, it would be great if they took the next step and actually started talking to each other and hanging out occasionally. There's lots of comedic potential with Hosaka being unaware that she is actually Haruka's sister. f'rinstance, maybe Hosaka can confide in her his desire to confess to the girl he likes, but he's too scared. Chiaki feels bad for him, and since he's a good man and deserves some love, she offers to introduce him to her sister. He says thanks, she sounds great, but assures her that she's no match for the girl he loves! Wait, that sounds like yet another Hosaka screwjob, but at least he'd get to make another friend. I actually love many stories where good characters suffer constant misery, but it's important to throw us a bone every now and then to make it all worth it. An example being Legend of the Strongest Man Kurosawa. Yes, 90% of the story is him being crapped on and humiliated, but he scores the occasional victory, and those victories are the sweetest things ever. Hosaka had nothing going for him at all in season 4!
__________________
Smoking Gary sez: "Stay in school kidz" |
06-22-2015, 02:59 AM | #117 |
Soul Badge
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Saskatchewan, Canada
Posts: 1,488
|
All right, after getting a blue blazer I just had to do it:
__________________
Smoking Gary sez: "Stay in school kidz" |
06-22-2015, 06:09 PM | #118 |
時の彼方へ
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Lafayette, Indiana
Posts: 20,578
|
Sweet! Now I just need you to have a friend or significant other who resembles Atsuko and would accompany you to the library so that you could re-enact the S1 library scene. Alternatively, you could elevate your game to the next level by simply recreating any of the scenes like this one where Hosaka disrobes.
Screencap for posterity, in case you ever change your avatar.
__________________
|
06-23-2015, 07:04 AM | #119 |
Soul Badge
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Saskatchewan, Canada
Posts: 1,488
|
I wish I knew a blue haired beauty like that ;_;
I was just looking for an excuse to bump this thread. Doesn't anyone else want to watch Minami-ke? It's lonely in here with just the two of us (with occasional guest appearances by big bad birtha).
__________________
Smoking Gary sez: "Stay in school kidz" |
06-25-2015, 01:07 PM | #120 |
Aroma Lady
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,760
|
I watched the first two seasons, it's quite funny despite them saying (in the opening) that we shiuldn't expect too much.
|
06-26-2015, 07:19 AM | #121 |
Soul Badge
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Saskatchewan, Canada
Posts: 1,488
|
Recently or a while ago? Season 2 is universally regarded as the weakest of the four, so you have a lot to look forward to.
__________________
Smoking Gary sez: "Stay in school kidz" |
06-27-2015, 08:27 AM | #122 |
Aroma Lady
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,760
|
A while ago, I think I stopped watching halfway through season 3, since I couldn't be bothered to check for new episodes.
I can also see why season 2 would be considered the weakest yes. |
06-27-2015, 03:47 PM | #123 |
時の彼方へ
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Lafayette, Indiana
Posts: 20,578
|
Every season contains some of my all-time favorite moments in the franchise. (Top 10, Top 20, whatever denominator it takes to fit them all in there: they're all gold.) But not all of the seasons are created equal, it's true, and if I had to rank them personally, I'd say it goes something like this:
1 > 4 > 3 > 2 Or like this: 1 > 3 > 4 > 2 I'd need to watch both 3 and 4 again. I remember enjoying 4 a ton as it aired, but I also don't really remember it too well right now. Still. Whether 4 beats 3 or 3 beats 4, 1 is king and 2 is the farthest removed from that regal spot. The character animation in S4 is really, really good. But my heart still yearns for Daume's S1. So adorable. So perfect. While writing this reply, I decided to look up what Daume's been up to. Sadly, they seem to have fallen off the radar almost entirely since 2010's Shiki. But on the bright side, I did find this one fellow fan's blog post about the four seasons and the three animation studios. He wrote it right when S4 was just beginning, so it's a little skewed. (And it's hard for me to gauge whether his optimism for S4 would've remained intact by season's end or not.) But it's still quite the fun read, to see what a fellow fan thinks about the studio shake-up. Spoiler: he agrees that S1 by Daume was the best season.
__________________
|
06-30-2015, 06:05 AM | #124 |
Soul Badge
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Saskatchewan, Canada
Posts: 1,488
|
That's a solid analysis of the four seasons. I'm of the belief that season 1 > season 3 > season 4 > season 2. I think most people agree on the quality of seasons, with the most contentious debate being season 3 vs season 4 (although I saw some crazy people claiming that 4 is better than 1). I admit that season 4 is superior to 3 visually, but 3 is better overall. Even the much maligned season 2 is okay. My favourite is the cup noodle scene at the end of episode 10. I find those touching Kana/Chiaki moments to be so awwww, due to their extreme rarity.
I might take on the disrobing cosplay suggested by Talon. I need to spend a month doing sit-ups and letting my hair grow out, then we'll see.
__________________
Smoking Gary sez: "Stay in school kidz" |
Lower Navigation | ||||||
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | |
|
|