Bakumatsu Kikansetsu Irohanihoheto Episode 2 - The Earth-Splitting Sword Laughs
Oh god, am I really that terrible with names? All I can summarise this episode as is “Fish Lips Guy killed Troupe Girl and Bandage Boy’s parents; Script Bishounen is wanted by the Western infidels, and Akizuki was some famous dude’s failed bodyguard”.
Okay, so it’s not that bad; I almost remember some of the names. But historical shows are a lot of work for me due to my total cultural ignorance.
That said, Iroha grabs me in fits and starts; there are long chunks where I don’t find it especially engaging because it gets a bit too history-lesson esque, but then the fight scenes are really well choreographed and I’ve decided I rather like the kabuki inserts, particularly the dramatic face painting towards the end of the episode. I understand the first two episodes are the weakest of the series thus far, so with the death of Fish Lips Guy hopefully the series will start to grab me a bitmore from the next episode.
December 12th, 2006 at 10:59 am
“I understand the first two episodes are the weakest of the series thus far”
I wouldn’t really say that… …
December 12th, 2006 at 6:26 pm
Really? Oh, bum. You’re the Iroha super-fan, though, you’re supposed to sell me on the show!
December 13th, 2006 at 6:22 pm
Yeah, I am, but I think this is the kind of show that is enjoyed when it isn’t hyped up… because it’s veeeery easy to see through all its holes. Later, anyway.
Frankly speaking episode 1-4 was when the show was going on at its best (4 especially - IMO, anyway),… nice mix of culture, coolness, hawt guys, and mysterious historical machinations…
…and then Nasty Things in the form of Cheesy Uninspired Supernatural Stuff That Reminds One Of Shounen Jump Manga creeped in in episode 5 and 6…
…and 7 was one of those badly-directed, badly-animated episodes; 8 was entertaining but when you watch the (not-so-well-animated) battle you start to realise - “hey, you know what, there is no bloody way I could take this show seriously”.
9 and 10 were the Oh shit, let’s throw Okita in to keep the fangirls totally panting, and 10 especially - Naoyuki Onda drawings, absolutely purified and distilled girl-oriented hawt guy angstiness, what more could such a fangirl ask for? But surprisingly, it seems to have absolutely no effect on the story at all. In fact, I have a suspicion it was this anime’s version of… filler eps. (God knows I’d rather have more of them than badly-handled supernatural stuff, though.)
And after all of that, the characters are, I must say, hardly much more developed/fleshed out than they were earlier. A common complaint of this show is that despite the way it looks, it’s still 薄っぺらい.
You probably won’t hear this side of me so often, but I’m just going on what I think you enjoy, and TBH I don’t see you following this much longer. I mean sure we all watch the occasional “this-ain’t-that-good-but-WTH” show like Elemental Gelade, but it is true that if you don’t get the names/history behind the show it’s enough to put a lot of people off.
I hope that explains everything then. Sorry for blathering on for so long as usual… (Oh and anal nitpick: if you must split up the title, it’s “Iroha Nihoheto” or “Iro ha nihoheto”, despite the bizarre way they arranged it)
December 14th, 2006 at 6:54 pm
Finally someone is bloging this great show! I hope Wao-san didn’t spoil it for you, lol. But then where else can we Iroha fans discuss this show with. I myself don’t like to post on forums.
I agree that the show is a bit “thin”, but I admit that I tune in for the “action”, Soutetsu’s katana kicking move is the greatest ever!
I always thought the show is a tiny bit gay tho(for the fangrls?). I just realize that the foreword “男が男として生き..” is suppose to be “男が武士(おとこ)として生き..” Also, don’t you think Akizuki is too into Sakamoto?
Wao-san is right, check it out for yourself here. I just call it Iroha tho.
So is anyone blogging “bartender”??
December 15th, 2006 at 2:13 am
You haven’t seen gay-for-the-fangirls until you get to episode 10. Yar. That was just… …
And sorry for being such a wet blanket but it’s also part of my selfish fangirl nature that would rather see people just not blog about the show, than inevitably criticize its weak points (which I am painfully aware of, and which serve as a sharp reminder to stop spending such an inconceivably large amount of time on this show).
January 3rd, 2007 at 2:53 am
I just found your web page by mistake but I am loving your animé reviews!! Keep the good work!! ^_^