「くくりひめ」 (Kukuri-hime) “Kukuri-hime”

Episode Impressions

Oh look, Kazuya has a regular father who actually comes home to have dinner and spend time with his family. I repeat, except for his deceased mother, Kazuya has a functional family that is mostly alive! Which is a pretty good start if you ask me, compared to the usual orphans or absent parents. But as always, seeing Kazuya get randomly abused never gets old, even when he cannot be blamed. For example, it’s hardly Kazuya’s fault that Shirou cannot control his libido. Shirou did say that he was treating Kokuyou at the diner, although Kokuyou sure took her liberties in eating her way through Shirou’s wallet. Not that I would mind, because I personally find these glutton types to be quite endearing!

Among the orders she made, Pappardelle di Melanzane con Pomodorini sprung to my attention as being such a wonderful name! I don’t understand or speak any Italian, but that exquisitely rolled from Kokuyou’s tongue – a tongue that engorged on good food in vast quantitties at Shirou’s expense. Though I do suppose one would eat a lot if their daily diet comprised of grass and mayonnaise, with the occasional snake, rat or whatever for protein. And speaking of the goddess, how can she be so mean to someone who has brought her cake? Qu’ils mangent de la brioche. Except the matter of food was rather trivial, considering the steaks were higher later on in the episode.

Action

I am miffed that they cut out the full arm wrestling scene between Kazuya and Shirou from the manga, where Shirou got annihilated because of Kazuya’s newfound supernatural powers. But Kiriha’s tussle with Kokuyou more than made up for it. I kept expecting the animation value to drop, particularly where action is concerned, since that’s generally what happens after the first episode. Instead, we’re given an amazingly smooth and spirited arm wrestling scene between Kiriha and Kokuyou, as well as seeing the petty squabble between Kiriha and Kukuri escalate into a full scale confrontation. Bonus points for the dramatic weather inducing pathetic fallacy.

TENGAI SHINSEI! Seeing Kukuri harness the element of water was pretty awesome, and so far it doesn’t look like Kiriha can weigh up against her, especially with a water meteorite having just been summoned down upon her. What I don’t understand is that surely water cleans fabric rather than damaging it? Then again, that does look like many gallons of water. And I should stop being pedantic because artistic license does exist.

Concluding Thoughts

Discovering that Kazuya is the source for these malevolent ongoings probably ties in with the two flashbacks. One with a young and unconscious Kazuya at the shrine during the dead of night with a concerned Kiriha and Kokuri. Another with a mysterious woman wielding Kiriha’s powers. All will be explained in due time, so definitely bear everything in mind. Tsunderes shall rise and fall, and if one is to understand the great mystery, one must study all its aspects.

Unfortunately, this will be my final week of coverage for Tsugumomo. My university studies resume next week and exams are looming across the horizon. There is only so much I can do. Before my posts for Tsugumomo come to an end, a few words of wisdom. What you have seen so far only scratches the tip of the iceberg in terms of what Tsugumomo can offer, though it will probably only start ramping up towards the end of its broadcast. When that time comes around, your patience shall definitely be rewarded, assuming Zero-G continue with the improvements and maintaining quality.

Sorry that I won’t be able to continue, but thank you for following my coverage of Tsugumomo!

Preview

End Card

10 Comments

  1. I agree with some of the things you said, but mainly the part about not being pedantic when writing a review because then you might just lower your guard and end up making a fool of yourself by caviling the adaption for not animating a supposed full arm wrestling scene which never happened in the manga.

    Show Spoiler ▼

    vand
    1. Well, I went back and had a read and you were right, apologies. My memory failed me pretty hard there, and it’s been a few years since I last read the earlier parts of the series. My brain was probably thinking of the removed arm wrestling scene Kiriha and Kokuri which ended in a draw. Nevertheless, a mistake is a mistake, and I apologise for making a pretty huge one.

      (But I do think it would have made for a decent gag for Kazuya to have overwhelmed a broke Shirou into owing even more debt.)

    1. Mmmm… this turn out to be more an fan Service anime. Ecchi galore.. well, even to-Love RU hat tryed to invoke some story, even if the highlights was always “who he molest the girls again” when he trip

      let’s see, perhaps the spark i got in the previous episode was an misfire

      Worldwidedepp

Leave a Reply to Zaiden Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *