First Impressions / Shinryaku! Ika Musume

「おままごとしなイカ!?」 (Omamagoto Shinai ka!?)
“Won’t You Play House!?”

Trolls are everywhere these days it seems, be it on the Internet or in the playground. However, in Risa’s (Sudou Nanako, Reina from Usagi Drop) case, it’s the kind I can get on board with because it’s without any malicious intent. Risa wasn’t trying to get Ika murdered in the unfaithful father role — it just turned out that way because of her love of television dramas. With Sanae going all-out as her usual self, Eiko whipping out the “bath, dinner, or me” line very reluctantly, and even Kiyomi saying she’ll bear Ika’s illegitimate child, it was pretty funny to see everyone go along with Risa’s flow. The ridiculous melodrama and wacky outbursts over her scenarios were the highlights for me.

 

「予定じゃなイカ!?」 (Youtei Janai ka!?)
“Isn’t That The Plan!?”

Eiko should probably take some comfort in the fact that Ika made good use of the schedule book she gave her, even if it ended up driving her up the wall. This skit was somehow more reminiscent of Ika’s naivety and innocence in the first season, with which she can take something as trivial as an umbrella and have a field day with it. Her knack for doing so is usually fun to watch, simply because it’s the behavior one would expect from a kid, but without the patience of those around her. In this case, Ika’s fickleness worked in her favor though, which interestingly enough, actually tied into the third skit.

 

「遊園地に行かなイカ!?」 (Yuuenchi ni Ikanai ka!?)
“Won’t You Go to the Amusement Park!?”

I was looking forward to the prospect of Ika experiencing the “nauseous joys” of amusement park rides, so her ability to ride coffee cups for hours on end and the depressing state of the Aizawa’s childhood attraction came as a bit of a surprise. For one, I didn’t expect to see glimpse of Eiko, Chizuru, and Takeru’s parents, whom we never hear anything about. The other was the sole amusement park employee, who was voiced by Naka Hiroshi and gave off a similar vibe to another role he played — Tomoya’s father in CLANNAD — due to his acceptance of how poorly things turned out. For that reason alone, I was happy to see things end on a somewhat uplifting note with the opening of his cabaret. I love it when this series changes things up with a sentimental approach, but I don’t want to see a skit turn out overly depressing in the end.

 

Preview

25 Comments

  12. One of the best episode of Ika Musume LOL .
    I’ve fallen in love with Eiko with the first and third skit, i love my tomboy-girl.
    The amusement park was ridiculous with only 1 rides, and Eiko having to put in 100 yens for 3 second of ride. LAWL

    Rih148
    Reply

  14. So I guess someone out there in the manufacturing world has an idea for an Ika figma? That would take soooooooo many points of articulation…For the tentacles along, much less fitting in a bag.

    I would want a Taiga in a bag first thou.

    skylion
    Reply

  16. That episode was so gooooooooood. Risa was so funny. The schedule story too. Also Sanae is really giving me the creeps now since the third skit of last episode, they sure know when to kick in the scary bgm and scary expressions.

    I was surprised too at how the second and thirds were connected. I really love continuity like that in comedy shows. I love continuity. LOVE. EIKO. LOVE. I don’t even know what I’m typing anymore, I loved this episode so much, it’s like I took some hyperactive drugs.

    There was this blond haired twintails girl in the hot spring ad, she already appeared in season 1, she was the MC of the beach tournament. I don’t remember if she was at other places too…

    I think they were playing Nobunaga no Yabou there.

    Also man, Divine, you’ll always impress me with how you recognize homovoices. On a related note, I have to admit at first I didn’t really like when you say stuff like “haha this is funny because these two characters were voiced by the same seiyuus as Ayako and Satsuko from show X etc” while the scene was funny but for different reasons, because it seems to me that you’re overanalysing things/making your own jokes. It’s just that I don’t like it when someone put together two things that actually aren’t together… I don’t know how to explain it… But now I think that’s not bad at all actually. It sure gives you more insight. Also this is invalid for instances when the characters have the same voices as other characters in Ika Musume. Anyway, I like it now, don’t worry about it. I’m just crazy.

    Rockmanshii
    Reply

  17. OH GOD that first part was so good Risa was amazing! But poor Ika getting pulled around so easily. Then again Sanae always steals the show when ever she is added to any episode, and all of her expressions damn she has some good ones xD

    I noticed this was one of the few moments when one episode went right into another with them going to the amusement park.

    foshizzel
    Reply

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