「みゆきまたなむ」 (Miyu Kimatanamu)
“Wait for the Emperor’s Return”

Last week, I described Chihayafuru as “exquisite torture”. If I were to say that again today, I’d be half right.

I’d almost allowed myself to believe that this day wouldn’t come for S2, but sadly we have a recap episode. As brutal as this season has been to follow with the glacial pacing, this is just salt in the wound. With so much ground to cover and so little time, this really hurts.

Even worse, this recap was nowhere near as good as the first Chihayafuru recap episode – which happens to be probably the best of that ugly breed that I’ve seen. There was very little new footage (taken from the manga omakes) this time, and nothing that cast any light on the character dynamics like the shiptease and “Jack of all trades, master of none” moments from the first season’s recap. But we did at least learn Kana-chan has only three eyelashes – now just try not thinking about it every time you see her.

That’s enough effort for a recap ep – I’ll see you all in this space next week, with what given the current pacing is likely to be the first four cards of the final match in the team tournament.

26 Comments

  1. Burning question – do you think there’ll be any chance for a third season? (I will cry and destroy my computer if they try to come up with an anime original ending.)

    A Dollar Member
    1. The major factor in getting a second season was seemingly the boost in manga sales, and manga sales are still very strong. And MH is certainly acting as if they expect one, judging by the pacing. I’d say it’s probably something like a 50-50 call.

  2. If there is a season three, I know what will await me in episode 16. Those are recap episodes. Actually no, I will flip my table, get super mad at the end of episode 15 cause I know I would have to wait for episode 17 to continue it, and that is a 2 bloody week wait.

    I couldn’t enjoyed the recap episode as much as I should had because I was still with the unexpected let down. (Unless you guys knew about it before hand) While it wasn’t like last seasons recap, with loads of off screen humor, this recap was a good reminder for anyone who is catching up on the series to let you know were we standing. And while it feels like I’m still in the first episodes of the season, it’s hard to believe we’re actually at 16 now. Granted, we had few long, long, long matches that take up many episodes. But when its a series as enjoyable as this, it’s easy to see why. While the ending left off with the very same cliff hanger as last week, I shall still await for next week. Thus making it a 2 week wait. It could be worst. It could be a 3 month delay like F/Z, or Girls Und Panzer to name a few. Next week. COME FASTER.

    Show Spoiler ▼

    Solara
  3. I nearly died when I realized it was a recap episode. I made sure everything I had to do school wise was done and I could just sit back and enjoy the awesomeness that is Chihayafuru, but I couldn’t get to do that. *cries*

    Jani
    1. I feel your pain. Believe me. I finally got home late from work super excited for this episode, this is what kept me going damnit! But as I watched I kept thinking if this was a sick joke. Oh the horror when I realized that it was a recap! GASP. D8

      Solara
  4. Huge disappointment, but the main thing I got was that the show broke the fourth wall a little bit with phrases like “They removed the extra mini-segments (like from season one), and will Arata get some more screen time? nope, not enough money”

    Stöt
  5. It may sound a bit out of place, but does anyone know whether injuries are a common event in this card game?

    With people slamming on the cards with such force, the person who blocks would place his/her fingers/wrist at risk from being smashed to pieces by the person who slams, would it not?

    Actus
    1. They did do them, but they don’t usually rear their ugly heads for a couple of season into the show. You don’t remember them because it’s infrequent, but they are there. In the 80s and 90s they did do them but it was the sitcom era and hid them in episode like best of recapping certain scenes. It’s not like they had a continuous story, pretty much a it’s a good show watch it every week and if I miss a week or two it can still be enjoyed. An example on the top of my head is Cheers episode 200. I know Fraiser did them every so often and I remember Fraiser remembering Lilith previous scenes. Then came the reality tv show era and survivor does a recap episode. I don’t know if they still do them now but if they do, it’ll be even less common and in the upcoming years due to the way tv is moving, such as tv episodes on demand type of thing.

      Salpsan
  6. While this recap felt like a sucker punch to the gut, if there’s a miracle-of-miracles and Chihayafuru 3 is annoucned once this season is through, I’ll increase my M status and keep comin’ back for more.

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