Urusei Yatsura – 09

「愛で殺したい / 自習騒動」 (Ai de Koroshitai / Jishuu Soudou)
“To Kill with Love / Studying Mayhem”

The latest Urusei Yatsura continues the strategy of unveiling just about everyone in the series before getting started with throwing them in funny situations. But unlike some of the other characters who were rolled out, Rei proves to be an amusing character with how his charming looks contradict his repulsive habits.

HUNGRY LIKE THE WOLF

I was worried that Rei would be a bit bland because of how unremarkable some of the other girls have been lately. But much of the humor behind Rei’s presence wound up being really funny with how even Lum can’t tolerate his callousness and gluttony.

I was cracking up every time Lum was proving a point and being like “SEE! LOOK AT HIM!” Rei is as thoughtless and careless as Lum says, as he alternates between missing Lum’s presence and scarfing down metric tonnes of food. Shinobu’s attempts to salvage Rei because he at least had his looks going for him was as funny as when she was confused as a ghost after Lum had some wishful thinking about her fate.

IT’S BREAKING UP A HAPPY HOME

The meanest jokes wound up being the funniest in this episode as Ran sees her opportunity to shine with the man she’s always loved. But because of his personality type, she’s constantly left oblivious as to whether he even gives a damn about her. He loves scarfing down her bento as she gets lost in her emotions and thinks he’s in love, but then he reacts the exact same way when Cherry feeds him a mediocre bento.

Funny enough, Ataru’s mom did a better job at doing the most to hook up with Rei. The cruel humor behind Ataru’s mom growing bored of her agreeable husband and her fail-son made it all the more hilarious when she became so craven and desperate that she’d take the rare opportunity to put on make-up and feed him as much food as he can put down. It’s easy to feel guilty for Ataru’s dad, but it’s such a funny twist that a mother who appears as formal and traditional as Ataru’s mom has the coldest, most twisted mindset about her own family. Next week will be a good chance to compare and contrast though, given that we’ve got a Parent’s Day celebration to look forward to.