「夢見る紗霧と夏花火」 (Yumemiru Sagiri to Natsu Hanabi)
“Dreaming Sagiri and Summer Fireworks”
Man, each episode seems to be getting longer and longer.
General Impressions
At this point, I’m not really sure just where in the world this show wants to go and I can’t decide if that’s a good or bad thing. With an opinion that’s already a bit colored due to another show in this specific niche (I’m staring right at you Oreimo), let me try to dive into some general things that I’m feeling at this point in time (funny how it matches the heading for once).
I get that the point of the show is that Masamune and Sagiri are supposed to have a thing for each other. And seeing how they’re not related by blood, it doesn’t seem all that wrong for these two to be pursuing something like this minus the age gap which you could turn a blind eye too should push come to shove.
Except, the story seems to be confused on which direction it wants to be going in since it feels like it can’t decide on what it really wants to do. We have moments where you’d go “Oh, that’s Masamune and Sagiri finally going in the right direction” only to have the spotlight shift onto another girl (or two) who would be perfect matches for our boy Masamune. Leaving you with a sense of turmoil as you wonder how someone could turn down not one, but two different girls who both have such amazing qualities that would exponentially improve Masamune as both a person and a light novel author.
That said, even with the story sometimes being a little wishy-washy, it manages to keep things held together through the use of some stellar comedic timing combined with characters that have no issue wearing their heart on their sleeves. A combination of things that you think wouldn’t make a big difference in the grand scheme of things, but actually become really important when you realize how much time you spend laughing and not angrily yelling at characters for being complete failures at communicating.
Overall, I think the overall picture of what’s going on is slowly becoming clearer. However, with the frame still not completely in focus, I want to believe that just about anything could happen because going into each episode with a little fuzziness (until the end at least) leaves room for our imaginations to run wild (pun or dirty joke intended) and that’s probably where we get more than half of our enjoyment from the series.
Anyways, I’ll catch you guys next week! P.S. Sorry for the late post! I spent my weekend over at the San Jose Convention Center for this year’s Fanime convention and just got back. I appreciate your patience and understanding!
ED2 Sequence
ED2: 「夏色恋花火」 (Natsu Irokoi Hanabi) by TrySail
End Card
Before = Kuroneko cameo
After = Kuroneko Spin off show.
Reaction to Eromanga Sensei in a nutshell:
(There’s a cute middle-schooler loli in it.)
I don’t need it.
(She draws ecchi illustrations.)
I don’t need it.
(Made by the author of OreImo.)
I DEFINITELY don’t need it.
(She and her brother are not blood siblings.)
I don’t need it.
(She’s less of a b***h than Kirino[?])
I don’t need it.
(Has an apparently lewd female middle-schooler in the cast who loves to quote Dark Lord Chin Chin from Filthy Frank.)
I don’t need it.
(Has a beautiful ojou who plays the piano nekkid.)
I don’t need it…
https://randomc.net/image/Eromanga%20Sensei/Eromanga%20Sensei%20-%2008%20-%20Large%2009.jpg
(This cameo by the best OreImo girl.)
I NEED IT!!! (read: Really tempted to marathon this show post-season.)
Hahahaha! Spongebob Squarpants reference much?
https://randomc.net/image/Eromanga%20Sensei/Eromanga%20Sensei%20-%2008%20-%20Large%2009.jpg
Well, you already have a boyfriend IRL.
https://randomc.net/image/Eromanga%20Sensei/Eromanga%20Sensei%20-%2008%20-%20Large%2025.jpg
Both are my waifu.
https://randomc.net/image/Eromanga%20Sensei/Eromanga%20Sensei%20-%2008%20-%20Large%2034.jpg
Is this really okay? Blatantly declaring war to another works Haha “starburst stream” *evil kirito
https://randomc.net/image/Eromanga%20Sensei/Eromanga%20Sensei%20-%2008%20-%20Large%2019.jpg
I love her expression in this, she looks far more mature
I have been sorely disappointed by these last couple of episodes.
The series started off with promise, as I was hoping that it would be a more mature take on the struggles of surviving as a family/couple with Sagiri. It seems to have devolved into a harem-focused anime in which all of the girls inexplicably fall head-over-heels in love with the main lead. It’s not a terrible thing, just not what I was personally hoping for.
I do think the heart-on-sleeve attitude is refreshing. It feels quite rushed however.
I hope the rest of the series moves back to the personal family issues and Masamune’s struggle to thrive as a writer.
I was caught by complete surprise when I saw the Kuroneko cameo. I didn’t think they’d tie the universes together.
I’m enjoying how the show is at least a little more direct in establishing it’s couple-of-choice, but it does rub salt on the wound that they keep making Elf and Muramasa more appealing as the show goes on. It’s a double-edged sword; the cast is getting more likable, but it’s hard to see their dreams dashed when the show’s main ship sails.