First Impressions / Shinryaku! Ika Musume

「留守番しなイカ!?」 (Rusuban Shinai ka!?)
“Won’t You Watch the House!?”

As much as I’m enjoying this second season of Ika Musume, I have to admit that the comedy simply hasn’t hit a good stride in recent episodes. While there’s never a shortage of quirky moments, the skits always feel like they fall one punchline short of giving me a good laugh. The second season of WORKING on the other hand has consistently delivered laughs week after week, so much so that I already consider it an improvement over the first season. Last week’s episode of Kimi to Boku was hilarious too, so it somewhat pains me to say that Ika Musume has lost a fair bit of steam to both these series. I can’t really put my finger on what needs to improved either, as the misunderstanding between Ika and burglar did have its moments.

 

「断たなイカ!?」 (Tatanai ka!?)
“Won’t You Abstain From It!?”

If this abstinence from shrimp skit was any indication, the lack of laughs could be because this sequel is focusing on the cuter side of things. Eiko’s still there to deliver the straight outbursts, but the jokes really aren’t as funny when it’s Chizuru messing around with Ika and not the least bit obvious about it. I like how Sanae tried to bust in and steal the spotlight with her creepy shrimp costume, even if it was only good for a brief slapstick moment.

 

「熱中症じゃなイカ!?」 (Necchuushou Janai ka!?)
“Isn’t That Heatstroke!?”

A new nameless female doctor (Ushida Hiroko) is a welcomed addition, but if there’s one thing this season could use more of, it would be screen time for Gorou. Whether he’s being serious with Ika or losing his cool with Chizuru, our lifeguard usually provides some funny inner dialogue. As for Sanae, I’m a little disappointed that she didn’t unconsciously try to take advantage of Ika, simply because the respectable side of her seemed a bit out of character. It was nice from a morale perspective, but where’s my Sanae whose obsession with Ika knows no bounds?

* The opening sequence featured a new Ika cosplay in each of the last two episodes, with doctor Ika in episode seven and police officer Ika here. The only thing missing was Ika doing the arrest in the ending sequence.

 

Preview

11 Comments

  2. This almost reminds me of an educational series aimed at a younger audience (duh):
    1. Don’t let strangers in; lock the door,
    2. Self-control,
    3. Drink enough water to avoid heat-stroke.

    4. Japanese burglar’s are accommodating to their hosts. 🙂

    One thing, though, and maybe it’s a TL thing, I thought it odd that
    she didn’t know what a burglar was, but understood what a robber was?!

    I’d love to be in the place where she came from where such concepts
    are foreign (burglars, etc.)

    BTW, I also agree Working’!! is going strong this season, too!

    mac65
    Reply

      1. Yeah, and kids stay up until 2am to watch it. Before you counter me with how it’s re-aired on other channels with friendlier airing times and how recording exists, just think about it more please, it’s obviously not aimed ONLY at kids, just look at all the different type of humor in it (adult included). Since season 1 there’s always be some kind of morale like mac said in the skits but that’s only to wraps things up, it’s not the main focus( The main focus being making out of it something cute and/or funny).

        Rockmanshii
        Reply

  5. The first skit was funny when the burglar thought that Ika was cunningly fast talking him and belonged to some criminal organization. The second was amusing during Ika’s supermarket trip and when she could not get her hands on any prawns. The 3rd skit went for a weak horror vibe but i found Sanae actually too pitiful to really be any sort of focus for horror. Though her last shot did somewhat prove Ika right. A dash more of Eiko as the straight person in this episode would work better.

    Zaku Fan
    Reply

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