Final Impressions / First Impressions / Kore wa Zombie Desu ka?

「だけど, それがいい」 (Dakedo, Sore ga Ii)
“Still, That’s Fine”

Part of me is inclined to revise the fantastic reviews I gave last week’s episode. Not because that episode became any worse for the week that has passed, but because, when one realizes it was the penultimate episode of this season – a fact I didn’t realize at the time of writing – some of the choices made there become suspect. That is something that extends into this episode as well.

Back in episode three, I complained that the whole voodoo dancing joke was too abruptly introduced, and fell flat because of it. In this final episode, we had that problem again – Dai-sensei’s test to see if Ayumu could become a full masou shoujo (like becoming better at cross-dressing is something he wanted to do :P) emerged from nowhere. That is, not only the test itself emerged from nowhere, which was fine, but the very concept that there would be a test also emerged from nowhere, which was less so. That lessened the impact of what was going on as I spent my valuable focus wondering where the hell this all came from.

Still, there was some punch to what they did. The slime part was, of course, hilarious. What is it with me and covering all the ecchi slime anime? D: Anyway, I especially enjoyed when Orito called out that the slime was leaving the girl;s pantsu and socks on, which I was thinking was a silly plothole about three seconds beforehand. But even after Dai-sensei dispelled the slime and Ayumu lost his memories, the abruptness of the whole thing didn’t totally diminish what happened during Ayumu’s second chance. Seeing Haruna, Yuu, and Sera traveling through Ayumu’s subconsciousness to save him was silly – especially when Ayumu’s personal personifications of the seven deadly sins popped up, and proved to be so laughably weak – but when Belphegor (Sloth) took over his body…well, I’ll admit, I started to get really into it.

I have to give some credit to the OST here. Though I usually don’t notice such things, it did a good job of setting up the “off” feeling when Belphegor was in charge of Ayumu’s body. Another part of it was because this is a lovu-lovu harem anime to its core. Seeing Haruna, Yuu, and Sera dive into Ayumu’s mind was one thing, but seeing Yuu don the masou shoujo outfit and fight all out to save Ayumu – to the point she even cried while she did it – was touching. Part of a harem anime is seeing all the girls love the main guy, and this one really drove home how much all of them – even Sera! – care about Ayumu. D’awww!

Yet still, where was the resolution to that whole Chris thing?? This whole season we were waiting to see what role Yousei-san would play, and then when we found out, we went to wondering how Ayumu would save her, and then…nothing. Same with the weird old guy who kept coughing up blood. What about him?! I…I…augh. Let me just say this – I truly did enjoy this episode. If this was the 10th of 12 episodes in this season, it would have ranked fairly high, though the “finalistic” tone would have been weird if there was an episode coming week. However, as the final episode of a season that didn’t build up a Ayumu-getting-taken-over-by-inner-demons plotline beforehand, it felt random and tacked on. Almost anime original, even! It’s painfully obvious that this show was adapted from source material that keeps going far past where we’re at, which…I should be talking about this in the final impressions. More on that below! for now, let’s put this episode to bed with a quote:

“A person’s true nature is revealed by their underwear.”

Truer words have never been spoken, Dark Ayumu. Well, probably they have, but I like to imagine that this one is true. Especially with what Dai-sensei was wearing. I don’t know what that says about her, but I like it!

tl;dr: @StiltsOutLoud – That’s the end of #korezon season 2. The final ep was a bit abrupt & didn’t resolve much, but I still enjoyed it. Season 3 plx?

Random thoughts:

  • Mix in something like a philosopher’s stone with the eggs? How many people died for those bentos you’ve been making, Haruna?? D:
  • I enjoyed Dai-sensei’s “Since you saw my pantsu, I’ll have to kill you later!” comment. It was just a side note. Nothing important, just a super powerful masou shoujo saying she’s going to kill you. Clearly not important.
  • I can’t believe Dark Ayumu let the cat out of the bag about Ayumu’s feelings for Yuu…sort of. Well, he did, but he covered for it just to mess with people, hah. That Dark Ayumu, always be trollin’.
  • Speaking of, Yuu confessed that she loves Ayumu!! If only it didn’t happen when Belphegor was in charge, and, you know, in her thoughts. Ayumu finding out about that would have made this episode truly epic.
  • It looks like we have a KuguRie loli interested in Ayumu, ufufu~
  • I would say it’s amazing how many women love Ayumu, but he’s one of the few harem protagonists who truly deserves the love he gets. Well, maybe not all the love he gets – he has an implausibly large harem, and the number just keeps on growing every season – but he definitely deserves some large percentage of it. Except when he’s in super pretentious bishie sins mode. Then he deserves nothing but their scorn!

Full-length images: 22, 29.

Epilogue:

 

Final impressions:

Ahhh, korezon. When I first read about the first season on this very site, I knew I had to watch it simply because of the ridiculous amount of ridiculous they were throwing into the very premise. Zombie magical girl (guy) living with a mute necromancer, a genki genius magical girl, and an super-tsun vampire ninja? I’m there! And as the first season went by, even when the plot got a sketchy and I wondered where it was going, the comedy held true. Thus, when this season arose and I was deciding what I wanted to cover, Kore was Zombie Desu ka? was at the top of the list. Actually, Fate/Zero was, but only because I was trying to fight Verdant for it, which obviously didn’t go well. That was all a lie, though. It was always korezon for me, baby. All you.

Ahem. Comedy-wise, this second season was if anything far better than its predecessor. While season one had to lay the foundation for later jokes, this season got to frolic in the fields of prepared hilarity while occasionally adding a few more to the arsenal whenever it felt like it. Starting off from the very first episode I as laughing my ass off, and I don’t think there was a single episode that went by where I didn’t literally laugh out loud at least once, and usually multiple times. As a comedy, korezon was good. There’s very little arguing to be done there. Korezon = funny. Case closed.

Plot-wise, we had something I like to call the “failure of the last mile.” While the first part of the season was weak plot-wise, that was because it wasn’t really focusing on that – this is a comedy above all else, and that’s where their attention was. That’s fine. It was only at episode six that the plot started ramping up, and in comparison to season one, it felt much stronger. That held for a few episodes, started to stumble last week, and totally fell on its face in this last episode. Where was the resolution to that whole Chris thing?? They did well 90% of the way through, but they fumbled in the last mile, and that diminished their work. Looking at it, their choice of an ending point was so weird. It was so abrupt that you would almost think a higher-up told the director to shut off production 2-3 episodes early. Or, more likely, a resolution doesn’t come until far later in the source material, so Studio Deen was hamstrung with what they could do. I don’t know, but CONFLICTING FEELINGS!!

Why do I say “conflicting feelings” when this is a pretty textbook case of mediocre storytelling? Well, there’s more to storytelling than just the plot. There’s also the characters, making us love them and care what happens to them, and crafting a world around them that we want to come back to time and time again, even if those dictating what we see fuck it up a bit occasionally. In that area, Kore wa Zombie Desu ka? has always done right by me. Ayumu, Haruna, Yuu, Sera, and all the others have never ceased to entertain and endear themselves to me, and for that they earned a lot of leniency. In our recent (and inaugural, check it out if you haven’t yet!) podcast, I mentioned that Yukinori and Taeko were my favorite female characters of the season, and I stand by that statement wholeheartedly – seeing Yukinori blush over receiving that ring from Ayumu, and Taeko do the same when Ayumu hugged her, were both a-friggin’-dorable. Haruna’s crying and being jealous, Sera’s conflicted feelings, Saras’ ass-love and deredere, and then of course Yuu, both the mousou Yuus and her mental confession this episode. Oh, and also Chris and Nene looking after Ayumu, and Dai-sensei doing the same, and loco Kyouko-chan, and Orito and Miharu as the solid B-couple, and, and, and…!! The characters here have always been so vibrant, full of life, and above all else likeable that I will forgive many mistakes if I can see more of them.

So, let’s bring it back to a question I was once fond of asking so long ago (i.e. like three months ago): was this entertaining? Forget any pretentious thoughts about storytelling and artistic worth and crap like that, lest we end up like Ayumu’s subconscious. Only one question: was it entertaining? The answer to that is an unequivocal yes. First and foremost, korezon is a comedy, and week after week I was laughing my ass off. Second and second-most, korezon is a harem show, and here it once again excelled, as Ayumu’s harem is full of lively, varied, and interesting girls, and Ayumu actually deserves some large percentage of the love they give him (and all of the abuse). Korezon’s plot and other such things might be on the weaker side, but in its prime objectives, korezon excelled week after week.

You know, I sometimes wonder about the shows that I blog, about whether I would watch them as quickly if I were merely watching them, or if they would languish for a few days while I got around to them. For Kore wa Zombie Desu ka? OF THE DEAD, I’ve never wondered: I would watch it faster if I weren’t blogging it. Then I wouldn’t have to prepare, and I could watch it just as soon as it came out! Maybe I’m biased – in fact, I know I am – but I think that’s the highest praise a story can recieve

So when’s season three? =X

 

Preview

80 Comments

    2. i have to reply one more time because i just caught that practically everyone is big boobed, so the one who killed Ayumu the original one that killed Ayumu hopefully that narrows that down a lot further 😉

      paiser
      Reply

  2. Yeah, where was the resolution to that whole Chris thing?

    What I could say is Korezon 2 is in epic fail mode in terms of plot development. Hell, Korezon S1 was slightly better in my opinion.
    Well, if Studio DEEN decide to make a sequel, maybe I’ll watch it only for comedies ONLY.

    Kusabi
    Reply

  5. Wahaha! When I saw all those Ayumu’s, I seriously thought they were about to sing or something. I really liked Dark Ayumu, or alternative Ayumu, he should definitely pop up again sometime.
    And finally, though we’ve always known, Eu and Ayumu officially declared their love for each other (though one did it in her head while the other wasn’t really himself – but still a win).

    Oh…and who’s that girl with the Kon bear? A 3rd season harem addition?

    Watt
    Reply

    1. While that may mean that the producers want a third season, that by no means insures that they’ll get it. Look at The World God Only Knows. If this season doesn’t do well enough, that little sequel hook will amount to nothing.

      Stilts
      Reply

      3. Yeah, that’s true. The studio made a big loss on TWGOK season 2. But the anime website stated they had a very super important announcement, just like I quoted in the last episode. We’re bound to get something. Hopefully. Maybe.

        Crook
        Reply

      5. Show Spoiler ▼

        The arc was finished in the manga, and it’s more than enough material for a third season. There’s been speculation the two week break it’s on is discussion for another season of TWGOK, but like i said, it’s all speculation. *fingers crossed

        Mutare
        Reply

  12. i highly doubt they make season 3 cuz they only made 10 episode and some episode were so random.(but i still like it) and the last episode was random too. i mean think about it why would make they make the ending like that? and why end it with 10 episodes? this was more like a OVA

    TrollRandom
    Reply

  15. If you go to the main site of KorewaZombie, it states that there will be 2 or 3 more ovas to come via dvd/blu ray set. Plus, they said there will be a “big/huge” announcement later on. Sorry for such vague info, had to use google translate, still pretty bad with Japanese atm 🙁

    bakakubi
    Reply

    1. Commenting on this so people read it! I heard tell that there might be an OVA, but I forgot about it when I posted this…and hearing there might be multiple ones is even better 😀 Yaaay!

      Stilts
      Reply

      1. Yeah, there’s no way they’re gonna let this finish without a bang. In Akiba right now, there are posters and huge signboards for KorewaZomb, I doubt it’s getting cut. I think they’re doing this to see how much of fan and financial support they’ll get from the fans. Though it’s just a rumor, this may be what makes or break for either season 3 or a movie. It’s not confirmed yet though.

        bakakubi
        Reply

    2. This can not be all for this season, may be pending for the next story, but can not be all the episodes, there must be ovas or extra to compensate.
      I need more of Seraphim, Yuki, Sarasvati and Taeko, are so cute. Kyouko and Nene are not far behind, are a great pair in sight, lol XD. And also the lovely Yuu.
      I really want more of the history, comedy and romance-harem moments.
      PS: I think Ayumo need something better to cross-dress as masou shoujo, is funny but he takes away seriously in combat, but I admit that is the best of show, provides plenty of laughs. Poor Ayumo, you’re great, but Gaia abuses you, XD

      Shadow74
      Reply

  16. Funny episode as always, but what really disappoint me is it only have 10 episodes… A great series yet only have 10 episodes, gonna miss Bayumu and gang… I gonna sulk in a corner now…

    Tingster013
    Reply

  17. haha nice Episode..Thou kinda weird that it ended at 10..which is that i always thought that anime like this last till 12 or 13 to 15..but surprisingly ended at 10..ohh look like sera doesnt like ayumu the way the other like him..^^

    bhebyLHavz21
    Reply

  18. Now if only Sera was added to this, I’d be happy with letting this end. As it stands, I demand a season 3 AND movie!

    Oh who am I kidding; I’d want season 3 and a movie regardless!

    Anyways, think the new character at the end is the Queen of Villier’s?

    Beedle
    Reply

  22. Chant with me!

    SEASSON THREEEE SEAAAAASSSON THREEE!

    Comedy wise I loved the hell out of season one of Kore wa zombie and OF THE DEAD every week! Seriously this series might not have the best plot of all time, but the jokes and characters make everything enjoyable even the harem theme started to get interesting.

    Yuki and Haruna will always be my favorites and Ayumu is a very fun male lead! And I think season two was more about the various girls falling for him in their own ways especially DAT ASS GIRL LOLOLOLOL She surprised me so much.

    Ayumu’s harem > Touma’s harem!

    I want a 3rd season or a damn movie filled with epic battles with Chris-chan and Ayumu kicking ass! MAKE IT SO DEEN!

    foshizzel
    Reply

    1. Maybe we should have a Sai-Harem competition, just like Saimoe and Saimecha. The contestants that come to my mind are (not necessarily in order of their harems):

      1. Kamijou Touma
      2. Aikawa Ayumu
      3. Hyoudou Issei
      4. Negi Springfield
      5. Tohno Shiki
      6. Urashima Keitaro
      7. Emiya Shirou
      8. Tenchi Masaki
      9. Orimura Ichika
      10. Rito Yuuki
      11. Aono Tsukune
      12. Katsuragi Keima

      etc. What do you think?

      The_Magus_Killer
      Reply

      2. My votes go to Ayumu (reasons stated above), Issei (because he friggin’ enjoys it), Negi (because he has the strongest/largest harem evar), Keitaro (because he’s the original one (in my mind)), and Ichika (because his harem includes dat Char). Oh, and of course, Keima. Why include Kami-niisama? …because he’s the goddamned Batman Capturing God, of course :3

        Stilts
        Reply

      3. @DragonMasterKnight: Kamijou Touma has a harem count of 9000+ clones of Misaka Mikoto who are developing their own personalities (but only a few such as Misaka 10032 get the spotlight in the anime, light novels and fanfics). I’d say when it comes to sheer numbers, Touma would be in first place.

        The_Magus_Killer
        Reply

  23. Dammit, this season was building up to be better than the first one (mostly because this season didn’t have such jarring shifts in tone) and while it built up slow, I really liked the Chris plot. But then they end it like this, on the tenth episode? Wtf? Man, they wasted a perfectly good plot.

    Oh well, I do agree with you that the characters carried the show. I really liked seeing the antics of Ayumu and his harem every week, and this season made me like some members even more (mostly the vampire girls). Damn, I’ll miss this on my thursday nights, it’s been a fun run regardless of it ending so abruptly.

    Really hope for a season three, even if it’s probably futile.

    Dvalinn
    Reply

  26. What is it with me and covering all the ecchi slime anime? D:

    Why so surprised? After all, you are Random Curiosity’s resident perverted oniichan. ^^

    MasterDragonKnight
    Reply

  33. NOSTALGIA CRITIC MOMENT!!!!

    What? WHAT?! (stutters) (put waters and milk on his face)

    WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?!

    WE WAITED ALL THIS TIME FOR THAT?! You can’t be serious! You can’t be serious!

    Even the Majikoi and Ladies vs Butlers endings were MUCH better than this! If I heard that this series lead up to the final between the girls and this zombie, instead of building it up to Chris, and actually let her live, then people, I believe that THESE guys from Majikoi…

    http://tenka.seiha.org/images2/majikoi12/90_th.jpg

    http://tenka.seiha.org/images2/majikoi12/92_th.jpg

    would have been a MUCH better payoff! I mean seriously?

    Seriously?!

    P.S. try and guess where I got this from

    DK
    Reply

  34. terrible end to the season, simply because it comes out of left field like it did. also… it seemed like they try harder and harder to give Haruna relevance, but only make me wish they could vote her off the show a la survivor.

    Xero
    Reply

  36. Why do people think the humor in this show is appealing? It seems like the same punchline you get in most harem anime, where 99% of the jokes end with the male lead getting busted up by the girls.
    If they do a third season, they should let the girls become more of a part of the physical comedy, instead of leaving them as undesirable sadists.
    I’d love to see an episode without any Ayumu, just to see what they’d do for comedy. I guarantee it’d be totally devoid of slapstick, because it seems like this series is scared of roughing up anyone else. Or at least anyone with breasts.

    leondead
    Reply

  41. Am i the only one who wants too see more of alternate personalties of ayumu. They should all make a come back later it would be awesome. O and did anybody else notice that Dark Ayumu had the same shadow mist power that the King of Night had.

    Casshern
    Reply

  42. 10 episodes and then the last two chapters later feels like making a game and then cutting it off short so you have to wait for the DLC’s to come out next month or two. Then to top it all off wait another month or so for the last episode. After that don’t get me started on good animes that are only 10 minutes long =_=. Don’t get me wrong this was a fantastic episode, top notch as usual but still next season or not it needs to go through it’s course. Not having to wait for OVA’s just to finish the series off.

    Feels like how E3 was, lets show all the boring crap and then after their conference is done tell the media off the record that the GOOD games are coming out soon (I.E Fire Emblem for 3DS).

    Anyways rants finished, can’t freaking wait for season 3 lol

    Jason Isenberg
    Reply

  44. I dont get it. Is this really the final episode? I thought the season was gona be 12 episodes like the standard, so when they said it was the END at the end it totally caught me off guard. Could the show be trolling us? This cant be the end, not when theres no resolution yet…

    YanDaMan
    Reply

  47. When you think about it; The show has the impression of people trying to live their lives. It has a sense of normality in certain occasions, but it constantly reminds you that their world is anything but normal. The similarity between Reality and this show is that it doesn’t have to make sense. Quite honestly if you really think about life, it can be just as random. Anything can happen at a moments notice. In time I’m sure these random moments will be tied together and make sense.

    As comedic as this show may be, I find that the few moments they become serious are ones to pay attention to. To experience all the laughter and joy together, and to share and make memories; How all of that can be taken away is a constant threat to the characters. I actually cried when I thought Yuki would die when the “self-destruct” sequence activated, When Ayumu might of disappeared (Twice! One save from Haruna, and the other from Haruna and Yuu), when Haruna was a gun-shot away from dying, and when Yuu may have been missing forever.

    I really felt for Ayumu when he realized he had regret the wish he had made for none of their wishes to come true, and I also found the episode before this one as one worth applauding as Ayumu actually made it to the concert and can comfortably openly know Saras feelings for him.

    Last regards, I’m impressed with the show, and want to see more.

    NightStormFox
    Reply

  49. I really really enjoyed this anime, I say it’s my favorite for this year.
    But I’m a little disappointed with its ending, I thought episode 10 was just the climax of the season, not the end, wth -.-

    Ayumu
    Reply

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