Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu / First Impressions

「僕と恋路と恋愛術」 (Boku to Koiji To Renaijutsuu)
“Me, Romance, and the Art of Love!”

I don’t know how he did it, and I don’t really care how he did it, but he did it. Somehow clawing his way back from the brinks of death, at least romantically, Akihisa has once again proved his worth as the stupidest but best protagonist of the season.

But before that, I was a little shocked how the huge cliffhanger from last week was put on the side in favor of dealing with the ESB tactics between classes F, D, and B; apparently this show still has a lot of fight left in it! I’ve been pondering what was missing in this sequel, and while I still think there are a lot of things missing, the slapstick humor at Akihisa’s expense managed to fill the hole that the earlier episodes left in my heart.

I was always curious how Himeji managed to create those deathly dishes of hers and after being enlightened to her cooking process, I think I’d do anything and everything possible to avoid letting that horrible combination of flavors get within meters of my mouth. Cocoa, green onions, natto, fish, and tobacco or tabasco — I can feel my stomach screaming at me to run away.

After watching the ESB between Akihisa and Miharu end rather abruptly with Class F taking him out in order to save their class from facing a predetermined loss, the ending to the episode made up for everything that happened last week. As I stated earlier, Akihisa may steal the title of best protagonist of this summer season with that amazing speech of his. As dumbfounded as everyone may have been, I had a pretty good idea what was going on during that exchange between Akihisa and Miharu.

I may have spoiled myself by reading some of the comments you guys posted down there without spoiler tags, but I can’t help but root for Minami. When Akihisa so eloquently expressed how special Minami is to him, I’d be surprised if there’s a girl in the world who could avoid blushing over something like that. Judging from the look on Minami’s face, I’m sure that I’m not too far off the mark. (;

P.S. What do you call a childhood friend? Osananaji u gagagagagagagagagagagagagagaga!

 

Preview

38 Comments

  3. @Takaii
    Hey that’s a great idea for a new poll- best male protagonist of the season! I guarantee you nobody else would do that =D !

    (Btw, no mention of the leet assassination =p ?)

    The main thing to take away from this episode is that odds are not as one sided as people might initially think- Just because Akihisa doesn’t treat Minami the same way he treats Mizuki, doesn’t mean she’s any less important to him.

    Lol, what do you call a childhood friend? A fiancee obvious =p

    Chaos2Frozen
    Reply

  6. This episode was a lift compared to the downhill from last week, but I can’t help but feel that Akihisa’s feelings are inconsistent. Going from not basically not responding at all to Minami’s advances to saying that he thinks that she’s a charming girl. Of course, he could be saying that he understand her charm as a person and not as a girl, which would screw things over even more.

    Seeing as this is a comedy orientated anime, I didn’t expect much in the way of romantic development. With this weeks episode restoring relationships, most likely it’ll be all comedy from here on out with it eventually ending in an ending where he doesn’t end up with anyone.

    WHYRD
    Reply

  8. @Takaii

    “tobacco or tobacco”

    I think you meant tabasco.

    On another note though, why does Himeji look like she is going to murder someone when making the food while supposedly not knowing how deadly it is?

    Koroshiya
    Reply

  9. @c2710: I know what you mean x___x… damn you, hideyoshi!

    on another note, as a supporter of odd pairings, I can’t help but wonder if next week’s episode will finally give me a reason to drop my hope for Akihisa/Shouko o_0 I don’t know whether to be excited at finally knowing _what_ made Shouko like Yuuji, or depressed since given BakaTest’s track-record, it’s probably going to be something simple yet profound enough to make me drop my banner D:::

    Pringles
    Reply

  16. Tsuchiya was the man in this episode. LOVED how he assassinated that messenger with no mercy. BTW, in my eyes, Akihisa redeemed himself and I wish he would say that to Minami instead of keeping it inside >_<

    hmong007
    Reply

  18. yeah, after watching that episode last week. I decided to draw a Baka Test doujinshi with Minami (i am heavily leaning on the non-H part, I still don’t want to draw an H-doujin.) Hopefully I’ll get it done before Christmas and make it to FF19. Wondering if I should make an English version too, dunno if Americans read doujinshi as well.

    Either way, MINAMI!!!! (Plays with my Minami keychain~ kawaiii~)

    thenewhorde
    Reply

  19. I was really disappointed by the sudden redemption that Akihisa got. I personally don’t believe that was anywhere near enough for what he did to Minami. What Miharu said to Akihisa was the plain truth and he can’t deny it, but then again the “main character must be redeemed and get all the girls love”. I know that anime is not about reality, but this was so forced it went to ridiculand….. -__-”

    To be honest, this episode was funny, which is what what make this show good, but that’s it, don’t look for drama here…

    ProjectNoa
    Reply

    1. Indeed. I REALLY wish she’d get with someone else or just fade away or SOMETHING. I hate how some anime subscribe to the “an abusive stalker is okay if it’s girl-on-girl! <3" mentality. It just pisses me off to no end. I hope Iron Man's promise to permanently ban Miharu from Class F is reinforned and it doesn't just get forgotten by the next episode.

      Ashen
      Reply

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