Ayuzawa Misaki, Usui Takumi, Shintani Hinata

Final Impressions / First Impressions / Kaichou wa Maid-sama!

Kaichou wa Maid-sama! – 26 (END)

「ずるすぎるよ鮎沢、碓氷のアホ！」 (Zurusugiru yo Ayuzawa, Usui no Aho!)
“That’s So Unfair Ayuzawa… Usui You Idiot!”

For a final episode, the writers sure had me second guessing exactly how far along Misaki and Usui’s relationship would get. Most of the episode was about their participation in a lover’s trial game where the grand prize was a “super premium ticket” for the closing festivities at night, so things could have gone whichever way depending on what the prize actually was.

First Impressions / Kaichou wa Maid-sama!

Kaichou wa Maid-sama! – 25

「陽向と美咲と碓氷くん」 (Hinata to Misaki to Usui-kun)
“Hinata, Misaki, and Usui”

While the title had me thinking the love triangle would reach new highs and lows, this episode turned out to be a surprisingly sentimental one revolving around Hinata. His rivalry with Usui remained completely civil like it’s been, so most of the time was spent fleshing out his backstory further.

First Impressions / Kaichou wa Maid-sama!

Kaichou wa Maid-sama! – 24

「ラテ・マジックでメロメロリン♥」 (Rate Majikku Meromerorin ♥)
“Latte Magic Mellow Mellow Rin ♥”

In an unusual case where I’m actually happy about being wrong, the late introduction of Hinata has exceeded my expectations as to what kind of love rival he would be. Takumi starts acting all gentleman-like around Misaki all of a sudden, which made me almost as edgy as she was.

First Impressions / Kaichou wa Maid-sama!

Kaichou wa Maid-sama! – 23

「スイーツ大盛りメイドラテ」 (Suiitsu Oomori Meido Rate)
“Maid Latte with Lots of Sweets”

As luck would have it, Hinata’s not going down without a fight! Just when I thought he would get written off as a quick and ineffective stepping stone towards Misaki and Takumi’s relationship, he comes back with a strong showing of childhood proportions that even has Takumi pulling out the stops.

First Impressions / Kaichou wa Maid-sama!

Kaichou wa Maid-sama! – 22

「林間学校オニごっこ」 (Rinkan Gakkou Oni Gokko)
“Outdoor School Game of Tag”

The bitter tradition of lying about how glamorous the five-day, four-night, Seika outdoor school trip may have crushed many of the guys’ expectations, but its true purpose seemed to be starving them and taking away their manhood in order to create law-abiding and docile citizens. All in accordance to the Japanese education system?

First Impressions / Kaichou wa Maid-sama!

Kaichou wa Maid-sama! – 21

「碓氷のライバル？深谷陽向」 (Usui no Raibaru? Shintani Hinata)
“Usui’s Rival? Shintani Hinata”

Misaki going Super Saiyajin, Usui feeling the pressure from a rival, Kanou noticing how their relationship’s at a standstill, and the childhood friend Shintani Hinata (Abe Atsushi) being another instance of dramatic weight loss. This episode had development in almost all areas and provided the tension that may finally take Misaki and Usui’s relationship to the next level.

First Impressions / Kaichou wa Maid-sama!

Kaichou wa Maid-sama! – 20

「副会長は王子様!?／AOIとユカイな仲間たち」 (Fuku Kaichou wa Ouji-sama!? / AOI to Yukai na Nakama-tachi)
“The Vice President is a Prince!? / Aoi and The Merry Friends”

This may have been two omake combined into one episode, but I was actually looking forward to it since I enjoyed the Momotaro one. I felt it delivered as well, with Misaki’s improvised act in front of “Prince Takumi” being the highlight.

First Impressions / Kaichou wa Maid-sama!

Kaichou wa Maid-sama! – 18

「メイド様でもフットマン」 (Maid-sama demo Futtoman)
“A Footman Even as A Maid”

I thought I was watching a show about a student council president maid who’s secretly a maid, but got a footman instead this week. It wasn’t exactly what I was hoping to see after Miko Day at Maid Latte, but turned out to be a multi-episode arc involving the return of Miyabigaoka’s Tora.