Kousaka Kyousuke, Kousaka Kirino, Kuroneko, Saori Bajeena, Aragaki Ayase, Kurusu Kanako, Tamura Manami
“Ready, set, chuuuu~“
「俺の妹のライバルが来日するわけがない」 (Ore no Imouto no Raibaru ga Rainichi suru Wake ga Nai)
“My Little Sister’s Rival Can’t Come to Japan”
For those who remember my excerpt last week: it still applies here. Especially here. Little sisters everywhere!
P.S. : comments have been fixed.
“Don’t you think Saori looks better without her glasses?” said no one ever.
「俺の友達が眼鏡を外すわけがない」 (Ore no Tomodachi ga Megane o Hazusu Wake ga Nai)
“My Friend Can’t Take Off Her Glasses”
One thing is now clear about almost every character in this show: you’re either an imouto, you have an imouto, or you act like an imouto. It’s the glue that links every character together, where even the most unlikely pairings can arise.
Let’s just hope the glaze of her eyes doesn’t disappear anytime soo–too late.
「信じて送り出したお兄さんが携帯美少女ゲームにドハマリしてセクハラしてくるようになるわけがない」 (Shinjite Okuridashita Onii-san ga Keitai Bishoujo Geemu ni Dohamari shite Sekuhara shite Kuru you ni Naru Wake ga Nai)
“The Onii-san I Trusted and Sent Off Can’t Get This Addicted to a Mobile Dating Sim and Commit Sexual Harrassment”
Remember kids, it’s ambiguous territory for an anime character to harass a girl by harassing a girl in a game that looks and sounds like the girl. Oreimo loves its repetition that way.
Two years, it has been two years too long! Welcome back Oreimo!
「俺の妹が再び帰ってくるわけがない」 (Ore no Imouto ga Futatabi Kaettekuru Wake ga Nai)
“My Little Sister Can’t Be Coming Back Again”
Adorable children, tsunderes everywhere, and truckloads of anime merchandise. Oh Oreimo, how I’ve missed you so! It’s only been two yea–*chop*
Look who’s back.
「俺の妹がこれで最終回なわけがない」 (Ore no Imouto ga Kore de Saishuukai na Wake ga Nai)
“There’s No Way This is The Last Time for My Sister”
After two full episodes Kirino-free, the stage was more or less set for our bratty heroine to make a return in the finale. I imagine no one in their right mind was expecting this true route to be completely devoid of Kirino’s presence, regardless of how refreshing it’s been with Sena substituting in as another younger sister with a rampant fetish.
This is my obligatory Kuroneko snapshot. While it doesn’t have her head turning seductively, she’s so cute with that happy smile of hers.
「俺の後輩がこんなに可愛いわけがない」 (Ore no Kouhai ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai)
“There’s No Way My Junior Can Be This Cute”
With Kirino still out of the picture, it looks like Kuroneko will get to keep the spotlight for just a bit longer. I admit that I’ve missed seeing and hearing Kirino — especially since she’s apparently turned a new leaf. That and I expected her to make some sort of appearance somewhere!
I also enjoy utilizing the filmstrip style.
“Are you enamored from the slight tilt of my head?”
「俺の後輩がこんなに腐ってるわけがない」 (Ore no Kouhai ga Konnani Kusatteru Wake ga Nai)
“There’s No Way My Junior is This Rotten”
With the disappearance of Kirino, focus quickly shifts towards Kuroneko, a girl that has been slightly ignored in favor of the sister, but now receives the spotlight in the “true end.” I haven’t been following the fanbase too closely with which character is loved the most, but I can gather that most sided with the reserved, slightly more complex, “Gokou Ruri.”
Divine thought I should take up an episode of Oreimo and the filmstrip layout for some further experimentation.
Conclusion: I $@#%ing hate setting up the filmstrip.
-Kiiragi
Is this the start of a dazzling high school life for Kyousuke? Kuroneko… chan?
「俺の妹の人生相談がこれで終わるわけがない」
(Ore no Imouto no Jinsei Soudan ga Kore de Owaru Wake ga Nai)
“There’s No Way My Sister’s Life Counseling Ends Here”
The first of four Oreimo episodes that leads to the “true ending” of the series has been streamed, and it follows the same general flow as the episode twelve “good ending” we saw last season. What was interesting is how the first half was identical, before things starting veering off ever so slightly with Kyousuke missing the last train out of Akihabara and once again going above and beyond what’s expected of a typical older brother.
“There’s no way my sister would settle for such a normal ending.”
「俺の妹の人生相談がこれで終わるわけがない」
(Ore no Imouto no Jinsei Soudan ga Kore de Owaru Wake ga Nai)
“There’s No Way My Sister’s Life Counseling Ends Here”
After the previous episode set things up for a conclusion with an improved sibling relationship, this television finale did just that with a little bit of a twist at the end. Leading up to that, it looked like we were possibly in for something more profound when Kirino started acting nicely towards Kyousuke, until the humor that this series is known for quickly took over.
So this is what it feels like to be seduced by a feline-like 15 year-old. *gulp*
「俺の妹がこんなにメイドなわけがない」 (Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Medio na Wake ga Nai)
“There’s No Way My Sister’s This Much of a Maid”
As the precursor to the television finale next time, this week’s episode paved way for both that and the DVD/BD one that we’ll see next year. In particular, Kirino finally showed some appreciation towards everything that Kyousuke’s done for her up until now. Unfortunately, the first half of this episode set back the potential impact of that gesture, as it left a negative impression that carried on easily into the second half.