First Impressions / Hyakka Ryouran Samurai Girls

「忠の奴隷」 (Chuu no Dorei)
“Slave to the Kiss”

With Yagyuu Gisen (Mizuhara Kaoru) joining the cast and offering her body to Muneakira in any way he desires, we finally have that promiscuous character to really drive Yukimura and Sen up the wall with jealousy. The way she presents herself without any modesty and goes straight for Muneakira’s crotch provided a lot of fan-service, but worked really well in combination with the comedic moments to balance it out. While the jealous rage did make this feel a bit too much like a typical harem at times, it was almost always followed up by some quirky humor that this series does best, such as Jubei drooling uncontrollably and everyone karate chopping and stomping on Kanetsugu to shut her the hell up. In the latter case, I just have to say I’m really enjoying the fact that a female character is the recipient of abuse for a change, especially when it’s as hilarious as it is with relentless off-screen stomps for good measure. Ever since Kanetsugu’s started freeloading at the Yagyuu dojo, the slapstick laughs have really started overshadowing any resemblance of a plot, so it’s almost like Gisen’s arrival was needed to get things back on track. I never thought I’d say that a series needs more female characters stripping to get the ball rolling, but the results speak for themselves.

Incidentally, this means I’m rather suspect of how Gisen arrived in a ball of light similar to how Jubei did in the first episode. It could just be a Yagyuu thing, but I somehow get the feeling this is what a successful infiltration operation is supposed to look like. The shot of her in the opening sequence seems to suggest there’s more to her than she’s letting off, plus there’s her yet to be explained ability of getting into Jubei’s mind. Whatever the case, I guess I’ll find out if her new-found fondness of Jubei is all just an act soon enough, given that Yoshihiko is slated to return from France. In the meantime, I’m all for the focus on the mysteries behind Muneakira’s ability to awaken master samurai, Jubei’s uneasiness over anyone kissing him if they don’t actually like him, and Gisen’s way of getting Sen riled up to the point that she challenged her to a duel. I haven’t talked too much about the production in this series, but I really like the fairly consistent and high animation quality from Arms studio, which shows in both comedy are action scenes alike. Story-wise, it hasn’t really taken off despite how we’re two-thirds through the series now, so I’m inclined to believe that this was intended to be purely a high school romantic comedy from the start.

Quite honestly, I don’t mind one bit if that’s the case, because I’m enjoying every minute of this series. Not to mention, the possibility to venture down a more meaningful route is constantly hovering overhead, and is something we’ll probably get a taste of from Yoshihiko and Charle’s arrival next time. All that reiterates to me though is that series definitely needs a sequel in the near future to focus more on the relatively more serious side of the series. Given how Arms animated Queen’s Blade’s story in two one-cour parts, I’m hoping that they have something similar planned for Hyakka Ryouran.

 

Preview

17 Comments

  2. Excited for the next episode! Hopefully Muneakira will get a chance to be badass again. It was nice giving him a little monologue at the end about he’s still being a little careful about everything – definitely an above average main character!

    I agree as well, it’s funny/different to see a female character take abuse like that. Kanetsugu is literally taking the roll that is usually given to the male friend of the main character, except her being female and all. The pyramid was also pretty funny.

    LaN
    Reply

  4. I disagree about Divine’s high quality animation review. This week animation quality really disappoint me, especially near the end of the episode when Yukimura and Matabei talk to Kanetsugu. Matabei’s facial expression seems very unnatural, and Yukimura’s face looks very different than usual. Overall, good episode on the running gag, 0 content on plot advancement on usual, although it seems it will change soon.

    aiueo123
    Reply

  5. I’m surprised this turned out to be one of the more funnier shows of the season, was not expecting that. On a side note, not many people can pull off the eyepatch look, but Gisen Looks hot with one.

    exia
    Reply

  7. This is my favorite new series this season. Very funny and good storyline. If I have any complaint its that the black spot censorship is used way too much. To the point that its annoying. Its even used when there is nothing to censor.

    Karmafan
    Reply

  8. i felt that the story progressed a little. Even though their weren’t any full progress, the jealousy of the two, a warming feeling of jubie and the fans service of gisen made it all up.

    i wonder what Gisen it up to.

    ♛Croosboy♛
    Reply

  9. “All that reiterates to me though is that series definitely needs a sequel in the near future to focus more on the relatively more serious side of the series.”

    I would like this much

    Bossun
    Reply

  12. This anime series started off interesting and exciting, then all of a sudden it turned into a pile of shit I stepped on accidentally, and wishes to wash it off soon, because the smell still lingers around.

    rainstrife
    Reply

  13. I’m still waiting for Muneakira to demonstrated more actual fight skills like how he disarmed Matabe in the first episode. An impotent male lead is always too bland in harem animes.

    xcswmboy
    Reply

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