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「灰色の世界を切り裂く修羅場」 (Haiiro no Sekai o Kirisaku Shuraba)
“A Battleground of a Broken Gray World”
Oreshura has yet to fail in making each episode challenging to watch. Not challenging in the sense that the quality is bad, but challenging in the sense that the plot always stirs the right emotions that hit right in the painful feels. Yet for every painful feel, there arises an equally comforting event that gives me hope for the characters of this show. The show holds back no punches (literally) in portraying some of the nastier traits of the characters, but at the same time uses those same liberties to show the unrestrained emotions that uplift the soul. Each week, I find myself having to mentally prepare myself for the raw bitchiness, yet I look forward to it…not because I’m looking for a feel-good romance, but rather the gripping character interactions that have become the signature of this show.
I’ll freely admit that I entertained the idea of stopping the show when Mana was in her terrible prime. The fact that she hides herself under the protection of her bodyguard and her family to step on everyone is absolutely disgusting. That smug look, that elitist attitude, that sense of entitlement…it sends shivers down my spine. I am aware of the fact that Masuzu and Mana have equally shared the sadness and troubles of their family issues, which showed in the cracks in Mana’s surface persona. I note that Mana is probably using this mean facade as a way to protect herself and distract her thoughts away from how said family issues affect her. Nonetheless, Mana acted terribly this episode as the cowardly messenger who delights in delivering the bad news, hiding behind a bodyguard to shield herself from the repercussions.
Yet a bodyguard only shields against physical repercussions, for even Mana is susceptible to insults that strike truthfully and weak against displays of the best of humanity that make her look well…even more terrible. Thanks to Mana’s repulsive behavior, Hime began her debut episode with a bang, and a really big one too, making her quite the admirable character.
Okay, so Himeka is shy, asocial, and borderline lost in reality. During the beginning of the episode, the Princess paints herself as a girl whose admiration for Eita’s fantasy life causes her to fall for him and makes her believe in a supposed previous relationship they shared in a previous life. Alright, so Hime is a bit delusional and wants the companionship of Eita by joining a club. She’s clumsy, quick to be manipulated by Masuzu, and has no interest in gaining popularity. So far, she’s simply acting as a thorn in Masuzu and Chiwa’s sides, as a convenient side character to create conflict.
But as we advance through the episode, things get much deeper much more quickly. While the first deep dive was typical in how chuunibyou romance usually pans out, the second and more honorable dive is much more uncommon and powerful, not in Hime’s reaction, but the situation that Hime had to react to. It was nice to see Hime admit her deeper reasons for liking Eita, which make sense entirely. Eita, despite wanting to blend in and focus on his studies, has an honorable and brave heart that can’t stand to see injustice play out. While he may not possess any actual powers, the bravery and integrity of his fantasy character resides within him. Basically, he’s cool. Hime aspires to reflect that coolness in her own life, and in her own way tries her hardest to reach that point. Although as Eita points out, that her backstory is an inflation of the ego, it becomes the vehicle of which allows both Hime and Eita to shine, so much so that every other main character is floored.
Mana, intent on causing harm to Eita for his insolence, is stopped by yet again another public display, but this time not just from Eita. While Eita still his his rash self who will get himself hurt, Hime shines to become much more. Her admittance of her deepest honest desires and the purity of it all causes everyone to stop in their tracks…literally. Standing firm, looking intent on taking any rough handling meant for Eita, Hime defends with a strong backbone what she treasures and aspires to the most, causing both Mana and Masuzu to seriously take a step back on their courses of action. Although at this point I couldn’t help but be dissatisfied that this was all compressed into one episode, I couldn’t help but feel teary for Hime’s display of bravery. Despite being emotionally stepped on by an untouchable opponent, despite all the danger she put herself into…she did it. She now joins Eita in being a great defender of the people and places they love, despite the hopeless disadvantage against them.
Thus, at the end, when Masuzu decides to stand her ground despite the future consequences (while somehow making Mana apologize) and allows Himeka into the club…I couldn’t help but feel that Himeka completely earned her initiation into the Maiden’s Club and as a result, into the main cast. While I still dread having to go through emotional beatings in the weeks ahead, I now look forward to seeing each of characters display their best and bravest moments. It’s been a rough battlefield so far, with moments where I question why I still watch this show, but watching these intensely wonderful character interactions reminds me why. It’s not the show for everyone, especially those who can’t digest the worst of humanity, but I look forward to seeing what amazing feats will be achieved next, all without the help of magic, technology, or skill. While the plot might not be anything amazing, it is the feats the characters pull off solely with sheer human will that truly makes Oreshura, at the very least, an interesting show to watch.
While I was expecting that this week would show the hall monitor make a proper entrance, her small appearance this week is justified due to Hime’s large one. I can’t wait to see what kind of surprises our final fifth character will bring to the table, and even more so what amazing character dynamic she can bring to complete the group. Until next week!
Preview
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The words “cock tease” always spring to mind after I finish an episode of Ore no Kano.
The words “generic harem trash” always spring to mind after I finish an episode of Ore no Kano.
can’t wait to see how many down votes this gets lol.
just say oreshura like the rest of us. you know you want to :3
so masu & chiwa ask who himeka give she said is eita’s ex so for that masu read more eita’s “note” mention many angels of burning flames & their names.
then see if himeka want to join make a poem & others til hall monitor spoil attack after that reasons why himeka join give she was alone til seeing eita’s burning flame.
next day eita, masu, & chiwa doing pool clean til masu’s sister arrive tell her sister move back to sweden yet while masu & chiwa head to locker here come himeka with note.
til masu’s sister grab the note being bigger TROLL than masu she read out loud to messed-up himeka cue eita saying SHUT UP blonde airhead & reasons you stink.
which masu said i”m still saying give due to family probs masu tell her sister to say sorry & go away which all did.
now that settle they let himeka join the club but here come ai the hall monitor to spoil it all.
KLAC second advent.
Man, I wouldn’t understand the episodes if it wasn’t for coli.
Swordhack4
RC commentator
He’s very straight forward and quite headstrong as well. He is an insane otaku and has many different anime and manga items. He is a 2nd year high school student, and believe it or not slight chuunibyou.
And of course, he couldn’t love this anime more if he wanted to.
Next episode….damn. With our final pink haired girl, things are about to get crazy on that battlefield!
Look Kyoani, it’s possible to make a Chuuni girl without whoring the blob out of her.
https://randomc.net/image/Oreshura/Oreshura%20-%2006%20-%20Large%2018.jpg
How rude. The Tyrant’s Eye is unbeatable; the so-called Burning Prin Princess has a lot to learn before coming even close that level chuuni power. Although, I expect it’ll be sometime soon.
And just so you know, Rikka AND Himeka are both equally awesome & cute in their own terms.
Entertaining combo of characters. A little drama, but not too serious.
That smug look, that elitist attitude, that sense of entitlement…it sends shivers down my spine.
Really? It made me want to beat the **** out of her =02. There are two types of cruel; harsh reality, and just plain trolling. I love the former, while I HATE the latter, and no doubt Mana is the latter example. I hope I won’t have to see her again, least for a little while…
I don’t think we are in disagreement here. Shivers are a really bad thing for me…they usually indicate that something shitty or awkward is about to go down. It works as a great indicator for me in real life as well as in OreShura! 😀
They finally showed Ai Fuyuumi at last.
Will Mana join Eita’s harem!? dum.. da dumm…. TUNE IN AGAIN NEXT TIME!
I get it that the first angel is a mash up of Asuka Soryu Langley and Ayanami Rei from NGE, the second Hino Rei and Tsukino Usagi from Sailormoon and the third Kinomoto Sakura and Daidouji Tomoyo from CCS. But from which series were the fourth and fifth angel?
Mana deserves a pass for being cute.
mmm why did masuzu let himeka join the club that easily ? isn’t himeka a new rival?
So from every episode since the last, Eita will get thrashed around?
The pacing was kinda fast but I liked it nonetheless.
Out of all the heroine, I will pick Show Spoiler ▼
Boku no Pico route
Show Spoiler ▼
Burning Pudding Princess so hhhnnnggg! xD
This makes sense. I saw it translated as “Burning Prin Princess” and had no idea what Prin meant.
Masuzu needs to slap the taste out of Blondie’s mouth.
Mana for all her bravado is actually afraid of Masuza. It’s only the fact that Masuza is defying her father that gives Mana the ability to mouth off it seems. I so wanted Chiwa to lay down a world of hurt on that driver/bodyguard. He’s a royal bastard.
I think it was mentioned somewhere that the anime version of the episode differs from the LN version and left out an important part with Mana.
Show Spoiler ▼
They did leave out a scene with Mana at the end where you see her intentions weren’t totally hostile and rushed the bread attack scene like no other. All in all the adaptation of volume 2 was horrendous. The only real consolation I got is that vol. 4 is definitely going to be animated, so yay.
Oh well, onto Ai-chan’s volume! Was kinda surprised at the end though with the voice Kayano Ai used as I don’t believe I’ve heard her use that type of voice yet. Ai’s also the authors favorite character so I would imagine they won’t screw around with her volume as much as this one (hopefully).
Also, I totally forgot to mention the fact that they left out Eita getting dubbed the moniker “Harem Club”. Can’t believe I forgot about that. First time I read that I almost died.
I like how at this point that Masuzu showing affection for Eita under the Jojo reference excuse can be pretty safely disregarded.
“What part? What volume?”
Silence.
.nice post zanibas.. see, i really like how you see the good points or should i say the inner points from the facade.. im so happy that masuzu haters and the super chiwa likers have rested for a while.. its because your post focused more on the wider complete picture of the whole anime and it reflected on the readers.. thanks..
less haters are mostly due to most people having dropped this show.not a strange thing to happen after the first five episodes of some anime.
I’ll have to go with this. I just got around to finishing this episode a few minutes ago, but I didn’t think I would get around to watching it this week at all.
this post.. is entirely different from your first ones in oreshura..
Hmm? Don’t leave me hanging without telling me why it’s different! Though as a pre-statement, my own impression of this show has shifted considerably since the beginning, so changes in my writing of the episode should reflect that.
I love this series and I really really love the manga. So far the anime is pretty good but I just think that the manga made Eita much much more cooler cuz he actually can take a lot of beating, stand up and even fight back and actually sound cool instead of looking like a fool. The hime scene where Eita defended her in the manga was definitely better!
….my, that was rushed.