Just as I finish my full-length post talking about Darling in the Franxx, and in particular Zero Two, a new episode comes. With its focus more on action than on rather mediocre script, opinion of the show has changed dramatically for some viewers and for me. More on that later though…
For the cast of Ms. Koizumi Loves Ramen Noodles, meanwhile, summer vacation has started, which I suppose means more chances to sample ramen, right? Well something tells me that this will be the only ‘summer’ episode, and we likely won’t get a full-length beach/pool episode either…I mean does swimming and ramen go together? It’s possible that the mangaka wrote a scenario combining the two in their manga, but I think even the writers of the show were smart enough to know that that just would not work on screen.
As opposed to mini-stories, we have just this one this week: a trip to a amusement park leaves a whole half of the show ramen-less, which was actually a bit of a surprise. This episode shows us that ramen is the only thing that is keeping this anime together, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Unfortunately, it was also this episode where my opinion of the show started to falter. After 7 episodes of ‘adventures with ramen’, it’s like the show is starting to lose its charm. We’ve seen more trips to ramen places than we can count now, more ramen bowls than we can count now, and more Yuu being shut down by Koizumi than we can count. Not that the ramen itself is bad…I mean who doesn’t like ramen…but it’s starting to get a little old now. I think Justin said to me that Ms. Koizumi Loves Ramen Noodles may have been better off being a short show (ie. with short episodes) than the full-length one it is now, and I’m starting to agree with him.
Citrus is next, and it seems that pretty pink-haired girls are the thing to have in anime shows this season. First is Yuru Camp‘s Nadeshiko, then Darling in the Franxx‘s Zero Two, now we have another one, in the form of childhood friend of Yuzu, Matsuri. She is not portrayed so much as a love/romance rival though; than as an old friend, more like an imouto character. Time away from Yuzu has made her cunning and manipulative; while she shows sympathy to girls who have been wronged, she doesn’t hesitate to badmouth them behind their backs. After reuniting with Yuzu and learning who Mei is, she does what any slightly jealous imouto does, and use her cunning to drive a wedge between them.
This adaptation’s version of Matsuri has not been well-received in Japan, and it’s hardly surprising. The writers have done well in making Matsuri a very unlikable person. This week we see much more of Harumin, who sees through her BS straightaway, and does her best to ward Yuzu off her. However, this episode has its merits, in that this is really the first time where we see secondary characters shine properly. The arc involving Mei’s grandfather saw little action, as did last week’s story involving the very brief return of Mei’s dad. The attempt at letting Himeko into the story tried but also brought little to the table, meaning so far the only ‘active’ secondary character is Harumin. Now with the introduction of the meddling Matsuri (who probably will keep sticking around throughout the rest of the show), the show no longer becomes the Yuzu & Mei show. Saying that though, I initially gave the idea that Matsuri would only last 1 episode, or 2 at the very most, considering that the writers here are kind of rushing with the story and are trying to cram as much of what happens in the manga as they can, not really minding if portions are cut out. Also, as I said last week, it was around this point where I stopped reading the manga, so to be fair, I have no idea what kind of character she will turn out to be in the future. I would normally be excited, but imouto Matsuri has not impressed me either.
Besides, there is only one truly great character in this show, and that is Mama Harumin. You’ll have to “fite” me if you disagree 🙂
You’ll also have to “fite” me if you disagree that Rin and Nadeshiko in Camping Girls® are now a legit couple (yes, it’s a registered trademark now).
This is actually the episode that cements their new relationship, and is further proof for me that I really ought to have chosen Yuru Camp sooner, instead of picking it because I decided not to do a show I initially intended to review (Takunomi, which I will revisit at some point, for those who are curious). Carrying on from last week, Rin and Nadeshiko continue their camping trip, taking in the very tranquil and serene lakeview, sharing food with a brother-sister camping group and trying (and failing) to make a campfire with the wrong kind of coal.
Towards the end, it got all the more touching when Rin thanks Nadeshiko for inviting her, and offers to invite her another time. It’s a tiny little line, but while before Yuru Camp tended to focus a lot more on Rin’s solo camping adventures, having the very likable Nadeshiko become a permanent addition to her trips has made the show less stale…although it never was stale to begin with. Now we just need to see the rest of the Outdoor Activities Club and Rin’s other friend some more.
Okay, now finally time to talk about Darling in the Franxx, and as I said…what a difference a week can make. While the show has suffered greatly from a not-so-great plot, a totally uninteresting male lead and rather unexciting lore, it’s only when the mecha action starts properly (which it does this week) when the show has begun to shine…finally.
Putting any side-stories on the bench, this episode is firmly about the joint mission between the pilots of Plantations 13 and 26, who are exchanging fuel and supplies. This exchange normally gets the attention of Klaxosaurs, so Franxx units from both Plantations are deployed. Being more experienced, the squad of 26 take point, cheekily calling the others deadweight. It’s only when they are overwhelmed when they are put back in their place though. Meanwhile, as the only Franxx unit that can be solo deployed, Strellzia (Hiro & Zero Two) steps in when both squads end up in trouble as a bigger Klaxosaur arrives. I’ll stop talking from here, as I may up spoiling a bit, but what I will say is that Zero Two proves herself as someone the others can trust in battle, even if they end up bickering and fighting while on terra firma…and someone who can take care of Hiro as well.
Will this episode be the turning point for the show though, or is this just going to be a blip on a show that so many are calling trash? Darling in the Franxx has my attention enough to keep me going at least. I accept that the show annoys the heck out of some, who have called out its dull characters, its not-great plot and its animation mistakes every now and then. If, by the end of the show (in June), I end up only watching the show just to see Zero Two, then I still won’t mind. Kind of rare of me to see some positivity about a mecha show considering how much I ended up hating Evangelion (and still do), but alas…
If you’re interested in my first impressions of the show, I wrote a full-length post, which you can see here…
Oh yeah..and doesn’t this mystery kid in Darling in the Franxx remind you of another character in another Trigger show?
Lastly onto Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun, we’re now into episodes that I don’t remember so much of. Episode 7 shows us that the only thing Nozaki is really passionate about is his work and his art, leaving poor Chiyo kind of stumped when they go to the mall together (typically believing this to be a date, of course). He ends up using the time to take pictures of food at restaurants and pick out girls’ clothes and bishoujo figures for reference. I suppose it’s here where we learn that Nozaki is never going to change, and that’s not a problem at all. Neither will Mikorin as in the second half he ends up being part of a modelling session with the Art Club.
I suppose it’ll be time to pick out which shows I want to watch for Spring I guess. Darling in the Franxx is already one of them, as it’ll carry on until June, and Persona 5 is a no-brainer. Plus I have to pick out the show that I will no doubt hate forever…like I always seem to do…
How has your winter anime season been? Do you think Darlifra has gotten suddenly better? What do you think of Matsuri? Have you had enough of the Olympics yet? Have you already picked out shows to watch in the Spring season? Feel free to air your opinions in the comments below…