Nisekoi – 02
The show so far.
The false lovers have their first day as a couple. And it’s just about the most tumultuous thing ever, with yakuza tailing them and Onodera’s untimely appearance.
The Chopping Block
Well, you’re lovers now. Good luck.
This week’s episode covered three chapters of the manga. This is a big step up from the one chapter of the premiere. But to be fair, the first chapter of the manga is double the length of one of Nisekoi‘s regular chapters. So really, this episode only crammed in one additional chapter’s worth of material. And to do that, it had to cut out quite a few more parts. Specifically, Chitoge expresses much more interest in Raku’s pendant and childhood crush in the manga. In the episode, the only time the two false lovebirds discuss the matter is when Raku thanks her for recovering the pendant for him. But in the manga, Chitoge asks him if he still wants to see the “promised girl” again when they go to the park. Nothing too serious, but I feel that moment might have contained some hints that Chitoge might be the mystery girl (Onodera notwithstanding). Though the anime takes care of this with the highly suggestive ED.
The men aren’t convinced.
There are a few other things also cut from the manga, but those are actually purely extraneous in comparison. Stuff like an extended grilling from the two gangs when the gang leaders first proclaim their children are madly in love. It would have been amusing to see Raku fail miserably to guess Chitoge’s favorite food and music when posed the question by Claude (and Chitoge’s ensuing attempt to follow up by claiming her taste changed dramatically suddenly). But that adds nothing of value as there are many other moments for the gang to doubt the legitimacy of the dysfunctional couple. That said, I actually find Shaft’s adaptation decisions a bit odd here; they decided to reserve an entire two minutes for an epilogue after the ED. And this purely covered a few bits from an omake, when that time could have been used for something more central to the plot. You know, like Chitoge asking about the “promised girl” at the park.
Shaft also cut Onodera from the omake.
Rabu Rabu Koibito Doushi
Are these not the faces of a couple hopelessly in love?
Now let’s talk about the show instead. As much as Chitoge and Raku keep loudly complaining that they absolutely loathe each other from the bottoms of their respective hearts, I have to say they might actually be better suited for each other than they might want to admit (of course, Raku also has the additional concern of liking Onodera to deal with). Notice that most of their “fights” start simply because one of the two (I’ve noticed it’s Raku more often) opens their stupid mouth and says something rude. Well duh, of course that’s gonna make the other person mad. If they could just learn to stop insulting each other randomly, maybe they could get along better. Randomly insulting others isn’t a personality trait as far as I’m concerned, so it’s not like this is some fundamental incompatibility between their personalities. They just insist on being rude to each other for the heck of it.
These two do have their moments in spite of everything.
Of course, Raku knowing absolutely nothing about what Chitoge likes (and probably vice versa holds true) is a real issue. But that’s nothing surprising considering the two have only known each other for ten days. I’m sure it could be argued that a truly lovey-dovey couple would get to know each other in absolutely no time (or are similar enough to begin with). But I maintain not knowing all of your partner’s likes and dislikes in ten days is entirely reasonable. Some people might be married for decades and still not know everything about their partners. Anyway, essentially Chitoge and Raku have a lot of potential to become a real couple. For one, there is no real reason why they claim to dislike each other aside from starting on a bad foot. And if they don’t know each other all too well at the moment, there’s lots of time to do that later. Most importantly though, the two actually look cute together. There were definitely several moments where it looked like they might really be a thing. I just wish Raku wouldn’t put it as meanly as “she’s cute if she asleep and not talking or moving.” Now that is just rude.
False Extras
In spite of everything I have to say about RakuxChitoge, we can’t forget about Onodera just yet. Nisekoi continues to wave her around as if she’s the real mystery girl. Which would be just fine if that were the established scenario. But it’s not. The mystery girl is supposed to be a mystery, last I recall. At least, we’re sure as hell not supposed to have the answer two episodes in. But let’s forget about that for now and assume that Onodera is in fact the mystery girl. “Knowing” this, it’s clear that she has feelings for Raku, but is shy about bringing up the past probably because she doesn’t want to rely on what is essentially a gimmick to serve as the foundation of their relationship. Or something along those lines. Because honestly there’s no real reason why she wouldn’t push this advantage to kick-start their relationship if she truly wants to be with the guy. Unless it’s one of those stupid “I didn’t bring it up for so long that it’s awkward now” developments.
Well this isn’t blatant or anything.
About Sumairii
POWUH: Metanorn Regular with 110 comments
well give whole he said vs she said got whole “uh-oh” sure pretend to be lovers to prevent a mob vs yakuza war.
now that one thing yet 3rd aka kana-hana character & others oh yea yet wonder how this series will go?
(yea more we having kana-hana in anime wonder someone should make a six degress of kana hanazawa game)
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
It’d probably be more like “2 degrees from Kana Hanazawa”.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Kana Hanazawa is always a pleasure.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
At this point, I don’t know if I am here for the rote opposites attract story and staying for the SHAFT or if that is the other way around….
POWUH: 800-899 and Mad Scientist with 814 comments
A happy end for Shaft whichever is the case, I’m sure. ;P
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
I know the main draw of the manga seems to be the reaction shots, but it seems like the entire show is reaction shots. Like they are almost presenting the entire thing in second person. It’s starting to get a little tedious, or maybe I’m getting overreaction fatigue. One of the things that got talked about with Nazo no Kanojo X was the conservation of emotive expressions allowing for greater understanding of the emotion felt by the main characters. This show is the opposite, with huge surprise or anger reactions for every single thing that happens to them. “Could you pass the salt?” “WHAAAAT?!?!?! Is he REALLY going to put SALT on his FOOD?!?!?!?!!!!”
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
I agree on the reactions. They need to tone them down or they’re ruin the show as a whole. That series “Kitakubu Katsudou Kiroku” had an excess of the same thing and it dulled the appeal.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
Proving the point, Kitakubu got much more watchable later in the series when they DID tone down the tsukkomi reactions.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
I was going to say the same thing. Watchable to the point of anticipating it in some cases.
POWUH: 800-899 and Mad Scientist with 814 comments
As far as I’m aware, Nisekoi is infamous for its reaction faces. So yeah, most likely it won’t get toned down much if at all.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
How much would you give it on a scale of 1 to 10 for infamy?
POWUH: 800-899 and Mad Scientist with 814 comments
Hmm, maybe an 8. As it stands, Nisekoi’s got nothing on Hataraku Maou-sama.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Now that was a good show.
POWUH: 800-899 and Mad Scientist with 814 comments
teehee http://www.entravity.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/hataraku-2-4-yusa-emi.jpg
POWUH: 800-899 and Mad Scientist with 814 comments
Speaking of Hataraku Maou-sama, I just need an excuse to post this image around because, well, you’ll see.
http://img1.ak.crunchyroll.com/i/spire1/0d79d5161b6ad3b402e9ce0108c936ed1367386179_full.jpg
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
If that picture is the real deal then Hataraku Maou-sama needs another season and fast!!
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1557 comments
Funny, you mention that. I feel that’s what Kenji is doing every five seconds D-Frag and it wasn’t really bothering me, but I didn’t notice it as much/it didn’t bother me as much here.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
It feels maybe a step back in D-Frag for me. Plus, the actions of the people around Kenji in D-Frag *are* quite a bit more out of the ordinary. Being surrounded by mysterious threatening people in black? Dealing with people who douse you / punch you / put a bag on your head etc? And even with that, Kenji has some reactions like he’s getting used to it, where it’s something to note but not overreact to.
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1557 comments
Sorry, meant it annoyed the hell out of me in D-Frag. Kenji going “EHHHHHH!?!” every minute in the first episode was really getting to me. But then again any normal and sane person would have walked out of that club room immediately. I like and do unusual things, but I’d be hard pressed to find any merit in joining that club.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
It would be a good setting for a deceitful relationship if the two leads didn’t exaggerate so much with their reactions. Everything almost fell apart right on the spot and their selfishness is keeping them from making a compromise. If there’s something that’s an obligation, you suck it up and try the best that you can to work with it.
POWUH: 800-899 and Mad Scientist with 814 comments
Your sentiment I really feel regarding Raku’s attitude once Onodera is in the picture. Yet at the same time, I feel somewhat sympathetic to the guy. He’s put in a very, very tough spot between preventing an all-out war (which does happen in the one-shot and almost destroys the entire city) and wanting to be with his sweetheart. He’s quite literally stuck between the proverbial rock and a hard place.
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1557 comments
Speaking of the one-shot, I liked how they were introduced the pair as a couple with both gangs present. I haven’t read the main manga so I don’t know how it’s presented there, but the one-shot introduction was pretty good.
POWUH: 800-899 and Mad Scientist with 814 comments
Their introduction to the gang as a couple was more or less identical between the manga/anime and the one-shot, AFAIK. In many respects, I wonder if the way the one-shot ended is how people wanted the manga to develop, considering the complaints that it’s getting dragged out now.
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1557 comments
On a different note, I got the single CLICK (OP). I don’t know how I feel about the full song, it just didn’t wow me as much as I thought it would. Maybe it’ll grow on me as I listen to it more…
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
I personally like the idea of ClariS more than any of their music (performers who were discovered and made it big).
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
I rather like them, enough to be incredibly pissed when OreImo promised a concert by them and didn’t deliver. Just one insert song, that’s all I wanted!
POWUH: 800-899 and Mad Scientist with 814 comments
You know who else was discovered and made it big? Justin Bieber. And we all know how he turned out. =P
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
I can just the the cartoon version of ClariS’ D&D charge.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
I can just see the.
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1557 comments
Rich and famous? The charges against him are minor compared to most rap artists. I’d love to be in his shoes (instead of being a poor student).
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1557 comments
So after a day or two of listening to CLICK, it’s grown on me. Hmmmmmm….
I kind of like how ClariS hides their real identities. It reminds me of another group (forget whether they are JPN or KOR) where there are 4(? I think) male members who are medical students (or was it lawyers?). I forget the group name (;¬_¬) ꒰I have an awesome memory…꒱
POWUH: Metanorn Regular with 109 comments
@Sumairii if they will do original ending to the anime which will resolve the locket plot then it will be good since the manga dragged it too much already