Sasami-san@Ganbaranai – 11
“In the name of the Moon, I will pun- wait, wrong show.”
 That was unfortunate. Just when it looked like Sasami-san@Ganbaranai had hit its stride and was coming in for a smooth landing for its big finish, this episode had to happen. We had a good run for a few episodes thanks to fatty Sasami, time travel, and |
Gotta love the DEEP SYMBOLISM of the single colored items.
The biggest problem with this episode was that it was just version 2 of the 5th episode, one that was boring enough that I chose not to write about it. This time, Kagami was the one holding the jealousy rather than being the object thereof. The melodrama didn’t work then, and it doesn’t work now. Actually, it was probably even worse this time. Kagami’s self-hating “I’m broken because I’m jealous” bit was not at all poignant. Look, you were the one who refused when actively invited multiple times to play. I know your classmates were fooled into thinking you and Sasami were a couple, but you’re not supposed to think that too. I’m not asking that a teenage girl who is actually a killing machine have the maturity of a grown adult, just more than that of a kindergartner. Being obnoxiously childish is not an interesting or endearing character trait.
Alright, Jou’s a cutie, but I like girls who have some brains on them.
Speaking of, Jou’s character was assassinated in this episode. How quickly she went from being a conniving, somewhat mysterious villain with hidden surprises to an all too typical tsundere with no social skills. Turns out, her ojou-sama bit wasn’t an act to lure in Sasami into her scheme, she really was that clueless. How disappointing. Her hopping around Sasami like a jeet kune do specialist was pretty cute, but Sasami was right on when asking her about chuunibyou. She’s Dekomori and Rikka rolled into one (with a piece of Yuuta attached at times, oho). Villains are most fun and interesting when they are scarily competent. She could be exploiting Sasami’s kindness so hard right now. Instead, she’s so clueless that even her companions are helping her to respond to Sasami just as a friend.
And what happened to the penis!? Besides poking Tama in the butt last episode, it’s done nothing. Did it serve any purpose at all other than serving as a secret that Jou and Sasami shared? Why did it have to be a penis, then? I guess there’s still an episode to go; who knows, maybe we’ll get a huge reveal that saves her character and brings that dick back in the picture in some grandiose way. Given the direction Jou’s character has gone, though I’m not holding onto much hope.
Ai Nonaka put in another solid performance, but unfortunately Kana Asumi stole her thunder by actually playing faux-Sasami’s voice in this episode.
If there’s anything positive to take away from the episode, it’s that it at least showed Sasami’s continuing progress from hikikomori very well. Remember when she was throwing up just from taking a step out of the house? Now even when sick, she finds a way to escape from the house to reach out to someone new to become her friend. Good for her. A shame that the drama she gets into with her friends are invariably mind-numbingly boring.
Also, I’m glad that Kamiomi entered the picture again, but I’m also getting rather tired of all the hinting and teasing that he has some super dark secret that’s been going on for half the season. I guess we got the biggest reveal yet, that he’s someone that Tsurugi calls “big brother,” but as one who doesn’t know much about Shintoism, I can’t glean any information from that. I don’t recall the player character having an older brother in Okami. It’s long past the time when we should be getting answers about him. Given that the episode ended with that mini-reveal, there’s the chance that something big will come of this in the finale, but this was very much not the way a penultimate episode should be. Shaft is going to have to pull something amazing out of their asses to escape from the hole they dug. Again, I don’t see it happening.
Unlike anything involving Sasami and Kagami this episode, this last scene was quite magical. And made up like 5% of the episode. Hope it serves as the base for the finale.
About lvlln
A math/science geek and a self-dubbed cynical optimist. I don't care if it's deep, if it can make me feel something or laugh, it's fine in my book. @lvlln
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
I found this episode endearing on a couple of levels.
In one case it shows how Sasami is just not ready for prime time when it comes to social interaction; the KamiChat is a terrific tool for that. On another is show how much the new, childlike, kami is so much ready for prime time; with all the pitfalls and triumphs that only the very innocent can achieve.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
Edogawa carrying on the idiot villain act for too long really stuck the dagger in this show. That was like a routine out of Minami-ke, but in that show you *know* that one (or more) of the characters in the conversation is a complete idiot. Seeing it in Sasami-san just served to make you wonder who the idiot in the conversation was, and most evidence points to Edogawa. And as you say, this turns her from a formidable villain into a risible baka.
I thought the directorial decision to change who was voicing Sasami through the show was particularly confusing and poorly done. Halfway through the show, I was still trying to figure out whether Sasami had somehow switched places with Tama, or was now speaking for Tama, or what the hell was going on. I guess they figured they got enough mileage out of the “Tama acting like Sasami” joke and moved on, but it just confused me, especially in the scene with Kagami.
POWUH: 500-599 with 519 comments
I was really bored with this episode. I thought Jou would have a super evil master plan of wanting Amaterasu’s power or something but nope. She just…wanted a friend?
Also, I found it really weird that the mom was still there. I mean, I guess with Amaterasu’s power she could stay alive but it felt like she was just thrown in there or something…
As for Tsurugi calling the guy older brotherit could be Susano or Tsukuyomi. Not sure which one was the older one…
POWUH: 700-799 and Parkouring Fanboy with 776 comments
Yeah, framing the episode with Juju looking at photos sent to her in her apartment was a very odd choice. It didn’t seem to serve any purpose, much like Jou’s penis. And her being alive was a bit of a headscratcher as well, though I guess we were supposed to have figured from the end of the last arc that she could come back.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Seriously, what has Tsurugi been doing in the underworld since Sasami’s mother sealed her away? Hahaha!! She’s gotten way more perverted since she got out. I almost died laughing when she said “Don’t start the H-scenes while I’m asleep!”. Maybe she’s expecting a yuri scene and doesn’t want to miss it.
I’m really wondering how Sasami and Kagami’s friendship is going to progress after that kiss on the regular friends don’t do that unless they’re becoming more than that. And for a supposed machine, Kagami is very emotional though she expresses herself like a tsundere.
Jou has lost a lot of face here. The end of episode 9 presented her in an ominous and intelligent manner so there were expectations to see more of that. I was hoping she’d have a true villainous mind somewhere in her but she turned out to be just an airhead with eighth grade syndrome. There better be some recovery for her sake.
Whatever possible secret there might be around Kamiomi, most likely it has something to do with him hiding his face all the time. He probably has some kind of curse mark that covers his entire face. Even Sasami doesn’t talk about it. The “big brother” bit from Tsurugi went over my head. He could also be more than human. After all, up to now, he’s the character with barely any development.
All and all, this episode was mostly a step backwards so I hope the last one makes up for lackluster entertainment some of the previous episodes gave. This and number 5 comes to mind but the others have a positive rating in my opinion.
POWUH: 700-799 and Parkouring Fanboy with 776 comments
Interesting thing about Kamiomi, in volume 1 of the novel that I read, which is narrated in 1st person by Sasami, Sasami points out that he was doing those various things to hide his face. It’d definitely be something if the face hiding wasn’t just a gimmick like the big boss in Idom@ster but rather a major plot point.