First Impressions – Ore no Imouto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai S2
Everyone’s back and chasing Kyousuke!
OreImo was a big hit when it aired in Fall 2010, and is probably the most successful of the vanguard of Light Novels (with or without ridiculously long names) that have been taking anime by storm over the past few years. How will season 2 fare? Let’s find out!
Getting Back into the Swing of Things
Kirino’s way more interested in ignoring Kyousuke.
Ore no Imouto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai, or “There’s no way my little sister is this cute,” is back after just over two years. The end of the first series had a bit of a twist, with the final episode that aired on TV being called the “Good End” where Kirino (Taketatsu Ayana) decided not to go to the US for track training, but the four ONA / DVD episodes distributed after that retconned that ending into the “True Route” where Kirino does go to the US, and the story shifts focus a little more toward her brother Kyousuke (Nakamura Yuuichi) and Kuroneko (Hanazawa Kana), who’s now a student at Kyousuke’s high school. At the end of that arc, Kyousuke traveled to the US to bring Kirino back to Japan, setting up this second season in continuity.
Romantic Progress?
The Frontrunners
So Kirino is back in Japan, and everything goes on from that happening. But a lot of this first episode wasn’t about going on from that point, it was setting up that they were going to go on from that point. Unlike Haganai last season, which just acted like there wasn’t even a separation between the first and second series, we spend a lot of time in this show reintroducing characters and reestablishing relationships: Kirino and Kyousuke have a sibling+ relationship, Manami and Kyousuke have a childhood friend relationship, Kirino reconnects with her modeling friends Ayase and Kanako, and Saori and Kuroneko are waiting for Kirino to catch up on her fandom.
Hey Kyousuke, I think you can actually get a Kuroneko Dakimakura.
The only progress the show appears to be trying to make from where it was at the end of the previous season is in the relationship between Kuroneko and Kyousuke. He pushes her for her feelings after her kiss that sent him around the world to retrieve Kirino, but before she can say what her feelings are they’re interrupted by Sena to talk about their video game. So Kyousuke has to go off what she said before – “I like (love) you as much as your sister likes you” – which leads to him stupidly calling Kirino to ask how much she likes him, with predictably tsun results. Will Kyousuke ever figure out what Kuroneko means? I think all the rest of us already know.
Mixing up the ED’s again?
There’s a lot more material available for this second series in released LN’s. The first series famously had very little material pre-development, and the LN’s barely kept up with the end of the first anime. But I’d imagine that there’s plenty of material for this series, with 11 of the confirmed 12 LN’s released already and the final to be released on June 7, 2013 (right at the end of this spring anime season), and this series will get to the end of those 12 LN’s.
Finally, what is presumably the OP sequence was used at the end of this episode, featuring a new song “Reunion” by ClariS. One of the interesting things about the first series was its willingness to switch things up with both the OP animation featuring fresh sequences and introductions, and a different ED song and animation for each episode. I’m hoping they’ll do the same thing this series, because even if not all of the songs were great (some I really liked and still listen to, others I try not to), it really made the show interesting.
OreImo picks up where it left off the second time, and starts to get back into the flow of the series. I’m hoping for a lot more romantic developments, since I know a few spoilers about who confesses and who does what, having looked into the LN’s after watching the first season. Who is Kyousuke going to end up with in the end? And will they pull some ultra annoying ‘adopted first cousin’ thing again, like we’ve seen too much of lately? I think that would likely send half the world off the deep end, especially because I think nobody likes Kirino. So who’s your favorite?
We could definitely use more of these two next week.
About Highway
Proving that you don't have to be young to love anime, I enjoy all genres and styles of shows. If it's not hurting anyone else, you should never be ashamed of what you like!
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
My favorite is most assuredly Kuroneko; with that look and that voice, I fell pretty hardcore in love.
But, Kirino is my favorite character I love to hate. And she shows no signs of slowing down at the intro.
As I have said elsewhere, this is the best and worst soap opera ever made….
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
I love Kuroneko’s look and acerbic wit (and actually give Kirino credit throughout that she doesn’t back down from the arguments with Kuroneko). But I also love Manami’s friendliness, cheerfulness, and dedication that never seems to cross that line from wonderfully supportive friend who hopes for more to ‘overly obsessed jealous girl’ (thinking Chiwa from OreShura) or ‘I’ll never get him, I’m such a loser’ (thinking Mina from Boku H).
POWUH: Meta Team and PreCure Mastah with 9203 comments
@Skylion: KURONEKOOOOOOOOOOOOO! She is great while Kirino is on just about every hate list including my own xD
@Highway: Manami is nice as well, but in terms of “gf” material I have to hand it to Kuroneko because she has the most progression, but we have a full season so Manami still has a chance~
POWUH: Metanorn Regular with 106 comments
Manami is a tiny grandma ._. idk, most people don’t really like her. She reminds me of YuruYuri’s Chitose, except I like Chitose more.
Everyone is forgetting the otaku ojou-sama Saori~ I’m hoping to see her ACTUAL FACE finally ಠ_ಠ
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
I think it’s a shame that people don’t like Manami. She really seems like a great person, as in the person that if I were picking someone to be like, that’s a person I’d want to be like. And I also see that she gets along very well with Kyousuke, even if he doesn’t really get the romantic connection that she wants him to. Heck, it’s not as if she’s even bad looking.
Really, I have a hard time choosing between Kuroneko and Manami.
POWUH: Metanorn Regular with 106 comments
My favorite character is actually Kanako, but in terms of Kyousuke-lovu it’s Kuroneko. Also, Aragaki Ayase master race.
Kuroneko best-girl bandwagon, and more hate for Bitchrino! I actually watched the first season just FOR Kirino.
POWUH: 900-999 with 915 comments
I would really like Kuroneko to end with Kyousuke. She’s too cute when she is embarrassed and she would be a nice housewife XD
But I don’t know… For some reason I can’t stop thinking about the possibility for Kyousuke ending up with Saori… I still remember when I saw her blur face on the mirror, once when she was in her house. Hm… I will not even hope the ending with Kirino because… They are siblings… And their father is too scary… I still wonder what he would do if it happened.
Anyways, awwww, it’s back \o/ I’m so glad.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
The idea of Kyousuke and Saori ending up together is one I find somehow oddly satisfying, because I think that would end up being a good marriage, with two people who work hard to make other people happy. I also think it would be interesting, because it would be Saori’s otaku / common side winning over her ojou side (one would figure there’s a marriage arrangement coming for her at some point).
But of course, I don’t think Saori could be selfish enough to take Kyousuke away from Kuroneko or someone else, that’s just not who she seems to be. For them to be together would be kind of ‘after everyone else fell away’.
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1692 comments
I have to agree that there wasn’t enough Kuroneko and Saori in this espisode, especially Saori. She’s my favorite of the girls, even before you saw her at home with the suggestion she’s much prettier than she usually dresses as. I just happen to like really tall girls, plus she has a very sweet and caring personality and she’s clearly smart as a whip. I also like her formal way of speaking–it adds to her character.
I don’t have a good guess as to whom Kyousuke will end up with. They seem to be setting it up for it being Kuroneko and I do like her. But that could be a false lead and he ends up with Manami, whom I also like. Of course, she could be the childhood friend who is just a friend. It’s clear she likes him and being around him, but there doesn’t seem much evidence so far that she loves him. I haven’t seen anything so far that indicates she’s jealous when she sees him with Kuroneko or when he leaves her to talk with Ayase in the first season. And of course there’s always Saori as the unexpected end, the one that I would like.
Kirino–yes, she’s a bitch towards Kyousuke, but I don’t hate her for it. She’s at a difficult age for most people and this episode hinted that he is partly to blame for their poor relationship. And Kirino is pretty much the driving force behind this anime. Her bitchiness towards her brother, the face she shows most people and her all out otaku mode propel the show forward. After all, without her we’d have never meet Saori and Kuroneko.
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1692 comments
Oh, one more thing about Kirino’s personality. Balancing all the different parts of her life–top student, top athelete, model and otaku and trying to keep the latter secret–must put a considerable strain on her. It’s only natural to try and vent that somehow and Kyousuke is the natural target. Yes, she’s not a very nice person towards her brother, but it’s at least somewhat understandable.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
To my eyes, Manami’s clearly been in love with Kyousuke since the before the beginning of the show. But part of what makes her so great is that she isn’t overtly jealous of everyone else, and she’s not pouty or whiny or anything like that. She’s just a sweet person who hopes that Kyousuke will end up with her. One of my favorite episodes of the first series was when Kyousuke spent the night over at her house (with Grandpa alternately corpse-trolling them and trying to get them in bed together).
I do think if they’re going to get through the rest of the LN’s, that it will be fun to see who makes a run at Kyousuke.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
…that’s my favorite episode of last series. It could easily become a show in it’s own right…
POWUH: Metanorn Regular with 95 comments
Are you guys lesbians? No, these days is called yuri right?” Best line. Also Ayase complaining about the next episode title.
POWUH: Meta Team and PreCure Mastah with 9203 comments
best line!
POWUH: Metanorn Regular with 106 comments
Kanako for the win, and Aragaki Ayase master-race once again =w=
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
That’s the best line known to anime fans. The yuri fans at least.
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1557 comments
Is it just me (it has been a while since S1) but has Kyousuke turned beta/more female-like? Was he like that in S1? I thought he was more sarcastic/evil-like and not some lost puppy looking for treats.
And DAT CHOP.
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1557 comments
Hmm, maybe it’s just me. I went back and checked out some old recaps and it appears my memory has gone a bit fuzzy (read: selective memory). Kyousuke is a total M for Kirino’s abuse. I totally forgot he had asked her to come back in the BluRay episodes, shows how much I remember from the series. I only remember
twothree things:1) ClariS is awesome (Irony is > this OP)
2) Kuroneko <3
3) Kirino is cute… until she opens her mouth
POWUH: Metanorn Regular with 106 comments
Yeah someone was saying how Kyousuke turned into a sissy this season and that they’re dropping it. I can understand that Kyousuke lost some MANRYNESS but drop it? ಠ_ಠ wut even
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
I don’t see where he ‘lost’ any manliness. He was pretty much a doormat from the beginning of the series. I mean, in order to save Kirino’s reputation, he fronted that he was a sisconning perv who loved imouto eroge with Kanako and Ayase.
And I think that Ayase partially saw through that, or is at least half-convinced that Kirino is lying about it, but doesn’t want to really confront that fact. I actually really like Ayase’s character (and Hayami Saori), so we’ll see where her tsundere goes.
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1557 comments
I dunno, I would give + manliness points to anyone for taking the hit for family.
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1557 comments
And that bed scene with the pillow orz
POWUH: Metanorn Regular with 95 comments
How old are you Highway?
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
If I were a lady I’d be offended! 🙂
I’m 42, which I don’t think of as that old, but it’s certainly older than the majority of anime fans, especially in America.
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1557 comments
Ahhhh, hahaha, for some reason I always thought you were like 15-16. Oh man, I’m horrible at guessing ages.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
With all the talking I do about being old? You must have thought I was being ironic. 🙂
I hope I don’t seem THAT immature, tho…
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
…and he’s one of two ojiisan on Metanorn. At the same age, well 42 in a few months, I would be the second….
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Well, age before beauty, after all. LOL!!
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
I’m a total noob to this series but I’m willing to give it the same consideration I gave To Love-Ru and press on without watching the first season. I saw the first episode this day itself and I must say that Kyousuke and Kirino have a rocky relationship. If things are this rough between them, imagine if they weren’t siblings. Kirino is a hardcore female otaku. I don’t think the guys will have to do much to win her over.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
This is another one you might want to put off watching until you can watch the first season to the “True End”. The continuity on this is directly from the end of that to this one, and they’re not going back to explain how Kirino and Kyousuke ended up like this at all. The first season is just as you see the second, so if you enjoyed this episode, you’ll enjoy the first (although you might dislike Kirino like so many others). TLR Darkness, I think was a bit of a different animal, that it wasn’t super continuous with the first ones.