Shokugeki no Soma – 11
Me during exams
What’s up everyone? I’m definitely not writing this with a livestream of Sony’s E3 press conference playing in the corner of my screen. It would be irresponsible of me as an anime blogger to not completely devote my attention into writing the best post possible. But then again, a little multi-tasking couldn’t hurt, right? Now I have something to blame my typos on!
Every now and then I stop and wonder if my love for Shokugeki no Soma is highly inflated because of my passion for cooking. If you’re not all in for crazy cooking battles, it might not have the same appeal. I see this as a cooking show that has battle elements. But maybe other people see it as a battle show with cooking elements. Little shifts in perspective like that interest me because they can make all the difference in how people interpret things in different shows. Personally, I’m loving these cooking shenanigans and I’m so glad we’ll be getting another cour!
I’m all about dat food!
Megumi is an innocent, adorable little country bumpkin who I wish all the best for. I peg her as a great chef who simply lacks the composure to let her true skills shine most of the time. So although she may seem like a weak link in the group of dorm mates, she’s actually quite the talented cook. Soma has been gently nudging her along (or maybe more like dragging her) towards success. But Dojima and Shinomiya bring up an interesting point about Megumi relying on Soma. Yes, he’s helping her grow. But at the same time, this isn’t the sort of thing that can go on forever. At some point Megumi needs to learn to cook on her own, or else there’s no point in her going through this school’s program. No one else in the academy is relying so heavily on another person, so this special treatment really isn’t fair.
I had thought Soma was helping her without being too domineering, to be honest. In the foraging challenge he left a lot of the prep work and foraging to Megumi. I thought he would gradually kind of let her do her own thing as the series progressed. Instead, Megumi gets a very rude wake up call saying that she needs to be independent RIGHT NOW RIGHT THIS SECOND. It’s a little much, but I get that these top chefs would be rolling their eyes at Megumi clinging to Soma. It’s not entirely fair for her to always get the aid of this dark horse pro chef, Soma.
So of course Megumi being the head chef is a big development not only for building her confidence…but also for making a super tense cooking showdown set-up. I did not expect her to be given the reigns so soon! As cruel as it sounds, I liked seeing her blank-out because it seemed like a realistic reaction to such a situation. She had no idea that she would be the one leading the shokugeki and her opponent is already famous because of his cooking. Once again, another unfair rule is sprung upon her. Thankfully, Soma wakes her up with a good slap and she’s raring to go again. If it were me I would have freaked out and punched him because a slap is the least soothing thing ever…but in anime it works wonders. Slaps are always perfect for conveying emotions!
Megumi is getting a lot of screentime and I’m really enjoying it. She’s so cute! And Soma is being a great MC by letting her have the spotlight and not rushing in to try and take over/save her. It’s good to see a girl accomplish things by herself…even if Soma manages to catch most of the judges attention with his amazing prep work. Even when relegated to the shadows, he manages to shine. But he is at least trying to stand to the side so Megumi can learn the Moral of the Day of what it means to be independent.
And the abuse continues!
Speaking of the judges, man, you know Shinomiya is a jerk by the way even the other judges hate him! He’s girlfriend-less and constantly mocked for being stone cold. Now it’s really clear this dude is supposed to be the King of Jerks if even the other cast members are tired of his bullshit.
I strongly suspect Shinomiya will lose…but I still want to see how he loses. That’s the beauty of shounen being kinda predictable, but you you still need to see the wild ride that gets you to the expected end point. What kind of crazy hallucination will Megumi’s terrine cause in the judges? What sort of insane fanservice will we get? Furthermore, how will Shinomiya react if/when he loses to a hick town girl? It’ll be a fun one, that’s for sure. And the fact that Shinomiya didn’t make his signature dish means he’ll probably face Soma again and cook FOR REAL in the future. Not that I’m looking forward to seeing his face again any time soon…
Not so reserved anymore now, is she?
About Overcooled
A neuroscience graduate, black belt, and all-around nerd. You'll either find me in my lab or curled up in my rilakkuma kigurumi watching anime.
POWUH: Novice (36-50) with 43 comments
I’m also loving this show not only because it’s great fun, but because I cooking is my beloved hobby too.
Anyway, I’ve seen some people commenting they would like to see Soma lose at least once, to make him a more human character, and I think that’s really unfair. He has personality, he thinks about things and learns. It’s not like he’s some kind of culinary Kirito-kun.
Megumi was great in this episode, and she’s a character I also like very much. Her insecurity is like that of many people I see in chef competition shows, where they are cooking for these great Michelin-starred chefs and they really show the pressure, so it’s very realistic to me. On a side note, I’ve already tried the Gotcha Pork Roast and Transformed Furikaki Rice. Both are wonderful, especially the roast: the eryngii and onions mixed with the mash potatoes work exactly the way Soma says they do, and the mash gets this wonderful bacon flavor. I recommend everyone tries this dish, it’s really easy to do. Just pay attention to wrap it lengthwise with long and not too thick streaks of bacon and tie it crosswise, otherwise it will fall apart (yes, I made that mistake the first time :))
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
This far in and at this point, I see no further reason in doing that. Soma is good as is. He has good skills and isn’t stuck up because he acknowledges that there are others who can give him a run for his money.
Not to mention after Dojima explained that the Academy has an OP monster in every aspect in Erina, which makes him the perfect rival to go against her. He nearly had her on her knees during the entry exam before her pride got the best of her and he got saved when apparently her grandfather overruled her decision and gave him an acceptance letter to the school.
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
I don’t mind that Soma hasn’t lost either because he worked hard to become this good. These skills didn’t just fall into his lap.
Megumi’s fears are definitely a lot like watching a newbie chef trying to cook for a well-established superstar chef. It’s nerve-wracking! And she’s got her position at the school on the line so the stakes are even higher for her.
Oh wow, nice to see more people trying out Soma’s dishes! I haven’t tried the furikake rice (how was it?) but I agree that the gotcha pork roast is a very well thought-out dish. It tastes really, really good considering the ingredients are so simple.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Such a valid excuse won’t get you any leniency, miss! 😛
Between episode 10, this one and the following, we can basically call this the “Megumi” arc of the series and it’s doing well. Because at first, you’d see her as this adorable thing you’d like to coddle when she gets flustered but the events delivered the much needed reality check that she has to stand on her own two feet like everyone else. Harsh yet effective. The first sign in increase in confidence was during the 50 servings challenge in spite that she had 30 servings left. Making her the head chef of the Shokugeki threw a wrench into my expectations but Dojima’s reasoning was good justification.
Yeah, I was particularly glad the rest of the alumni don’t share Shinomiya’s personality (Yuuichi Nakamura sure is playing two targeted jerks this season), especially after shafting a student before anything started just because he uses a scented shampoo. Seems Fuyumi Mizuhara hates his guts the most. At this point, I think we all sympathize with her. Since their appearance in the camp’s opening ceremony, I thought they’d all be irritatingly stuck up but Gotoda (Blonde haired guy with an accent) and Hinako were the first ones to dismiss the notion through their antics around Megumi.
Speaking of which, Hinako is building an unhealthy obsession over her. If compared, the same kind Log Horizon’s Henrietta had for Akatsuki. She’s already used the words “my Megumi-chan!” during the Shokugeki and Dojima nerfed her from being a judge after anticipating bias. All this yet she’s a damn good escape artist undoing the ropes and honoring us by pestering the hell out of Shinomiya.
Overall, another fun episode from the series even though that cliffhanger was fundamentally evil because I wanted to see Megumi’s judgment in full view. However, the alumni undergoing a cabbage-type Sailor Moon transformation kicked up a lot of laughs. Dojima: a big, buff and burly guy wearing a frilly pink costume? Cannot unsee! This may scar me for life! 😛
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
Yep, this is the Megumi arc alright. She’s so adorable that I don’t want to see anything bad happen to her.
I’m still getting to know the alumni and get a real feel for their personalities (and how much I like them). But one thing is for sure: they’re not big jerks like Shinomiya. I too am grateful for that! Hinako is the nicest so far~
The cabbage thing was glorious…ESPECIALLY Dojima. Looking forward to seeing the continuation in a few days
POWUH: 900-999 with 915 comments
These cabbage-themed magical… people… was the most atrocious thing I’ve seen for a long time. It doesn’t help that Dojima was the pink one and made the most feminine pose there.
MY EYES, GIVE’EM BACK, PLS.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Is that really a good idea? You may need a new pair. 😛
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
That can be arranged. Artifical or Organic would he like? 😛
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
They write themselves into a corner with their ludicrous ‘everyone gets expelled for the most minor offenses’ schtick, so that really takes away from the conflict. You know that the good guys are always going to win, because the show’s over if they lose. The closest they’ll do is like this setup, with Megumi getting expelled and then the others saving her neck anyway. To my mind, it’s flawed writing, and takes away from the enjoyment of the show a bit.
Also, I know that Souma is supposed to be the main character, but even in this case, can’t they relinquish a little of that attention? Just a little? This is Megumi’s battle with her neck on the line (although Souma’s is too, isn’t it?) but still, all the observers talk about is Souma. “Look how awesome a sous chef he is.” There’s a reason the chef gets all the credit and the sous gets very little. But the show’s not about Megumi, apparently. She’s just there to give Souma more reasons to challenge people to battles. At least they’re not having her klutz things up so that Souma has to actively save her from herself.
I also think they’ve put themselves in a corner with the reactions to the food. Everything’s either rapturous or terrible. Food’s not like that, that binary condition (well, it’s almost never rapturous, at least).
Best part of the show is Hinako. She’s pretty much the only one who makes the show actually *fun* and light, not super serious or ridiculous. I mean, shows can be serious, but when it’s turned up to 10 all the time, it gets wearing (especially when it’s the same thing up to 10 over and over).
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
It’s a very cheap of doing things to strongarm every plotpoint to somehow end in Soma engaging in a Shokugeki (especially since yes, we know he’s going to win). Although I love me some cooking battles so I actually don’t mind that good writing is lost for the sake of intense culinary showdowns. It’s like junk food…everything that makes it bad is what I crave!
Yeah, I see what you mean about them focusing on Megumi. It’s weird because Soma was trying to give Megumi the spotlight but all the judges were focusing on Soma. Megumi did most of the cooking but it felt like the camera was glued to all of Soma’s prepwork the entire time. It didn’t work well with the sentiment of Megumi trying to be independent and prove herself as a savvy chef. But yes…I’m really glad they didn’t make her choke at the very end too and have Soma rescue her!
Things are pretty intense all the time, that’s for sure. I can’t look away for a moment.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
Even though I talked last post about how cooking shows are a bit passe for me, I think this might do better for me if there was more actual cooking. But I’d say that in a typical cooking battle on this show, 40% of the time is the people watching making comments, 30% of the time is watching the character’s face, 25% of the time is watching setup and the obligatory chopping, and the remaining 5% is showing food actually being ‘cooked’. Now, the chopping might be more worth watching if it was “I’m gonna do this special cut here” or “Watch me break down this head of cauliflower” but no, it’s always “I can chop this cabbage into slaw!” or “Slice Slice Slice this carrot”. I realize they’re drawing this stuff, but that’s exactly what makes me get annoyed at it.
POWUH: Meta Team and PreCure Mastah with 9203 comments
Megumi is just too darn cute to get rid of! I stopped reading the manga after that moment, but I do think it is a bit silly that Souma is going to save her from being expelled, then again that moment did put him in the role of support character for Megumi to gain some confidence in herself and up her cooking skills.
LOL the magical girl transformations were hilarious! Also I can’t un-see Dio from JOJO as Doujima thanks to the same damn voice actor.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
I really liked the Magical Cabbages as well. The show needs more of that.
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
Dio would be a wonderful cabbage magical vampire!
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Oi! Certain words shouldn’t mix! You’ll wreck my personal reality! 😛
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
Mahou Shoujo Kyuuketsuki Usagi. 😛
POWUH: Meta Team and PreCure Mastah with 9203 comments
Dio > all vampires
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
Magical Meido Dio > Dio. >_>
Also, Magical Girl Vampires.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Even Alucard?
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Magical Cabbage is one thing, but I want Magical Rhubarb! You can force grow that stuff!
They’ve done really good with Megumi. I like how she’s struggling to roll with the punches. I can’t wait to see what she has cooked up!
I would say that with the style of comedy they are doing, they’ve executed it well. It’s kinda trashy, in it’s own special way, but it’s a good trashy. It’s aware that it is.
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
I get a little annoyed at timid characters who don’t do anything to try and better themselves (when that timidity is a weakness). But Megumi is a fighter and I love how they’re showing her growth. Looking forward to seeing the terrine she’s cooked up too!
Exactly. Shokugeki no Soma is the kind of good trashy I look for
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
Cabbages remind me of one thing:
Cabbage Love.
The oldies should understand.