In case you were wondering: yes, there indeed was no Nijuu Mensou no Musume last week. The creators sure chose the most annoying time, after episode 6’s huge cliff-hanger. Still, I’m glad that this series is back now, because this episode was really worth it. It wastes no time in developing the storyline further.
As it turns out: her two future comrades are an annoying classmate and the maid of Chiko’s mother. As it turns out, Chiko goes back to her family in this episode after the loss of Nijuu Mensou. The creators also waste no time in placing hints that Nijuu Mensou might be alive somewhere, like many people already suspected.
The mood of this episode got rather ruined when Chiko started speaking English, however. Another item has been added to the list of “things Hirano Aya can’t do”: speak proper English. Even compared to the English skills of your average voice-actor, it was horrible. I think that’s why her voice fits Chiko so well: it’s soft and subtle. Hirano’s problem is that she wants to show off way too much. It may give her lots of awards, but quality is something else. What I’ve heard of her in Zettai Karen Children and Haruhi Suzumiya in particular was unimpressive and more annoying than it was enjoyable.
In any case, I really like how the new cast of characters isn’t as one-sided as the old one. It’s really varied, there are lots of different parties with their own intentions and backgrounds. This should prove to be very interesting for the future of this series.
…but what was up with that giant robot?
oooh!! i cant wait for it to be subbed XD!! a robot? where? :o!!
Aah so it HAS been too long! I was just wondering the other day why it seemed that I’ve seen episode 6 so long ago.
Can’t wait to have this subbed 🙂
I dare say Hirano Aya’s German (in an earlier episode) is better than her English.
I will make a prediction here and now. The identity of the robot will be revealed to be none other than Twenty Faces. Although honestly, its not too difficult to figure out. LOL.
@Viros:
I don’t think he’s 20-Faces, as the woman by his side seemed to search for him as well. My guess would rather be Akechi being 20-Faces.
But it’s nice to know that he IS definitely alive somewhere as the gem showed Akechi haded to Chiko.
And I like Tome-chan very much.
Can’t wait to see further developpement to this amazing story!
Oh, and I didn’t think of her English skills being too bad. I’ve heard worse things in anime than that. After all, Chiko IS a japanese girl trying to speak English.
Hirano “speaking” English was made using a synthesizer. They record her voice over and over then pick out and string along the sentence word for word. Easily done using basic sound editing tools. That’s why it sounded so fake.
This really is a great series. Right from the get go I really enjoyed the noir-styling of the show, and how 20-Faces resembled Roger Smith (from Big-O, another series I enjoyed). It reminded me of the 90s Batman the Animated Series.
Chiko herself has come a long way and while some of the plot devices seem a bit farfetched (considering the material; yea, it did seem odd that Chiko would learn how to walk a tightrope so quickly in just 2 years, but she did almost slip and fall during one performance but managed to catch herself), they do add to the overall dramatic effect of the story.
I’m curious to see in what direction the show will move now. Charlie’s Angels vibes all over the place with the ED but hopefully it’ll have a lot more brains (Girl Detectives indeed, Chiko I can understand but what would the other 2 girls bring to the table as far as solving crimes/mysteries remains to be seen). The introduction of sci-fi elements is rather welcome given the setting and timeline (late 1940s, early 50s?). The robot itself reminded me of Iron Giant (an evil version anyway), heh.
So 20faces turend into a steampunk with that robot?