Yeah. This was good. This was really, really good. It was definitely the best episode since the first two episodes. I’ve always wanted to see an episode that just follows the every day lives of these characters without these hi-jinks like set-ups, and this was it. Sure, Ohana had to get sick for it, but what follows is a wonderfully down to earth episode in which for once the cast really came to life. it’s a very mundane episode, but because of that the creators were able to show a lot.
It’s a bit ironic that the episode with the most mundane premise so far has turned out to be the best one, but this has to do with the essence of why I didn’t enjoy Hana-Saku Iroha as much as I hoped I would. It’s not the fact that it became less serious, but rather that the scenarios for each episode felt… uninspired. Of course I don’t mean totally uninspired, but I did feel like I was missing something. They were fine as build-up, but in terms of the characterization they missed this thing that this episode had: their ability to really breathe life into these characters.
This episode was genuine as hell. The acting was wonderful, for just about everyone. The sick Ohana was wonderfully performed and the creators really went out of their way to portray her overly serious attitude while being sick. The chemistry between the cast really returned back to what it was in the first two episodes. Tohru also ended up showing much more of his crush on Ohana beyond the occasional chuckle as well, especially that scene in which he brings her dinner was really well done.
And you know what the irony is? This episode was written by Junji Nishimura, the director of True Tears. It shows.
Heck, it was storyboarded by the the director of Armed Librarians and directed by the co-director of GTO. Talk about a dream team here…
Rating: *** (Awesome)
Given last week’s preview, I was actually expecting some drama, but P.A decided to do a “bait and switch” and instead nothing really happened. It felt like a standard episode from Aria more than anything.
It was very pretty, soothing, peaceful, lighthearted but nothing over-the-top but it was indeed genuine. Nothing major happened apart from it’s pretty obvious by now Tooru has fallen hard for Ohana and Minko is starting to realise this.
I’ll give this episode an 8/10.
The dream sequence foreshadowed atleast to me that her relationship with ko isn’t going to work out. The sad part is that she cried at the end which made me alittle sad for her because of her decision.
I’m still not quite sure what happened this episode, what with the jumbled up timeline, how some things seems to just be Ohana’s delusions, or a memory of what happened before. But, I just really liked it.
This episode is about what happens when Ohana falls sick, the reactions of the other characters to her absence, and Ohana’s thoughts on her importance at Kissuiso. Tohru is starting to become more aware of his affection for Ohana, which Minko has noticed. While Ohana was beginning to doubt her importance at Kissuiso when everybody kept reiterating to her that all is well even without her, leading to her entertaining thoughts of going to Ko, Minko and Nako came at the nick of time to reiterate how important she had become to Kissuiso. This episode truly showcased how the other characters have changed ever since Ohana’s arrival, and how everyone seems to regard her as a precious member of the Kissuiso staff.
I just wish that idiot Jiroumaru can grow some common sense before long. His idea of reading pornographic material to a sick person with the notion that its good for them is just plain idiocy.
The episode definitely hit the mark when it came to portraying its characters. I didn’t mind the other off beat episodes but this one had a certain amount of warmth coming from the character’s behavior that worked so well.
Speaking of the Tooru, Ohana, Minko and Ko dynamic, anyone else excited for it? I’m really enjoying this slow build up w/ Tooru’s infatuation with Ohana, especially since Minko’s reading the signs.
Lol, I was like “Why the hell did she turn the TV on?”
Lol, I was like “Why the hell did she turn the TV on?”
This was a good episode. Definitely better than some in the middle of the series. My biggest complaint is does it belong as the 10th episode of a 12 episode series (from what I remember)?? I mean this would be great at 6 or 8, but I would have preferred a more plot-focused episode to build-up towards the finale this late.
@Taara535: Hanasaku Iroha is going to be around 24 episodes long, not 12. đ
As for this episode, I found it to be excellent and definitely more on par with the first two episodes of this series.
There were only a few things that didn’t sit right with me, such as Jiroumaru. He creeps me out and I do not like him. He is a pervert and not funny at all. Takako, she is really annoying, ugh! And, finally, I think they made Toru’s crush on Ohana advance a bit too quickly from the previous episode to this one. It was still very cute though.
But those are rather minor gripes and overall I really liked this episode. The characters came out of their archetype cutouts and really started feeling like characters. Ohana was Ohana, Minko was Minko, and so on and so forth, rather than Ohana being a Genki girl and Minko being a Tsundere.
I’m hoping Hanasaku Iroha can continue like this and not fall apart and go back to the needless hijinks that simply were not working for me. If it can avoid doing that, then I think it could save this series and make it go from “meh” to “I actually really liked this!” for me.
TĆru…you pervert!
This episode actually made me shed a tear, the ending was so heartfelt. The preview looked so good. Looks like we get to see little Ohana again next episode đ
This is one of the more thought provoking episodes I’ve seen in this series yet. I’m pretty sure most of the things in the episode actually happened, with the questionable exception of the dream sequence. I would have dismissed it as just a dream provoked by Iroha’s dilemna of choosing between Kissou Inn and Kou if not for the little girl and fox. It’s an unexplainable oddity. Is it some kind of japanese mythical or cultural reference? I’ll be very surprised if this down-to-earth thoughtful slice-of-life went supernatural. Or could it be a little piece of her yet unrevealed childhood past that somehow made it into her dream?
itâs pretty obvious by now Tooru has fallen hard for Ohana
I don’t think he himself realizes how he feels yet. Otherwise he wouldn’t have just walked out on Ohana while she was in a daze with the strawberry. Or is he just that rough around the edges? He does notice a bit of Minko’s disturbed state though. Mmm..I’m still on the fence on this one.
He is a pervert and not funny at all.
Agreed. But I think his presence is a bit of salt to keep the stew from being overly and boringly sweet. And Takako I think represents “fresh ideas/innovation” and “western thinking” vs the grandmother’s “japanese tradition” and “experience”. I get the impression that she tends to fail right now because she’s fresh out of college and doesn’t have enough knowledge in the traditional japanese inn business yet. She seems more successful in other more westernized ventures in the city. She also looks like she secretly wants the grandmother to recognize her ability. Otherwise, why does she keep coming back when the grandmother keeps rejecting her?
Then yes, this is perfectly timed and was a very good episode!
Aside from beating the viewer senseless with Tohru’s desire for Ohana’s lady bits (Lips, apparently. Hey, I don’t judge), it was overall a good episode that shed more light on the question that if Ohana weren’t there, would the inn really continue as it is now?
I’m also really intrigued by the little girl with the fox. I mean, the Shrine does have Kitsune-statues standing watch – but Hana Saku Iroha really didn’t strike me as having supernatural elements, but that little girl might be some spirit or god-avatar… didn’t Kitsune usually guard shrines intended for Inari-sama?
Anyhow, they never show such glimpses without further meaning; We’ll find out sooner or later đ
As for Takako: Jeeesh, I even understand what she’s talking about, but she entirely fails at adapting to the situation at hand ^^°
this was a really good episodes….this was a tear jerker lol
Ohana was very cute in this episode.