Category: OreGairu

OreGairu is back with its light content in episode 7 (well, most of episode 7) as Hachiman sketches out and then carries out his plan. That involves a hilarious rap battle and many one-liners and carefree humor, something that I feel appropriate after all the drama of the last few episodes. First are the members of the Gaming club: Hatano and Sagami, who help Hachiman and Yui on technical stuff, and who constantly remind (us?) how much of an oddball Hachiman and that “Yahallo” greeting are. But the real sense of fun is certainly Hachiman vs Tamanawa rants, who previously had a beef with Hachiman, and who OreGairu has the most fun to animate (and now: voice act). But it’s funny to see a much more scaled down version of this collaboration, as Kaihin Sogo Student Council only has Tamanawa and Orimoto (who, like Yui, is clueless in the matters) this time.

Continue reading “OreGairu 3 – 07/08” →

Maybe I am in the minority here, but I am one of those who are still on board with how OreGairu presents and wraps up its conflicts and still think it’s as great as the second season. So before we get into the rap-battle and “one of them grants someone’s wish for someone else” part, let’s just run through what episode 5 & 6 cover. There are a lot of Iroha’s precious moments in these two installments, further cementing her as the near-lead status.

Indeed, when you think of OreGairu’s supporting cast, her presence is shinier than everyone else. And one of the reasons why Iroha’s character works so well is because she has the best dynamic with Hachiman. Not only do they bounce off each other well (like in the conversation they have in episode 6), but like every good relationship Iroha is more of herself when she’s around Hachiman, and that Hachiman’s action can inspire or ignite something in her. Take Hachiman and Yukinon key confrontation at the end of episode 5, for example. Iroha serves merely as a witness to their bonds, or more like Hachiman and Yukinon showing their mutual love to each other – a confession of sorts. What I love about that confrontation is that, just like Iroha, we as the audience witness our main characters making real steps forward in their relationships. 

Continue reading “OreGairu 3 – 05/06” →

Although the episode’s title is about Iroha, the entirety of episode 3 doesn’t really focus on our favorite girl. Instead, week 3 we get to see two more old faces: Hiratsuka-sensei and Saika, in much less significant roles they have in previous seasons. Especially for Saika as we see his usual “antics” with Hachiman and nothing else. Hiratsuka-sensei fares much better, especially in episode 4 as we eventually learn that she’s about to leave school. In OreGairu, along with its sharp dialogues, there is a big focus on characters’ glares and gestures. It’s all about the silence, the brief moment of hesitance which speaks just as powerful those spoken lines and monologues. We see lots of it here, even to side characters like Hiratsuka-sensei. Her gaze and her gentle smile to her Yukinon’s sister inform you a whole lot about their relationship. Or Iroha’s little-but-effective screen time, when we see a deeper and more vulnerable side of her: her fear (or shame?) of using people to get her way, especially towards the ones dear to her.

Continue reading “OreGairu 3 – 03/04 [Iroha Isshiki is the Strongest Junior, as Expected/ By Chance, Yui Yuigahama Thinks of the Future]” →

There are shows that remind you of specific phases of your life. Either they resonate with you because of the time you watch – like I first watched Tatami Galaxy when I was in uni just like the characters are, or Monogatari series when I was at the time didn’t really know what to do with my life – so Monogatari series was kind of therapy for me; or the shows remind you of specific places where you watched it – like I rewatched Eccentric Family when I was in Kyoto, thus I experienced the settings on a whole new level of appreciation (it’s magical). OreGairu 2 is another example of this. I watched it when it was airing back in 2015 when I was in Cannes. And throughout the midst of movie frenzy and hours waiting in lines, I still squeezed some time to follow it and boy I felt it. I felt the personal struggles Hachiman and the girls have. I felt the same feeling of Hachiman trying to fix things up by sacrificing himself, doesn’t realizing the fact that he hurts the ones who care deeply for him by doing that. 

Continue reading “OreGairu 3 – 02 [That Key Was Never Handled Until Today]” →