The school festival arc, in which there actually are no mysteries. The problem with such an arc is that it has been done to death: you’re really going to have to bring something new to the table if you want to stand out. And yeah, I guess Hyouka did that with its trademark solid acting.
The thing with this episode was that it was full of life. This wasn’t just about the Classics club, but the entire school here was doing activities, and this episode was a great opportunity to show what the rest of the school looks like and who attend it. It’s a great way of world building. It’s a bit disappointing that there was no mystery to solve, but the problem of this episode was quite creative and realistic so that makes up for that.
Oreki in this episode was great: his portrayal of just doing nothing for the entire episode and liking it really fit his character. Ibara also showed a new side of herself. The pressures from the rest of her club members were really well portrayed here. Satoshi meanwhile was surprisingly more annoying than usual, and Chintanda was a bit of a sell-out in which the creator s were obviously trying to stuff her in as many outfits as possible here.
As for the new ED, couldn’t you really have been a bit more subtle Kyoani?
Rating: *+ (Great)
It actually feels like a season opening to be, with the music, the ambiance, the freshness of the casting – it’s almost like we’ve returned from a split-cour anime, and this Hyouka’s Second Cour season.
And this is after the weak Episode 11.5, a fanservice fest pool side episode, whose main merit is as a bridge between the Irisu Arc and the Cultural Festival.
to be fair 11.5 was meant to be a bonus feature with Blue Ray disc, just the official website released it online first.
I think 11.5 should have been a full episode. It does some important bridging in terms of character development for Oreki as well as an actual real-life development in his home situation. XD I wonder if this 2nd part will have a new OP too. Kh! Why are they hiding Tomoe’s face?! XD
I would disagree that 11.5 was a weak episode. While there was the fanservice it covered the impact that the previous movie arc had on Hotaru and how he is developing, as well as his relationship with Chintanda and how that is slowly changing. I mean she almost confessed to him basically and it’s pretty clear to everyone else how Hotaru only had eyes for her the whole time.
You mean how much of an eye-opener it was for how much Houtarou lusts after Chitanda? Srsly? It was a weak episode: any development covered in it was redundant and overshadowed by Chitanda’s breasts. The ice-cream-on-ear mystery was disappointing. The explanation of his solution was unnecessarily long, carried out in an unnecessary fashion to exploit lesbi-fanservice betw. Chitanda and Mayaka. The setting and situation in themselves were unrealistic. (Even Japan has standardized testing to see who can become a lifeguard. I doubt Houtarou can even stand the water never-mind the blazing sun of a summer pool). And Mayaka (who I actually liked before) went into the annoying zone for being such a busy-body. If she wanted to see what that white thing was and whether it had fallen into the waters, couldn’t she have just teamed up with KININARIMASU to find out herself? Why does everything they do have to involve Houtarou? This is also why I think episode 12 is superb because they split up and each character had their own mini-plots and goals to achieve. THAT episode was a true breath of fresh air.
Peti, are you following this series closely? Do you remember what happened towards the end of episode 11? Did you happen to notice that Houtarou in Episode 11.5 was perhaps acting a little stranger than usual? Try comparing his behavior towards his sister at the beginning of 11.5 and the beginning of 12. Notice any changes at all? I agree the ice cream mystery was weak…almost intentionally so.
It was quite a change of pace, completely lighthearted (and charged with old Kyoani style). I liked it but I actually hope for a little mystery or a well-thought strategy to sell anthologies in the next episode(s). I laughed at how corny the new ED was, but it was also nice.
I don’t know. I like the new ED a lot. It was beautifully rendered and a lot more to the point, unlike the previous, highly abstract, somewhat pointlessly sensuous(?) ED.
And…Chitanda was just so moe this episode. XD Way too adorable how she got distracted here and there. And how she wound up addressing the Executive Committee wearing that toy necklace and carrying that calligraphy sheet. XDDD I really liked Satoshi’s costume too. And the Costume Club guy! And the manga society cosplayers! Does anybody recognize Mayaka’s costume? Is it a known work we should recognize? And Chitanda’s photo shoot was quite pretty. Especially that last Victorian era dress. Just how long would they have taken to get her hair like that?! Mmm…just what I needed to get over this week’s TE guro.
Out of curiosity, I looked up the origins of Mayaka’s costume.
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=760
Didn’t see this one.
Look up the manga
There would be no arc if there’s no mystery, I imagine the premise will be reveal next episode.
Kind of figure the older sister would got the route of Ben-to’s Chapatsu/Brunette when the official website didnt release her character design and 11.5 she also didnt show her face fully
I’m already picking up a few clues here and there. There seems to be some kind of conflict building up in the Manga society involving Mayaka. Something happened to the refreshments in the grounds where Oreki was watching the live performances from the upstairs window. And I wonder if there’s some significance with that pen Tomoe gave Oreki. Along with that badge Oreki got in exchange for it.
When that happened, my first thought was that he’ll keep trading for better stuff throughout the arc. All the while, the anthologies the club is selling will sell out without Oreki doing a thing. That would be sublime.
Haha. Sounds pretty awesome. Still I imagine some mystery will come up somewhere which will demand Oreki and the rest of the club’s attention. I suspect they’ll be hooked into it as a way to dispose of their oversupply of anthologies.
It looks like they finally introduced that Tanabe guy too. I wonder if he winds up interested in Chitanda and becoming Oreki’s rival. He was surprisingly helpful to her.
Btw, did you guys notice the new art on the books? There’s a new black rabbit – probably representing the real culprit behind the student revolt 45 years ago that set Sekitani Jun up to be the fall guy. I wonder if the Classics Club shaking the tree like this might make something big fall out.
11.5 really is an odd choice for an OVA episode.
Sure most of it is poolside fan service and development for Oreki that isn’t 100% needed within the series itself… but his sister suddenly showing up between episodes 11 and 12 is a bit of a thing to just gloss over.
But his sister was never meant to be a front and center character, so where she is is not exactly important
Still, I think 11.5 should have been a mainstream episode. I think there was some important character development here. It looks like Oreki was still shell-shocked over Irisu’s machinations. Did Tomoe come back just to help get him back on his feet? And Oreki and Chitanda are just a little bit closer together. Hm…but they’re still pretty far away from being a couple.
Come to think of it, the ED is kinda inaccurate. I get Mayaka chasing Satoshi but it looks to me like it’s Oreki who is attracted to an oblivious Chitanda. I still like it though. Hmm…
I wouldn’t say that Chitanda is oblivious to Hotoru. In 11.5 she came pretty close to confessing to him .. calling him special to her and then having to correct herself by saying that everyone was special to her. It was really funny to see the emotions on Hotoru’s face. First lighting up and then looking crestfallen as she changed her story.
Haha. I think it’s a kind of running joke. Remember Angel Chitanda? Poor Oreki thought he’d finally found his soul mate. XD
And I agree with you that 11.5 was an important episode. It seems hard to imagine a more listless Hotaru than normal but they managed to pull it off pretty well. He’s certainly not emotionless.
The way he slammed his fist into the roller door when he spotted that “Can you solve this mystery?” poster seemed pretty emotional to me. I kinda thought he would quit mystery solving altogether at that point. Still, he did go on to respond to Chitanda in the clubroom. I think at the time, Chitanda was more concerned about Houtarou though, rather than the movie.
She’s important even as a background character. She’s been the invisible hand leading Oreki to all of his mysteries so far.
It’s still off when she’s supposed to be traveling around the world still as of episode 11 and suddenly she’s walking around the house in episode 12.
She’s what’c consider a “bug” character in a game. Someone so strong that she throws off the dynamic rest of the game if she appears as a regular character, so she’s restricted.
She is an important background character, but she could be anywhere and still be just as important of a background character. Her being home is not a big deal because she wont be involved directly. Time has passed between 11 and 12. I feel the same about her appearance as the school being fully decorated in 12
What wicked said. First time I’ve heard of “bug” characters though.
Although I’m also wondering whether there’s any special meaning to her return. She was in contact with Irisu and seemed to be getting independent information from the ground about what was happening so she could have found out/deduced what had happened to Oreki and rushed back to help. I also suspect she could be used as some kind of backup in case Oreki and the Classics Club run into some kind of trouble, possibly over their Hyouka publication. I also seem to remember from their Hyouka investigation that there are cases of gangsters crashing school festivals and shaking down participants for money. I wonder if the Classics Club might run into something like that this time.
Chitanda is absolutely adorable. Like seeing the world through the eyes of a child.
I, too be honest with you guys, actually liked the ending.
Ofcourse, these are the kind of endings that I usually just skip.
About the ED: if Chintanda is Sherlock Holmes, Ibara – Maigret (maybe) and Oreki – Arsene Lupin, who is Satoshi?
Hm…did Lupin wear monocles? ^^; I didn’t do such a comparison myself but it seems like Satoshi would make a better Lupin while Oreki might be Moriarty. ^^ Just off the top of my head though. I’m no Sherlockian and I’m only slightly more familiar with Lupin the Third. XD
Yep, monocle is a must for Lupin, he is a gentleman thief after all, it’s his trademark. So Oreki is definitely Arsene Lupin. I don’t think Moriarty is shown wearing a hat, but perhaps Satoshi is Moriarty …hmmm
Satoshi is James Moriarty who used an air-rifle disguised as a cane, with similar train of thought Mayaka is probably Watson to basically stay in the same Holmes Mythology(Lupin had crossovers with Sherlock Holmes)
Otherwise Mayaka is probably a Christie detective as she’s her favorite detective author, Hercule Poirot or Miss Marple
I thought of Watson too because that indeed would be the most obvious choice, but the hat doesn’t matches, neither it matches any other Christie detectives, that’s why I said Maigret (even if she lacks his pipe, which is also iconic)
However it does makes sense to stay within same universe (even if Leblanc had to rename Sherlock Holmes into Herlock Sholms in his books) Artistic license?
neither it matches any other Christie detectives
Scratch that, i’m sleepy, you are right, it’s obviously Hercule Poirot.
So it’s Chintanda – Sherlock Holmes, Ibara – Hercule Poirot, Oreki – Arsene Lupin and Satoshi – Moriarty.
Oh and btw just to be on the safe side because i’m not sure i’m interpenetrating what you wrote correctly: Lupin the Third and Arsene Lupin are two different characters.
I know. XD Unlike the characters of Hyouka, I’m not really into classic literature.
The character sheet labeled Ibara as Poirot and Satoshi as Moriarty, which was what bugged the hell out of me with the ED since who they’re chasing after doesn’t make much sense…
Character sheet?
yeah, it didn’t bugged me much, but it didn’t made much sense either… unless you just look at it as an iconic crime fiction figures quartette or something and leave it at that.
Chitanda as a “Gibson Girl?” Yes, please.
You mean where she changes the costumes, right? Yes! I thought so too.
The new ending might be cheesy, but at least it doesn’t make me want to roll my eyes and skip over it like the old one.
I’m still waiting for the boys rolling around the bed sheet ending, for equal representation
LOL. The hot springs episode wasn’t hot enough for you? XD
That one was equalized by the pool episode! so it doesn’t counts.
Hm. I dunno. I didn’t find much fanservice in the pool episode. Yes, Oreki reacted to Chitanda’s swimsuit but it was a pretty normal, run-of-the-mill thing that reveals less than some evening wear. Oreki’s schoolboy reaction is roughly the same as when Chitanda holds her face close to his. In comparison, Oreki and Satoshi showed a lot more skin, butt and some almost full monties. And I think I could hear fujoshi squealing all the way from Japan at the scene where Satoshi rubbed Oreki’s face with his towel – the one he would have used to wrap his…nether regions.
@meow
And I think I could hear fujoshi squealing all the way from Japan at the scene where Satoshi rubbed Oreki’s face with his towel
hahahaha.
There is also the scene Oreki’s sister in the shower, however I think you are right, while this show throws bones to both female and male audience, it’s much more restrained with the latter, perhaps because it’s as you say: “been there, done that”