2nd episode out by a.f.k. While I like a.f.k.’s subbing a lot, my only misgiving with them is that they don’t make .mkv releases. As I’m a bit (no, make that a lot) OC like Chiri-chan in this show, I detest seeing subs in my sucky, rush-job screencaps. Anyways, the show ups the ante to the next level, showering us with a lot of references ala Lucky Star.
Honey & Clover, in my SZS?!
However, from what I’ve seen, SZS delivers a proper, coherent string of events without solely banking on gags and otaku references. Unlike Lucky Star, which is practically made of them (with lots of moe thrown in), SZS can stand out on its own, as the references are benignly presented and could be treated as just easter eggs. Again, this might be a hasty conclusion as there are only 2 episodes out yet, but man! Just 2 episodes in the show and Itoshiki’s got a harem of sorts, that sleazy bastard!
Komori-chan <3
Two new girls are introduced. First is Kiri Komori, an incredibly cute hikkikomori who happens to get attached to Itoshiki after being coaxed to come to school (due to Itoshiki’s undue luck in making things happen — he was actually trying to shut Komori inside her room). Apparently her name is already a pun describing her personality. Well, everyone in this show so far has puns in their names. (a.f.k. helps a lot by making detailed explanations for everyone’s names at the end, so don’t close your player until the episode’s finished! And with an ED this good, who’d be sane enough to?)
She even went out of her way to copy the kimono and everything.
Second is Matoi Tsunetsuki, a stalker. She herself confesses of her obsession to Itoshiki and Arai (who is the guidance counsellor whose full name gives a Nietzsche reference) — she calls every 5 minutes and sends her boyfriend mail. If that doesn’t work, she faxes him, and even resorts to physically coming to his place! And if that’s not enough, she bugs his room so that she could hear him 24/7! Creepy. However, as she’s stalking one of her ex-boyfriends, Itoshiki follows her and talks her into committing suicide with her lover (in order to express true deep love, which really is a twisted way of putting it), and then tells her that she could commit suicide with him anytime. Worse, Tsunetsuki treats this as a confession of love, and immediately commences stalking her own homeroom teacher. Oh yeah.
“Please do a proper job of it. Properly register me as a family member! Properly meet with my parents!”
Chiri (the OC girl) lands in the clinic after a dilemma of partitioning a strawberry cake, and after sneakily rolling into a sleeping Itoshiki’s side (who went to the clinic in order to escape his student stalker), she requests him to marry her, because by her twisted logic, they’ve slept in each other’s arms and now she’s willing to have their relationship go all out. Really WTF.
All the while this is happening, Komori is appearing in the most random places in front of Itoshiki, as she’s moved her residence to school, still acting like the hikkikomori she is. Way to go, teacher.
I’m pretty impressed with this show so far. The style changes are beautiful, especially that really weird scene featuring two men kissing (lol wut). Who knows what insanity (and who will join Itoshiki’s growing harem) will ensue next week?
July 20, 2007 at 9:51 am
I’m pretty sure the two men kissing thing was a brokeback mountain reference. Either that or just random gay cowboys.
July 26, 2007 at 2:15 pm
Another “Clueless guy, gets all the girls” anime.. though this one has variations and not teh typical HS romance anime
August 2, 2007 at 3:01 pm
This episode really reminds me of NHK ni Youkoso. That Nozomu reminds me of Sato with his paranoia of conspiracies. Nonetheless I think this anime is quite addictive and funny. And somehow, a few parodies are added such as that Honey Clover book (H&C, guys). Gimme more episodes of SZC!!!
By the way, I like your work here
September 6, 2007 at 4:06 am
The gay kissing is a parody for Friday night movie theater specials that Japan airs every week. There’s a lot of those parodies. Almost nothing in the anime is original, it’s all taken from some obscure reference that leaves most of the viewers confused, but happy.