Anime Review: Nisemonogatari - 6 & 7
Guys, this is so awkward. I really wish you’d just stop.
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Episode 6
Last week’s episode was a refreshing change from the mind boggling amounts of fan service that have taken over the series thus far. My favorite episodes so far this season have been Senjougahara-heavy, because I love her, and the episodes tend to just feel more like they did in the first season. Snarky and witty and about the characters, not the boobs.
Even though she was only around for the first five minutes, Mayoi was spot-on this week, making cute Case Closed references, and Araragi is the one who was messing up her name for once. It was a cute interaction. And, of course, I was an absolute sucker for the long scene with Senjougahara and Araragi. Despite how crappy this season has been so far, their interactions haven’t changed, and I’m really happy about that.
They have one of my favorite anime relationships because it feels so true to life. It’s not perfect, she can be controlling (understatement of the century), Araragi is always surrounded by other females, and they bicker a lot, but it’s undeniable that they really love each other.
GO Rating: 4/5
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Episode 7
If episode six was good, episode seven was fantastic. It steps right back in to Bakemonogatari’s shoes in the best ways. The fight scene with Karen and Araragi was completely over-the-top, but beautifully animated, and it actually accomplished something. We see Karen’s character growth in this episode, and Araragi does something besides get molested by every girl in town. He gets the tar kicked out of him, sure, but his goal wasn’t to beat her, but to get her to understand.
Kaiki is the kind of morally ambiguous character that I can’t help but like. He’s a creep, he’s a con man, but as Senjougahara says at the end of the episode, it’s the middle schooler’s fault for getting tricked in the first place. He has the sort of mind set that a lot of people do in our modern commercial economy: make money at any cost. He’s not malicious, just a bit more shaded grey than most people trying to make ends meet.
And, of course, the scene at the end with Senjougahara and Araragi had my roommate fetching the smelling salts, because their dynamic is just so amazing. I’m kind of disappointed that they didn’t kiss (or that we at least didn’t get to see it) but we’re only just passing the half way mark, so I’ll sit tight and keep my fingers crossed.
I hate that I’ve had to suffer through five episodes of utter crap to get to the two good ones, and at this point, I don’t even know if the two good ones were worth it. Hopefully Tsukihi’s arch will be a bit less painful.
GO Rating: 4/5
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