So……I’m taking the risk of criticising one of my favorite shows. Well the most recent arc (Tsukimonogatari) wasn’t as good as others I’ve seen, but I’m being optimistic.
And don’t worry. I’ll be keeping the moments where SHAFT trademarks appear to a minimum. Perhaps I should get that SHAFT bingo card of mine out, and I’ll tell you all when I call out ‘House!’.
- More Monogatari is a good thing for me, especially now that the Kizumonogatari movies are finally coming (movie #1 in January)!!! With this season being a part of the final books Nisio Isin wrote, I’ll be sad to see it go, but all things come to an end…except Madoka Magica, which will probably never ever end.
- Anyway, the very first episode sees the proper introduction of Ougi, a second-year girl who has had small appearances before, and has also been instigators of certain ominous events, like Otorimonogatari (the one arc that will always chill me to the bone). Her claiming to be Meme Oshino’s niece has also made me think whether his past motives were for the greater good. From the outset, I found her to be very creepy, and very different from the other girls in Koyomi’s harem, but those are not negatives of her at all. In fact it’s quite good to see some new faces; first Ougi and her knowledge beyond her years (as well as her attachment to Koyomi, who it seems she has already taken a shine to), and next week we’ll be seeing Koyomi’s former classmate and math rival Sodachi Oikura, who still harbours a real hatred towards him. And this hatred is, I have to admit, very understandable.
- I noticed how Nisio Isin chose to extend his subject apparitions from mere objects; the one in this show is bizarre in of itself. Instead of focusing on some form of ghost or spirit, it is tied to a old memory of Koyomi, and a strange event that happened when he was a first-year. After hearing someone had cheated on a math test, a ‘meeting’ was called to determine who the cheat was. As SHAFT love to make their audience scratch their heads, this particular episode has the opportunity to make your head spin entirely. It is essentially a mystery, not far from the mysteries in Gosick or Hyouka: as the true cheat couldn’t be found two years ago, it’s left for Koyomi and Ougi to find out who really did it, in order to leave their prison of a classroom, which didn’t need to look some sparkly and colorful, but you know SHAFT by now. They love to show off. While keeping to the same style of animation as former shows, I think Owarimonogatari is going to go in another direction; more metaphors are shown, more complex conversation takes place (forcing the viewer to concentrate). The same old-same old SHAFT traits are still there, and us fans are more than happy to see them return. At least there will be some stuff to cross off on my bingo card already.
- This was an extended episode that covered the one Ougi Formula story, as the other three arcs will be split up into individual episodes. Another refreshing idea, I think. So, the million-dollar question: do I like Ougi, and will she make a good member of Koyomi’s harem? Absolutely! Her own motives may be questionable, and her lengthy uniform and soulless eyes may make her appear something out of an Asian extreme horror movie, but these facts along with her cold yet adorable voice (by the same seiyuu of Mami Tomoe) make her go side-to-side with every other kooky girl…and there are plenty of them. Sodachi will, it seems, not be part of them, but frankly I don’t care. Next week will be her introductory episode, and I’m already guessing that I’m not going to like Sodachi, and it’s not because of her poor chances of being a part of Koyomi’s harem; it’s just that I think she’s going to give off a seriously negative vibe in everyone in her new class, and Koyomi won’t just be the only recipient. Not entirely sure on how or what kind of story will be told in Sodachi Lost, aside from herself and her family. She was home-tutored apparently (possibly that trauma in the classroom incident was a catalyst), and so any hidden demons and terrors of hers will emerge…all speculation, mind.
