Welcome to Cougar Town, Makoto, where Big Joe and Big Carl are *not* names of wine glasses
Summary:
My goodness, this goth-loli compensated dating thing isn't a recent trend after all
Makoto grouses that she became an idol to find her feminine side but her fans love her as their prince. Producer, with Haruka’s assist, manages to placate her by saying how everyone feels she’s becoming more sexy lately. However Makoto’s hotheadness comes to the fore again at a variety show where she quarrels with Jupiter’s lead and takes offence at President Kuroi’s description of 765Pro All Stars as cockroaches.
After Makoto vents her anger on non-high school zombies at the arcade game centre, she gets the idea to change into a skirt and get Producer to take her on a date at the amusement park. After pouring out her heart about how her father really wanted a son and forbade all feminine things for her, she sees a pair of school girls being harangued by three male hooligan students and steps in. But she ends up being rendered non-combat effective when the girls recognize her and glomp her and it’s up to Producer’s Operation Human Shield to save the day.
Later Producer tells her that it’s an idol’s responsibility to let others live their dreams through them; Makoto’s fans live their dreams of being a princess through their admiration of her as their prince. Producer then lets her be a princess for a while by escorting her on fairytale merry-go-round ride and Makoto finds her resolution to fulfill the dreams of her fans until the time when a prince who can bring out the princess in her comes into her life. Summer turns to autumn and Makoto grumbles about getting yet another princely role.
Reaction:
Bet even the tooth fairy loved Makoto's minty fresh whites
It was pleasant to see Makoto coming more to terms with herself but the ground covered in this episode was already familiar territory and was not particularly interesting in terms of character development; she’s just too suitable, in terms of looks and temperament, for the fantasy prince gig. Producer was also surprisingly useful throughout the episode. I did appreciate the ED still showing Makoto’s karate black belt training session which goes some way to explain her earlier display of martial prowess and I laughed a lot when Makoto voiced all the characters in La La La magazine’s serialized shoujo romance manga including the horse (though Miyako‘s still wins hands down). Although I’m a crew member onboard the IM@S Makoto/Yukiho, I was glad that the other half of this fan pairing didn’t show up in this episode as it would have just been a distraction and potential episode hijack. I was also glad to see Miki-Miki finding out about Makoto’s date with her Honey and not making too big a deal of it – I suppose she doesn’t see Makoto as much of a threat.
On the broader front, Producer’s opportunity lost his opportunity to clear things up with Jupiter when President Kuroi showed up before he could ask them what they’ve been told about 765Pro. Given how Jupiter’s lead is so insistent on a fair fight, it seems that he has a sense of justice that is a match for Makoto’s YOU GET TO BURNING and I’m fairly sure that the resolution of this will involve some combination of them turning on Kuroi and him being hoist by his own petard. More Chihaya foreshadowing as well with Haruka noticing her friend’s irritation upon receiving a call from Chigusa Kisaragi. I smell siscon!
This post was written by...
Zyl – who has written 233 posts on Sea Slugs! Anime Blog.
I have a penchant for Bishoujo, Oneesama and Yuri character dynamics. Genre-wise I enjoy drama and satire; tilt-wise I am terribly weak against self-consciously arty farty styles and reference humour. Sieg Lunamaria!
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
This is a fairly average episode, which is nothing close to terrible. I enjoyed watching Makoto and Producer go on their date. Though there was not much story or character development, this episode was definitely more enjoy than last week’s show. However, there are two things I realized during this episode:
1. If the upcoming Chihaya episode is not ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT, I will be greatly disappointed. She’s been stealing a lot of screen time, so I’m expecting the drama will live up to the buildup. I liked the first Chihaya episode, and I think there is great potential in The Melancholy of Chihaya Kisaragi subplot.
2. I really want to see a Kotori episode. If the show is going to focus more on the staff, then she definitely deserves one if Ritsuko gets an episodes.
I think this series has worked best when treading lightly so I’m a bit apprehensive about Chihaya’s forthcoming doramaz. I’ll be well satisfied if it’s just a bit of local difficulty which she gets over promptly with a little help from her friends, especially Haruka and Producer.
Yes, if Ritsuko gets an epiosde, I’m all for a Kotori episode too especially with her fertile imagination.
I was disappointed that Yukiho wasn’t in the episode, until I realized that she must have DVRd the episode and was at home, masturbating furiously.
See, this is why yuritards cannot have nice things.
Oh you don’t even want to start with me Author. Really.
I totally agree with you XD Yuritards…clever, dude.
This episode was the last nail in the coffin for my hopes of the canonic status of Makoto/Yukiho being left ambiguous. Instead it’s been, more or less, firmly denied given how Makoto was pretty disturbed by Yukiho’s behaviour during the makeover and how Makoto is waiting for a prince. I guess I’ll just have to settle for the possibility of Yukiho having one-sided feelings for Makoto.
Oh they aren’t going to canonize anything, but they definitely know the pairing is popular.
Oddly, as yuriships go, this episode had not-insignificant Haruka/Chihaya flags. I’m looking forward to seeing where they are going with Chihaya’s plotline, and how Haruka will figure into it.
And yet they continue flying hand-in-hand in the OP.
@ Fencedude: I like the Haruka/Chihaya pairing a lot too – the acknowledgment of the popularity of this fan pairing within the anime has thusfar been much more restrained. And I’m liking that a lot. Though I still tend to see them first and foremost as first-among-equals in the 765Pro All Stars with Chihaya as the harsh one and Haruka as the one who tries to get everyone to play nicely together.
@ Author: Well, I suppose that could explained as “friendship”.
Yukiho and Makoto are just friends. I don’t understand why people pair them up so much. Yukiho has no feelings for Makoto other then feelings of friendship and loyalty
Actually Miki said “Honey, don’t take away -my Makoto-kun!-”
I’m all for Yukiho and Makoto, but Mikimikimakoto is not so bad too.
There’s a doujin series that focuses heavily on a Yukiho-Makoto-Miki triangle.
Yes, we can has nice things.
Finally got around to watching this episode it was great to see another less boyish side to Makoto! And that date with producer so many d’awww moments between them. And a chance to make Miki jealous!? Of course why not, so what girl is next for another one on one date with producer?
As bluemist pointed out, Miki’s reaction is very promising haha! She still loses to Rin Tohsaka in terms of versatility and sheer dominance of personality.
I would like to see Iori and Producer go somewhere together, considering the fact that she would be beating up on him/yelling at him/bossing him around (since she obviously despises him) the whole time. I would love to see that, as my love for Iori would only increase.
{ 1 trackback }