Summary:

The Wagnaria family restaurant is understaffed and Poplar Taneshima is arrowed to find a new hire. Having failed to persuade classmates and townsfolk, she backcharges Souta Takanashi who, entranced by her smallness and cuteness, agrees to join her. He is introduced to the lackadaisical manager Kyouko Shirafuji, stern but hardworking cook Jun Satou, chatty and gossipy cook Hiromi Souma and sweet, beautiful, katana-packing chief waitress Yachiyo Todoroki.

Things start to go badly for Souta when Kyouko warns him not to get romantically involved with co-worker Poplar. He insensitively antagonizes her by commenting on her age and is assigned shifts every day for weeks on end. After witnessing Kyouko’s unique customer handling, first of a lady who complained about feeling the heat and then a pair of youths who are also repressing their loliconism, Souta apologizes to Kyouko but antagonizes her yet again with an utterly unnecessary comment about her childishness. Man-hating Mahiru Inami is, accidentally-on-purpose, rostered onto his shift and she deals Souta a powerful punch in the face the moment she sees him. Souta wonders if he’ll be able to survive Wagnaria.

Reaction:

I wanted to check this out because Shizuka Itou voices a small supporting role but also because of the widely divergent first impressions. Methinks Scamp is indeed “a bit overly harsh” but he has looked at the source 4koma and if his characterization is accurate, it’s not promising for this series at all. That said, the first episode was successful in persuading me to give this series a try. Which is exactly what a first episode should do.

Contra RP‘s view that it “actually sort of enjoyable when it’s not blatantly winking at or focusing on these quirks”, I am quite curious to learn their back stories (no manga spoilers please) and see more interaction among the co-workers. For example, why does Yachiyo carry that sword? Doesn’t anyone say anything about it? How does Mahiro work with the (male) cooks and serve customers? Will Souta x Poplar go anywhere?

Most importantly, I like the way Wagnaria’s staff are doing their collective best despite their quirks. I was particularly cheered by how Poplar exhorted Kyouko to please act more manager-like and how Souta quickly placated the customer despite being the rookie. Despite Kyouko’s claim that she doesn’t work, it’s clear that she’s diligent with the rostering and is protective of Poplar whose genki get-going nature makes her the perfect postergirl for this series. The struggle to keep up the facade of normality, I like. (It’s also the reason why Nyamo is my favourite Azumanga chara.)  In this first episode, the job gets done and everyone is, indeed, Working!!

What Others Are Saying:

• Josh, like myself, is charmed by Poplar’s ability to be extremely cute without being extremely annoying that is a negative externality of this archetype.
• 2DT discusses how Working!! shows the human side of the Japanese service industry but seems horrified by how the honne has overwhelmed the tatamae.
• Andrew B’s post has lots of win just for the Kill Bill! reference.