Kimi ni Todoke 36-37 – Pastel Party (END)

Thought about making separate posts for the final two episodes, but since they aired together, I may as well post about them together, right?

Anyway, the ride is over, and considering how the second season began, it might be a slight shock that Kimi ni Todoke has actually come to a close now! (Ah, the days of me ranting about how long the series could keep the retarded misunderstandings in perpetuity seem so far away . . .) It’s a sweet ending, and I think everything is wrapped up in a relatively strong way. I actually wouldn’t be adverse to a third season, just because it’s so rare to see a relationship in anime develop past the point of confession, but I doubt it happens.

Out of curiosity, a question to those who are reading the manga and watching the anime: Is the anime still remaining faithful to the manga? Or did Production I.G step in and say, “Man, we gotta end this now” and have Kazehaya and Sawako hook up? Because if the manga is still keeping the cockblocking going, then that’s kind of ridiculous, but if it’s developing the relationship, then that might be interesting.

Kimi ni Todoke 35 – FINALLY.

And they raised a gigantic herd of baby raptors together . . .

So, hey, the moment the series has built to from the very beginning has finally arrived! I’d probably happier about it or in a pile of sentimental goo if there hadn’t been so many dumb, frustrating stalling tactics earlier in the series, but the actual moment is fairly sweet, and I like the way Sawako steels herself beforehand. It really does feel as if she has changed, and it’s not just her saying she’s changed because the plot demands it to be so. Go Sawako!

Kimi ni Todoke 34 – Joe Is a Fucking Idiot

If you’re like me and thinking of dinosaurs every time you look at these characters, then you probably hoped Kazehaya would suddenly spring up, whip out his toe claw and rip open Joe’s throat. I think Kazehaya is a dorky little wad of bland, but if he would have done that, then he would have my support for life.

Anyway, what, things HAPPEN in this episode?! Are we sure this is still Kimi ni Todoke? At least, things start to happen before Joe comes in and fucks everything up like he has ever since he toppled out of his mom’s gaping womb. Has Joe ever contributed anything of worth to anyone in his life? I doubt it. All he does is fail miserably and wander around waiting to start his next retard apocalypse. At least Pin inadvertently made Sawako feel better after crying. Joe delayed Sawako and Kazehaya getting their freak on for yet another episode. Way to go, fuckshit!

Kimi ni Todoke 33 – Miss Kuronuma, Tear Down that (Flimsy) Wall

I thought the aluminum can wall a rather appropriate metaphor for the wall between Kazehaya and Sawako: It’s hollow, malleable and easily kicked aside by anyone with the intelligence and will of a small child. So I am glad Sawako has decided to graduate to the status of small child.

In all seriousness, though, even my bitter heart could get behind the ending of this episode. As I’ve written in the past, I think Kimi ni Todoke is at its best when Sawako triumphs over the social paranoia that keeps her back, and not when it puts her through a needless emotional wringer. Sawako’s “FUCK THIS SHIT” moment is great, and something that had me cheering despite my feelings about the most recent episodes. She’s finally doing something for herself instead of kowtowing to people’s imaginary feelings. Good for her.

Kimi ni Todoke 32 – Dino Saucers

Can’t believe I have never written about this before, but has anyone else ever noticed that when the characters in Kimi ni Todoke are in profile, they look like freaky dinosaur people?

Seriously, it’s like the eighth ending of Chrono Trigger up in here. This has bugged me since I first watched Kimi ni Todoke. They look fine in all other instances, but when in profile . . . ew, just creepy as hell. What the hell is up with that? (Also, the disappearing eyes when characters’ hair flips in front of their face freaks the hell out me as well. This happens to Kazehaya a lot. It looks like his skull has caved in. Yuck.)

Kimi ni Todoke 31 – This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things

Apologies for this post being slightly later than usual. Been a bit busy the past couple of days.

Anyway, I read Roger Ebert’s Your Movie Sucks about a month ago. In his review of How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Ebert writes something that succinctly separates the difference between good fictional romance and bad: “The easiest thing at the movies is to sympathize with two people who are falling in love. The hardest thing is to sympathize with two people who are denying their feelings, misleading each other, and causing pain to a trusting heart.”

Bingo. I can’t speak for most people, but I like seeing two people who deserve each other fall in love. I’m a sap like that. What I don’t like, though, is when love is denied through contrived, artificial means. When two people who clearly like each other are kept apart by cheap drama and idiotic misunderstandings. That’s not compelling; that’s bad writing.

Kimi ni Todoke 30 – This Pissed Me Off in Escaflowne too

If I keep hammering away on the same points that frustrate me about Kimi ni Todoke week after week, then writing and reading these posts will become an awfully tedious experience, so I’ll try my best to avoid turning into a broken record. (It would be nice if the series evaded lame plot developments, but at the moment, this seems like too much to ask.)

Has the “guy who likes girl ‘accidentally’ happens upon girl with other guy” plot device ever worked decently for anything? It probably has, but off the top of my head, I can’t think of anything that pulled it off with any style. The one that pissed me off most was in Escaflowne, because I was super frustrated with the romance in the series, hated just about every character at that point (aside from my beloved Dilandau, of course, and he hadn’t been around for ages) and it was smack in the middle of an extraordinarily crappy run of episodes. Definitely the worst possible time for such a desperate plot twist.

So at least it’s not quite that bad in Kimi ni Todoke, but it’s not far off. In retrospect, though, it almost seems like destiny that this is how the story culminates, considering how the story has been handled to this point. But I won’t say more about that!

Kimi ni Todoke 29 – Kicking Ass and Taking Names

Oh man, Ayane, you are my most favorite of favorites right now. She is basically the audience proxy right now, and I love her for cutting through all the bullshit and giving Sawako and Kazehaya the metaphorical and literal kicks in the asses they need to get a move on already. Sawako may not be completely turned around after one talk, but at least she knows she is sending Kazehaya mixed signals, and Kazehaya has more evidence that he is acting like a dumbass. Of course, he is still going to puss out for now with Kent around. Jeez.

(By the way, did I call it or did I call it? This episode IMMEDIATELY launches into Sawako being confused and worrying right after Kazehaya specifically told her not to worry. That’s maybe the most predictable moment I’ve ever seen in anime.)

Kimi ni Todoke 28 – Nice Time to Be Cryptic

I’d bet heavy money on Sawako doing the exact opposite of this, but I’m pretty sure Vegas took the odds for that off the table. Although maybe Kazehaya telling Sawako that she would make a kickass teacher will distract her from Kazehaya being vague and cryptic and telling her not to worry about him being a vague, cryptic dumbass.

There’s a thin line between being considerate and being a plot-stalling pussy. Kazehaya thinks he is being the former, but he is really being the latter. Why? Because he already spent a whole two-cour season being considerate. Now he is on the verge of spending another single-cour season being considerate. That’s 37 episodes (if you don’t count the recap) of consideration. That’s quite a considerable number. We should consider giving him an award.

But why would they slow down? Presumably, the manga is going to come out for a while (I am not reading it, but this seems like a safe bet). And if Production I.G actually went with another season, then the show isn’t just an advertisement for the manga. So, can you imagine 50 episodes of waffling? 60? 70? More? In a sick way, I kind of want to see how long it could possibly go on. I mean . . . you can believably stall for only so long, right?

Kimi ni Todoke 27 – Grow a Pair

You said it, sister . . .

At least there’s now another potential rival around to boot Kazehaya in the ass, or else the guy would just waffle around until the end of time for fear of making poor ol’ Sawako’s heart explode. Yes, Kazehaya thought he could just dawdle around until his balls finally dropped and he would have the courage to tell Sawako he is head over heels in love with her. Surely no handsome stranger would show up out of nowhere in their second year of high school and become attracted to Sawako, and eventually attempt to make some sort of move on her, right? Of course not!

Not so fast, my friend!