Spoiler warning. Although you’ll be confused if you didn’t watch the show. So get to it!
So just a short while ago the anime series Oreimo (also known as “Ore no Imōto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai. , you jerk) wrapped up its second season(and entire series) by streaming three episodes to end it all(episodes 14,15, and 16 to be exact). Once the viewers finished up these episodes, they lit up(or rather wanted to light things up). Opinions swung all over the place on the internet over Oreimo’s farewell, but the most vocal were the angry fans. But nobody cares what they think; it’s about my unquestionable opinion! So let’s take a look at how Oreimo decided bid us farewell ,and how this contrasts with the rest of the episodes from this season(and yes, we’re just gonna forgot about the light novel and manga for now).
Deal with it.
Now a review of Oreimo’s first season was my second article to be published online on the Freakin Awesome Network(I’m good at conning people). In my review I mention that Kyousuke and Kirino’s relationship is that of a loving brother taking care of a growing up sister, and how it constantly gets seen as incest (especially among the eroge that they play). But Oreimo decides to say “fuck that, it’s all entirely about having a hard on for your little sister.” Oh yeah, they went there. Granted, season two left off on episode 13 vaguely hinting that he wasn’t gonna choose any of the girls around him, but it never said Kyousuke was gonna flat out date his sibling . It mostly told the story of a little kid sister looking up to her brother, and becoming severely disappointed over time as they grew up. As you may have guessed by now, throughout the three ending episodes, Kyousuke and Kirino admit their feelings for each other. Though they only agree for a short amount of time(specifically until graduation) to see each other as a couple since they know the relationship can’t carry on permanently.
The best way to describe these episodes is that they are not fan satisfying but logical (and poorly executed). This sudden change to all out incest didn’t really have much build up. In fact it is Kyousuke’s break up with Kuroneko that signals that he is heading for Kirino. He seems to have been lusting after a few of these girls for the majority of the second season, and then in a flash he shows no interest what so ever(especially considering how he cried like a little sissy when Kuroneko first broke up with him). So leaving the black cat out of nowhere just throws the tone even further away dramatically. Kyousuke admits that an opportunity like this will never happen, and that he is a dumbass for throwing it all away. But it is only slightly convincing since were too far in when he says it.
A silver lining to his rejection of the dark one is that we see quite a performance by Hana Kanazawa as she portrays very pissed Kuroneko as she goes through heartbreak. You can feel the sorrow and rage with each tear of her book.
And of course how can I not go over the showdown between Manami and Kirino. In what seemed to be an argument actually turned into a fist fight, and a sudden character change. Although this out burst from Manami actually did make sense (something we didn’t see coming but still works). After years of only logically speaking to Kirino, kindness and getting no progress, it would make sense that they would both say that the only way they can communicate is “through their fists”(for once this isn’t something normal in anime). And of course being taunted by Kirino at the moment her punches are about to fly make it the perfect breaking point. And this fight is probably one of the few moments where I actually felt the pain that characters inflict on each other. Just a few slaps and haymakers seemed more painful than most martial arts fights I’ve seen.
Although Kuroneko having a Pulp Fiction dance off would have been cool too.
While we’re on the topic of Manami, she did instantly become my favorite girl over Kuroneko. She was willing to help Kyousuke with his relationship with other girls, despite the fact that she likes him. She only opposes his relationship to Kirino because of incest, and warns them for their own good.
…and she is willing to take and give a punch too.
This will never get old.
To reiterate this massive text that you read, the three final episodes go like this: Kyousuke dumps Kuroneko, he admits his feelings for Kirino, a fist fight is agreed upon by Kirino and Manami, Kirino and Kyousuke reach graduation and share a mock marriage/a kiss(yup,a real one) as a way of officially ending their incest fun(followed by a trip to Akihabara to meet a new friend of Saori). All that wasn’t exactly the most enjoyable, happy ending they could have done but logically in some way it worked. They couldn’t keep this type of relationship going forever so they enjoyed while it lasted. And most relationships from high school don’t last beyond into college, so in some manner it works that he didn’t pick a non sisterly girl to go out with (kind of a flimsy excuse of mine since most anime don’t work that way, but that’s the only thing that works for me). And this all would have worked if they actually graced into it gradually. Instead we are never told why Kyousuke would prefer not to be with these girls, or why his sister would be better. If Aniplex (the producers behind the show) had done a better job, the second wouldn’t have look like it was undone.
It could have been worse. It could have been her.
I can’t say I hated this ending, but I didn’t exactly love it. It was just…there. At least I can take solace in the fact that it could have been worse. In fact, Kuroneko and Manami were given some pretty cool moments (I still have those images in my head). And it did have the same great humor that was present throughout the series.
In his defense, she was asking for it.
Riding in eroge style.
Oh well. If this wasn’t quite the high school anime you wanted to see, don’t worry. I’m reviewing Kotoura-san next time. Plenty of light hearted laughs for the following. ;)
Spoiler warning. Although you’ll be confused if you didn’t watch the show. So get to it![/caption]