Mikage has a way with making trouble...

Andy’s anguish continues this week as he is still unable to save Mix, as I suspected the curse of Eve is far more insidious than a merely lethal virus. So it seems that even the Iguras who survive the journey their troubles are far from over as the very air they breathe turns them into men. Yunoha nearly became Yunoha-kun, and while it was mildly amusing it seems that Izumo does have the crappiest job on Altair. Mikage is being everything but helpful, and it seems that the hard decisions to stave off extinction have fallen upon him. They are running out of energy to open the gate and Alicia remains the only Igura to have stayed a woman upon her arrival.

Not a lot happened but it does confirm a few things about Altair, their problems did not end with just a lack of women, even the women they take at best turn into men over the course of a few days. It seems very likely that Alicia did leave for Altair on her own volition and barring a Kawamori curve ball Izumo is likely Amata’s father. It seems fairly clear now that up until Alicia Izumo wasn’t taking every Igura he could get, but after seeing how some Iguras would turn into men assuming they even survived and with Alicia in eternal sleep there wasn’t much he could do with the limited number of jumps he had left. It seems clear that the Altean military follows Izumo not only out of loyalty but because they still desperately hope for a solution in the face of extinction. Izumo is a powerful man but it seems that he isn’t power hungry nor does he relish making all the hard decisions. All that he has done he did for Altair, on that I think he is telling the truth. That he did not expect to see Amata so soon indicates that Izumo was at least aware of Alicia’s son if he wasn’t in fact the father.

Given how the journey is limited to a few individuals it is likely evacuation isn’t possible for most of Altair’s population. The prevalence of unmanned units seems to confirm this and given how they have trouble getting people alive from Vega, it is likely that the inverse is also true. Altair might be the most subtly oppressive setting in recent memory, it was not war, government, nor corporations that created this dystopia, it was a population crash that left all the women dead and a planet of mass graves. There is no more love and there are no more children. It seems to be a planet that goes slowly towards the abyss. Joy, happiness, and love have all left Altair. Still there has yet to be a full blown invasion of Vega though it may come to pass the eventually Izumo will throw in his lot with Fudo now that Mikage seems to have possibly overplayed his hand. If fate is unkind then Izumo and Altair will back Mikage after the latter starts spreading his hateful flower petals here there and everywhere.

Amata is going to have a few things to mull over now that Izumo has told him everything; hopefully Amata can find a reasonable explanation as to why Alicia has a shrine. Maybe we will find out if Alicia simply abandoned him or if she did not wish to risk her son through the long journey through Altair. I guess we will find out at a later episode. Poor Andy however did not take kindly to letting Mix slip through his fingers. I am sure he will be kicking himself even harder now, and with any luck Mix will be making a sortie to Vega. I admire the amount of effort Andy put into his failed rescue attempt, it wasn’t from a lack of trying. Even though fate has yet to grant Mix and Andy lasting happiness at least now they seem to have escaped Mikage’s notice for the short term. I just hope that Andy and Mix will not have to kill each other now that they are on opposing sides.

Now that Mikage has played his new and terrible hand perhaps Izumo will finally take steps to oppose the vile enemy of love. Mikage has started his invasion of Vega with Kagura leading the vanguard, I shudder at the thought of what vile betrayal he will force Zessica to make but this series is drawing towards the final showdown. I did not see much to give me hope that Zessica can now change her terrible fate, but I hope that somehow some way she can still do her part to impede Mikage’s plans.

HER NAME IS ALICIA.

How could he? You have not told anyone.

Yunoha-kun was waxing manly.

Yeah you're both dying and seem to have a peculiar lack of women.

This is the most philosophical that Captain Morgan has ever waxed.

I wonder if this is how Kawamori talks on a daily basis.

Well...

So much for the Touma theory.

They tried, they really tried.

Well scratch that, Donar's lost love is likely dead.

Jin-kun certainly was adorable in kindergarten.

Sadly this doesn't seem to get you much sympathy.

If only there was a better way to find her.

This tale of woe is by no means short...

I am sure it is.

At least Andy did not staying down for this one.

Oh and by the way don;t you even think about stealing from that locker.

Oh so that's what Mix was talking about.

I hope that the power of love will eventually prevail.

I wonder what caused such a terrible curse...

They would have stopped at Alicia if they could have.

What kind of Iguras?

Ah...

I wonder what Element powers Alicia had.

Well...that is the million dollar question...

Clearly Izumo has the crappiest job on Altair.

It's not just a curse it was extinction.

I guess they didn't pay much attention to Yunoha's powers.

Hello I am looking for Mix and her Andy have you seen them?

So this is how Minmay felt...

THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE.

Oh wait we haven't gotten to the dad part yet.

I know...

Yeah Izumo would have sooner believed in flying rocks...

Yeah you can't refute that.

I take it that you input was limited.

Please do tell...

Obi Wan never told you what happened to him...

Yeah on that we all seem to agree.

It would be something if Shrade didn't die.

Yunoha-kun says the funniest things.

Fighting Mikage by moonlight, saving Mix by daylight...

Here's the proof...

Can't treat that guy like an unmanned unit...

All too real...

What did you think Izumo killed them?

Which makes me wonder where the rest of the survivors were posted.

Such a rare and terrible.

Well at least now we all know the reasons behind the desperation.

I still think that Mikage was the once who doomed them all.

Well at least she isn't KIA or in the clutches of Mikage.

I think you sensed it, sort of.

Your Love for her will make you powerful.

The Gods did weep at Andy's anguish.

Well if nothing else Mix will be easy to find in future fights.

I forgive you Mix you are not yourself.

LOL all Kawamori had to do was add a Y... Chromosome.

FUCK YOU MIKAGE FUCK YOU.

Sure but when it happens I hope if Mugen Punches you in the nuts.

It's not like you are helping or doing much than being an asshole.

Goddamn it...

Shit, and here I was hoping Kagura was howling in some cage.

Mikage you SON OF A BITCH. I hate flowers...

Oh Hyouka, why you so Sherlock.

I’m starting to think that the Satoshi-Houtarou bromance is waaay better than whatever’s going on in Sakamichi no Apollon. Seriously if the guys in Sakamichi no Apollon turned gay it would resolve all the relationship problems. The beauty of Yaoi breaks all borders and heals all wounds.

Except of course Houtarou needs to be tsundere. Every KyoAni production needs a tsundere.

Don’t fight it. You know that Satoshi-Houtarou is a much better pairing than Eru-Houtarou.

>no plot relevance
>excessive environmental detail
>excessive environmental detail despite 5 seconds of screentime per background
>deliberate focus on the bicycle chains in action

Sneaking suspicion that KyoAni threw in this scene just to show off how much money they have effort they put into quality animation

The Chitanda Estate, while large, is stupidly dull. I look at the pervasive blue and green and I actually feel frustrated. It’s simply not natural to have a human structure being this nature-esque. Humans always have to leave their mark on their territory, no matter what. Dammit, it’s a house, a residence; not an army encampment trying to remain unnoticed by reconnaissance satellites.

Maybe it’s some sort of conscious design decision that speaks about its owners – that they’d rather be inconspicuous than show off their wealth.

Although I imagine it might be difficult to be inconspicuous when your private estate has enough land space to grow your own rice.

KyoAni is really enjoying itself with all the art styles they’re throwing in. Their animation meetings probably revolve around whatever the artists felt like drawing that week.

Also, don’t you find it sad that Eru’s only valid contribution to the discussion was “My uncle confronted something and then left the school”? Everything else she said was disproved and shot down. I know she’s not supposed to be smart, but to be appointed Hyouka’s Captain Obvious is really tragic.

Otherwise, the analysis is getting deeper every week. Now we don’t even have direct witnesses – all the data is from indirect sources and they need to be cross referenced. I particularly liked the reasoning behind the theory that the Sekitani Incident and the Legendary Movement are one and the same.

Methinks Houtarou is less Sherlock than he is Mycroft. Average grades on his examinations, and he couldn’t get any data beyond the whitewashed propaganda from the official school history text. He’s a deductive genius but can’t gather or store information to save his life.

Of course, there’s always the chance that Houtarou expected the other three to have found all the information available, so he wouldn’t actually have to bother. Any extra effort would be redundant, yes?

Next level cognitive processes in action.

The disassembled clock machinery is just there to look cool. At the rate we’re going, we’d hit Suzumiya Haruhi OP levels of scientific equation abuse by episode 13, and by series’ end I’d be expecting Lovecraftian geometries and incomprehensible arcane scrawls.

Yeah, I didn’t really get anywhere with this week’s episode. I didn’t even know if they were already trying to figure out the actual Sekitani events, or to separate fact from fiction just to get a vague idea of what happened. Going by how the meeting ended, I guess everyone really had low expectations all around.

Half-expected Houtarou to flip tables and curse them out for expecting a plausible hypothesis with so little data to work with, but I guess it takes less effort to make an inference or two.

Still, credit to Houtarou for building a strong theory that the culture fair was the root of the incident. Mayaka’s starting to question why she likes Satoshi in the first place. Brainy is the new sexy, after all.

But you know what’s the best part about Houtarou’s flimsy conclusion? We still don’t know what exactly the students did to protest. That means that it is still entirely possible that they participated in a massive, non-violent public exhibition of immorality and licentiousness.

Because we’re now spending the next 18 episodes trying to figure out why your memory-retention abilities are sorely lacking, my dear.

Also I find that I write better when I criticize something. And there’s nothing more enjoyable than criticizing the things I like. So from now on I think I’m going to be ripping the heck out of Hyouka. Out of love, of course. Out of love.

Episode rating:

2 out of 5 disapproving Mycroft Holmes’

“He’s always been so resentful.”

Yeah I think a lot of us felt that way...still the one who needs killing is Mikage.

When it rains it pours and as I had feared Mikage has taken dreadful notice of Zessica and made her his unwilling servant. Andy is going through a prolonged period of depression and nothing Yunoha can do seems to bring so much as a respite from the painful loss of Mix. Fudo is still out and about but Mikono shows some rare bit of initiative and heads out to find him. Zessica may have been forced into a Faustian bargain but Mikage does indeed open the Gate to Altair and like Zessica’s damnation.

Upon arriving on Altair the rescue team quickly pieces together the dire situation on Altair. The planet is dying the metal shielding is little more than a poor substitute for an atmosphere and no one on this planet seems to recognize women any more. Fudo may have gone to play with ants but I am glad to see that team selection was spot on for the most part. It is most fortunate that the Alteans have yet to devise a means to counter Yunoha’s powers. Nevertheless they now have a Vector and will soon unlock its secrets. Worse still it by keeping it they have now halved the combat power of Vega.

Yunoha and Zessica start feeling some strange effects from the planet throat issues and feminine itching. It seems that one does not simply walk I to Altair for it is highly likely that the very air they breathe is hostile to women. Jin maybe dead but he left his legacy to Yunoha and through the iVision they were able to obtain the layout of the primary control tower.

Sadly while Andy maybe desperate he is not able to kill without compunction and in the final tally Amata goes to Alicia where it is probable that he will face Izumo. Shrade, Yunoha, and Zessica were pinned down without any idea of what Amata and Andy are doing. Andy gets dragged off after he is overwhelmed and has his position overrun. They now have one day to effect an escape lest the last five Vectors find their way into Altean custody.

Mix is not dead nor is she comatose, however, now that her fate seems to have been altered I fear that Andy and Mix may end up killing each other in the fire fights to come. I do not know if Izumo deliberately repurposed Mix, Donar’s lost love, and Donar’s missing comrade but it is certain that he intends to send them into combat. Altair does not have element users and since those three were the only known Rare Iguras to have made the jump it is very possible that the other two knew Donar. Moreover Jin was the last child born and yet Mix and the others seem to be roughly the same age if not younger.

I don’t think Izumo altered their fate given how desperate he his to find Eve. However I suspect that Altair may well be hostile to women and of the fate of the non-element users that went through the gate we know not. Female Element users seem to be turned into men given how Yunoha  and Zessica had throat issues (deeper voice) and Zessica had stomach problems (alteration of uterus). Perhaps this change is merely physical but the process is, however, by no means quick. Mix had been there for a week and became a guy, it seems Izumo would have little chance to collate data on how it worked his sense of desperation becomes increasingly understandable. It is likely that Alicia is the only woman to have passed through and stayed a woman. However it seems that while Izumo does not have the science to save Altair he does have enough know how to alter the memories of Mix and while he did not find the True Eve he is going to use the three element users as pilots for the captured Vector and standard Gnis. More worryingly however is that now all five Vectors are on Altair and no doubt Mikage will aim to capture them. Izumo might well do the same if only to gain military superiority now that Altair is doomed if he does nothing.

I am surprised that Kawamori has been able to stretch out the suspense. It is killing me inside as I agonize over the fate of Andy and Mix now that fate alteration is in play, I think we all suspected that horrible deaths were the most likely fate of Rare Iguras who warped to Altair. Immortal Andy or no it is very possible that Andy’s torment is just beginning. In fact he seems to be the next candidate for a mind wipe as Izumo seems desperate for element users. Turning into men was something I don’t think any of us could have foreseen. It invites the potential path to salvation but it may well be that Mikage has them kill each other. Still I am praying that Andy’s love will find a way, there will be no neat resolution. Zessica is now a sleeper agent and looks to be fated to betray her friends, I pray for her soul and salvation, but FUCKING MIKAGE. Well at least if Sazanka ever gets scouting duty on Altair she will be a very happy woman for about a week…

ANDY SMASH!

It probably would have been better if they forced you to sortie.

Not much just be patient...

Noble sentiment for one so small.

I am not giving up and so should you.

Ugh...

SHIT SHIT...

LIAR! THERE IS A GULF OF DIFFERENT SO VAST THE UNIVERSE COULD NEVER CONTAIN IT!

NOOOOOOOOO...

I bet you would do that literally...

This Faustian Bargain will not end well...

SHE DID NOT AGREE AWAY WITH YOU DEMON! CURR!

Ugh...at least he didn't steal Zessica's first kiss.

Fuck...I forgive you. You are not yourself.

I guess she avoids triggering her death flag.

I guess Izumo now has the ability to do mind wipes.

I am sure they are, I also am betting that they are not of Altair.

It's the story of your life...

I guess Jin really is missed.

A possible solar shield?

I'll give this to the Alteans when their world was dying they sure as hell moved mountains to respond.

That fucker Mikage beating up old women like that...

Glad you made it but you will not like what you see...

I guess Apple survived, perchance is the Ghost of Jobs still with you?

I guess even the old have forgotten what women look like, that or booze makes you old...

Even in her doom she seeks to do good.

It's more than look mister...

Well they are mostly for nursing babies...

So I wonder if having the Mikage also means that their balls are no more...

OH SHI- Shrade has a NICE IDEA...

...

I don't think Shrade is going to settle for a few coins...

Sazanka would love it here.

Sharde wins, though this would make it Mix's nightmare.

Yeah...

One does not simply walk into Altair for the very air you breathe is a poisonous fume...

Jin covered all the bases, may his legacy lead to Mikage's doom.

Well admittedly Izumo didn't think that Mikage would open the gate for an invasion.

That is some head gear...

Green and Purple huh?

Andy's desperate...

Technically speaking Andy does have a big gun, only he can't fire anything other than AP rounds.

HOLD THE LINE!

If only they brought re-breathers.

I guess Shrade will join Andy in being an Agent of Love.

Something about those eyes...

Well this confirms dude status.

I think St. Patrick is trying to tell you something...

What of the maintenance tunnels or a fire escape? Don;t you build these things to code?

Have you Harry Ord?

I have a feeling as to the why...but Andy isn't monster.

I salute your foresight.

Do You Remember?

Thus did Andy take on the mantle of the hero he aspired to be.

He's going to fly down this trench and fire two proton torpedoes...

You said you wanted to meet again...

Why don't you chase a shiny object too while you are at it?

Happy Mother's Day, by the way.

Just as she was when she left yes?

Glad to have a reunion, but who's the dad?

Andy went down swinging.

Immortal indeed, he fought off a whole company.

For the love of the Trap in Yellow...

Do You Remember Love? Because I am sure Andy remembers you.

LOL Kuko is playing cupid.

This may be simply another monster of the week but the Yuri is strong in this series and Kuko is now joined by another to further the cause. Kuko is really starting to become my favorite she is not only strong in the yuri but she also has a gift for shipping. I had suspected that Hasuta-kun wanted to take part in the Mahiro sweepstakes, but bless Kuko for forcing the issue and setting the Flags.

I have no idea what Ruuhii is up to but I hope that it involves this and that as well as a night of Ruuhii and Yoriko that goes on forever and ever. Husband or no, the Gods have spoken and thus I will ship it. Mr. Yasaka should be honored for his lovely wife has attracted the attentions of those who are infinitely his greater. If nothing else I like Ruuhii’s choice of car I guess we now know what became of the Delorean after it went off the rails. Ruuhii’s powers of restoration sure are something even if she just could not resist repainting the vehicle a new glorious green. I eagerly look forward to see what fathomless plot Ruuhii is making up. Right now she has done nothing wrong and while Nyaruko is an agent of justice, it seems that Nyaruko is abusing her powers for personal gains for Mahiro.

I am unsure what sweet nothings that Ruuhii whispered into the ears of Yoriko and Kuko but it must have been compelling and deep. Kuko seems to have once again gotten into a lovers quarrel with Nyaruko but it is un fortunate that Nyaruko can’t even so much as admit that Kuko has been there and dere for her. I cannot fault Kuko for moving things along and who knows maybe having Hasuta-kun’s flag set will compel Mahiro into making a decision.

Hasuta-kun’s cult must certainly be swelling with new believers. Hasuta has stolen the coveted first kissu and has challenged the rights of the first girl. Mahiro might think that it did not count but stat sheets say otherwise. If he thinks that he has delayed Hasuta-kun with the 25 million year cycle, he is going to be sorely disappointed for time and gender are of no concern to the Gods. Nyaruko may have the map weapons but I guess that Hasuta-kun will be the only one avoiding the forks. I am not saying that Mahiro is now broken but I find it curious that Mahiro is going out of his way to be nice to Hasuta-kun while his rejection of Nyaruko’s advances are much more firm and violent…

This show is still going strong and if you did not laugh at the Nephren-car well maybe it is time to turn in your nerd card, and forfeit what ever san-points you have assuming you still have any at this point.

I take it that Kuko is also the goddess of wisdom.

If only Nyaruko were apt to listen.

Wait I thought those cats ate old people only...

LOL THE PUN.

Prepare to lose you sanity points.

YES.

Nyaruko is defining her ownership rights.

If only the first girl did not have a ridiculous advantage.

I see she has her eye on the real prize...

Yes my yuri ship for Yoriko is going along nicely.

Of that I have no doubt.

Oh just this and that...and a night of Yoriko and Ruuhii that goes on forever and ever.

Ruuhii has loved you for the last 12,000 years.

I guess she prefers the foreplay.

Let's see who is more one with the Yuri...

I wonder what sweet nothings she whispered into Kuko's ears.

Unintentional carry.

So where is Marty McFly?

Yes she did, in fact she tries hard everyday.

Life is worth living even if sanity is not worth keeping.

Time for a SUPER?

YES.

LOL so that's what happened to that old Pharoh...

Speaking of entrance music I think we can all use upgrades for every one.

Uh oh...

As did we all.

Well admittedly getting mad about it will not help.

O_o

Oh "take responsibility" time.

Thus did the cult of Hasuta-kun swell to over a million.

He's so trappy...

Say it five more time and it might come true.

OH YES IT DOES COUNT.

Wait did his sanity points just regenerate?

As you can see the Gods favor the quick confession.

Gender has no meaning for the divine.

Heard what? Hydra-chan's love songs?

Dang not a 12,000 year cycle?

If you can't do at least 8,000 you have no business dealing with love.

Keep in mind that time is also meaningless to the Gods.

I take it that Pinky Swears hold special meaning for the Gods.

Remember this one is binding hence why Kuko did not take Nyaruko home last time...

Ready?

FIGHT!

Of course, if I was seeing the world through technicolour lenses, I’d be having too much fun to bother with this “observing” stuff.

It’s like being high and getting the associated sensory processing disorders, but without actually being high! (ﾟ∀ﾟ)

Eru outright begging for assistance. From what we’ve seen of Houtarou, he could probably manipulate her into serving his own interests, if you know what I mean.

I can’t help but wonder what Houtarou’s thinking. I’d imagine he’s visualizing a graph of Effort against Pleasure, and determining that his usual utility function won’t intersect the new shift as per a-successful-manipulation/corruption-of-a-cute-innocent-girl.

Which is why Houtarou is seriously unrealistic. We all know that at that age, all humans possessing the Y-chromosome would move mountains for the possibility of serving his own interests.

Or, Houtarou really does abide by his code of minimal effort. Which is also sadly realistic, from a sad (and having no other option) foreveralone point of view.

One of my favourite parts of the episode. No matter how good Houtarou is with observations and deductions and mental chess, he still has to suffer through examinations like the rest of us.

That’s right. There’s a lesson to be learnt here. That education systems worldwide are flawed and only serve to keep talent under a dirty metaphorical jackboot.

The objective behind this episode’s puzzle, and simultaneously the part of the puzzle that prevented me from seeing the answer.

More on this later.

What I liked about this episode’s puzzle was how it was presented. No longer did Houtarou outright mention the clues – and hence not immediately providing a crutch for the viewer, but irrelevant information was also thrown into the mix.

It’s no longer just a matter of taking the pieces and trying to make them fit. It’s now a matter of taking the pieces, figuring out which pieces don’t fit, then making a connection with the rest.

Which is how mysteries ought to be. They’re mysteries, not jigsaw puzzles.

“Dear God, what is it like in your funny little brains, it must be so boring.”

Except that Houtarou would never say anything like that, because Houtarou isn’t a supposed high-functioning sociopath with the immature need to show off his abilities and impress a random woman who makes him feel special.

Well, not too sure about that last bit. Time will tell.

I absolutely love this part of Houtarou. If there’s not enough data, get more. Simple.

And to think that there are thousands of amateur mystery writers out there who struggle to account for their “realistic” characters having unrealistic access to all sorts of vital information. Or the even more unrealistic alternative where one scrap of information suddenly reveals the antagonist’s plans in obscene detail.

Why have the main character create ludicrously convoluted mental flowcharts to arrive for the most probable solution based on the given data, when you can just introduce some chaos and see what happens?

Aha! A clue!

Joker: 1, Batman: 0.

Is there anything more aggravating knowing that you’re being blackmailed, that you’re not capable of doing anything about it, and that you’re going to have to go through with it? And on top of that, that your blackmailer is genuinely sorry for blackmailing you in the first place?

The dude’s rage is delicious. KyoAni deserves some sort of animation award for conveying such anger without having to resort to the usual anime facial contortions.

This is the other part I love about Houtarou.

In fiction, intelligence is often depicted as having the ability to predict the outcome of certain situations. Which honestly makes more sense than having a whole bunch of degrees. When people say that Bane is a genius supervillain, they don’t point to his expertise in chemistry or botany or whatever. They point to the fact that he broke Batman’s spine. (EDUCATION SYSTEMS I AM LOOKING AT YOU. AGAIN.)

But the thing with predicting outcomes is that it’s unrealistic. Sure, it makes a character look awesome. For all of maybe 2 seconds. Because at some point, a logical mind with a good grasp of statistics and probability is going to call bullshit on the whole thing. And your awesome character is now an arrogant Detective Sue.

Also, setting up an expectation is just tempting fate. Remember all those times you went into an examination telling your friends that you were going to kick ass, and then having to sneak out the back door in shame because you got blindsided by an overzealous professor?

For all Houtarou knew, the other dude could have burnt the anthologies out of spite, after they left. Imagine confidently stating “they’ll be on the table when we get back” and returning to find a pile of ashes.

Houtarou doesn’t predict outcomes (unless he’s already manipulated it himself, like episode 1′s note). I don’t even think he had any expectations. He merely returned to the clubroom and let the results speak for themselves.

So yes. I didn’t manage to figure out this week’s puzzle.

I saw the infrared detectors, the makeshift table, air freshener and fan and open window, and the shirt on the table. Especially the shirt on the table.

The newspaper dude didn’t want to be disturbed, something was under the table, and he had to get rid of a scent in the air.

I concluded that the newspaper dude was having sex in the classroom and was hiding the girl under the makeshift table. Who might not be able to keep silent for long, or would otherwise be suffering under there. And the Fresh Prince of Bel Air Combo was to drive out any… unchaste odours.

Yeah, that damn shirt got me good.

How was I to know that the safe was so damned big? That it would require so much camouflage to hide it?

In hindsight, I should have expected that it had to be sufficiently large to store decades’ worth of anthologies, but even then it didn’t need to be of that size.

I suppose I didn’t really believe that the safe was in the room in the first place. I thought the safe was somewhere else entirely, and newspaper dude just had the misfortune of wanting to hide something else when the Hyouka crew turned up.

Although if it really was a girl, newspaper dude could just ask for 5 minutes and get her out of the way before letting the Hyouka crew search the room. Which would have disproved the theory that he was hiding a girl. HINDSIGHT IS ALWAYS 20/20.

I also apologize for constantly making references to a hypothetical girl without considering the alternative. The newspaper dude may have been hiding a guy. I’m just handicapped by having to work with my predominantly heterosexual mindset. So now you know.

Murder? Blackmail? Super epic sex party conducted by the chairman of the very first Classics Club?

Wait, it can’t be that last one. That wouldn’t have traumatized Eru one bit.

/frivolous-insinuations-regarding-characters-sexual-proclivities

That would have been too easy.

I just hope that each year’s Classics Club alumni haven’t been retelling the original story in each year’s anthology in a bizarre variant of broken telephone and the Hyouka crew needs to compare them to find the unembellished truth.

Which would make for a great way to pass the time, sure, but an absolute wreck of an anime. Think Endless Eight, but with no swimsuits. -shudders-

Episode (I actually enjoyed both, my failure makes me spiteful) Mystery rating:

2.5 out of 5 mildly annoyed John Watson’s

“Look, forget it. I thought I was onto something, I wasn’t.”

Apologies for the delay, got a bit off track last week. This week’s chapters focused on the characters’ summer break and the lead up to the town’s summer festival, as well as the festival itself. The timing of the chapters was rather convenient, since it nicely stops for my week’s reading at a big confession scene and the immediate reactions of the characters. There was much drama, but at this point, I ain’t even mad.

.

Summary of this week’s chapters: Haruto is thinking about Nanami a lot lately, now that the Eba sisters appeared to have sorta patched things up. Nanami for her part has been trying to reach out to Haruto more, and things are looking up for them. Yuzuki also appears to change the status quo, learning how to ride a bike so she’s not dependent upon Haruto to get to and from school. This is all part of her master plan, of course. It’s just another way for her to switch things up on Haruto: having established a status quo of being dependent and then getting physically and emotionally close to Haruto, she now upsets his routine and makes him worry about her being on her own. So, Haruto is again off-balance and Yuzuki is once again in control of his thinking. As summer break begins, Narumi drives Aoi, Haruto, Nanami, Yuzuki, Takashi, and Akari to the beach for some fanservice a day of swimming and building sandcastles. Haruto and Nanami have some time to themselves briefly, though Haruto continues to be lame and won’t go swimming.

Later, Rin comes to visit Haruto’s house and begins stirring the drama pot. Takashi seems to have a big crush on her, for he knows not the dangerous and powerful forces he is meddling with. They go on a barbecue at the same area that Akari tried going with Narumi, and things get a little out of Yuzuki’s control. Nanami and Haruto are getting closer faster than she anticipated, so she intentionally falls down to get Haruto’s attention and redirect his thoughts from how much he like Nanami to how much Yuzuki ‘always makes me worry about her.’ In the following days, Nanami and Rin are together on a shopping trip when Nanami, ignorant of Rin’s ways and too kind to be suspicious, lets slip crucial information. She’s planned to go to the summer festival alone with Haruto instead of with the group. Rin’s drama gears start turning and then tells her that Haruto missed their shopping trip to Hiroshima because he went to Tokyo with Yuzuki. The night of the festival, everyone’s there except for Yuzuki. No one knows where she disappeared to, but Haruto has an idea and runs off into the woods to find her, even though he was there with Nanami. He eventually finds her at the lake shore, in perfect, drama timing to see the very last firework ‘bloom’ over the lake. They then head back and find Nanami at the convenience store. Yuzuki runs off, knowing what sort of bomb she’s leaving to explode, and Nanami and Haruto get to talking. She finally answers his confession, by saying that they can’t date after all. She spoke earlier to Rin, who kind of leveled with her for once and said that they’re alike in that they’re both too possessive to tolerate bullshit things like running off to Tokyo with another girl for two days. Haruto returns home, at first seeming okay with it. But Yuzuki, wasting no time at all, ‘comforts’ him to set herself up for the rebound. Keikaku doori.

Commentary

Pssh, not with this author.

The main reason why I ain’t even mad with these developments is 1) the author has pretty much neglected Nanami in terms of character development, and 2) Haruto is in the red a bit in terms of how much I like him as a character. Yuzuki has gotten all the attention and has details added to her character that Nanami just doesn’t have. Despite my liking Nanami much more than Yuzuki, this is pretty much only based on her seeming like a nicer person and (much less importantly) being better looking. I really don’t know much about this character, not enough to get really invested in shipping her with Haruto. He is the second problem. And yes, it is a problem when I can’t get into something enough to rage. Haruto started out as average male protagonist, and hasn’t built up any good points for me. The opposite, in fact, as he’s continued to ‘worry’ about Yuzuki and run after her at every opportunity, as well as being a little bitch when they went to the beach and he just sat stewing on the beach when everyone else was having fun. I don’t hate him at this point, but he’s got nothing going for him. He and Yuzuki might become a garbage scow at this rate, like Hiro X Miya in ef: A Tale of Memories. I copyright that shipping term, by the way.

She’s a Shiki! Kill it with fire!

Rin was certainly fun to watch, as she stirred up drama just for the hell of it. She thinks all the people around here are just toys for her amusement, and despite someone like that being a terrible human being in real life, she’s fun to watch here. I especially enjoyed how she threw the water balloon at Haruto when she didn’t get her desired reaction from him. She did have a moment of unusual candor with Nanami though. When she sat and talked with Nanami the night of the festival, she was the most honest I’ve seen her up to this point. Perhaps in identifying with Nanami in that one respect, she had found someone she could open up to. (I ship it.)

The balloon throwing being the highlight of things in these chapters.

The author likes big butts (and boobs) and he cannot lie.

I swear, by the kinds of visual and psychological fanservice in this manga I’m starting to construct some sort of psychological profile of the author. Just as his preference for Yuzuki is very obvious, so is his preference, or at least fantasy, in women. I mean, really. Nanami or Yuzuki have the smallest bust and even they’re above average for Japan. To each their own and all, but he’s not subtle in expressing his preferences through his characters. And on the psychological part, he’s had more than half of the female characters look devious and mischievous, and gives short shrift to the more reserved ones (Akari and Nanami.) First there was Aoi looking like she was going to step on Haruto in some kinky way, then there was Rin’s Shiki look that I referenced above, and even Yuzuki, his favorite that he hasn’t shown as being outwardly devious otherwise, gets the Shiki eyes when she tells Haruto that she’s heard something interesting, referring to hearing about Nanami’s plan to go to the festival with him. Even more evidence of which characters he favors, expressed by how many of his preferred traits are a part of them.

Nanami inadvertently enabled her ship to be sabotaged, but as Rin incisively put it while gloating over her work, Haruto really did it to himself. Even without Rin’s meddling, had they gotten together the trip to Tokyo would still be something they’d have to confront. Knowing Haruto, he’d probably try and hide it until someone else would let the secret out, which could possibly have caused them to break up. If he were a more honest person and just came out with it, things probably could have been salvaged. But that’s not something I’d expect from Haruto, really.

Yeah, can’t really get worked up about it. Things have now just proceeded to the next phase of Yuzuki’s plan. She appears to be combining classic rebound tactics with her usual strategy, which I’ve termed jigging after the fishing technique. She prolongs things by repeatedly manipulating Haruto’s affections up and down like you would when using a jig. Daily bike rides, up. “I’m cheering you on”!, down. Comforting him, up. And next, probably trying to repair things with Nanami enough to let them get close, but shoddily enough not to solve the underlying problem. Down. This is expected to repeat until she’s exhausted him enough that he’ll bite on one of the ‘up’ moments. She could move immediately to capitalize on the rebound situation, but I imagine she still hasn’t battered Haruto into submission to quite the consistency of lovesick paste that she’d prefer. Picky eater, that one.

Hyouka is a great many things – it is pretty, it is pretentious, it is trying very hard to be Haruhi 2.0. But I would not ever say that it is interesting. What else can you expect when the lead character’s primary motivation is a… very strict interpretation of the law of conservation of energy? Though the characters do have a sort of chemistry with each other, something about all of it feels artificial. And yet I keep watching it.

It’s about a boy (Oreki), and his friend (… does he have a name?), and the girl he doesn’t realize is his love interest (Chitanda). Together, they fight crime– I mean, they solve mysteries. Really, really silly mysteries. The story had to start somewhere, I guess, but it is more than a little difficult to care about the outcome when there is nothing at stake. At all. Okay, they just spent ten minutes figuring out what was up with that damned book. So what?

The closest thing to motivation I can discern is Oreki’s previously mentioned – but as yet nebulous – attraction to the perennially curious Chitanda girl. I guess you could consider her affection to be a sort of “stake,” in that Oreki’s solving mysteries amuses her, or something. But considering Oreki has yet to even realize that he cares about her like that, it should hardly count.

Which I suppose brings me to Chitanda herself, and how she is more boring than Clannad‘s Nagisa. Damning words, I know, but there you go. Her whole schtick is that… she’s curious. Well. Good for you. There was this neat little shot in the first episode, right after she and Oreki first met, where Oreki imagines her hair growing out like weeds and entangling him. All very symbolic and whatnot. Serious stuff. But it doesn’t really make sense, as Chitanda lacks any sort of engrossing characteristics. (She’s no Haruhi, is what I’m saying.)

Or maybe I’m thinking too hard about this and Oreki just has shit taste in women. That’ll have to do, I guess, since I can’t seem to bother dropping the damned show yet. Because Oreki is just too damned moe.

Yeah you know the crawling chaos...Herald of the Gods

The circle is nearly complete with Yoriko and Hasta-kun making their debuts. I approve of Nyaruko’s attempt to make her case with her future mother-in-law, unfortunately her tall tale was more prophetic than she could have imagined. Fortunately for Nyaruko and Kuuko, Yoriko the Deity Hunter is going to support them by opening up her home and her heart. Nyaruko might not have earned daughter-in-law status but Kuuko is having a bit more luck due to a fated convergence of hobbies. Yoriko is a woman after my heart as she fully embraces the idea that adulthood is the perfect opportunity to have a second childhood. I applaud her vast collection of old consoles and huge piles of games, I think Kuuko will be most happy with her new friend Yoriko as they spend many hours gaming together. Her need for Sononium is curious but hey whatever it takes to keep the sadness down. If nothing else it is a brilliant way to justify excessive hugging.

Kuuko was coming out in full force again this week. Last time we had the ribbons this time we have Kuuko getting lovey dovey with Nyaruko’s soft supple bottom, and she even netted some Nyaruko goods. I am glad that despite Nyaruko’s aggressive campaign to make babies with Mahrio, that Kuuko is still going for it. What a glorious event it would be if Kuuko and Nyaruko would have each other’s babies. Even better Kuuko seems to be planning her “Night of just Kuuko and Nyaruko that Goes on Forever and Ever” by asking Tamao for advice on how to drive Nyaruko wild. I find myself being increasingly curious about their days in space kindergarten. I think that Kuuko is going to keep it up all season and spread glorious yuri for another eight episodes. I for one cannot be any more elated until Kuuko does something more AMAZING in her fevered pursuit of Nyaruko.

Nyaruko breaks out some more fun this time around with some awesomely sourced lamb, sadly it seems that Mahiro has yet to embrace the culinary delights of space. In good time I suppose, besides I am sure Yoriko isn’t going to waste the food Nyaruko has diligently been bringing in. I am not one to question the Gods but I am unsure as to why Nyaruko want Mahiro to take the initiative when it has been hers to abuse with gusto. I guess Nyaruko has every right to dream butI can scarcely imagine what she could possibly do to accelerate the fall of Mahrio’s sanity points. Still the process might go a little faster now that Hasuta-kun has landed on Earth.

I guess it was only a surprise for Mahiro that Hasuta-kun was a guy, the clothing was a hint. However it seems Hasuta-kun the King in Yellow likes to wear his hair long and carry around a star shaped satchel. It is not a man purse it’s a satchel because Indiana Jones had one. If Mahiro thinks that things cannot get any crazier he is in for a rude awakening as Hasuta-kun seems to have taken a liking to Mahiro as well. Given how popular Hasuta-kun was at school I am sure than upon enrollment that he will be the talk of the class and will have a cult of his own within a day. Nodens maybe out of the picture for a while, but another has put her plans into motion. I am not sure who she is with her fathomless plans and non-Euclidean curves but it seems that she is on a collision course with Yoriko. I just hope that they can have a civil conversation and that no lasting damage is done to the neighborhood. Hasuta-kun seems to be on a mission of some sort, it will no doubt be a success as Nyaruko and Kuuko will be there to make it so.

...

I applaud Nyaruko's attempt to force an arranged marriage.

Say it often enough and people will believe you.

Maybe you both can have enough kids to make a soccer team.

The have superior stats and passed their stealth checks.

Well other than attack him with love.

I guess some fathomless plan has been set in motion...

To show that the Yasaka clan will want a dowry for Mahrio?

Ah so that is how deity hunters exchange information.

Well I for one think you look divine yourself.

Why can't I have that job?

So are you a Miskatonic Alumni?

He's a luck man.

...Kuuko is envious.

NICE IDEA.

Now that is innuendo...

I guess this tops knee kissing.

The thing about assumptions...

especially bold ones...

Is that they can lead to disappointment.

Nyaruko's future mother-in-law is most wise and gracious.

Oh my...Yoriko you are AWESOME.

Raise your hand if you have ever wanted to do or are doing the same.

Kuuko and Yoriko will be getting along famously.

Thank you for the bit of divine wisdom, milady.

THAT is some expensive and exquisite Lamb, and we think Veal is the the epitome of controversial food.

Now that is how you cover all you bases.

I think the Cult of Kuuko and the Cult of Yoriko saw a spike in recruitment.

Why a cushion though?

LOL, still that is some fine prototyping.

It's surprisingly durable.

That she did...

So I guess that Kuuko is taking Yoriko seriously.

Don't forget Nyaruko you need to keep your stock up with the mistress of the Yasaka School of Deity hunting.

Why do I get the feeling that the forks are also used for eating...

Kuuko feels the BURNING.

I like a fiery fight.

Man I wish my imagination were still that good.

I guess if Tamao can't get a story she will have to move another along.

I am surprised that Nyaruko is insisting Mahiro take the initiative.

I guess Tamao is the resident giver of love advice.

Good to see that Kuuko wants to make the "Night of Kuuko and Nyaruko that Goes on Forever and Ever" to be extra special.

Yoriko loves her son that much.

Dude you should try In-n-Out.

I know the feeling it compelled me to buy Sailor Moon Manga.

Oh...

Indeed.

You sound disappointed despite the tumultuous cheer that originated in Malaysia.

House Yasaka seems to be famous in space.

Who might you be Sister? Are you by chance part of the Church of Violence?

o

I see that Yoriko is going to have a chance to show off her skills.

So much for a quick recovery...

I had hoped that Mix and Andy would patch things up quickly and it was a most rude surprise to see it all blow up in the worst way possible. It was the perfect storm Jin is dead, Kagura is still Mikage’s slave, Izumo is low on jumps, and Zessica mistimes her act of bravery. So yeah Mix’s life hangs in the balance as she makes her way to Altair, Andy may have been down in the dumps but it looks like he will be amped up to mount a rescue effort or die trying. Worse comes to worse I hope Mix doesn’t end up in Mikage’s clutches and that she too will enter a deep sleep like Alicia until she is awakened by love’s first kiss.

Still, this blows. I didn’t expect a gut punch after the banana episode. Kawamori played his hand well I did not see this one coming hell I am genuinely afraid for Mix and Andy. Hopefully their spat will be more of a help than a detriment since Mikage has yet to take and active hand. I just hope that Izumo is not going to have a case of the stupid and let Mikage take control. If Mix is so lucky maybe she survives and is awake after her unwanted journey, she’ll be in a personal hell but Andy is dead set on bringing her back. I hope that Andy won’t have to die in order to save Mix the guy has borne most of the bad luck for the rest of the class aside from Jin. I wouldn’t put it beyond Kawamori to end fun and games time with a tragic end for Andy and Mix in a show of seriousness. I was lulled into thinking that Mix was going to patch things up and then this happened.

Zesscia did herself no favors this episode as she not only started moping, she made a costly dumb move. Worse still she is likely going to keep blaming herself for what happened. I had hope for Zessica now I fear that with all that has happened she might not only slide into depression but may even fall under the sway of Mikage now that her turmoil can no longer be hidden. Amata is likely going to get the worse of it next week if Andy punching him into a short flight is any indication. I hope Yunoha is going to have some kind words for Zessica and Andy since they need it the most right now. I understand why Zessica has a death wish but good grief did it come at the worst time. It was not her fault but her actions just made a tense situation worse.

I don’t blame Izumo for taking Mix. He tried to negotiate in good faith only Donar made things worse by speaking and Zessica took action before Crea could take control of the situation. I think if cooler heads would have prevailed that Izumo would have been fully able to explain himself and why he needed a Rare Igura. Instead Zessica jumps in, Mix gets involved, the shooting starts and Izumo is forced to choose between making desperate grasps to save Altair or lose the fight and Altair as well. The next few episodes will determine if Izumo will be redeemed but like everything else it never is easy. I like how they took the time to detail just how little freedom of action Izumo now has with Ianthe on the verge of breakdown and with the dimension gate nearly dead as well. I don’t think anyone in his position would have been anything other than desperate. He will do a terrible thing by taking Mix to Altair but resigning himself and his people to a violent extinction is not much of a choice especially since Mikage would be laughing as they slaughter each other as Altair burns all around them.

With any luck Andy is finally going to stop being a butt monkey and will manage a glorious rescue, at least he will not be down on himself. If anything his new found rage could be his undoing, but I shudder at the thought. A happy ending is still possible, but just as likely is a melancholy one…

It has something to do with a lover's spat.

Good to see that Andy is finally getting the appreciation he richly deserves.

Well some one forgot to forgive Andy for a fumbled confession.

Oh no, indeed.

Poor Andy.

We could use more of those right now.

No, but you really should follow your own advice every now and then.

But nothing of the father..

But Andy is a man...

A sad and unfortunate state to be in.

You have more than that, son't sell yourself short just because you are romancing a stone.

I guess the endgame starts now.

Things just got bad.

Desperation time starts now.

More like is behind this...

One last roll of the dice for Izumo.

I wonder why it took Izumo so long to make another trip.

I really hope she wakes up.

If only Alicia was the True Eve.

Yeah and for the better.

Oh Dad will find out soon enough.

Izumo also has some mistakes of youth.

Oh come on you can't hold it against Andy forever...

I feel so bad for Andy.

Fair enough but you still have to forgive Andy.

Me too...

Channel your inner AEU no Ace.

The King of Gniss.

If only...

Yeah but Izumo is about to go into the way back machine.

Good to see that extinction has not completely robbed you of decency.

SHIT

I wish Izumo would do the same to Mikage.

Yeah, that won't work here.

I guess Fudo wasn't for upgrading the firewall.

Loli vs. Old Man... FIGHT!

Well dialog finally happened.

Don't forget to mention that your planet is dying, and that you have a birth rate of zero.

Probably would have been better to beg.

Well so much for diplomacy.

Should have withdrawn and brought Izumo to the table...

It never is that simple is it?

Zessica I admire your courage, only this is about as badly timed as you could make it.

Mix is right, but bad feeling have I starts now.

Zessica certainly has that...

So that's were the moon went.

Come on is he your kid or not?

Alicia is disappoint.

Damn YOU MIKAGE!

...

Crap...

Yeah your bad decision is going to cost you...

and more...

If only that worked...

Yeah and hopefully next time Mix will be alive.

FUCK.

You didn't win any points today Zessica...

Time to be a hero, because no one else is going to save Mix.

Oh God, yes.

Also, spoilers ahead, so if you don’t want the mystery ruined, go watch the episode first.

I absolutely adore these simple mysteries. There’s no need to invent a villain with an overly complicated, unsustainable plan for world domination when the little curiosities will do.

Watching Houtarou’s overly stylized thought processes fill me with disproportionate glee.

Sure, I’ve always liked overly stylized thought processes.  It’s just that they’re often a SHAFT thing, and SHAFT usually does it for the sake of being, well, SHAFTy. The difference here is that KyoAni did it to provide a visual image to kickstart/accompany the viewer’s own train of logic.

I.e. SHAFT uses visual style to confound/tease/annoy, KyoAni uses visual style to guide/direct.

Not that all SHAFT anime is screwy, mind you; but it’s nice to have funky art effects to decrease confusion, instead of increasing it, for a change.

My minor gripe is Houtarou giving a summary of the given information. It makes it seem as if the viewers are too slow-witted to keep track of Houtarou’s already blatant observations. But if it weren’t for the summary, I wouldn’t have gotten that last vital clue.

This is my major gripe: that my mental processes were stonewalled because I wasn’t aware that Japanese schools have shared art classes. It’s something that the average Japanese viewer would know, not a filthy barbarian gaijin.

But I still love it. It’s the sort of thing I’d throw into a mystery: a little relevant factoid that is public information and just requires some thought to integrate it into the solution.

The solution is elegant, obvious, and would have been easily found, even if Houtarou’s initial guess was off.

This is where I fanboy over Houtarou for a bit.

In his position, I’d bet that a great deal of people would have stood/sat there, trying to come up with the exact solution to the mystery before heading off to confirm their hypotheses. It’s what all the great fictional detectives do – sit, think, and dazzle everyone with their precise prediction.

While Houtarou started off towards the arts room even though he still hadn’t come to a conclusion. But this is the clever part – he’d already narrowed down the location to one specific room. He didn’t need to guess what the girls had done with the book – all he needed to do was go to the place where they’d been, and the solution would present itself.

For the record, my hypothesis was built on the book’s size and sturdiness. I thought the girls were using the book as a canvas because the texture of the cover might have provided an interesting art effect.

What troubled me early on in the episode was that Houtarou was perfectly fine with coming up with a false explanation to keep Eru happy.

Oh, it’s something I’d do too, and it’s something I’ve done many, many times to keep people off my back. But from the perspective of a viewer, I really do want to know the actual circumstances behind the mystery.

Eru intrigues me, though. I’m pretty sure she wants Houtarou to teach her the art of deductive reasoning or lateral thinking or something along those lines. And I approve of that. It’s just that she’s done well for herself through memory, rote-learning and hard work. Most people wouldn’t want to change anything if their results were consistently highly ranked.

I would like to see Houtarou coming up with more ways to trick Eru, don’t get me wrong.

But even if Satoshi had to trap him into doing so, and even though Houtarou could have simply refused Eru point-blank, he didn’t take the easy way out, and we all got our happy resolution to this week’s mystery.

Episode rating:

5 out of 5 pleasantly surprised Jim Moriarty’s

“I see. You’re not ordinary… …Thank you. Bless you.”