Otomen - episode 12 (FINAL) recap

It's probably been clear that I haven't enjoyed this drama at all. 

I'll illustrate why by predicting what will happen in this episode: 

1. He decides do marry Contrived Plot Girl, so his mother never finds out about him being a mass-murderer girl [both have the same shock value, it seems]. 
2. He then meets Transfer Student Girl, and two things might happen: 
• Either she wishes him happiness (and doesn't tell him she's leaving) because she believes he doesn't love her and after the conversation, he believes that she left because she doesn't love him. 
• Or she tells him she's transferring...and the same consequences happen. Lose-lose situation. 
3. On the day of the marriage, he's decided to go through with it, because now his TRU WUV will never happen, so might as well do what his mother says, and then:
• Either he doesn't say yes and gives a big speech about honesty
• Or Transfer Student Girl/Asuka's dad appear to give a similar speech, making Asuka's mother hate all of this at first but then understand – possibly because Asuka's dad will say that he still loves her. 
4. A bonus: Contrived Plot Girl finally understands that Asuka can never be happy with her and wishes him luck.

Now, having said that, let's start the episode and see how many of this I got right. 

P.S. : For those of you who know Hana Yori Dango, how familiar does all of that sound? If the answer is “very”, you are probably right.

Apparently, there was a rumor going around that he was leaving. For America. Which, thankfully, isn't true, because how many fucking times will I have to say “this is a carbon copy of Hana Yori Dango”?

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Otomen - episode 11 recap

...WHAT DID I SAY ABOUT A “RIVAL” APPEARING IN THE LAST EPISODES? Granted, I thought it would be a guy going for Transfer Student Girl, but this is even worse because it's – again – a blatant copy of a device used in Hana Yori Dango. 

And there, I might add, it made a lot more sense, because Domyoji's mum was always evil and trying to keep him away from Makino. Also, as a big business woman, it made sense for her to want to marry her kid so she could merge companies. 

She's dressed in lolita garb and we don't get to see her face, although judging by her taste in stuffed animals, this might get weird soon.

This is the show's idea of an “idol” picture. There are some people taking pictures of him – presumably because of his achievements in kendo. Afterwards, he's with Passable Guy (former Douchebag Guy) in a café and gets grilled on the fact that he hasn't moved on in his relationship with Transfer Student Girl.

Because we only have one more episode, Asuka. Otherwise, this scene wouldn't even happen.

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Otomen - episode 10 recap

So, we open the episode, and I hear something familiar. Then this is what I see:

Are you seriously making fun of Hana Yori Dango? For its lack of realism? 

No, they are not. They are not even the Korean version of the show. No offense to korean dramas, but in this instance the japanese one is so much better. Having that version as a standard makes it impossible for any new adaptation to succeed. Still, it was a lot funnier and more intriguing than this, even though I already knew the story.

I cannot begin to tell you how attrocious the pronunciation of that sentence was. Speaking of korean Hana Yori Dango, I've seen Woo Bin speak english in a more convincing manner: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ou21xsf2nnM 

(Honestly, if anything, watch the first 10 seconds; I did so, and burst out laughing when the does the whole “YO YO MAH MAN WASSUP” thing).

The USA anthem plays and the back ground...and the man speaking has a posh english accent. All is well in the land of Otomen. Actually, upon hearing him speak more, I think I can see a little Irish in it. At least find someone with a stereotypical twangy american accent, people!

FOR ABSOLUTELY NO REASON, [I even went back to check and there's no link whatsoever, he just says “oh, there's this trend in Japan that I'm going to tell you about despite the fact that is has nothing to do with our conversation and that we are in a business meeting”] he informs the Ginyuri's principal (if you forgot, and I wouldn't blame you for it, she's Asuka's mother, you know, the one know almost died twice of the U R SUCH A HUGE GIRLY GIRL disease). 

She dismisses it, and says that are only REAL JAPANESE BOYS at Ginyuri. No bionic students, then. 

Otomen, in her opinion:

That sounds like a great night out, I think. 

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Otomen - episode 9 recap

This sums up the first 5 minutes of the episode.

And judging from the “comedy” in this drama, are you really surprised?

ANOTHER segment referencing that movie? I think this speaks for the quality of the plot, that they need to constantly “parody” other things to fill up gaps. It just so happens that those “non-story” gaps are quite frequent. 

Long story short: it's a school festival, only they call it something else just to be different. Nothing will beat Azumanga Daioh's school festival episode, though.

Shame this is such a pretty shot, because the scene overall is boring and contains ANOTHER flashback. I didn't tell you this, but why not, since I'm almost asleep here: the first 3-4 minutes of the episode were flashbacks of the story up to now. As if we have forgotten everything that happened in the previous SEVEN episodes.  

Transfer Student Girl: stating the obvious is her duty.

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Otomen - episode 8 recap

So, let's see what's up with Transfer Student Girl's dad.

...o...okay.

I get that's he's a policeman, but this looks and sounds like a parody of a buddy cop show.

Hm?

¿QUÉ?

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Otomen - episode 7 recap

Remember how picture heavy the last recap was? Well, this was such a interesting episode that I didn't even screencap half as much as I did last time.


To recap:



This is Douchebag Guy and Sidekick Girl. He is a shoujo manga writer and basically publishes what he sees happen between Asuka and Transfer Student Girl.

He doesn't want to be interviewed. BECAUSE ONLY GIRLS WRITE SHOUJO.



“Love-tic” is the manga Douchebag Guy writes. You know, the one that looks like Bleach.

Next day, in class, they all doing sketches of Asuka and Isono (the guy who drowned, but didn't) when the teacher notices that Douchebag Guy draws really well. Asuka is intrigued...but only because he thinks Douchebag Guy is also a fan of the manga. Then, Transfer Student Girl arrives and they squee for 5 minutes



Even he's WTFing all of the place.

He later learns that he's nominated for an award, and comes up with a genius plan.



BECAUSE ONLY GIRLS CAN DRAW SHOUJO.



...randomly, we see that Asuka's dad and Transfer Student Girl's dad were friends and that Asuka's dad is now working as a shoujo author. Other things he's working: polka dots. Get it, gurl.



I'm now taking guesses as to how long they will go on not realizing the manga is about them.



Oh geez. If you can't tell, that's Ms. Manly, Asuka's dad.



Yes, indeed. A magician makes you believes in impossible things.



This, by the way, is the reaction to his sister – Sidekick Girl is apparently his sister – telling him she can't show up and that he has to, as we say in portuguese, “desemerdar-se”.




In a touching moment, Asuka's dad meets his son, and gives him an autograph after Asuka reveals he always loved her work.

As expected, Love-Tic wins whatever award it was nominated for, and the author goes out to receive it



Cute shoes and the most tasteful makeup I've seen Thin Guy From Bleach do so far. And yes, Douchebag Guy called him especially to sparkle all over his face.



Oh god, they almost figured it out. And then the episode ended. * sigh *

Next episode: birthdays and a possible confession of TWU WUV (though I doubt this will actually happen...I mean, we are only in episode 8, and stuff like that only happens in the last episode)

Shortest recap yet! Huzzah!

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Otomen - episode 6 recap

Remember when I used to do these? If so, where can I send the money to?

I've actually finished the show, and it's taken me a while to put the recaps up simply because I've had absolutely no time to do so. Yay, college.

The episode starts with no explanations. Nothing new there.



...what?



Oh, it's a homecoming queen-type thing. And Transfer Student Girl's opponent is Leader of the Mean Girls. Wow, this is all SO SURPRISING.

Apparently, this Nadeshiko person is a very beautiful girl from a long time ago...



...that owned a copy of After Effects.



As you can see, the person playing Asuka's teacher is illustrating the legend of Nadeshiko. I capped this because I feel it will be relevant later, judging from the previews I've watched.



...effects.

To pay homage to this fairytale, there's an annual Nadeshi-con.



I know, you two would be PERFECT. OMGZ. THINK OF THE PRETTY APRONS.

The four aspects Transfer Student Girl will have to master are:



Which sounds very promising, as we know she used to punch bears in the face as a kid.



THE VAGINA TO END ALL VAGINAS.

Of course, the show finds a SUBTLE way to involve Asuka, so he becomes her “attendant”.



Because everyone was probably bored shitless and wanted to shut her up.

So, Queen Bitch is the representative of the third year, Transfer Student Girl represents the second year and the first year's face is...



Yep. I groaned in the exact same way you just did.

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Otomen - episode 5 recap

Still at the beach, Asuka trains and Bad Hair Dude comes over.



I disagree. I've seen better looking sunfish. I fucking love those guys. I was once at Oceanário and I had already been there a couple of times, so I have no idea how I missed it, but I was incredibly startled by one. It went more or less like this:

Cherry: *stares at pretty fish* ...this is so soothing. Ooh, there's a stingray! And that one is quite colorf—WHATHTEFUCKISTHAT.
Sunfish: *looms*
Cherry: YOU ARE A BIG GIANT WTF.

[later]

Cherry: I love sunfish!



No idea what that is. Fantastic.



Do you really? Because his hair is even worse in this fantasy.



Translation = he has blue balls. Girly, sparkly blue balls.



Exibit A.



The drama here is that there's another beach hut that's attracting a lot more customers. Also, it's buying all the small huts so Bad Hair Dude's uncle is in danger of losing his.



The finesse of a 5 year old. (If you are confused, this is Asuka's attempt at creating FANCY DRINKS to attract little girls THE LADIES.)

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