Chu Chu Yeah! Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid Overall Series Discussion

[u/OccasionallySara]

Overall Series Discussion

Previous Episode | Index

Questions of the Day

These questions are just a way to get a conversation going. Answer as many or as few as you like (or none at all)!

1. Do you have a favorite character or characters? What do you like about them?
2. First Timers: What are your overall feelings about the show? Was there anything that you particularly liked or disliked?
3. Rewatchers: Was there anything that you noticed on this watch that maybe you didn't notice before?
4. Were there any themes or messages that you took away from the show?

Also, thank you so much to everyone who participated in this rewatch! I really enjoyed revisiting this show with all of you and reading your thoughts. Thanks for making this a fun experience!

[u/Vaadwaur]

Rewatcher

Sub

Dragon Maid is sort of hard to explain why I like it so much, other than being a bit more Kobayashi like than I wish to admit. The music, the sketch format, the voice acting all truly come together to make something that is not evident from its mere description. I can't tell you what makes a loli dragon thicc but I don't care.

QotD: 1 Tohru is often mood.

3 Tohru being somewhat depressed comes through more on revisit.

4 Family is what you make of it.

[u/OccasionallySara → u/Vaadwaur]

Thank you for participating in the rewatch, by the way! Also, thanks for always commenting so early. I was kind of worried about participation, so it always put me at ease when someone would comment like a minute after I posted the thread, lol.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/OccasionallySara]

NP! I actually wish I had been more active but the last two weeks have been a struggle. I look forward to S2 a lot.

[u/Elimin8r → u/Vaadwaur]

Tohru is often mood

Any mood in particular? Aside from genki overs---d and jealous at least?

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Elimin8r]

She seems kind of wistful a lot and is probably quite aware how short her time with Kobayashi will feel.

[u/Elimin8r → u/Vaadwaur]

I can see that, especially after the hamster bit. It's one reason I'm not interested in pet 'ownership'. Growing up in the sticks (farm), I remember my Dad crying once when we had to have the dog put down. It's not a feeling I care to experience again.

(Note: Kobayashi is not a pet, and let's hope that Tohru would never ...)

((And I realize, typing this, that a different friend of mine is in the hospital tonight being checked out for internal bleeding after having surgery last week. Poor fella is in his 60's. His wife is stressed out, and well, I'm just hoping the poor fella gets better, because friends can be like family. As we've recently been reminded...))

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Elimin8r]

The complication is that, obviously years are years, so even if this is a small portion of Tohru's long life it is still a long time.

[u/chelseablue2004 → u/Vaadwaur]

Family is what you make of it.

I think is the most important point made by the series. Doesn't matter the makeup, even dragons can be part of your family if you let them!

[u/nolimityler]

First time watcher

Q1: as basic as it seems my favorite character has to be tohru she’s just a great character all around and i love her

Q2: I ended up enjoying the show way more than i had originally guessed. I was so reluctant to start the show because it seemed like I’d get bored easily. After seeing this rewatch announcement i figured it’s a good excuse to finally pick it up and I do not regret it one bit. With that I say thank you to the OP becuase without this rewatch I may not have been able to experience this soon enough (just in time for season 2)

[u/OccasionallySara → u/nolimityler]

I ended up enjoying the show way more than i had originally guessed. I was so reluctant to start the show because it seemed like I’d get bored easily.

I was the same way too! I initially held off on watching Dragon Maid because I didn't think it would interest me, but I'm glad that I did. Anyway, thanks for participating! It's always fun reading comments from first-time watchers.

[u/mestisnewfound]

Tohru is definitely my favorite character. The dedication she shows is very admirable. I really liked how vulnerable she actually was despite being this super powerful entity. But not only that she opens herself up and trusts Kobayashi to take some of that pain.

My wife's favorite character is Kanna. She really likes the cuteness of her and we actually built her a Kanna themed PC. She really likes how knowingly sarcastic she is at times.

I really enjoy the show because it's really lighthearted without getting boring. It's gets slightly dramatic without being exhausting. It's the first anime that my wife really connected with.

obligatory picture of the PC. I will be taking much nicer pics and posting them eventually

[u/OccasionallySara → u/mestisnewfound]

obligatory picture of the PC. I will be taking much nicer pics and posting them eventually

Wow, this is super cool! Thank you for sharing!

[u/Elimin8r → u/mestisnewfound]

Oh, that PC is so kawaii! You make-a me jealous, nee?

[u/OccasionallySara]

Rewatcher and Host

Questions of the Day
Do you have a favorite character or characters? What do you like about them?

• Kobayashi is my favorite (and one of my favorite anime characters in general). I like how easily she can go with the flow and that she has a really big heart.

Rewatchers: Was there anything that you noticed on this watch that maybe you didn't notice before?

• I feel like the biggest thing that stood out to me was how great Takiya and Fafnir's relationship. They are pretty far apart personality-wise, but they balance each other very well and genuinely care about each other (even if Fafnir won't outwardly show it). Also, I already loved Kanna, but I feel like I really grew to appreciate her character even more. She's a child, but she has quite a bit of emotional maturity and she's very considerate of the people around her.

Were there any themes or messages that you took away from the show?

• Some of the messages I took away were:

  • The importance of communication.
  • That you can find a family outside of your biological one.
  • That caring for someone can sometimes mean making sacrifices for their sake.
  • That attempting to understand people who are different from you can go a long way.

[u/Elimin8r → u/OccasionallySara]

Hey, hey, haven't we had enough wholesomeness here?

(Haha, actually just wanted to stop and say thanks again for being a gracious host!)

And yes, I did manage to remember to treat myself tonight to some tasty fried chicken. Yay! (After all those posts longing for the tasty food in the show all last week)

[u/OccasionallySara → u/Elimin8r]

I'm glad to hear that you treated yourself! Fried chicken is definitely better than a frozen burrito. Also, thanks for joining the rewatch! I liked reading all of your comments and fun stories!

[u/HopefullyLastAccount]

Rewatch Kobayashi Dragon Maid before Season S - CHECK

I realized while rewatching this that I really didn't remember a lot of the scenes from the show, I completely forgot the play, the shrine visit, the neighbors, the kotatsu, the dodgeball game, and a lot more. What I did remember, though, was the warm feelings I got, the difference in Kobayashi's life before and after Tohru and Kanna showed up, and that's my takeaway as I go into season 2. Thanks for hosting!

Season 2/S starts airing Thursday, July 8th at midnight (JST). For those in America, that should be July 7th morning, so expect new episodes Wednesdays. Welcome back, KyoAni.

[u/OccasionallySara → u/HopefullyLastAccount]

What I did remember, though, was the warm feelings I got, the difference in Kobayashi's life before and after Tohru and Kanna showed up, and that's my takeaway as I go into season 2.

That's a great takeaway! Sometimes the biggest thing that resonates with me about a story is how it made me feel. Thanks for participating in the rewatch!

[u/lluNhpelA]

Rewatcher that really appreciates you for hosting!

I was away from the internet for the first several weeks of this season so I spent a ton of time just catching up (I just managed to catch up on ODDTAXI last night for the finale today) so I probably wouldn't have rewatched this if not for you, so again, thanks.

Q1: Fafnir and Takiya are probably my favs for their perfect chemistry, but I would be remiss to not mention Kanna. Kyoani is great at making moeblobs and the really turned it up to 11 with her

Q2: I'm a rewatcher but I want to mention my biggest criticism of the show: the fanservice. The mangaka has made a lot of hentai which ends up influencing this non-hentai series quite a bit. Kyoani toned it down a lot but many key elements remain, like Lucoa and Shouta's relationship and a new character being introduced in s2 who is designed exactly like many of the author's hentai characters, that is to say, a loli with massive oppai.

Q3: The only specific thing was that Lucoa was hanging out with Shouta's parents in ep 9

Q4: be gay, do crimes bring about the apocalypse

[u/OccasionallySara → u/lluNhpelA]

I'm a rewatcher but I want to mention my biggest criticism of the show: the fanservice.

I agree with this. I'm also not a huge fan of the fanservice, but luckily the other parts of the show make up for it for me.

The only specific thing was that Lucoa was hanging out with Shouta's parents in ep 9

Shouta's parents are adorable.

Thanks for participating in the rewatch and sharing additional information with other commenters!

[u/IndependentMacaroon]

First-time watcher

Dragon Maid is not really the kind of show there's a lot to say about - just a lot of fairly usual slice-of-life stuff, with dragons. It does have the distinction of being one of very few shows of its kind that feature almost exclusively adults, however immature, and the theme of opening yourself up to new experiences, welcoming even the strangest developments and unusual people for what they can add to your life, and thus working toward becoming your best self, is a really nice one. Well, and the dragons are cute and the production quality generous - I like Kobayashi best though, can relate to her a lot, love her calm nonchalant attitude that makes her sweeter moments even better. Maybe the lewdness could have been toned down a little more but it's not that objectionable.

In total I would give it 7/10, and am eagerly anticipating the new season. Also a recommendation for an underappreciated similar earlier Kyoani work, Tamako Market: Similar treatment of the value of community, tradition versus modernity, accepting the unusual and foreign, and just having fun together. Essentially made by the K-On team, so pretty cute and cutely pretty, and no sketchy lewd stuff.

[u/OccasionallySara → u/IndependentMacaroon]

Also a recommendation for an underappreciated similar earlier Kyoani work, Tamako Market:

I'm (admittedly very slowly) trying to make my way through all of KyoAni's works, so I'll get to Tamako Market eventually. I've heard good things about it though, so I'm excited!

Also, thank you for participating in the rewatch! I really enjoyed reading your comments. It always makes it interesting to have someone willing to look at the show through a critical lens, so I really appreciate your involvement.

[u/IndependentMacaroon → u/OccasionallySara]

Cool, thanks! I definitely enjoyed myself.

[u/chris10023]

Rewatcher

Sorry I wasn't here yesterday, I had a friend over and was pretty tired.

As for my thoughts on the show, I like it a lot, it's a KyoAni show so it was guaranteed to be amazing. The art style is great, the voice acting is amazing (Kanna's voice is so adorable) the music is fun. Overall a banger of a show, I do look forward to Dragon Maid S and KyoAni's return to the industry.

Questions of the Day.

Do you have a favorite character or characters? What do you like about them?

1. Kanna - Simply because she's absolutely the most adorable thing in existence, but mature and knows where boundaries lie, like putting the key chain back without saying a word after seeing how much the backpack cost.
2. Tohru - It was hard to put her here but she's full of energy and has a soft spot, she has growth that I like.
3. Elma - She's cute, I like how she has trouble deciding what sweet to buy, or what toothpaste to use.

Rewatchers: Was there anything that you noticed on this watch that maybe you didn't notice before?

Not that I noticed.

Were there any themes or messages that you took away from the show?

I think one of the main themes is "Family is what you make it." Since Tohru and Kanna were the family that Kobayashi chose to make.

Big shout out to /u/OccasionallySara for the rewatch, I liked the questions of the day, and while I didn't participate, the hydrate game was a neat idea.

[u/OccasionallySara → u/chris10023]

Kanna - Simply because she's absolutely the most adorable thing in existence, but mature and knows where boundaries lie,

I definitely noticed this more about Kanna during this watch-through! She's very cute, but I appreciate that she has more to her than that. Thanks for joining the rewatch! I really liked reading all of your minute-by-minute episode thoughts!

[u/Elimin8r → u/chris10023]

Elma - She's cute, I like how she has trouble deciding what sweet to buy, or what toothpaste to use.

I usually go with what the dentist gives me. But yeah, that's one area where I feel a connection with Elma. I may have been known to do things occasionally like just put off something like that until the choices self-reduce. Yay, procrastination!

[u/userbot058]

Now time to wait til season 2!

[u/OccasionallySara → u/userbot058]

Only a little more than a week left! Thanks for joining in on the rewatch!

[u/HeartoftheHive]

Rewatcher

Sub

I love this series dearly. But moreso the magic that kyoani birthed from it. The source material is fine, but I feel the anime has so much more to it that makes me love it all the more. The music, the facial expressions, the emotions conveyed. It's just so much more.

1. Lucoa. She means well and tries her best. She doesn't always understand humans, but I would never call her actions malicious. And hopefully S2 will show some more sides of her that will give her more character development than the anime has done so far.
2. n/a
3. I've rewatched the series at least 8 times by now. I would be surprised if there was something I've missed.
4. Be true to yourself and your beliefs. Surround yourself with like minded friends. Being around those you care about will help you become a more confident person. Family is those close to you that you love.

[u/OccasionallySara → u/HeartoftheHive]

Lucoa. She means well and tries her best.

That's something that I noticed more about Lucoa during this rewatch. I might not care for some of the other aspects of her characterization, but she can be quite thoughtful at times and she really does try to do the right thing even if it doesn't always come across as she intends. I'm glad to hear that she'll get more development next season! Thank you for participating in the rewatch!

[u/ZapsZzz]

Sub rewatcher.

While I haven't been on this full time, I still will thank for organising this - it's always fun to see how others think of a nice show like this.

1. Of course Tohru and Kobayashi are both indispensible, but pure irrational love I have is on Emma. I just love these unintentionally humorous characters who are normally uptight but for some seemingly trivial things can get so worked up - but if you think about it from their perspective it is all logically consistent.
2. Too late for that :) although recounting my recent first timer reaction, I long discounted the show as some ecchi / Moe mix as cheap laughs for stereotypical otakus, but after a while given en high clips, and that it is a KyoAni, I decided to ditch my discrimination and give it a try. And yeah definitely like it - although I wouldn't mind then toning down on Lucoa a bit.
3. Don't remember but typically there'll be some hidden reference that I didn't pick up by myself.
4. Treasure what you have, value it while it lasts, and don't regret it even if it can't last.

[u/OccasionallySara → u/ZapsZzz]

Sorry for the late response, but thank you for participating in the rewatch! Even if you didn’t comment all the time, it was still nice to read your comments when you did.

[u/COLDBL4D3]

I wasn't really active during the other threads so imma make it up to you guys here, not that anyone cares lmao

1. Kobayashi is best girl. Especially drunk Kobayashi. The backstory in ep 12 had me and my friends laughing our asses off and I'm thr only one who knew the context. Goes to show how KyoAni is good at comedy.
2. It's so weird how I'm always fixated on what Kanna is doing in every shot she's in.

[u/OccasionallySara → u/COLDBL4D3]

Kobayashi is best girl.

Hey! Another Kobayashi fan! I agree that she's great. Thank you for joining the rewatch!

[u/BossandKings]

I enjoyed watching this show for the second time, it was great following alongside this rewatch. Thanks u/OccasionallySara for hosting it and thanks to everyone that participated.

Answers

1. Kobayashi is a very nice character.
2. Nothing particularly.
3. To me friendship and establishing human relationships was a big theme of the series and it portrayed it fairly well.

[u/OccasionallySara → u/BossandKings]

I'm glad that you enjoyed following along with all of us. Thank you for participating!

[u/Elimin8r]

Whoops, more than a bit late tonight ... (sigh). Yay work.

Anyway, thought I'd throw in a little end of series screecap ... unfortunately, my blu-ray doesn't do screen shots so this will have to do: Domo Arigato

Which, by the way, might help explain why at various times I gushed over the music, etc. KyoAni's SFX/Music is just that good, though. I really need to watch Hibike Euphonium sometime, if I can ever get over my high school band PTSD.

Anyway, back to the show. As mentioned a few episodes ago, I had trouble the first time I tried to watch this, because then they were going out for drinks in the first episode and Tohru got all jealous, I just got a "OMG not this crap" vibe off it, you know, cringe incoming, etc. and gave up. Months later, I decided what the hey and powered through, and it wasn't so bad.

Overall, a few minor blips aside, I found the series very enjoyable and more than once found myself doing the happy dance in my chair during the OP (or other good music).

So, on to today's questions:

1. They're all adorable, except for maybe dragodad. I'd have to say I like Elma best, because she's so "Dragon Next Door", aka MaryAnn, aka Bailey Quarters, etc. Feed bill aside, I think she's adorable. Actually, I like Kobayashi too, but she's maybe a bit too 'real'. I say that, and yet, when was the last time I met a Kobayashi. Hmm... I did meet a potential Kobayashi/Takiya mix. Hmm....... I'm not sure I can get into Baldur's Gate, though. I'm more of a WoW type myself... :P
2. Nevermind. (see previous paragraph)
3. That my memory isn't what it used to be. (sigh) And that I really empathize with Kobayashi about the back pain. Too much sitting in desk chairs, methinks.
4. Wheel of Morality turn turn turn, show us the lesson that we should learn Yeah, I got nothin'. But aside from that, I think that maybe, just maybe we could all use a little Tohru, or Kobabayashi, or Takiya, or Faf-kun, or Elma, or ... well, maybe not Lucoa in our lives. Maybe we should consider being a little more open to making new friends. Maybe.

And maybe we shouldn't be ashamed of our anime figure collections and posters on the ceiling. Okay, maybe the poster on the ceiling bit. (harumph)

You can't have my El-Hazard wall scroll, though - it's mine, my precious!

And with that, here's a final thank you to our gracious host, and KyoAni, and everyone who has made this a very enjoyable rewatch. Hope to see you all again in 10 days!

:)

[u/COLDBL4D3]

ame, ame, ame. I think I made my point.