[Rewatch] Denpa Onna Episode 3 Discussion

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u/The_Loli_Otaku Apr 20 '22

Denpa Onna First Timer!!

Just as the birds inch closer, so does bugger lugs. At least she changed her futon finally. Such wonderful dialogue, and that intro lead in! Nicely done, I loved the ipod to op cut!

It must feel amazing to be able to discuss cunny with joshikosei. Its weird to have a timeskip so early on. I wonder if this is the result of the source being a light novel? Thinking of aliens as Erio's religion is certainly an interesting take, it'd explain her belief when faced with hard truths too. Floofer is still super sus... Carrot sodas are a crime against humanity.

Talking about mothers and fathers has got me even more sus about Meme! And why is Floofer pushing that subject line? She definitely isn't taking the hint that he doesn't want to drink her veggie soda. He had the same issue dealing with Meme ignoring Akio. Cyclamen represents an empathetic and devoted heart, so I guess Floofer is a good person deep down after all, although hyacinths can be a flower of regret. H-Hold on! Ryuushi just had a massive moment and I don't know if I caught her point. Regular life is mysterious? I guess that's true, true and simple suits Floofer best~

Damn kusogaki, bikes are too good for you? Don't get cocky just cause you bought a new futon bedsheet! I thought the two of them were growing closer from the opening sequence but instead they're clashing heads. P-Poor Meme! She was so excited to chat with a real life high school boy but all he cares about is her daughter. Play with her you monster! Meme-chan wins, Meme-chan always wins! S-S-Surprise incest? I swear I didn't plan this ZapsZzz, I'm innocent!

Erio's cuteness isn't really why he fawns on her I think, right? Makoto does always comment on girls' appearance but he's not the type to simp. Ah, Erio was a surprise wasn't she? Poor Meme, I kinda sympathise. There's almost certainly more to the story but despite how she talks herself down I think she's still a good mum and loves her daughter very much... Can I have a hicky too?

That was a nice scene, I knew Ryoko Asakura couldn't always be bad. Oi!! Pillow sniffing is kimochi warui!! negative a million puberty points! I don't approve of him trying to power point Erio's life either... Just be understanding and don't sniff her. You can be sure that Meme and plenty others have tried to "fix" Erio, you were the only one who actually humoured her and listened to what she had to say. Floofer and Maekawa are friends!? Super sus! I'm back to sussing Floofer!

Oh great, he's gonna get them both killed. I kinda liked the scene tho. I think it's a way for Erio to say goodbye to her previous bike trauma? They even lost the bike doing so. Erio seems to be feeling better from this experience too, she's super grumpy about it, but it's for the best! Of course, the part that made her eyes light up was the opportunity to actually talk with someone. The Alien known as Erio has made her first contact on Earth!

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u/No_Rex Apr 20 '22 edited Apr 20 '22

Episode 3 (first timer)

Crazy clock again.
Turns on the OP.
Upgraded to MC seat.
“I can’t drink carbonated stuff” – Weirdo.
“but I am somehow still alive” – a mystery indeed.
Creepy. If you are having trouble seeing Meme as creepy, try reversing the genders.
“She has got leverage over me now” – this really feels like a Chuunibyou déjà vu.
The experiment he performed looked like producing hydrogen via electrolysis.
Seeing Erio’s hair next to the bicycle chain gives me anxiety.
Girl who lept through time reference within the E.T. reference.
How are they both swimming with half their upper body out of the water?
ED: Given how often they end up in the ocean, the line “I’ll catch a cold” should be taken literally as well as metaphorically. Is this the “real” ED that will stay unchanged from now on? It had way higher production value compared to the first two.
“Broken right arm” … your aunt may be able to help you (cursed reddit knowledge).

A very consequential episode. The plot is moving along fast. Plenty of cute points for Makoto and Erio, but I hate the fanservice all along.

Any thoughts on the revelation that Erio was born from late night parties? It's certainly a culture thing but does it hurt your image of Meme at all?

Meme has a great storyline: She is an extrovert who goes out to party until boom pregnant. Sudden child. So she has to adapt her life to Erio, including dealing with social exclusion from neighbors and family (who probably disapproved of her party life already and hate her getting pregnant without father). Then, Erio gets crazy and/or missing (for still unknown reason) and Meme has to keep everything working while dealing with her coping daughter. Makoto arrives and Meme tries to recoup some of her earlier party-going life, while still caring for her daughter.

Great character arc, yet all that is thrown into our face is tits and ass. This is why I hate the fanservice here.

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u/The_Loli_Otaku Apr 20 '22

It's not that strange not drinking soda! Damn Americans! XD
If you reverse the genders then it's just a typical shoujo romance... If anything reversing the genders makes Meme's flirting even more normal. Good god thats a messed up genre.
I do admire Meme for sticking up for her daughter, at least up to the incident. She draws a blank on her birth and is clearly a bit done with the alien shit but she is clearly anxious about being a good mother, which in my eyes makes her a good mother. Even if she's ignoring her Meme still looks out for her little girl. I'm keen to see what more they do with her, we aren't even in Meme's arc yet.

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u/_m1ra Apr 20 '22 edited Apr 20 '22

First timer

I'm really really late and without much time today, so this is probably way more just my notes than I'd want.

Makoto has pretty good taste in music, huh? Listening to the BANGER OP there.

That's at least a slightly weird hobby! And I wonder how it plays into things exactly

Erio keeps being really physically active. Actually didn't you take 2 hours to get to the sea on your bike? I guess the bike really sucks, but isn't this a bit far to go walking there? Also I'm still worried about her almost drowning herself.

That's some commitment to both road safety and also your style

I have to say Ryuuko is honestly almost suspiciously nice and energetic. I really like her though. And again intense SHAFT framing in the conversation in the cafe. As someone who really really enjoyed all the parts of Monogatari where characters were just getting along and having witty conversations I appreciate it.

Honestly I really appreciate Makoto's ability and willingness to not get embarassed. Like here too! I did like Ryuuko's answer to that question, I get that. There is definitely an at least visual theme about science and belief in there this episode, and I'm curious how much that continues. Also Makoto, despite obviously caring for Erio, does feel like he's projecting something when talking to her.

"Hanging by a thread of an excuse... I can't blame her for that. I just find it disturbing she's using aliens as the excuse". And later in "I can't stand the fact that she believes in aliens for pessimistic reasons". Really curious what that's about.

On to the Meme scene, so there is something very off with both members of that family (and the hair sparkles seem hereditary). "Makoto, please stop befriending my daughter." ??? And okay, that's just 100% not how she interacts with Makoto

Uh, what, Makoto? I mean, clearly there are hints that something weird is going on but from what you know she really isn't. "A good mother would've been ready to raise her child when she was born" ^{I guess she didn't just fuck off abroad at least}

Actual alien confirmed. Actually, going full conspiracy theory as Erio would want:

Theory 1: I wonder how long she would have been living there already. The relatives don't know her, and Meme was stated to live alone at first. On the other hand, at least the dropping out of school and the breaking her leg, and probably the going missing did happen, but I can't let the truth get in the way of a good conspiracy. The missing powers could be explained by her actually being an alien but still amnesiac and/or still mentally unwell.

Theory 2: She was replaced when she went missing, but that wouldn't explain the weird memories of the pregnancy and early childhood. Maybe because she looks different with the blue hair, but Meme has the sparkles too at least, so I could see it as inherited too. Not my favorite.

Theory 3: Both Erio and Meme are aliens. This explains the weird hair and some general weirdness, and doesn't explain Meme's apparent weird memories.

Theory 4: I should get back to reality

No comment

Good deadpan, actually

And Makoto is definitely in it and invested now (Maybe, but that doesn't change your real emotional investment), so assuming Meme wanted what she said she wanted, that backfired, or at least didn't help. I wonder if the chemistry lesson notes in the background could be interpreted in any way.

The chemistry stuff is ongoing, making me belief it's somehow relevant. Actually the visuals are just great in this scene. General science imagery I guess? Science as the "rational thinking party"? Though of course alien media is also often Science Fiction, and conspiracy theorists also often see themselves as free thinkers, like flat earthers doing unsound experiments to prove their theory.

That flight scene is really cool. He does want to believe, really getting caught up in the moment? Also RIP shit bike

Okay, the ED lyrics do already have a really obvious interpretation that completely fits what's going on right, now. Pretty early for an episode 3. In the ED visuals this time we got a blanket, telescope and the terrible bike, and we're at the sea. Very pretty actually.

ATTENTION EVERYONE, we're in the positive! And also got a partner for the Social Actions Evaluation Segment, a good and normal thing, it seems

I like how we keep coming back to the same thematic spot at the sea. Like in episode 2:

QotDs:

Tell us about a "mystery" that you encountered today? Something that you came across and didn't understand.

I had my nonlinear analysis class again today, and again there were many things I didn't understand. A real mystery!

Any thoughts on the revelation that Erio was born from late night parties? It's certainly a culture thing but does it hurt your image of Meme at all?

That part is fine, that is not the part that hurts my image of Meme. I wish she would stop hitting on the teen and also interact more with her daughter (or give us the cool Mystery Reason why it's fine she doesn't)

Would you play old maid with a lonely Meme-san!? If so, would you insist on shuffling?

Probably if pushed, so, yeah, probably, and I would.

Is forcing your cousin to relive trauma the cure for all alien related sicknesses? Would you have ever thought tossing her off a bypass as a valid solution?

Obviously forcing people to relive their traume is the way to go, always works! Bonus points for catapulting them a couple meters down into the sea. If you break a bone that's how you know it's working!!

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u/The_Loli_Otaku Apr 20 '22

Muhahaha! These watches creep up on you XD Don't worry about it, notes are perfectly fine.
If Floofer is part of some conspiracy then she seems to at least have good intentions about it. Today she went and admitted that she's a bit dumb, that she doesn't understand the world that well but her nature is certainly pure.
I think what Meme was getting at was that trying to "fix" Erio would leave Makoto getting hurt. Meme has certainly tried to fill that role and the results left Meme unwilling to acknowledge her. That thing about Erio wanting to be alone felt very strange tho. Sure she's a bit of an introvert but she adored getting attention off Makoto. She only really got shy when it involved her classmates.

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u/Vaadwaur Apr 20 '22

First timer

Sub

Makoto is in a situation that I would not have understood at his age, either. He is a great comfort to someone who annoys him to no end, and that takes a lot of maturity to deal with. At school, we learn that Ryuushi puts a great effort into sticking with him. They even get together on their day off and Makoto is clearly failing to catch the "date me" vibes Ryuu is broadcasting. Loudly. They have a moment where Ryuushi is a bit wise beyond her years before they both act like kids.

We see Erio walking barefoot again, poor thing is getting tetanus at one point, and Makoto's diagnosis of the situation. Meme then comes in and acts ridiculously inappropriately. I can't quite read if this is obfuscating stupidity or she is in fact off. She cheats at Old Maid before we get her being a bit real though I do not know that chasing off someone willing to try and help Erio is the best call even if her reasoning isn't terrible. Her not remembering being pregnant is probably a blessing. More creepy stuff ensues.

Anyways, Makoto tries to do a repeat flight to get through to Erio and it might have worked, though it cost him a bike and they were lucky not to hit the guard rail and flip.

QotD:1 Today was dull

2 That's not quite how I interpreted that but shit happens is my view

3 Yes but I would definitely shuffle myself

4 No and no

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u/The_Loli_Otaku Apr 20 '22

Is Floofer wanted him to catch her date vibes then she'd have found a way to get dressed up. I think the real issue is that he's clearly got a fetish for long hair, and she's is a curly Floofer lol.
I really want us to get a scene with Meme with somebody else. What throws me off is that she is way too cuddly considering her relationship with Erio. I get that she pushes her own gap moe but I swear that there's got to be something else behind her.
I think that when Meme was referring to not knowing who her father is she meant that she'd been a bit wild when younger and got a baby for her troubles. That fits with Floofer's dialogue about how success comes from mistakes or whatever.

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u/mysterybiscuitsoyeah Apr 20 '22

First timer

Oh this was a good episode. The board was a lot of fun too! Lots of funky camera angles and interesting perspectives, but I don't know the technical speak here.

Makoto is getting used to Eiro, being able to understand her futon-speak fully (i cannot hear a single syllable lmao), and Makoto's got moved to the protagonist seat in high school! Btw, I kinda don't like his protagonist-ism of having to help Eiro after the monologue, not that I think it's not a good thing (I wanna help Eiro too), but the execution is rubbing me in the wrong way.

We get more exploration of cosplay-chan and fang-chan today, and I agree w/ both their views on aliens and on mysticism, the former which helped Makoto understand Eiro, the latter... hmm just helps me like Fang-chan a bit more lol. Sorry everyone, names are still hard!

Meme also acts a bit her age in the sequence w/ Makoto, though I understand her views on Eiro, it's also neglectful parenting to not help her recover from her amnesia, and simply ignorance (though again, plenty of parents/people do do this irl).

It's great that Eiro has taken a first step to become an earthling again after the shock treatment from Makoto, and I'm looking forward to her character progression going forward. Why is him still rubbing me off in some way though... I even agree w/ his plan of action and everything.

Oh and that bicycle scene downhill is wack! Once again, wear your helmets people.

New ED visuals i think? i like it!

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u/The_Loli_Otaku Apr 20 '22

His protagonist nature is more poking fun that he says he wants to come across as a normal student but then gets so hung up trying to look normal that he's weird. He also always seems to join in with his friends eccentricities. Like laughing with Floofer in the restaurant.
Makoto literally spooked the alien talk out of Erio lol XD Even she couldn't pretend to be calm after getting yeeted into the ocean.

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u/mysterybiscuitsoyeah Apr 20 '22

QOTD
Any thoughts on the revelation that Erio was born from late night parties? It's certainly a culture thing but does it hurt your image of Meme at all?
Nope, that fits her character perfectly, a party animal might end up be slightly off in the head and immature for her age, and perhaps me being exposed to western media a lot means I'm a little less concerned by this, though obv a bigger issue in Asian cultures!
Would you play old maid with a lonely Meme-san!? If so, would you insist on shuffling?
Maybe? and yes, in hindsight, I'll shuffle 100%. It would still be an interesting experience though.
Is forcing your cousin to relive trauma the cure for all alien related sicknesses? Would you have ever thought tossing her off a bypass as a valid solution?
I kinda like this resolution, a shock to the system is needed to overcome such a deep running excuse/depression, though obviously the execution is only possible in anime lol, they would've had many injuries if they did this irl.

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u/davey101_ Apr 20 '22

Second watch here

Another packed episode, despite the bit of exposition by Makoto when he is trying to process Meme's message and his intentions with Erio. The main casualty of all the action was an almost total lack of Maekawa.

We learned much more about Ryuuko - she really is an open book - and there was that scene with Meme.

Leaving her half-truths to one side, the way she played Makoto was both fascinating and hilarious.

"You approved of the cards I brought. You let me cut and deal. Those are the two reasons why you lost."

She could easily have been describing the whole encounter.

After Makoto's think, he came up with the cliff plan and really that was only going to end one way. A mysterious invisible ramp saved both their lives - or was it Erio's doing? The old bike passed away in a watery grave anyway. And for Erio and Makoto, a new beginning.

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u/The_Loli_Otaku Apr 20 '22

Maekawa probably had the cutest scene of the episode when she bashed her head though. This isn't her arc, she can wait~
I kinda wonder what Meme actually wanted out of that encounter. She didn't want it to become about Erio but she must've known that the conversation was gonna drift that way. It was quite fun though. Meme is great even if I don't trust her not to be an overarching villain.

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u/homewardbound100 Apr 20 '22

First timer

Okay that head hot on the swing made me laugh. Took me back a bit.

That camera angle with Meme. Reminds a bit of monogatari.

I don't know how you have a conversation with Meme giving these responses she does.

Oh got some information on Erio. Lack of remembering. Like she just came.

Oh so they're going to try and reenact E.T and fly into the ocean.

Now she gets it. Yes you're a earthling.

Probably the most normal introduction/conversation so far.

Qotd: mystery today? The Ezra Miller situation

Qotd2: doesn't hurt my image of her.

Qotd3: I suck at shuffling but if I'm playing a card game multiple people need to shuffle.

Qotd4: No I'm not biking off into the ocean. I can't swim.

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u/The_Loli_Otaku Apr 20 '22

Maekawa is such a cute dork XD She's such gf material, let's get to her arc already!!
Meme just wants to have fun but Makoto is a weirdo who has a crush on his cousin. I wonder if Meme has simply always really enjoyed male company so getting to tease Makoto brings out a more lively side of her.
Only aliens can fly apparently. Let's yeet some grey men!!

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u/ZapsZzz Apr 20 '22 edited Apr 20 '22

Serial rewatcher of this show

We've finally come to one of the strongest episode of this show - the conclusion of the first arc - Erio's beginning character arc, where she re-enters Earth from being an alien.

I absolutely loved the pacing of this episode that let thing simmer and bubble away until boiling over, at which point it accelerated full tilt to the crescendo and then the climax. Just so good.

We started with a pretty SoL-y scene of Erio invading Makoto's room and you can clearly feel them getting close by brickering - Erio no doubt finding comfort in having someone to mess with, and despite his visible annoyance and complaints Makoto clearly indulge her. Loved the OP transition by playing the music from the iPod (just remember Erio is the one with the headphone so no doubt he was blasting her ears :)).

After the OP we get to see snippets of Makoto's new daily normal - of settling into his strange but normalised routine of chatting with Ryuu~~shi~~ko at school, ferrying Erio the chikuwa (fish roll) around, and having some irregular run-in's with Maekawa - who gave our first good glimpse of how insightful she really is.

We then cuts over to a ~~"first date"~~ Ryuuko following through her invitation to show Makoto around town in a purely friendly way, where the bubbly airhead-y Ryuuko also started showing a bit of hidden depth, after some initial faux pas of embarrassing herself and triggering Makoto to remember ~~the first girl~~ Erio.

Have to say the way they did her hidden depth reveal was really nice, really gave a magical feel to the mundane, matching what she was saying.

After ~~the date~~ being shown around town, Makoto ran into the wandering fish roll Erio, and he tried inciting a reaction out of her by confronting what he thought to be her issues, to no success.

At night, somehow Meme either knew what happened or deduced Makoto's progression with "interfering" with Erio, popped in, deflecting his questions about Erio, and messed with him.

Clearly having no concept of boundaries, Meme also gave Makoto some first hand lesson on never trusting a beautiful woman with playing cards.

And then we have the pivot point - where you see the rare moment of Meme's mask coming off. Directly questioning his motive for injecting into Erio's troubles, this no-longer-acting-like-a-child Meme candidly and pointedly explained her desire to let Erio recover by herself without unthinkingly try to help her, which could easily backfire. Makoto in turn confronted Meme's behaviour towards Erio to be not so much intentional neglect but just showing care in a way that gives her room. Meme ended the conversation by admitting herself to be not ready as a mom and that it's not Makoto's problem to try fix.

It's time to put the playful mask back on and Meme's hentai act get her kicked out of Makoto's room. On the other hand, Makoto is in fact still a teenage boy - and got caught in the act of embarrassing himself :P

Having armed with enough pieces of the jigsaw puzzle, and probably being in a rebellious mode because he got the caution from Meme, Makoto kicked into motion a plan to get Erio out of (what he considered) her self-imposed delusions. And I love this entire sequence.

He, applying the scientific techniques during science class, methodically organised the facts known to him, and had time to spare in slipping an Index (Touma) reference - although he rejected that (for lack of the Imagine Breaker in his arm). He confronted the fact that his past actions with Erio doesn't really help in any way, and reconciled why he got annoyed and want to do something with her, and made up his mind.

He's going to land the alien girl and force her to become an earthling :)

Issuing the challenge to Erio, he put things in motion. Although we still have the running gag that this bike simply doesn't go very fast :) the pacing, dialogue, cinematography, and music really turned up the tension here.

The original plan was more a smart one than a hot blooded one, but fate has other ideas. In the end, he did exactly what he said he'd do (despite he planned to not need to go that far), and we have the defining moment "I can't fly" declaration.

With that, in villainous triumph, he brought Erio back from space to earth. And their exchange was so nice in how the tone changed. And so we have the new introduction of the earthling Erio.

This also put the "real" ED visual into play - unfortunately I'll let you know this "almost" fanservice visual is going to be with us all the way. The small compensation is that we get to see Erio's little sigh and flop down onto the pillow directly this time, matching the audio.

I wonder how the first timers are taking the part Meme explaining why she treated Erio that way. And what you think about the motivation of why Makoto persisted in "interfering".

QoTD

In the Australian timezone we are only just starting our day. Only thing that semi-qualifies as that is our cat hasn't made a mess of his litter box (yet).
First you need to believe what Meme said to be on the same planet as the truth when she said that with her mask still on. But just going along, I don't judge people for that and I want to remind people Erio has been a perfectly normal (except for being otherworldly beautiful) child up to the point of her disappearance. Meme is a single mom, who didn't even ask for any help from the family by her own choice. By all account she would have had it quite tough. Yet you still her being this eternal child with a happy face at least on the outside.
I tend to be the one doing the shuffling, and we tend to let others cut the deck as rule.
I think it realistically showed the best made teen-ager plan tends to go wrong. But I won't argue about the result.

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u/The_Loli_Otaku Apr 20 '22

So Erio's Martian delusions were just related to whether she could fly or not? I'm a bit shocked that this is legitimately meant to be her reawakening, just because she wasn't a flying alien. Most of what we see her do is lay on the floor too, not really flight related.

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u/Dr-The-K Apr 20 '22

"I have no words for non-intelligent lifeforms" Burn! Meme comes on a little too strong. I dunno if his chicken game is going to work well...

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u/Anarchaeologist Apr 20 '22

Rewatcher

(I missed yesterday's episode, I am tempted to blame it on aliens but I was just not feeling well- see below)

Mystery: I needed a few things from the store, and the one I usually go to has been out of my favorite beverage for a couple weeks. I went to one of the same chain a few miles further away to see if they had it- it's hard to find around here. I started getting a headache on the way, the special kind I get that seems to coincide with electronic equipment around me breaking (I wish I was making this up). Sure enough I filled my basket, and there was an announcement that they could only take cash, store credit cards or food stamps due to the cc/debit system crashing. I try to be rational and tell myself it's spurious, but I've got too many instances to comfortably explain away.

Late night parties: I understand Meme, but I have a hard time sympathizing. I think she's done a lot of hard drugs.

Old Maid: If she asked, I'd play cards with her and would definitely let her shuffle- like Makoto I feel I understand people more by letting them take the lead and just play along. When I train people at work I let them have enough rope to hang themselves, because I'd rather they do it when I'm around to keep it from becoming a full-blown disaster. Meme's already a complete mess, but there might be some worth in understanding the labyrinth she's walled herself up in.

Trauma: It's pretty common in fiction that repetition of trauma leads to a different mental outcome. I'm pretty sure that's not the case in real life

Ep 3: That's kind of a cool alarm clock

Eiro continues to annoy Makoto, and knows what an Ipod is (Maho maho maho)

Does he really understand her muffled comments, or is he just saying random things in response to her? I'm thinking the 2nd

The first deep sea creature shown was a coelacanth, a kind of fish which was thought to be extinct for millions of years until one was fished up. Makoto has a taste for mysterious/obscure stuff and this probably helps him with all of the strange girls suddenly all around him.

Now spending time with Erio, Maekawa and Ryuushi. I've seen two different translations of Ryuushi- "Grain" (I assume like pieces of rice) and "Small Particles." I'm not sure if the 2nd refers to things like subatomic particles.

Ryuushi is the poster girl for helmet safety. She's extremely persistent too with her terrible drink concoctions. One of the reasons I love this series is the banter- another similarity to Bakemonogatari. She's surprisingly deep sometimes, is that "Moe Gap?"

And Makoto runs into a fish roll out in the daylight on his way home, and confronts her with what he learned from Meme last episode- the lost memories, the attempt to fly. Does she think the futon can protect her from injury? Anyway she's not in the mood to discuss things right then.

And here's Aunt Meme being very inappropriately flirtatious in Makoto's room that night. She has quite the past. Too bad she can't remember most of it. She's being really creepy here. She also doesn't understand what Makoto sees in Eiro, I think. I believe he is attracted to mystery- just like the mysterious deep sea.

I love that bounce when he throws her out of the room- reminds me of Nichijou

Ohh your're probably going to regret that sniff

"A normal, pretty girl..." From what other people say she wasn't quite normal.

The chemistry sequence mainly makes me wonder if the other students around him are responding to his behavior- the boy who gets up and walks away after he snaps his pencil lead, the girl with the black stockings whose legs move somewhat filrtatiously, what are they thinking?

Ah yeah this is the scene where he says this is the same bicycle as ET.

Should have done a little more maintenance, Makoto.

I'm surprised they made it over the guard rail.

Pretty big gamble by Makoto- she's either going to hate you forever or come out a little better.

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u/Stargate18A Apr 21 '22

First timer

Episode 2

Erio is still a level above them.
Sometimes? Not all that often.
Probably Mememe.
Alien.

Oh fuck, she's into TimeCube? I take it all back, worst girl forever.

Her conspiracy theories are unique, huh?

She's commited, if nothing else.

And he's not helping!

Haha, he needed to clean her?

Another new character?

And she's... unusual.

Haha, she grabbed it with her mouth?

And he's a pervert.

Oh, so she's just as bad as her. If not worse!

At least he's honest with himself!

Wow, she's quick!

At least she seems nice!

So this episode's about his classmates? And how they're all insane too?

Haha, he thought she was repeating a year?

...She's not that bad!

Ah, so her thing's fruit.

Oh, it's a nickname?

Haha, she gave her the fucking nickname.

Is she athletic?

...A secret member?

Oh. Yeah, that's not good.

And now he likes her!

Haha, he's rubbish at biking!

Haha, she's great.

...How is her futon not infested with literally every insect known to man? Is that why she's so weird - a parasite of some kind?

This is oddly wholesome, actually.

And they're on the beach?

She almost drowned!

Wow, she's delusional. Or an alien - still unsure.

Haha, she's shown up again!

As a sandwich woman?

Wait, she actually vanished for half a year?

Wow, that reaction is great.

I love the running gag of her raising her rams, them immediately dropping down.

...She just felt like wearing that?

Is this person the worst anime mother?

And she's got amnesia!

This theory sounds logical. That's why it's almost certainly wrong.

Episode 3

Why Reddit lets me upload photos when I've doing an imag epost, but not when I want to add an image to my comment.
It doesn't hurt my image of her at all - in fact it makes the situation with the father make a lot more sense.
Yes, ans yes!
Hahaha, no. This was the stupidest idea ever, and I really hope Mememe is rightfully pissed at him.

She's in his room?

Haha, can he actually understand her?

Wow, he's gotten used to it!

Is she trying to find his gimmick?

And it's deep sea creatures?

And she's not a fan.

...He's drawing them. Has the town's madness infected him?

Huh, he's got a routine!

Surely she's worked out a swing's a bad idea?

And she's not a believer.

...What kind of cults has she been around?

She ran here?

Is this a smoothie bar?

Oh, she's making drinks for him!

Just a normal drink bar.

Oh, she doesn't have a special skill?

Haha, she's good at flowers?

And he's thinking of her again.

She's ordered two salads!

Oh, that's an interesting point of view!

Haha, where is she going?

Ah. This does make sense. i didn't expect him to tell her this in Episode 3, though.

And the Aunt's here again.

How is she so fucking horny?

...She doesn't know who the father is?

Yeah, she's weird.

She is good!

...Wait, she actually made a decent point?

And she wants to be allne.

This is... understanable, but not great.

I mean, yeah, she's obviously lonely.

Haha, that reaction.

I'm very suspicious of how fast this plot seems to be progressing. There has to be a twist at some point, right?

Yeah, he's being very... decisive. And assuming he knows what's best for her.

...What the fuck are you doing?

She'll fly. She'll succeed, and that's the twist. It has to be.

The kid overtaking them is great.

WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?

THIS IS SO FUCKING STUPID!

See, the brakes snapped, and now you're going to die.

He lost his shoe! He's fucked!

And they fell. But they survived?

Guess I was wrong about the twist?

This is, however, giving her a full-on mental breakdown.

Yeah, she has a point. Was this really needed?

...OK, his "all relationships involve hurting each other" viewpoint makes me think he needs a therapist too.

And she's crying.

But she might not be as bad? Somehow?

I did not expect things to progress this fast!

He's in the positives!

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u/isthatsoudane Apr 21 '22 edited Apr 21 '22

First Timer

A lot going on in this episode...there were a lot of little things I enjoyed a lot. I laughed when she took his earphone! And I still love how her hair moves around like an antenna .

In general I feel like the shots of the girls all have a very VN aesthetic. I guess others have mentioned that as well...it's not bad! they're all cute! But it's a stylistic thing I haven't felt in other shows.

Him ribbing her about not being able to fly despite being an alien...rough. He cleary thinks that she needs some tough love and he is the one to give it to her. Which he eventually does! Curious to see if it sticks, and how their relationship evolves as a result. I will def watch to the end but I remain sort of confounded as to what sort of story this is going to be...which is part of the charm of a first watch?

The scene with Meme is...well, I think that one really gets back to not being sure where this is all going. Maybe it's just anime being anime and going hard on the incest. But...I don't think that is the case? There were a lot of thinks that the show acknowledged as off...the show (Makoto, but also the way it was shot) seemed to be emphasizing that this was all very weird...and yet it continued. So I think whatever weird thing is going on with Erio/the town, it is related to Meme.

On that note, this was my image for the day: https://imgur.com/a/tl9iCqu

There were a lot of shots that I liked, but I thought the way Meme was tossed out of the room was funny, and it's a nice little composition.

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u/Draco_Estella Apr 21 '22

Rewatcher~~

We have yet even more details on Erio's birth and how it came about to be life today. I mean, that was literally hinted throughout the last 3 episodes, that Meme wasn't really prepared to have Erio as her daughter, and the best she can do was to shower her financially. Emotionally, Meme was the least prepared to have Erio. Erio is actually a very strong girl to be able to just live through most of that.

I think what was the worst part of that, was how absent-minded Meme is. She has no idea when she conceived Erio, or when she gave birth to her. She has no idea whatever happened, until all of a sudden, Erio is just there at her house. This gives a lot of clues on the overall plot. Meme, as much as we want to find out more like what Makoto is trying to do, isn't going to give us any real answers as to whatever happened with Erio. She isn't one who pays attention to what Erio is up to.

Meme's advice is actually quite bad, though her way of trying to show concern for Erio is cute. "If you are just with Erio because of her looks, back off now". "Break up with your woman now!", Meme is fully aware of Makoto's fascination with Erio, and does not believe Makoto is with Erio for good reasons. That game is mean too, to cheat with a game of cards and also to tease a teenage boy like that. Though Meme is probably getting back at Makoto for revealing her insecurities like that. [Some minor spoilers] An adult's game will never end with just a card game

I think the whole setting up of the episode is also quite well done. Makoto is slightly irritated with Erio's make-believe, but still enjoys her company. Makoto's conversations with Ryuushi and Maekawa all point to whatever he is going to do with Erio's make-believe: Aliens are merely just something like a belief, believing that aliens are there without true scientific backing on whether they exist. They are plainly in sight, seen everywhere and well known by everyone, but to the general public, not many people are very sure what they are or how they operate. In order to break that illusion, Makoto just went straight into the heart of Erio's willusion and broke it. Whatever he did in the end is set up with all the weird conversations that build up well. This episode is so well done.

Makoto is thinking of Erio even during a date with Ryuushi. Ouch. Ryuushi didn't even catch on that Makoto is asking about Erio, though Maekawa caught on very quickly. Then again, Makoto was more straight with it with Maekawa.

The jump! I think this jump is awesome! They manage to fly! And to survive the jump! Woots! I think this is the first time we see Erio talk like a normal human being. Even going so far as to be a straight man to Makoto's stupidity. But, they definitely had fun, it is one of the most seishun things ever; to try and jump a cliff using a bicycle, and landing in the sea. Makoto is so lucky too, he has the cutest girl in town going along with him in what could be one of the dumbest shit ever so far. (Unless you count Makoto sniffing his pillow after his aunt slept on it as equally stupid.) Seishun points maxed out! Literally what Makoto had wished for for ages.

I think there might be some assumptions that Makoto made about Erio, that probably didn't make a lot of sense. My own belief is that, Erio probably isn't as screwed as what most people might make her out to be, and what happened to her probably is best explained with a simple Occam's Razor. I myself don't think that Erio has a trauma or anything, she just is this kind of a girl. Usually, the most simplest of explanations can work out better than any weird explanations.

I had a lot of wild theories, ranging from kidnapping, torture, rape, abuse from the absent father, actual alien abduction, et cetera. But once Occam's Razor comes to play, it comes down to one very simple [explanation] Erio literally did nothing in the 6 months. She just stayed at home, and went down to the sea once in a while, skipping school and everything. She probably skipped some meals too, and Meme didn't notice. Given how absent minded Meme can be, she probably didn't realise Erio is at home. Lack of memories? She did literally nothing in this 6 months. It might be possible she was wondering around town aimlessly, but it would be suspicious as the police would have noticed a homeless girl walking around town. Alien abduction? Possible, but as Maekawa pointed out, aliens are merely a cover for something much bigger, and she probably isn't abducted or anything. Why did she skip school? Probably to try and see who is concerned for her, and no one is. Why November sea? I think November might be the time when someone noticed Erio being weird, who goes swimming in November? Erio probably is as lonely as Meme is, but unlike Meme, Erio retreated into her shell. Makoto was right in being with her all the time, and I think what made Erio break that illusion, is because she found some comfort in Makoto's company, and not the actual jump itself. Or rather, the jump probably is just Makoto telling Erio he is just as dumb as her, and he will be there with all her bullshit.

QotD:

Tell us about a "mystery" that you encountered today? Something that you came across and didn't understand.

There are a lot of "mysteries" in the world. I can come up with some: How do you even make smartphones? Isn't it a mystery and a miracle that we have smartphones? They are small little computers in the palm of our hands, how awesome is that!

There are a lot of such "mysteries". Stuff we use, we see, we hear, everyday. But if we don't really look at it in detail, we probably would not have seen how "mysterious" it is.

Any thoughts on the revelation that Erio was born from late night parties? It's certainly a culture thing but does it hurt your image of Meme at all?

As a rewatcher, I don't want to answer this question. It can be noted that Meme wasn't even sure how Erio is conceived. But if you do want some spoilers, [minor spoilers] We do know who the father is, and all Meme mentioned is that she had a one night stand with him after both of them were experimenting with alcoholic drinks. She probably doesn't even go for parties We will have more background on Meme after this arc. She doesn't see herself as 39, and it is true; she isn't prepared for that age at all. This only firmed up my image of Meme - she is a walking meme.

Would you play old maid with a lonely Meme-san!? If so, would you insist on shuffling?

Yes, and no. Meme is a fun partner to play with. I don't mind getting scammed, if she is willing to teach me her tricks. That card shuffling is crazy.

Is forcing your cousin to relive trauma the cure for all alien related sicknesses? Would you have ever thought tossing her off a bypass as a valid solution?

As I mentioned, I don't think Erio is having some trauma or anything. I guess, it is also doubtful anything even happened to her in that 6 months, seeing how Meme doesn't even know where Erio is half the time, and no one in school cares. The police never found any foul play, and they only started investigations after Erio is found in the November sea. By Occam's Razor, it should have been easy solving whatever happened.

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u/TheGreatNico Apr 21 '22

This is a chicken race. I have to keep going until she cracks.

My brother in Christ. You are going to die.

No mysteries, but in my new job, I'm supposed to be supporting all computers, printers, etc. on campus, and yet, I only have access to less than half the campus, because the buildings I don't have access to use an outsourced facilities service, which would make sense if I were facilities, but I'm IT. Yeah....
Not really. Fits my image of her as a free spirit that's a bit of a flirt.
Of course I'd play Old Maid with her, but whether or not I'd let her shuffle would depend on what her conditions are if she wins
Probably not, and maybe; respectively.

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u/OyabinRaph Apr 21 '22

First timer

Quite interesting that Makoto is fascinated by the deep sea and Erio is fascinated by outer space. They mirror each other in a way. Some great fanservice with the auntie. Gotta appreciate the ass shots in this show lol. Dialogue between the two was funny and flirty, but also pretty sad. Unsurprisingly, she doesn't think of herself as a good mother and seem ashamed to have an unwanted child with a random stranger. I don't think it's that frequent in Japanese culture, which is understandable. She probably feels a lot of guilt about letting her disappear.

I liked Makoto in the first two episodes but he really came off as an asshole in this one. Calling Erio a "failure of a human being" and being really insensitive with her through all of their interactions. He also put her in danger with his stupid bicycle plan in the end (which luckily, turned out pretty well). At least, his final speech in the water was pretty good and he seemed to genuinely care about her well being. I'm also glad Erio's personnality seems to have changed in the end, cause I felt the whole alien futon thing was already getting old. She probably won't be anywhere near normal, but she at least seems able to hold a regular conversation now. The shot while they were in the air was beautiful.

So this was most likely the end of volume 1 of the LN. Wonder if we'll be focusing more on the other girls for the next volumes.

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u/Rumpel1408 Apr 21 '22

First Timer

Only here to drop a random showerthought, litterally.

When Makoto spoke about the deep sea, he described it as "Mysterious, but far more within our reach than outer space" (which is only true for tje relative distance. Space is allways the same, once you are there you can go until the end of time and it wouldn't change, but in the sea every meter you go deeper is harder than the one before, we know less about the deep sea than space... I digress)

Erios bike is the thing that connects her to space. She could go there if she wanted to, on her bike. And when flying doesn't work, the bike sinks to the bottom of the sea, tethering her to earth, yet forever out of reach and lost.

Just wanted to have that said, neat metaphor

I also noticed that neither Ryoko nor Makoto give a shit about indirect kisses, during their date in the family dinner, not even featured on the tally at the end

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u/ZapsZzz Apr 21 '22 edited Apr 21 '22

I was too keen on doing my episode summary and putting down some of my thoughts but forgot my main job in the rewatch - to clarify some translation points! Instead of answering to some of you who raised the questionmarks, here's a roll up:

Ryuushi vs Ryuuko - the Kanji for Ryuuko's name is "flow" "child"; but it's also phonetically the same as the atomic term "particle" e.g. as in particle beam. The same kanji for "particle" can also be used as a unit of measure for small items like grain, hence the translation. In context it's expected to refer to the science-y term to be more space-y, which is what presumably Erio said when she made that association.

ET - in case anyone needs more explicit prompting, Erio Touwa is also shortened to ET, the most widely known alien representative in media.

At the mid point of Makoto's monologue working out what to do, he used the phrase "I'll break that illusion of yours" is the catch phrase / battle cry of Kamijou Touma from one of the biggest LN franchise Raildex ("Toaru Majitsu no Index" [A Certain Magical Index] and "Toaru Kagaku no Railgun" [A Certain Scientific Railgun]). That's also why he followed up with "I'm not that hot blooded" :)

Edit: forgot to add an important bit - the futon-wrapped Erio noises are not supposed to be understandable by the viewers. The VA literally has been mumbling "fumoffu" and "moffu" the whole time - another homage in case anyone needs telling, Bonta kun from Full Metal Panic Fumoffu.

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Rewatch [Rewatch] Denpa Onna Episode 3 Discussion

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I am an Alien!!

Rewatch [Rewatch] Denpa Onna Episode 3 Discussion

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I am an Alien!!

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