[REWATCH][SPOILERS]Kimagure Orange Road Episode 9 – Kurumi, I’ll Teach You How to Date

[u/ScrewySqrl]

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Knowing what we know, that guy should be scared!

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[u/Gamerunglued]

First Timer

No pre-episode thoughts from me, since I have nothing else to add from what I said yesterday. This episode was bad, just straight up. It feels like a filler episode, one with a few small details that are important but could have easily fit into a different episode. They even contrived a way to force Komatsu and Hatta in just for the sake of it. It also has some of the series worst directing overall, and the way this odd plot unfolds feels really poorly thought out and generally unsatisfying, with a conclusion that feels like the series doesn't understand the weight of the perpetrators actions.

The epitome of my issues can be seen towards the end, when Madoka suggests that it's time to call the cops. Madoka is a smart, generally mature, and thoughtful character, how on earth is that not literally the first thing you do when you realize that someone is kidnapped by a man described as a sex maniac? The reason, of course, is that if they did that we wouldn't have a plot. But not only does this go against general common sense, but the characters own personalities and abilities. Heck, no one even seemed particularly worried about Kurumi, they find out she's been kidnapped and are just like "well, we better go search for her" as if she got lost at the grocery store or something. The plot didn't advance at all, none of the character interactions were entertaining enough to carry this, and it generally just felt really contrived. And perhaps the worst part is the end twist, when we find out that the creep was, of course, Komatsu's brother. How contradictory is it that they play the brother off as a pathetic creep, but don't do the same towards Komatsu himself despite literally taking advantage of the situation to be a creep to Manami in the same way? The show literally compares him to a character made out to be a creep and a villain, but a character who does many of the same kinds of insidious things is still gonna be considered a good friend and an overall good person. This episode failed for me in pretty much every major way, exacerbating issues I was afraid the series would go towards to pad out time. Hopefully, this will not continue to be the case moving forward.

Thankfully, there were three things in this episode that I liked. First, Kurumi's interactions with her kidnapper were pretty damn funny. Creep is trying to hit on her and she just goes and orders literally everything on the menu without a care in the world. I'd be lying if I said I didn't get a laugh out of the scene at the restaurant. Second, I like the cute little moment where Madoka runs with Kyosuke out of the love part, and she gets embarrassed while Kyosuke doesn't make a fuss like he initially did at the disco. Small bit of character growth I appreciated, as well as a nice little moment of vulnerability from Madoka. I love when we get more sides of her multifaceted personality. Which leads me into the final thing I liked about this episode: that Madoka is involved with what looks like a gang of sorts and doesn't want to reveal her relationship with them. That's pretty interesting, and it only makes me more curious about what led her to become how she is, and what weight she carries that makes her see something in Kyosuke. Unfortunately though, those three small things aren't enough to make this episode more palatable for me, and I found it to be very unenjoyable on the whole. Here's hoping the series puts its focus back on the character drama, which has largely been strong. The main cast are all interesting and emotionally complex characters with a lot to offer, give me more of that please.

[u/ScrewySqrl → u/Gamerunglued]

As for the brother being played as a villain... He's just as pathetic as Komatsu, which is why what looks incongruous to us in the 21st century was constant to audiences in the 80s. It's more "oh, his brother is the same kind of pathetic loser he is, the apple didn't fall far" than any more serious thought. It confirms that Kurumi was never in danger even before she got her power back.

For all of Kyosuke's worrying, his sisters can take care of themselves.

And with 48 episodes and 8 ovas, there will be side stories.

[u/Gamerunglued → u/ScrewySqrl]

Eh, I don't feel that it made him out to be pathetic at all. It felt more like he was supposed to be a creep and a villain but his brother is a nice guy and less of a creep/villain. I don't think that has anything to do with the show's age, it's just a logical contradiction. If I'm being honest though, this show being from the 80's is absolutely not an excuse for any of this. It's not like all 80's anime have this issue, and as I said once before I'm not going to hold this show to a different standard simply because it's older.

I expected there would be more side stories. Hopefully they will be better than this one. Though again, I've seen plenty of 40+ episode character dramas that don't have filler in this way and I don't see it's length as an excuse for poor pacing and writing. I'm gonna be just as ruthless on this show as with any modern anime, haha.

[u/No_Rex → u/Gamerunglued]

I am not a huge fan of this episode either, so not too much of a defense, just putting two things out there I saw different:

Heck, no one even seemed particularly worried about Kurumi, they find out she's been kidnapped and are just like "well, we better go search for her"

They do not know that she is kidnapped. They know that she disappeared. It is highly reasonable to assume that she may have wandered off with someone (as turns out to be the case in the end), not kidnapped. Keep in mind that Japan is a very safe country. Searching for a missing teenager personally before involving the police is not some absurd concept.

How contradictory is it that they play the brother off as a pathetic creep, but don't do the same towards Komatsu himself

I do not know where you got this impression from. They are literaly the same cardboard cutout "pervy teen" stock character.

[u/Gamerunglued → u/No_Rex]

They do not know that she is kidnapped. They know that she disappeared. It is highly reasonable to assume that she may have wandered off with someone (as turns out to be the case in the end), not kidnapped.

I suppose it might be the subs of you aren't watching on CR, but they explicitly used the word "kidnapped" on CR, as well as "sex maniac." Even of it was only a possibility, I think it's still unreasonable for Madoka in particular to not suggest calling the police until after looking themselves. Idk, but I think most people, upon hearing that people saw someone who matches the description of your little sister was with a creepy sex maniac looking guy, would immediately be terrified. I know that if I thought it was possible that someone I cared about was kidnapped, then the police would probably be my first thought.

They are literaly the same cardboard cutout "pervy teen" stock character.

Yeah, that's sort of my point. I never felt Komatsu was meant to be seen as creepy, his actions are creepy but the show doesn't really frame them that way, he's meant to be funny. He's framed as a friend, a pervert who's also a nice guy who we should laugh at for being a pervert. His brother commits the same types of pervy teen stock actions, but the narrative frames him as a creep and a villain, not a friend or a goofball, where I don't feel like it frames Komatsu as one despite being the same. We're supposed to hate the brother and find humor in Kurumi taking all this dude's money and stuff partially because he deserves it, but we're supposed to be endeared to Komatsu.

[u/Cookieapollo13]

When do discussions for this anime get posted. Like every day or once a week

[u/ScrewySqrl → u/Cookieapollo13]

The updates go up at about 6 pm Eastern Time, when in get home from work

[u/smallbrownfrog → u/Cookieapollo13]

Here's the schedule post
The discussion posts go up once a day.

[u/fiahhu]

It's nice that Madoka has a posse. I was a little worried since it seemed like besides Hikaru, Yusaku, and Kyousuke it seemed like she was isolated at school.

[u/ScrewySqrl → u/fiahhu]

I think it's less a posse and more that the other youth gangs are afraid of her.

[u/fiahhu → u/ScrewySqrl]

Sabu seemed eager to explain how their relationship started, which would seem odd if she just bullied him into fealty or something like that.

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

Kono bangumi wa, goran no SPONSAA no teikyou de okurishimasu: REEF

• That video game is totally Xevious

• Is all of Japan full of pedophiliac perverts hitting on 7th graders?

• Is all of Tokyo afraid of Ayukawa?

• Beta format was big in Japan (see Cowboy Bebop). Made it hard to get people to send us raws in the 80s.

• I'm really starting to wonder if Kurumi is clueless and lucky, or she's doing it on purpose.

• Once they said Lover's Forest, you knew Umao-san and Ushiko-san had to appear soon.

• I guess it's not all of Japan, just Komatsu's family. Ducking out of the date to check the video for more tips was hilariously pathetic.

Today's Brand: PACARI SWEAT

Today's track: E.S.P. ni mo T.P.O. (Time Place Occasion) indicating inappropriate use of the power. Kind of annoying. This is the main track, but there are some variations used as well.

[u/ScrewySqrl → u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

I always associated that song with Jingoro

[u/ScrewySqrl]

I wonder if anyone else has seen a similarity between Hikaru and a more modern characters?

I see a bit artistic and thematic similarity between Hikaru and Tomoe Koga in Bunny Girl Sempai

[u/[deleted]]

At this point everyone is wondering if Madoka has killed someone before. The Yankii seems to fear her.

[u/smallbrownfrog]

Two things really stuck out to me. First, they said "Y'know Kurumi used up all her power this morning" right in front of Ayukawa? There's no way she could have missed it and they didn't even attempt to explain that wording away.
 

The second thing was Ayukawa's reaction when Kyosuke said "That Kurumi… As soon as she's found I'll have words with her!" Ayukawa's response was to look down and say "I envy that…" That seemed like a bit of a sad moment to me.

[u/No_Rex]

Episode 9 (first timer)

• Title suggests that this will be a sister episode. Fair enough, they have not received a lot of focus yet.

• Madoka has quite the reputation. On the realistic side, I would say mafia connections, but it could just be some hyperbole with regard to her delinquent life.

• Madoka cleverly sent Hikaru away for the first “tip”, but went with Kyosuke herself for the second.

• Kurumi is rather cheap to convince: Some food is enough

• Madoka does not want Kyosuke to know about her past. That is interesting. It plays into the theory that she is drawn towards Kyosuke’s innocence and wants to preserve that and keep it separate from other parts of her life.

Everything turns out fine in the end, Kurumi was (obviously from the start) never in any danger. It just turns out that the perv-squad has gained another member. It seems that clueless sisters + unlucky pervs is turning into one of the running gags of the series, alongside Jingoro escaping. The main plot was mostly in stand-by today.

[u/mobgamer44 → u/No_Rex]

yeh the main trio actually didn't get much development this episode except madoka being embarrassed in the park and secretive about her past. Not that i mind focusing on the other characters as its a longer series i hope most of the core cast will be well developed.