0005 | in which I forgot to give this entry a header & had to add one almost a full year later, oops

[straightforwardly]

Whoops, dropped off the face of the planet there.

Since I last updated:

► video game-wise, I've beaten Final Fantasy IV (good, but the story fell apart at the end), Pokemon White (finally; don't know what it was but I actually found myself in the mood to play it, so yay there), and Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of the Sky. (Currently doing post-game in that one.) I also started and completed Persona 3 Portable. (The oddest mixture of interesting and tedious I've yet encountered in a game.) So, yeah, I’ve kind of been busy in that department. I also read a ton of books (20+), but I can’t remember all of their titles at the moment.

► As for real life... I moved back into the dorms three days ago. School starts again next Monday, so I figured I'd take advantage of my slightly-faster-than-at-home internet, and try to cut down on my anime-to-see list.

► First up, was Inu X Boku Secret Service. I started this one Monday evening, and typed up my thoughts on the first episode after watching it, then ended up scribbling out commentary as I continued watching the rest. I figure I may as well post that here, for record-keeping's sake.

Episode One
the fanservice throws me off a bit, but it's not too bad. survivable, provided the story delivers. ugh, different-colored eyes, you sir are going to drive me crazy and not in a good way. I do love how persistant the bishie sparkles are, though, like the creators are fully aware of how ridiculous they're being. I'm a bit torn on how they handled the ~magical reveal~ aspect-- on one hand, if it's obvious to them that they all have monster blood, they're not going to just loudly talk about it. But the way it was explained was a bit heavy-handed, and I'm not sure how I like the sense of sudden genre shift. on that note, I have no idea what's going on re: the Secret Service part. Like, why do they even need to exist? Then again, I shouldn't be surprised by the heavy-handedness... found the scene where she (main character) is talking about her past cringe-worthy, if only because there was no real build-up to it. Overall, I'm not exactly sure what's going on, but I kind of like it? Let's give this next episode a shot.

Episode Two
note to self: her name is Ririchiyo.
- kind of confused why flying carpet guy isn't in human form anymore, doesn't fit with him sticking as a human almost all of last episode, like they just did that for the dramatic reveal. that's... annoying. loved the bit with her giving him the stuff to remove curry stains, very cute.
- the blonde girl disturbs me, mainly because I feel like she's way over the top. I would not object to her/Karuta, though.
- ...Ririchiyo is really, really cute when she wears glasses.
- I am praying that Ririchiyo does not end up in a love triangle with different-colored eyes & flying carpet, because I like her & flying carpet's friendship far too much for it to turn that way.
"What did you do to him?"
"I have no idea."
Just... adorablesauce.
- ...nevermind re: blonde/Karuta, the tentacle torture thing kind of killed it for me
- I really need to learn flying carpet guy's name. still enjoying the hell out of their friendship
"I'll just pretend to be a bit of paper floating in the wind!"
"You idiot..."
- "Big Brother" awww! okay, please don't stop this cute budding friendship between different-colored eyes and flying carpet, anime. I approve of it.
- also, different-colored eyes looks too much like Tomoe from Kamisama Hajimemashita when he's all shifted. (Is he a fox? I think so, but not sure. I did count nine tails.) I like Tomoe more, though.
- ohhh, nurikabe. neat. I love mythological creatures; if this anime is going to introduce me to new ones than I definitely approve. three-eyed spirit dog with droopy ears sounds adorable. and now I sound like Hagrid.
- why does she care about different-colored eyes? this genuinely confuses me oh she's transforming!
- yay magical girl-esque sequence. pausing to admire her-- love the character design. those little horns! and the flower! and the scarf-thing around her neck! ahhh I approve.
- again, questioning why she cares so much already. although, they do make a really pretty couple when in these forms.
- wait are the maids descended from creatures too? very curious. flying carpet is floating around without them batting an eye, so I'm leaning towards yes.
- okay anime, you have a new job: make me care about different-colored eyes, because I really, really don't right now. in return, I will actually try to learn the character's names.
- ...wow, the sight of him in glasses came at a really good time. damn, that's attractive. not enough to make me care about him, but still. attractive.
- next episode tomorrow, I think, unless I forget.

Episode Three
- so, wait. if each of the families with creature blood in them are rich, then what about the secret service people? are they from rich families too? then why are they guarding the others like they're something special? also, does this mean the maid isn't someone with creature blood? how does she know about it/not seem even the least bit discomforted or unused to it? questions, questions, questions.
- a "throwback"? is that what the people with creature blood are called? certainly easier than typing that out every time. also, she has a sister! I want to see her.
- I realize that scene was probably supposed to be fanservice-y, but all I could think was, I want those stockings.
- that blonde is everything creepy.
- ooohhh, flying carpet is in his human form! I don't know why, but I really like his tattoo. genuinely surprised by his still being in high school, though. he looks like an adult.
- hey, Ririchiyo, don't be disappointed in yourself! those two guys totally deserved the telling-off, and your response was perfect. ♥
- ???
- don't tell me I'm getting a love triangle.
- please. no love trianges.
- if you rejected her, why did you kiss her?
- oh. that's why. really? for once, not only am I not disturbed by the blonde girl, but I actually kind of like what she had to say.
- I thought this was going to erupt into pointless drama, but I actually kind of agree with Ririchiyo, especially since it's clear that she has issues with this sort of thing. if he's kind just to be obliging, than how does she know his words are sincere? she can't trust that, not the way she is now.
- okay, this is not what I meant when I said, "anime, make me like different-colored eyes". seriously, you're going to guilt-trip her? there are many ways you could have responded to her. that was the wrong one. jerk.
- aaaanndd what was with the randomly naked different-colored eyes thing?
- the music playing here is really nice. the drama effect kind of passes me over, due to the whole not caring about different-colored eyes thing, but the music is nice. something tells me the contract doesn't stay terminated, though. sigh.
- and blonde girl went back to being creepy, sigh.
- Sorinozuka? is that flying carpet's name? in any case, I agree with Ririchiyo. RUN!
- and the two assholes are back. I really, really hope different-colored eyes doesn't come to her rescue... I want her to take them down herself.
- damn. disappointment. also, his speech is making me headdesk.
- I like how calmly she dumped that water over her head, though. if she keeps this up, I'd watch this series just for her, even with stupid different-colored eyes getting in the way.
- make it up to her by stop guilt-tripping her, you jerkface.
- wow. I think I've moved from indifference to flat-out dislike. ...he's still a jerkface.
- awwwwww she wanted to pinky-promise! so cute! and of course his words kill my fangirling, sigh.
- new characters! not enough time to form an opinion, though.

Episode Four
- goal for this episode: find something (not shallow) to like about different-colored eyes guy. also, learn his name. typing that out over and over is getting to be a pain.
- ....really? we're going to make Ririchiyo that naive? I mean, okay, it's not like it's an uncommon thing for one of the main characters in an anime to experience, but still. It doesn't suit her.
- okay so I took a break from this episode because I made whirlwind plans with a friend and kind of ditched this episode because I hadn't seen him in over two weeks and even then that was only for two hours preceded by two and a half months without being able to see him, so, yeah. Anyways, it's the next day now, so. I don't think I got far enough in this episode for the break to matter much, but I figured I'd make note of it just in case my tone was radically different, or something.
- shoot crunchyroll lost my place agh.
- okay I just love how, when this new blonde guy was all, why are you looking at me, Ririchiyo didn't blush and look away and apologize, but instead was all, hey, you were staring first.
- so different-colored eyes is a fox! ...now I really, really want to like him better, because foxes. not fair.
- "...and I'm a delinquent!" should you announce that so proudly? haha.
- ha, Ririchiyo said something similar right when I pushed play again.
- awww, he's adorable! "tiny tanuki" I love it. someone seems insecure~
- I have no idea what to make of Natsume.
- "I know everything about you" O_o
- "And what match?" Um, he just told you.
- I really, really don't know what to make of Natsume.
- blonde girl, you're not being creepy at the moment, but I'm still not a fan. sorry.
- Watanuki's dramatic entrance pleased me. as did how easily he was shot down.
- oh, poor tiny tanuki! him crying is actually tugging at my heartstrings.
- ahhh I love Watanuki's angry face.
- oh God that whole scene was so disturbing. blonde girl, you are really too creepy for me. and Ririchiyo... really? you are taking this far too seriously aggh.
- only halfway? ...you know, I liked the first episode, but I'm starting to think I'll drop this one. I'm going to try to at least get through the rest of this, though.
- oh my God who is that tiny girl she is adorable.
- ...really, anime? were the bouncing boobs really that necessary? also, as a girl with breasts, ouch. how was she not cringing.
- I suppose this does answer my question about whether or not the staff have creature blood too. but, now I have to wonder about Ririchiyo's comments about them all being rich, because... working as a maid doesn't imply rich to me.
- ...well. I suppose introverted is one way to put it.
- remember how I said the fanservice wasn't that bad? yeah. I changed my mind. what the hell is with that shower scene. if I weren't so determined to at least finish this episode, I would quit right here.
- ahhh, Watanuki and Karuta are actually kind of really cute?
- hey, it's canon! Ish.
- holy shit Natsume's eyes are creepy. but he totally has a point about the problems with her whole isolating herself plan.
- okay, tip different-colored eyes: you have no right to be possessive. end of story.
- "I'll have to make sure he doesn't say too much." well, that's not foreboding at all.
- episode over!

Aaaannndd now I'm removing it from my queue. I'm not saying I'll never finish this anime, because I do have questions I want to have answers to, but... just watching through this episode was a chore, and there are too many series I want to see, for me to drudge through one that's not entertaining me.