Honestly, I barely remember why I liked Chuunibyou so much. I was hesitant to watch it at first, because it sounded like I'd often be embarrassed on behalf of the characters. I mean, it's about a high school boy, Yuuta, who's trying to put his old delusions of grandeur behind him. He meets Rikka, a girl his age who is still a "chuunibyou"—she still fancies herself to be a heroine in possession of the "Tyrant's Eye." So, she's a teenager who still acts like a child who can't tell the difference between fantasy and reality. Recipe for embarrassment, right?
Actually, the embarrassment was minimal. Mostly, this show was just fun... and sweet. Yuuta wanted Rikka to break out of her delusions. Still, he put his old persona "Dark Flame Master" back on a few times to relate to her on her level. This contributed to some light romance between the two as the show went on.
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| From episode 12. Aren't they sweet? The eyepatch is part of Rikka's delusion—a side effect of having the Tyrant's Eye. Her vision is fine. |
While the plot of Chuunibyou didn't stick in my mind over the past year, the whole "chuunibyou" idea has endured, and it comes to mind every now and then. Back in January, I wrote my post "Don Quixote was a Chuunibyou," since the classic character reminded me so much of Rikka and Yuuta. Maybe it's a stretch to call a middle-aged man a chuunibyou, but when I set the age part aside, Quixote seems to fit the profile. Thanks to that, I remember both Don Quixote and Chuunibyou better than I would otherwise.
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That's all for now. I hope ya'll had a great Thanksgiving! I did. I've spent a lot of time holding my baby nephew, talking with family... and trying to chip away at the mountain of homework I need to finish before Monday. I'm going to be exhausted, and then there will be the rest of the final papers and exams to prepare for... I strongly suspect next weekend's post will be a simple "Swamped" post, but we'll see.
I suggest to avoid the second season. I dropped it halfway.
ReplyDeleteIt managed to include yaoi hints, yuri, and a new character that has a chuuni style focused on the demonic. Reading the script of one episode I didn't watched, she did a quick imploration and mentioned some well known demon names.
Thanks for commenting! I hadn't looked into the offensive content in the rest of episodes, so I appreciate the information. Sound like blogging about the second season from a Christian perspective would make for an interesting critical exercise... but not worth it. I dropped it out of lack of interest, and I have no reason to pick it back up.
DeleteChuunibyou wasn't one of my favorite series but I wouldn't say I regret watching it. I didn't notice a massive difference between the first and second seasons, either, though if I were forced at gunpoint to pick one I liked better it would be the first.
ReplyDeleteThe whole concept of Middle School Syndrome is one that I don't particularly enjoy. It pops up every now and then in minor characters and featured heavily in Steins;Gate and I always find that it gets in the way more than it contributes positively to the story. How do you feel about it? Also, are there any character features that you simply can't stand?
The biggest difference between seasons, for me, was probably my mood while I watched. It's just one of those series I don't need more than a dozen episodes for.
DeleteI didn't get all the way through Steins;Gate, but I remember a couple of the characters being overly... imaginative, to say the least. It didn't affect my enjoyment of it too much—the pacing is probably what lost me. I think chuunibyou-like characters can be effective if done well. I can even enjoy some of the scenarios they imagine. But I empathize too much with characters, so if they should be embarrassed by their behavior, I'll probably be embarrassed on their behalf, and that's not pleasant.
The most annoying character type that comes to mind at the moment: spoiled rich girls with squealy voices (usually with blonde waves and Western style). I'm watching an anime with one of those girls right now—Croisee in a Foreign Labyrinth. This girl treats people like objects that can be bought, or at least won over. It's an otherwise sweet show, and I can tell this girl is supposed to eventually earn some sympathy, but she grates on my nerves. Of course, I don't like male characters who act this way either, but at least they don't have the high-pitched voice to go along with their inconsiderate actions. There are other character traits I struggle to endure, but this one's fresh in my mind, and needed to be ranted about.