Tokimeki Memorial - 04 - Finally a Mina episode
Posted on November 16th, 2006 by retsgip - 960 Views
Rating: 7/10
We finally get some stereotypical harem action this episode. The only problem I’m seeing with this anime so far is that it focuses too much on one girl then the other. There’s no bouncing around from girl to girl mid episode, but instead it basically does full episode features of each girl. I guess this isn’t a huge problem, but it feels a little slower in terms of relationship development. It also makes Aoba seem like less of a pimp, which is bad I guess since people want pimps.
If you haven’t already, you should take a look at Danny’s harem comparisons in his Tokimeki entry because I think they’re pretty spot on. Even though Tokimeki has a lot of great aspects, I’m enjoying shows like Gift ~Eternal Rainbow~ a lot more because it’s focusing on the relationship aspect of the harem (possibly because there’s more episodes out too). I still feel Tokimeki Memorial is a worthy show, and I’m expecting it to only get better as we move along in the story.
As for this episode, I found some things interesting which I wanted to point out. First, I was surprised that Aoba has started to enjoy receiving gifts for winning little events. Despite is wailing and crying as he sprinted past his “girlfriend” (without a second glance), he seemed to be having fun and looks like he finally fits in. Also, his relationship with the two buddies seems to be moving along rather nicely as well. The three of them work well together I think and they were relatively humorous.
I was somewhat disappointed in the way they handled Yakuza Chicken’s scene. What I would have done is this: When the guy came over and started hassling Aoba, I would have had Yakuza Chicken walk out of the cage and stand behind Aoba, watching. Since Aoba doesn’t know he’s got backup he’ll start sweating or whatever as the dude picks up him by the shirt. Then the Yakuza Chicken would go into burning passion mode and the dude would start dusting off Aoba’s shirt and apologizing. Still not the funniest way to do the scene, but it might have been better than the generic kick to the dome. He didn’t even flex afterwards, BAH!
I’m still in love with Mina, and I don’t think I’ll be changing my mind anytime soon. The other girls just don’t match up to her at all. Although, I’d probably let Aoba have her, and I’d take the girl in the first pic of the bottom row. She’s my side-character love of the season.
Other than Aoba and Mina’s brief yet satisfying chat, not much happened. Hopefully they pick up the pace a little, although I think we’re stuck with the one girl an episode theme for awhile.
-Retsgip
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Tokimeki is utilizing everything it presented in the first episode. The special headgear, the unique teachers and the yakuza chick. I suppose the four ‘big’ sporting captains of the school only got a single episode, but I’m sure they’ll make another appearance during the sports festival. As for the other three things I mentioned, the yakuza chick is the only thing that can get away with not being used fully since its only purpose is comedy. However, I really thought the headgear would be something special in the anime, making it unique, while the teachers gave the opportunity for some interesting in-class episodes. I just hope things like that are used in future episodes to keep it interesting.
Yakuza Chicken’s power level…is over NINE THOUSAAANDD!!!!
As you know, Rets, I am a big fan of Super Saiyan Yakuza Chicken and was exceptionally excited to read your take on him doing a “Burninggg Passsionn!!!” mode and totally pwned some guy back to Oblivion.
Also, if Mina is the Red-Haired chick in your first cap, then she looks kinda cute. I think if she has to end up with any guy, its got to be Yakuza-Chicken-taichou.
HASSEN YOO!!!
Ps: I just got back from my Organizational Behaviour 200 exam…so excuse me if I am getting all loopy over Yakuza Chicken. I just lol’d too hard at the caption.
No, the red haired girl is Tsukasa. Mina is the albino in the last cap.
Thanks for the heads up Danny.
Albinos are kinda hot too.
/still loopy post-exam.
The cafe-pan lady is a keeper! You’re right though, the story has yet to take a designed path, its quite spastic at the moment :/ And Tsukasa confessing/taking what she wants so early in the series kinda makes her actions seems less important. *sighs* we’ll see I’ll be optimistic.
Me too Danny. The headgear has basically been ignored since its appearance in the first episode. If there were more people running around with bunny ears and the like, it’d make the school feel a lot more crazy.
We’ve barely seen any teacher-student interaction. But this is only the 4th episode of a 26(?) episode series so there’s sooooooo much time.
Yakuza Chick is decent. I’d actually rather see a lot more plot development and relationships that start to blossom.
Figured you’d like that quote Darkshaunz.
Felt really weird that Tsukasa confessed so soon huh? I dunno, I was like HUH!? a girlfriend already? Now he’s gonna have to avoid her for the rest of the season, I dunno how well they’ll be able to handle that..
The Pan-lady is mine! Mine! That sweet impish smile of her’s as she scalps money off naive high school boys, the deep red glow of her eyes as she stomps a crater into the cafeteria’s floor, the fine balance between cutesy innocence and demonic rage… Ah! Such an exquisite example of psycho-moeness!
Eeee! The mere sight of her sends shivers of delight up my spine because I know she will deliver the goods. If only they would reveal her name…
*rolls on the floor squealing*
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On a more sane note, I am soooo late in replying to this entry. Can’t be helped, I suppose, since I was in KL unexpectedly for 3 weeks( originally meant to be 3 days).
Ep04 sealed the deal for me. Go Mina, go! Honestly. She has the hots for him, he has the hots for her, just make out already. Hope to see more aggressiveness from Mina in the future episodes.
Cheers.