Utawarerumono: Itsuwari no Kamen

[David75]

But we got to know Kuon expects Haku to know her better, to be able to understand her without words.
And we also got to know Haku already knows her a lot as he got full points on all the places Kuon was.

[shinta|hikari]

This is a good sign. It's classic build up for adventure/fantasy anime. First you flesh out the characters, then you tell the story.

I'd complain if we were past halfway, but we aren't there yet.

[Kraco]

Nah, this isn't especially good story telling. You need to really entrap the viewers from early on, even if you then put some pressure on the brakes and shift to deepen the character personalities. I still enjoy this because I have so fond memories of the old show and because fantasy adventure happens to be close to my heart (and because the animal characteristics folks of Utawarerumono are so adorable), but no matter how I look at it, this fails at the execution of the story big time. We are 9 episodes in already and there's absolutely nothing to look forward to, you know. Even Haku isn't a mystery per se because we already saw his kind in the first show. And because he himself doesn't personally give a single shit about his past or lost memories. He's only interested in taking it easy, drinking booze, and eating adequately. I'm not even sure he really thinks anything much of his super enviable position of being surrounded by pretty girls all the time. At least it's good he's not blushing or overreacting nonstop like a usual shounen hero would.

[shinta|hikari]

I'm not even sure he really thinks anything much of his super enviable position of being surrounded by pretty girls all the time. At least it's good he's not blushing or overreacting nonstop like a usual shounen hero would.

Isn't this a good thing?

[Kraco]

I guess it's only to keep this anime family friendly. I suppose in the original game he does more with some of the girls.

[MFauli]

From what Im reading here, it´s good i dropped this anime after the first ep.

[KrayZ33]

He's only interested in taking it easy, drinking booze, and eating adequately. I'm not even sure he really thinks anything much of his super enviable position of being surrounded by pretty girls all the time. At least it's good he's not blushing or overreacting nonstop like a usual shounen hero would.

As someone who didn't watch the first show, I don't even know what this show is about.
They keep throwing in new characters and forget about them later on.
Why exactly is everyone in their "secret" base again? Weren't they all princesses or something?
What about the 2 humans Haku got to talk with.
The girls already lost interest in Haku so I don't know why they used several episodes to establish some kind of "Harem" or something like that.

Next EP is about girls giving a child tips to seduce someone, with Haku being in the middle of it....
Wasn't he supposed to lead armies or something from what you guys told me ?
Nice "information gathering" from his side btw... ugh. He didn't even ask a single question and his opinion is based on how they interacted with a family member. Nice...because their behavior towards a family member is clearly related to their political goals as messengers.

Would be cool if they start working on Haku's past or something. Or at least make use of his modern education instead of making him a garbage collector/ useless peon or handyman.
I thought he'd become a merchant once he reaches the capital... or develop some "new" (at least for the people that live in this medieval environment) machines.


So far, this is nothing but Kawaii-bs so far... which I dig anyway. But it's a horrible show nonetheless and I'd never, ever recommend it to someone right now, it's not even *that* funny.

[shinta|hikari]

That's because it's a sequel. I think it's a requirement to watch the first one before this. Too many things are being referenced.

[KrayZ33]

I doubt that has anything to do with it.
I can watch FSN or Zero without watching the other one.

It's a sequel alright
and not "season 2" or even in the middle of a season... was the original so bad that it didn't get a proper ending? And this show is the epilogue? I doubt it.

This show doesn't have a story so far and that can't work.

[shinta|hikari]

I meant about the characters and setting, not the direct plot line. Some of the recent characters that showed up were from the first show, and I think there will be some sort of conflict between Tuskuru and Yamato later on. If you haven't seen the first one, you won't appreciate or won't understand a lot of this.

FSN is the original story. F/Z is a prequel. Of course you don't need to watch one before watching the other.

I think a lot of the dissatisfaction for this show is coming from expectations, which I completely understand. The first story was more focused on war and had lots of developments while introducing new characters. This one is focusing more on slice of life while adding to the harem and reintroducing the old ones. I prefer the former, but I wouldn't go so far as to calling this horrible.

I tempered my expectations on the action and suspense early on after realizing the approach the story is taking. That said, I'm still keeping my hopes up that things will get serious around the halfway mark after all the pieces are assembled.

[MFauli]

shinta, I think it´s time to take a step back and think about it again.

The problem is that you´re too forgiving for this "kind" of show. But the context is different to the time when the original Utawarerumono was being aired. We now experience an anime industry where shitty moe, loli stuff and harem nonsense are the norm. If you happen to like those, that is okay. However, you have to realize that when a sequel to an anime about war, about fighting, about serious stuff, is turned into yet another of those moe-loli-harem shows ... it´s gotta disappoint, maybe even anger some people. Or even many people.

It´s easy to ignore fully expected moe anime, because we take a single look at the announcement poster image and we get it: "Oh, it´s one of those anime, thanks but no thanks". With anime like Utawarerumono, you don´t think about it, just remember the awesome fights and tactics from Hakuoru 10-15 years ago and you expect more of that. Not those people´s fault, really.

Again, it´s okay to like what you got - but there´s a point where an anime doesn´t deserve defense anymore.

[shinta|hikari]

The thing is, people are exaggerating with their comments. The show isn't terrible. It has its good points.

I'm not faulting people for being disappointed either. I'm just saying it'll bring them less stress if they adjust their expectations. That, and to wait a little more before passing judgment like I am. The show isn't even halfway done.

You have to remember this is anime. Western television series generally work with contained episodes that try to entertain with each one. On the other hand, this show seems to be using a ton of setup episodes to prepare for a grand development later on. I could be wrong, but I'll give it a chance.

[KrayZ33]

The thing is, people are exaggerating with their comments. The show isn't terrible. It has its good points.

Not really... at least nothing that would carry it out of the "terrible" rating.

Ya, the cat-girls are cute, it has it's cute moments, but there are 50 shows every year (or season, lol) that have that too and somtimes do it better.
MC isn't anything to write home about, yes - he's a grown up man - but also extremely boring to watch and I'm not talking about his looks here.
And the plot so far is very inconsistent and rarely there in the first place.
It feels like one of these "monster of the week" shows, just without monsters most of the time. Everytime you think something interesting happened that will lead to something in the future, the next episode reveals that it was "just another event" without consequences.

I hope that will change soon.. or at least at some point during the show. If it's all a huge buildup to something - okay, I'll be able to enjoy that if it turns out to be a good one.
Doesn't change the fact that it's extremely boring right now with Haku being completely out of place and useless (and he has no intention to change that, in fact he wants to become even more useless). They could at least combine his laziness with a capable mind - actually using it to *avoid* work.

[shinta|hikari]

Your definition of terrible is pretty encompassing, not that there's anything wrong with that. By your standards, more than half of the anime out there are terrible.

[KrayZ33]

Ya, well yes.
It so happens that right now (and I'm just going to write it one more time because why not: it might change) Utawarerumono is terrible among the terrible shows.

I don't see this show's selling points, it's probably not moe enough for weirdos, not enough action for the younger audience, the mystery is a joke so far, because the show doesn't capitalize on it, the MC is boring to watch and the interactions between him, the general and kuon is getting old and there isn't a whole lot of fanservice aside from frequent bathing scenes, which are pretty harmless though.
Comedy wise, this is in the lower levels too.

the first 3 episodes started rather well, but the show stopped after they reached the capital... maybe it got 1 episode worth of development, but thats still 50% of wasted screentime.

Maybe I got hyped, I don't know, I expected something but got a show that I consider as bad as the "Tale of da Woarst One-u" title that is currently airing - and that's a really awfull series.

Yet Utawarerumono has at least a chance to get better, because it doesn't know what it wants to be yet.

[shinta|hikari]

The world building in this show is better than most. You gotta give it that.

[KrayZ33]

What makes you say that.

For me, someone who didn't watch the first show in that universe, no. Or at least it's lacking and wasting alot of potential when you consider that this started as an adventure where you explored, together with Haku, how people lived in that time and age.
But I don't consider us far enough in the story to even make use of proper world building because it's been pretty stale for the fast few episodes.

Continents, civilizations, nations, cities, and towns. Backgrounds to all of these arn't there yet.
I know Kuon is from somewhere else, and her country has concerns as to why the country where this story is taking place has gotten so much power - but that's pretty much it. Then again, I don't know where half of the characters are comming from.

The one with the bird is a princess, the lass is a princess too (favorite character btw). But I can't even remember why they excist in the story so far. What faction do they belong too? Are they ambassadors? I thought they were, but they didn't do anything so far and it doesn't look like they are much a big deal to the common folk in town.

[shinta|hikari]

You're right. I mixed in some of the first series when I was thinking about it.

[Ryllharu]

Well...if it is any consolation, I think viewers of the first series finally learned that Tusukuru is on an island (likely quite a big one). We knew it was far away from the setting of this series, but that is new information.

[Kraco]

Episode 10 - HS



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Haku needs to work long hours for a lazy man. Although I feel like he does deserve some of the hardships he encounters, but I also think Kuon is treating him too harshly. In the first place he should have no need to live in that ridiculous five star inn worthy of real princesses. He would be happy in any tolerable place. It's actually kind of hard to understand why he's sticking to the present company. He already knows enough to survive on his own, I reckon (since his survival is basically any place with a roof, booze, and edible food). All those girls and especially the random encounters only bring him extra hassle that put him through literal shit...