Utawarerumono: Itsuwari no Kamen

[Kraco]

Episode 11 - HS




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Probably the silliest episoed of this second season so far. It was a jolly good detail the girls just kept eating the ramen (after dragging the whole cart with them all the way to the distant fortress), and finally many of the soldiers joining them as well. The food certainly must have been better than the performance. Although Haku's fight was surprisingly fluent. Who knew he could use the fan like that. I thought he was just an engineer.

Other than that, this was otherwise quite a decent lesson episode for the princess, even if that in itself is hardly anything innovative. Haku gaining the task of supervising the idiot siblings isn't a job that would make him overly happy, I'd bet.

[Kraco]

Episode 12 - HS




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Those were pretty naughty priestesses. But then again, they can naturally afford to be considering Haku is so lazy, jovial, and amenable, so the chances are slim those girls would actually need to do anything much. Although maybe they did in the original game (Edit: Now that I checked it, the game apparently has no sexual content to begin with, so even originally they wouldn't have needed to do anything.)

Post credits scene suggests something might actually happen starting from the next episode. Not that I wouldn't have enjoyed this one as well. Just like the previous ep, this was quite silly. I bet the Emperor felt granting the girls to Haku was worth it just to see his long-suffering reaction. I do hope he would order them around a little, as well as the idiot bandits that are now under his command. Haku is otherwise very much like a doormat all the other characters keep walking over, continuously pushing him around.

[Buffalobiian]

The real question is: which do you prefer? I like the tan one.

I feel that this sequel's been done better than the original. It's due partly for a few reasons:

-nostalgia and recurring characters
-Kuon's tail
-Haku's more believable levels of charisma
-Focus on well-done comedy instead of weird RPG combat that didn't translate well
-Less need to know who the hell Haku is in relation to the story.

The mystery is still there for you to ponder if you really want to think about it, but Itsuwari no Kamen lets you enjoy everything else a lot more if you don't give a shit. On the other hand, the first series really rode on it - Karura and Aruru aside.

edit: In retrospect, I should give more credit to the original because it laid the groundwork for this. I found UBW to be more enjoyable in a similar manner because thanks to Fate, it wasn't required to explain the world again.

Also, Atui's voice wins so much.

[Kraco]

The real question is: which do you prefer? I like the tan one.

I believe they only come in pairs. It's both or neither. The tan one uses brighter, the paler darker clothes. They are going for that opposing colours theme, which is quite pleasant.

My problem with this season, compared to the first, is that so little happens in this in the bigger picture. If I had expected this to be a slife-of-life show, I wouldn't have minded as I have still enjoyed this a lot, but I thought this was going to have a solid and heavy story and the other stuff was just on top of it to build the cast and develop the characters.

[Buffalobiian]

I believe they only come in pairs. It's both or neither. The tan one uses brighter, the paler darker clothes. They are going for that opposing colours theme, which is quite pleasant.

That is true, but it's in favour of Saraara (tan-chan), because light hair and skirt is consistent between both of them (as well as gold jewellery). Pair is nice of course. I wouldn't turn that down. I re-watched the end of episode 8 where Haku met the Emperor for the first time and these two were the hooded escorts. I guess even they can be scary.

[Ryllharu]

You're both ignoring the obvious alternative.

Munechika with her ninja mask on is insanely hot.


The problem is that I'm simply not sure where this series can go in terms of moving away from the slice of life stuff. Haku's harem has far fewer mainline combat characters than Hakuoro's (the nation of Tsukuru for those who haven't seen the first series). It's Atui (for some reason her spear skills are super strong), Nosuri and Ouji the ninja bandit siblings, Kiuru the archer, the new priestess twins, and *sorta* Haku and Kuon.

Nekone and Rurutie are both better diplomats I suppose, but overall most, if any, combat skill in this series is concentrated in the 8 Yamato Generals. Haku is on familiar terms with 3 of them, but he's also technically a vassal of Oshutoru.

I was kind of hoping Ukon/Oshutoru would start a fight at the inn with whatshisname. Karura would bring on the pain if they tried to trash her inn.

[Kraco]

I wouldn't mind even if he didn't need to face grand battles. It could be diplomacy, political work, constructing a new colosseum, or whatever big problem that's in need of solving that would span multiple episodes and require him to put his wits and the harem to good use. I'm tired of watching him shovel shit and then afterwards sit on the sidelines when the multiple girls do whatever they want without Haku having any say whatsoever in the proceedings. They all take him for granted and treat him like some harmless domesticated animal. The only ones he gets some respect from are a few men in the upper echelons and some isolated encounters. That's why it was so nice to watch the old female cast fret when the pristess twins were treating Haku like a highborn. Even if he himself didn't really find much enjoyment in the extra bother of owning them. But in fact that's just another sad sign suggesting he has been totally disillusioned by the women he has become more familiar with.

[shinta|hikari]

Haku is clearly gay. No man could face that much waki without giving into lust.

I hope all the generals die in the next episode, thrusting Yamato into a terrible situation where even Tuskuru is a major threat.

[Buffalobiian]

Munechika with her ninja mask on is insanely hot.

She's hot regardless, but really isn't a choice unless you can draw BL manga. And her existence alone would not let me share shinta's opinion. She shouldn't die next episode. I haven't even gotten to see more of the other generals - especially the scary Fist-Of-North-Star one.

@Kraco: the funny thing is that Haku was supposed to find brainy jobs in the capital, but most of his work has been anything but. I'm sure he could find work if he was motivated enough, but since he's not he's currently shovelling shit. With that perspective, I can't feel as much sympathy.

The high-class inn expense is Kuon's fault though, that much is true

[shinta|hikari]

He'd be rich if he became an accountant. They live in a world without decimals, after all.

[Ryllharu]

The high-class inn expense is Kuon's fault though, that much is true

Do you really think they're still paying full price, considering the owners? There's at least 10 people in the suite now. They almost certainly get a discount on food because Kuon eats so much.

Kuon's problem with her aunties and "older sisters" is mostly that they spoil her rotten.

[Buffalobiian]

So.. where does all that money go? Or is Kuon secretly the master accountant?

[shinta|hikari]

Haku has a secret stash for his future.

[lelouch]

I stopped watching this, as well as asterisk. Are either of them worth still watching?

[Buffalobiian]

I watched both and I'd say they're both worth watching. It depends on why you stopped.

[shinta|hikari]

13







War! And the OP shows Haku in beast mode! Finally the story moves. Now for the deaths!

[Kraco]

It's always a smart move to choose one idiot among the empire's highest officials just because it makes things more funny. I suppose that would be a real issue if the emperor is living hundreds of years. Getting deadly bored would be a big deal. That's precisely why Haku is also getting such special treatment. Looks like he gained the priestesses also just for that: The emperor can summon him whenever he wants to. If Haku appreciated those supple beauties more, it would be a small price to pay, naturally.

In any case, I very much welcome this conflict.

[Ryllharu]

One thing that's nice is Atui and Rurutie are both forced to go out of obligation, meaning from our standpoint as viewers, Haku and the rest of them can't sit this one out like they've done in the past. Even the lazy Haku wouldn't abandon the poor girls caught up in this mess.

While Atui apparently is more than capable of taking care of herself, I don't know how Rurutie's fujoshi skills will help her against animal-ear mujahedeen. Maybe luring the new girl on the enemy side over to Haku's harem?

[Buffalobiian]

While Atui apparently is more than capable of taking care of herself, I don't know how Rurutie's fujoshi skills will help her against animal-ear mujahedeen. Maybe luring the new girl on the enemy side over to Haku's harem?

lolol. "Come to Yamato. We have BL doujins". I didn't think of that one.

It seems strange for the dad to send Rurutie. No sensible parent would do that in a war unless they're combat-able.

[Ryllharu]

I assume he sent her only as a symbol due to the "reasons" he couldn't leave their province. I doubt there was much expectation that either of them will be doing the fighting or commanding, and their respective troops will simply be lead by one of the other 8 generals who are going.

Atui at least is a fighter in her own right, but strangely, Rurutie was far less nervous than Nekone and Kiuru. Atui looked resigned but clearly uncomfortable. Rurutie was impassive yet serious. It could just be shock, but perhaps there is something we don't know about her?