Mai-Hime eps 1-19
Finally getting around to writing this overview of Mai-Hime.
I’d been meaning to do a writeup since I started this blog, but what happened was that I got interested in other stuff, and my enthusiasm with Mai-Hime waned around ep 8 or so. I actually liked it a lot at the beginning, what with the decent art and animation, the girls with powers, humour, slapstick that’s not overdone, and the mystery level. Plus, Mikoto has a great big badass sword.
However, I never really got into the show, which is strange since it tells a pretty good story, and the filler is not bad and the plot moves pretty okay, albeit in spurts. I guess I never felt much for any of the characters; how else to explain my lack of any desire to watch the next episodes despite the “holy shit it’s all hitting the fan!” type previews… I just forced myself, slogged through one ep at a time, even after ep 13 or so when all hell started to break lose. Just couldn’t connect with the show somehow, but at the same time I didn’t feel like stopping halfway, not because I really cared to know the story but rather because I felt somehow obligated to see through a show that others were raving over and that I did admittedly enjoy, if only for a little bit.
I don’t think it’s the fault of the characters themselves that explain my general apathy. Indeed, they are all interesting, and original enough that you give the writers a nod for creativity in stereotypes. The interactions are also surprisingly realistic, given that it’s a highschool highjinks show part of the time. But, dammit, doesn’t mean I don’t wanna just slap Tate, Mai and Shiho around. Actually, belay that. I don’t wanna slap them, I just want them to friggin’ take it outside where I can’t see, and deal. Finito.
Well, eps 17 on are really getting into the meat of the show, but truly much of it is highly depressing and distasteful. Too much unscrupulous manipulation going on, and it turns my stomach. Too much whining, too, from various HiMEs… but again I have to admit that the execution, while melodramatic, is surprisingly realistic.
I dunno, maybe I just liked the show for the cool action, and don’t really want to see the girls get messed up and all that. It’s far easier to watch a show when the protagonists fight evil plainly, as opposed to this one where the protagonists are under the thumb of the bad guys who mess with their heads and get them to fight each other. Bleh. I think I need a hero(ine) in this show, and sorry it ain’t Mai. Not that she doesn’t have my sympathies.
But!! In ep 19, yes, finally, reward for having made it this far!!
Hmm… looks like Shizuru x Natsuki might actually be more than vague subtext :P Never really liked Natsuki that much, despite the long-blue-hair-stoic-coolness factor, but with this little scene, these two are actually cute. I think I may have found some motivation for further viewing, although any further interaction will probably be minimal, since there’s like 50 billion characters but only 7 eps left to clear up the mess.
Memento does an amazing job of summarizing and reviewing Mai-HiME.
