Zoku Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei - Episodes 1 & 2

If ever proof was needed that things don't always have to make perfect sense to be funny, then (in my book) Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei could quite possibly be put up alongside Monty Python's Flying Circus and the stand-up comedy of Ross Noble as conclusive evidence along those lines.

It's really no secret that I loved every episode of this show's first season, and the return of the unfortunately named teacher (whatever happened to calling him Pink Supervisor anyhow?) can only be greeted with joy myself.

The first two episodes of Zoku Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei (even the show's title is a play on words, which gets it bonus points from the start) seem to have taken the show's early success in its first season as proof that the surrealist boat can be pushed out even further the first time around. Thus, what little continuity existed previously gets completely blown out the window, the jokes become ever weirder (and indeed harder to follow, with a huge chunk of episode two seeing the characters talking complete nonsense, which is then translated into something slightly less nonsensical (although only just). In theory it probably shouldn't be funny, but in reality it's hilarious stuff. I would provide more examples of the kind of bizarre humour to be expected here, but I really don't want to spoil any of the surprises... Oh, okay, Kafuka Fūra putting lyrics to Träumerei is definitely not to be missed. Speaking of which, has anyone else spotted the clues to Kafuka's real name?

Overall, much like its first series, Zoku Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei is most definitely an acquired taste... The marmite of anime if you will. Some people no doubt simply won't get it, while others will absolutely relish every moment of humour and clever little snippets of wordplay and inside jokes. Feel free to park me well and truly in column B on that one.