Itazura na Kiss - Episode 2

After a solid if unspectacular first episode of Itazura no Kiss, I wasn't quite sure whether this series was going to manage to keep my interest. However, after setting the scene last time around, the second episode proved to really rather good.

After the shock of being rejected by Irie, seeing her new house collapse and then having to move in with Irie and his family, Kotoko finally gets some sweet revenge for at least part of this episode, finding a secret weapon to both get some attention from Irie and improve herself in the process, even if it backfires rather in the end.

Sure, it's all pretty traditional fare, and it's all been done before, but judging by this episode Itazura no Kiss has what it takes to be rather a likeable series. Kotoko's enthusiasm is rather infectious, and even though her friends are somewhat irritating they don't have enough screen time to spoil things, on this occasion at least. Even Irie proves not to be completely unbearable, showing a softer side on a couple of occasions that at least lends some believability to the fact that Kotoko is still interesting in him despite his largely cold and arrogant attitude.

All in all then, this series is looking like a keeper if it can keep things up to this extent. As long as you don't expect anything ground-breaking from the series, then it's shaping up to be an enjoyable watch.