Axis Powers Hetalia has been much talked about of late, mainly because of Korea's hatred of the series before it was even broadcast based upon the content of the manga, even going as far as to threaten a cyber-terrorist attack should it hit the airwaves.
Well, the first episode has been broadcast (albeit online and via mobile phone networks - The TV airing of this show has now been cancelled), and I have to say with my hand on my heart that I don't have the slightest clue what's going on. Obviously, there is plenty of caricaturing of various countries going on within this first five minute instalment (oh, how the German likes to eat sausage! How the Russian is a bully to his neighbours! What witty repartee!), but some of them make little sense to me - The Brit disagreeing with America, when has that ever happened? Pretty much the funniest line of the episode is the Italian shouting out "pasta", but if that's the extent of caricature Hetalia is aiming for then I fear for the comic value of this show.
What really confused me was the whole Roman Empire Chibitalia section, coupled with the myterious appearance of tomatoes in some kind of relation to World War I. I'm starting to think that I need to start doing drugs just to understand this show....
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Anon