Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai 2 - Episodes 14-16 (Completed)

Episodes of Oreimo are like buses... they often turn out to be full of creepy people in the end.

Anyhow, before this triumvirate of finale episodes to the series, it was clear that Kyousuke had finally made a decision as to where his heart lies, and having brushed off Ayase his next job is to make it abundantly clear to Ruri that he's now in love with someone else... namely Kirino.  In spite of her knowing this the whole time, Kuroneko is still understandably torn up by the whole thing, but apparently not enough to play at least some role in Kyousuke's next plan - to invite Kirino out on a Christmas date under the premise of getting some exclusive merchandise at a couples event at Akihabara, although what he really wants to do is confess to her.  After needing to give chase after Kirino gets the wrong end of the stick initially, things don't look much better when she gets the right end of the stick, calling Kyousuke creepy and an awful lot.  Until he asks her to marry him.  Then she says yes.  "What?!" I hear you cry.  Yes, quite.

So, with this pairing now finally admitting their feelings for one another, what next?  It's time to play some eroge of course!  Alongside that, it's also time for Kyousuke and Kirino to decide their future, and the next thing we know this "couple" are dating, albeit in that kind of oh-so innocent way that only happens in Amish populations and anime series.  This means that Kyousuke also has to wander out rejecting the advances of any other girls who might otherwise leap upon him, namely Kanako who chooses to confess during a live event yet somehow manages to (I assume) escape without being burned alive and strung up by her rabid otaku following.

With support from their friends and the like, things seem to be going pretty well for the couple in spite of the obvious difficulties of their situation - this is, however, a scenario that childhood friend Manami simply won't put up with.  Well, I say childhood friend Manami, but she's actually played in the show's final episode by Kamijou Touma from A Certain Magical Index (she even heals as quickly as he does), causing a punch-up between herself and Kirino.  Even here Kyousuke refuses to back down in his love for Kirino, leaving yet another girl crying in his wake because he's fucking insane.  With all obstacles now removed, we eventually discover the truth behind Kyousuke and Kirino's relationship - this was simply a limited-time offer until their respective graduations, after which they return to being normal brother and sister.  Considering they didn't actually do anything before this point, couldn't they have just gone back to being normal siblings at the start of all this nonsense and actually allowed Kyousuke to have a normal high school life?

Ultimately, such questions are all but pointless in the face of three episodes which showcase the absolute best and worst of the series - getting to see Kirino and Kuroneko argue about anime one final time was just one reminder of what this show could do really well, but on the other hand watching Manami's character change entirely in this second season was equally a reminder of how these later episodes felt more like some kind of particularly screwball fan fiction that somehow got mistaken for the show's actual scripts.  If you can buy into the whole "incest for the win" concept (yes, that is an actual line in the final episode), then these final three episodes aren't entirely terrible, but even then they've managed to completely negate what made this series successful initially, turning a comedy about otaku with some romantic undertones into an absurdist harem comedy that only kept mentioning eroge in a desperate attempt to hold onto its roots.  This second season of Oreimo hasn't entirely destroyed all of the good work of the first, but by the end of it all my enthusiasm for the franchise as a whole has largely been reduced to a smouldering wreck, like so many light novels burned by Kuroneko fans.

Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai 2 - Episode 13

As it reaches its last "proper" episode (prior to a trio of OVA episodes which arrive in August), Oreimo's second season changes tact for this finale by taking a look at the world through Kirino's eyes.

To be precise, this episode charts Kirino's relationship with her older brother from its very roots, meaning that we get to see a very different dynamic between a far younger pair of siblings.  As a young child, Kirino was in awe of her brother, who seemed like an amazing individual who could do anything that he set his mind to - so amazed was she at her siblings abilities that she'd spend time with him whenever possible just to soak in everything that she could about this wonderful person.

Of course, times change and so do individuals, and as the pair grow up so a distance begins to grow between the two siblings - Kyousuke wants to spend more time away from his little sister as hanging around with her becomes increasingly uncool, and what's more Kirino begins to see what she views as a change in her brother from the amazing all-rounder she knew and loved into a lazy, half-hearted slob who didn't want to put any effort into anything.  This ultimately all comes to a head, not helped by Manami commenting that Kyousuke was never the amazing person Kirino imagined him to be, leading to Kirino choosing to ignore Kyousuke whenever possible while molding herself into a person that could best even her idealised view of her brother.  Of course, her deep-seated feelings never went away, and her otaku proclivities proved to be nothing more than a way of venting them in a safe environment, until this became the issue which pushed the siblings closer together once again.

For all of this show's flaws (and boy are there plenty of them), this was actually quite a satisfying "final" episode.  Although it does nothing to gloss over the horrendous and now increasingly present incestuous angle of the series, there was something to be said for delivering Kirino's story in this manner and the result was a pretty engaging but suitably light-hearted one that (aforementioned incest angle aside) also felt like a satisfying representation of the two siblings at the heart of the show and their changing relationship.  It's a shame that something like this can even feature as a highlight of what has otherwise been a disappointing series, and by all accounts those final OVA episodes are going to do nothing to save the show - far from it in fact.  Roll on August, if only so that we can bring a franchise that has somehow imploded almost entirely during this second season to a close.

Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai 2 - Episode 12

Although the entire point of his moving into his own place was to aid his studying for exams, it seems that there's still time in his busy schedule for Kyousuke to enjoy a housewarming party with all of his harem... I mean friends.

Of course, getting all of these girls into the same room is a dangerous proposition, and after an amicable start things soon go south thanks largely to Kanako throwing a fit over Kyousuke eating food prepared by other women.  The next thing we know, everyone is laying claim to our protagonist for one reason or another in the assurance that they can care for him best - it's Kirino of all people who puts a stop to this madness, telling them all to lay off him so he can focus on his exams before choosing to put Ayase in charge of looking after him for the duration.

While Kirino assumes that this is the best option due to Ayase's hatred of her brother, we know rather better about her feelings for him, so it's no surprise when she puts heart and soul into visiting him every day to ensure that he's well-fed and provided with a clean and comfortable living space.  Free from any distractions, Kyousuke enters his exams with confidence and aces them, bringing his time living away from home to an end and as a result bringing a confession of love from Ayase - a confession summarily rejected by Kyousuke as we roll towards the end of the series, give or take its final OVA episodes.

As per my criticism last week, I have to confess that I was rolling my eyes at the first half of this week's Oreimo - it really doesn't work well as a harem series, and the whole welcoming party setup was cringe-inducingly bad in its execution.  This is a series that works better in its one-on-one interactions between Kyousuke and other characters, and things improved once the episode's cast was whittled down to just himself and Ayase - not classic Oreimo by any means, but at least palatable and even mildly amusing once or twice.  Kudos to this episode for also having the balls to remove one member of the "harem" from the equation by its end, something which too many shows chicken out of doing whereas this effort was at least a little sweet.  Well, bittersweet perhaps, when you consider the path we're treading towards in the final episodes of the series...

Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai 2 - Episode 11

Having suddenly grown close in such a short time frame, Kyosuke and Kirino's parents are understandably worried about this sudden shift in the way the two siblings interact with one another - a concern not helped by that lovey-dovey sticker on the fridge.

With exams coming up for Kyousuke, his father has decided there's only one thing for it - to force him to move out.  This is, however, merely a temporary arrangement, provided that Kyousuke can score an A on this forthcoming test - something which may be easier said than done.  Nonetheless, off trots Kyosuke to his new apartment...

...not that he spends much time alone, naturally, as he finds himself visiting by most of the usual suspects - Kirino of course, but also Ayase, Kuroneko and Kanako.  While Kirino buys her brother a fridge (yes, you did read that right) and Kanako almost stumbles across the truth about Kirino's hobbies, it's the rivalry between Ayase and Kuroneko that really dominates as the two of them bitch, catfight and wage war over the attention and affections of the hapless Kyosuke.  With Manami planning a housewarming party for Kyosuke, it looks like there'll be no need to provide any fireworks for that event with all of these characters set to attend.

While there are some notably enjoyable aspects to this episode - Kirino becoming something approaching a decent human being is pleasing, and Kyousuke's interactions with Kanako in particular were some of the best this second season of Oreimo has managed in terms of comedy - the show is still missing too much in terms of its overall quality, as it continues to tread a path that feels more like fan fiction than what you'd otherwise expect of the series.  In other words, it just isn't as fun without its more otaku-centric focus - a complaint that I know I keep making, but it's something which is increasingly true (for me at least) as the series goes on.

Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai 2 - Episode 10

The Internet has been ablaze this week with apocalyptic tales of the final Oreimo light novel, but for now let us concentrate on the tenth episode of this second anime season.

Ayase gets to take centre stage for a while once again in this week's instalment, as we fast-forward through her interactions with Kyousuke during the whole Kuroneko affair, with Kyousuke telling her that he can't teasingly sexually harass her any more on account of having a girlfriend, before Ayase worries that it is she that's responsible for their eventual break-up - or at least, that's what she suggests is her concern, while the reality of the situation is readily apparent.

In the midst of all this tsundere behaviour, Ayase also all-but forces Kyousuke into attending the "Meru-fest" event to cheer on Kanako, who is taking part in the event on account of her stellar Stardust Witch Meruru cosplay.  Of course, this plan is scuppered somewhat, and by none other than Kirino, who is also supposed to be attending the concert but is held up on a delayed photo shoot.  Thus, it's Kyousuke to the rescue, as he races off to pick up Kirino (albeit with the worst possible choice of transportation) and bring her back to the event arena in time for the concert - something he doesn't entirely succeed at, but hey - at least he makes it in time for the frequently name-dropped appearance of ClariS, which oddly we don't get to see at all.

Aside from a couple of funny moments, Oreimo again underwhelms this week - by this point even the previously entertaining Ayase is increasingly little more than a simpering waif crawling at Kyousuke's heels, and the entire cast is starting to feel a little lifeless as we seem to have developed nothing more than a harem circling around our lead male.  This is perhaps the inevitable progression of the series, but it's still a world away from the fresh and snappy otaku comedy that made me fall in love with the franchise in the first place, and to be quite honest I really want that side of the show back, even if my wishes will never come to fruition.

Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai 2 - Episode 9

After a seemingly perfect summer, Kyousuke's dream has suddenly turned into a nightmare - not only has Kuroneko dumped him, but she's also transferred schools and moved out of her home without a word about where she's headed.

Unsure what to do or who to turn to, a distraught Kyousuke looks towards the only person he can think of to trust in this situation - Kirino.  Surprisingly, Kirino's reaction to her brother's plight is an entirely reasonable one, as she comforts him and takes charge of the situation to at least attempt to put things right by tracking down Kuroneko and finding out exactly what the hell is going on.

Although Ruri herself refuses to divulge her location, it seems that she's still easy enough to track down, and before we know it Kirino and Kyousuke are taking up the hunt for her in a hot springs town.  Although their search proves to be fruitless, the tables are turned as Kuroneko ends up finding them, giving Kirino a chance to vent her spleen on her brother's behalf.  It's here that Kuroneko's "destiny" is revealed, as she forces Kirino to be honest about how she felt about Kyosuke getting a boyfriend while trying to sidestep her own feelings about the matter.  After lots of frank discussions and admissions, it seems that all is well again, albeit with no sign of an immediate rekindling of Ruri and Kyousuke's romance...

Having managed to largely sidestep the pseudo-incestuous aspects of Oreimo up to this point, this week's episode leaves me torn - as a whole I enjoyed it, as it actually managed to portray Kirino in a favourable light for once while the episode's drama, as overblown as it was, actually had a decent emotional impact to it.  However, for all of that positivity, I can't help but feel.... "icky" about the episode's undertones, as it gleefully throws other relationships under the bus to keep Kyousuke and Kirino "pure" for one another.  It's bonkers, crazy, and pretty creepy, and it's the one aspect of this series that I'd really rather keep at arms length - even the tail-end of the first season could be explained away as a more reasonable level of sibling love, but this story arc can't really be explained without going to places that I'd really rather not.  Hopefully normal service can be resumed again next week, so I can go back to ignoring the fact that a big chunk of this show is horribly incest-driven.

Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai 2 - Episode 8

Now that Kuroneko and Kyousuke are officially dating, Ruri certainly seems to be taking her role of girlfriend seriously... perhaps too seriously, it could be said.

While Kirino is very much keeping her council after her brother announces that he's dating her friend, Kuroneko is pulling out all the stops from creating new outfits to ensuring that Kyousuke learns as much about her as possible... indeed, it's almost a little creepy how much of their relationship Kuroneko already has mapped out.  Maybe she should change her name to Ringo...

As the summer persists, so the pair spend as much of their time as possible together, despite some potentially interference from Kuroneko's sisters and the uncomfortable feeling that Kirino is now little more than a spare wheel in proceedings - not good news considering that Kuroneko seems determined to ensure that Kirino and Kyousuke end up happy in one another's company.  But what lengths is Ruri willing to go to to ensure the happiness of her friends?

The answer to that question seems to be "incredibly crazy lengths" judging by the final scene of the episode, which is a bit of a downer after a really enjoyable instalment - Ruri's sisters (and the family's middle sister Hinata in particular) were great, and Kuroneko herself did a lot to ensure the episode's entertainment value in spite of some odd behaviour on her part.  I'm intrigued to see how this behaviour is explained, but I fear I might not like it - still, I'm not going to let that eclipse perhaps the most fun episode of this second season of Oreimo so far, that finally managed to seem to remember how its characters are supposed to act.

Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai 2 - Episode 7

Now that all the chaos and confusion surrounding Kirino's little boyfriend "stunt" has settled and everything is back on track within our groups of friends, Kuroneko has an important proposal for Kyousuke.  And by that, I mean a confession.

Amazingly, Kyousuke decides that he needs some time to think over the prospect of becoming Ruri's boyfriend (really, what is there to think about here?!), and so goes off to ponder matters with a deadline of giving her his answer by the end of their reconvened post-Comiket party the next day.  Not that there's any shortage of advice for Kyousuke to mull over, as the school rumour-mill seems to work much faster than our protagonist's head, ensuring that everybody is already up to speed with what's going on.

With relations between Kyousuke and Kirino back to normal and the latter all-but giving her blessing for her brother to accept Ruri's confession, the pair finally go ahead and become a couple.  But what do they do now, exactly?  It's that question which ensures a sleepless night for them both, although thankfully while Kyousuke's head is filled with more... well... physical questions about what is to come, his girlfriend has a more practical and romantic view on proceedings which looks likely to set them down the right track.

Although it's still missing some of the magic that seemed to have been worked upon its first season, and while Kyousuke still has moments that feel entirely out of character for him, this was nonetheless another pretty fun episode of Oreimo as the series continues its recent trend of improvement now that it's settled down somewhat.  Now that Kyousuke and Ruri's relationship seems set to take centre stage, hopefully the progression into new pastures will give this second season the injection of life that it needs to strike out and make its own mark.

Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai 2 - Episode 6

Comiket has brought with it a chance meeting between Kirino and an acquaintance of hers - but who is this rather dapper chap who goes by the name of Kouki Mikagami?

Well, what we do know about Kouki is that he works as a model and designer for the same company that have been pursuing Kirino of late, and that he's also an otaku who is selling some of his wares at Comiket.  Beyond that, the exact status of the relationship between himself and Kirino is rather vague, but they certainly seem to be getting on well enough.  It's an issue which troubles Kyousuke, albeit perhaps not quite as much as being handcuffed in Ayase's bedroom and quizzed on why he was out on a "date" with Kirino.

It's matters of the heart which loom large over this entire episode, as an interrupted confession to Kyousuke by Ruri is followed by Kirino unabashedly unannouncing that Mikagami is, in fact, her boyfriend - a revelation which causes chaos in the midst of what should have been the gang's Comiket after-party.  When Kirino invites said boyfriend to meet her parents, things inevitable come to a head - never mind her father's drunken ranting locked away in his bedroom, Kyousuke's initially cold treatment to Kouki followed by a proclamation that he isn't going to let just anyone take away his little sister is the moment that breaks the dam between the two siblings, allowing them to vent their frustrations and return everything to (relative) normality.

Although I'm all for Oreimo making the most of its characters to dramatic ends now and again, boy was this week's episode overblown, with layer after layer of needless conflict brought about simply because the series was capable of doing so rather than with any real sense of character development in mind.  Speaking of which, I continue to feel let down by Kyousuke's character in this second season at times, as he vacillates jarringly from the normal guy who we knew and loved from the first season into a creepy wretch whenever Ayase is involved.  In short, I miss the days when this series was mostly played for laughs, and the drama was just the window dressing for the series.  Y'know, like you did in last week's episode, which managed to be the best instalment of this second season so far by a country mile.

Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai 2 - Episode 5

Kirino needs a boyfriend, and only Kyousuke will do it seems as this week's episode of Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai kicks off.

Of course, rather than an actual boyfriend, Kirino is merely in the market for a fake one in the hope of putting off a rather over-exuberant contact from a modelling agency who simply won't take no for an answer.  Such is the fervour of this individual that Kirino and Kyousuke end up spending an entire day out on a date in the hope of finally convincing her that Kirino is most certainly not available.  This is all well and good, but it causes no end of confusion when the duo invariably run into their respective friends, including a baffled Manami and Kuroneko during their day out.

Still, at the end of it all Kirino is free from this pesky modelling agency, although a throwaway comment suggesting that she also has a real boyfriend throws Kyousuke into a spin, even if it's one that's relatively quickly forgotten as Kirino's otaku group decides to create a book for the upcoming Comiket - something that they duly achieve with great success while also giving us another glimpse at the relationships at play within that particular group.

Although the core premise which kicked off this episode was ludicrously forced, it did at least lead in to a surprisingly fun episode of Oreimo which felt somewhat like a return to the energy exhibited by the first series.  For all of the stupidity inherent across the episode, we finally seem to be focusing in on the main cast again, which is where the series does its best work.  While this instalment was no classic, in comparison to previous episodes of this second season it was a clear improvement, so maybe I can actually go back to looking forward to watching this show of a Saturday evening again rather than dreading it as I have been for the past few weeks.

Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai 2 - Episode 4

As we reach this fourth episode of Oreimo's second season, Kirino is looking to allow a friend of hers from her time in the US stay over while she visits Japan, which can mean only one thing for poor Kyousuke - trouble!

So it proves, as the visit of the energetic Ria sees Kyousuke getting blamed for all sort of shenanigans which aren't even his fault by Kirino, while Ria seems more than happy to wreak havoc and play "little sister" to Kyousuke's big brother.

After a little sightseeing which takes the trio to - where else - Akihabara to give Ria a taste of Kirino's interests, we come to the crunch of Ria's visit - an opportunity to pit herself against her former roommate in a race, to get revenge for Kirino's single victory over her before she returned to Japan.  With Kyousuke present to cheer her on, can Kirino ensure that the status quo remains, or will Ria's natural talent allow her to go home on a high note?

After a first half to this episode that couldn't have been any more generic a fan service-led comedy if it tried, the second half of this week's instalment did at least improve somewhat by offering up a little emotional meat to its panty shot bread and butter.  It's still a far cry from the Oreimo I know and love (heck, it doesn't even look as good at this juncture), and I'm seriously starting to fear that those halcyon days simply aren't going to return at this point, but maybe this show is finally making some baby steps in the right direction.  I can hope, can't I?

Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai 2 - Episode 3

A surprise visit to Saori's home turns into a major surprise (for Kyousuke, at least) as this week's Oreimo begins.  Cue flashbacks...

In essence, this episode is all about Saori Bajeena, or to use her real name Saori Makishima.  As the younger of two siblings, the young Saori is a quiet and reserved girl without any specific friends or interests and with a weak constitution that prevents her from really getting out into the world.  This is in stark contrast to the elder of the two sisters, Kaori, and after a few years of pursuing outdoor activities Kaori's interests have shifted, in turn taking her to a point where her sister can get involved in her activities and circle of friends.

However, rather than joining in with a love of the things that interest Kaori (guns mostly, as it happens), she instead falls in with one of Kaori's friends, a budding manga author named Kanata.  In essence, it's her who throws Saori headlong in the world of otaku-dom, only to leave her devastated as Kaori goes off and gets married which in turn ensures that the circle of friends around her slowly drifts apart.  Ultimately determined to one-up her sister, Saori seeks to make her own circle of friends - cue the meeting which started this entire series.

Rather than offering up any particularly zany or comically rich scenarios, this episode was really about filling in the gaps in Saori's character, pure and simple - it's something that I can't fault the series for doing as it certainly needed to be tackled, but it still means that we're now three episodes in without succeeding in recapturing much of that old Oreimo magic.  It's a bit of a worry, in all honesty - has the series simply lost its mojo, or does it have nothing interesting left to do with its characters?  I hope it's simply that it's building up a head of steam slowly and that more interesting fare is on the way, but my confidence in the series is waning after these tepid beginnings.

Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai 2 - Episode 2

While you might typically expect Kirino's return to be met with nothing but joy from best friend Ayase, it seems that she's once again having some problems with some of the more extreme otaku proclivities demonstrated by Kirino - thus, it's Kyousuke to the rescue once again!

More specifically, Ayase's problem is with Kirino's obsession with a new dating sim, which has seen her talking to her PS Vita (which is clearly nonsensical and unrealistic - there are no PS Vita games) and using her phone to send text messages to her virtual girlfriend.  Doing a little digging at Ayase's behest, Kyousuke learns that the game is called Love Touch, and having seen a full demonstration of Kirino's obsession with it he soon understands Ayase's problem.

Thankfully, even Kirino knows that she's getting a little too into the game, and thus lends it to Kyousuke to look after her virtual girlfriend while she takes a break from it.  The trouble is, Kyousuke himself is soon also hooked, although it does allow him to understand that even his sister's Love Touch obsession is at least indirectly related to her friendship with Ayase - something which he tries to demonstrate to her in a not entirely successful, but ultimately fruitful, way.  Then again, maybe Ayase is taking some aspects of the game a little too seriously for her own good...

Although I'd love to say that this is the moment that Oreimo returns to form, something felt seriously "off" about this week's episode.  Most notably, Kyousuke simply doesn't feel like the same character any more - to have the detached and slightly snarky elder brother we've come to know and love replaced with another drooling otaku dating sim addict both stretched credulity and broke one of the important aspects of the show, that being Kyousuke as the every-man surrounded by rabid otaku.  That aside, on a more positive note there were still some funny moments here and there (including Ayase's hilarious final take on using Love Touch to impress Kirino), and little touches which perfectly capture the otaku condition (Kirino tilting her head trying to peek under a virtual girl's skirt was uncannily accurate), but I hope the series has more in its arsenal than simply that moving forward - if nothing else, it really needs to remember what made the first season so enjoyable, which it seems to be in danger of forgetting at the moment.

Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai 2 - Episode 1

Kirino Kousaka is back!  But first, a flashback to her and Kyousuke's childhood, a more innocent time when things were.... not actually that different at all, actually.

Anyhow, Kirino's return to Japan following the "true route" of the first season is done and dusted as we return to the world of Oreimo; not that Kyousuke can expect any thanks from his little sister for his part in those proceedings, as she's far more interested in catching up with her old friends and putting her life back together than spending any time on him.  Then again, Kyousuke has other problems of his own to occupy his time, most pressingly what to do about Kuroneko and the relationship between the pair of them as he tries to piece together her feelings for him.

Is Kyousuke is also pining for some good old-fashioned life advice session with his sister though?  You bet he is, and such an opportunity pops up soon enough, even if it isn't quite what he expects, as "life advice" on this occasion is more like "take me to Akihabara to see the trailer for the new season of Stardust Witch Meruru and then trail around while I buy loads of stuff".  In other words... Kirino Kousaka is back!

Overall, this was rather a lukewarm opening to this second season of Oreimo - it was really all about reestablishing the various characters and their circumstances into a comfortable setting and setting things up for the episodes to come, which was perhaps necessary but wasn't particularly fun (or indeed funny).  So, while I'm very happy to see this show return, I'm hoping it has more up its sleeve over the coming weeks to bring back the sense of fun and entertainment that pervaded much of the first series.

Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai - Episode 15 (Completed)

The game development club's competition offering spear-headed by Kuroneko may have turned out to be something of a disaster in terms of its popularity, but that aside things seem to be going pretty well as we enter this final episode proper of Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai.

Indeed, it almost feels as though Kyousuke's work is done - Ruri has now finally been accepted by her classmates, and she's also made friends with Sena to put that rivalry (more or less) to bed.  What could possibly go wrong now?  How about an e-mail from Kirino telling Kyousuke to throw away her collection of eroge and the like to set a cat amongst the pigeons?

With his sister still not having contacted anybody since leaving for America, Kyousuke is understandably worried about what is going on with her, but first he finds himself summoned to see Kuroneko, to receive a kind of half-baked confession of her feelings for him before she sends him packing to where he needs to be - a visit to Kirino all the way out in the US to see what's wrong.  Perhaps unsurprisingly, it turns out that things have all gone a little pear-shaped for Kirino in her bid to become a top athlete, while Kyousuke's loneliness without his sister gets the better of him as he begs her to return home.  So, all's well that ends well, in a finale that is arguably perfectly poised for a second season.

It's perhaps this requirement to effectively "reset" everything come the end of the series that makes this ending feel a little disappointing - nothing really progresses, Kuroneko's feelings only get a half-baked outing and even the entire concept of being able to fly out and take your sister home on a plane just like that feels less than satisfactory.  The requirement to focus on all the human drama also strips this last episode of any real comedy, which is what the series has always done best from the very start any how - things just aren't the same without the amusing otaku-centric premises and snappy one-liners.

Still, despite any feelings of dissatisfaction with its ending, let's not forget that Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai as a whole has been polished and entertaining far more often than not; a kind of Genshiken-lite in a way that is both complementary and critical.  When push comes to shove though, I'd be absolutely signed up to watch a second season of this series, and that above all else is a sign of the fun and laughs I've had watching it.  It's the kind of show that doesn't always manage to deliver, but when it does it can be a tremendous viewing experience.

Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai - Episode 14

Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai's Kuroneko focus has certainly been well received by most (it's almost as if people don't like Kirino), and thankfully these bonus episodes of the series continue to proffer plenty of everyone's favourite opinionated "fallen saint" with nary an irritating sister in sight.

After all of the commotion in the school game development club last episode, the senior members of said club see fit to pose a challenge to their juniors - to submit concepts for a game of their own, the winning entry of which is to be submitting into an online competition for such efforts.  Thus, Ruri and Sena are pitted against one another with an expectation of teamwork between the two of them once the best entry is chosen, with Kyousuke simply coming along for the ride... or rather, throwing a massive spanner in the works right from the off by suggesting that they both work on creating an eroge.

Then again, both girls final presentation to the game development club's seniors aren't all that far off just such a concept - Sena's idea for a dungeon exploring RPG seems like a sure-fire winner before Ruri's concept is even out the gate, but as is so often the case with these things the devil is in the details - the explicit, homoerotic details inspired by the club's male members to be more precise.  This leaves Kuroneko's concept as the clear winner, even if it is (to use her own words) as an exercise in "self gratifying masturbation material" designed solely to piss off people with differing views.  This decision leads to Sena leaving the club in tears never to return as Ruri and Kyousuke soldier it on alone with development of the game, before reaching a point of no return where only one individual can fix the game's numerous bugs in time for submission to the contest...

As has been the case with this series throughout, this is another hugely fun episode - hilariously and almost tastelessly hysterical at times but actually rather sweet at others as the relationship between Kyousuke and Ruri continues to be the major focus, with the latter clearly having grown considerably thanks to the support of others to give a slightly heart-warming undertone to the story.  It's the show's sense of humour that really wins me over personally though, and as per usual this instalment of Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai managed to provoke numerous laughs from me - I didn't expect to be saying this when the show began (or even on occasion during it), but I'm going to miss it once it's all over at the end of its next, final, episode.

Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai - Episode 13

I don't normally make two 'blog posts in a row about the same series but hey, I make the rules around here, so there.  Anyhow, with episode twelve's "true route" out of the way, it's straight on to the first full-on bonus episode and the beginning of Kyousuke's school days as a senior to Kuroneko.

Of course, the first obstacle Kyousuke encounters is exactly what to call this new junior, meaning that we finally get to learn of what Kuroneko likes to refer to as her "human" name - Ruri Gokou.  While this makes things a little easier in school, outside of school Kyousuke finds himself continuing to spend rather a lot of time with Saori and Kuroneko, with the former vocalising how upset she is at Kirino moving to America without a word to either of them followed by a complete lack of communication since that time.

That aside, Kyousuke's real issue is what to do about Kuroneko at school, as she's clearly something of a loner while her outwardly biting and unfriendly personality clearly hasn't endeared her to her classmates.  Thus, Kyousuke does what he can to help her, coaxing her into joining the school's game development club and helping her out with cleaning duties when her classmates ditch said task and leave her to it - efforts which subsequently get thrown back in his face as Ruri accuses Kyousuke of simply using her as a replacement for Kirino, which may well be true to some extent.

Still, Kyousuke just won't quit, although he arguably only makes things more difficult for himself by outing the only other female member of the game development club (with the oddly familiar surname of Akagi) as a huge fujoshi, causing quite the commotion in easily the episode's most hilarious scene.  Still, come the end of it all things seem to be warming up quite nicely between Ruri and Kyousuke if nothing else.

Given how irritating Kirino has been at times during the course of this series, I know I'm not the only one to actually be a little relieved that  can enjoy at least one episode without her being present at all, and indeed this thirteenth episode works perfectly well thanks to that fact that Kuroneko is at least as strong a character (if not stronger), with a great line in biting dialogue that acts as a perfect foil to Kyousuke's own musings and the like.  Overall, this episode pretty much follows the trend laid out by Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai - a general sense of fun underlined by some hilarious comedy set pieces (most notably Akagi's outbursts) that helps to make the whole thing just that bit more memorable.

Besides, let's face it... Kuroneko is really pretty awesome as characters go, so the more screen time she gets the better.

Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai - Episode 12 "True Route"

Okay, I give in - I promised myself I wasn't going to watch these bonus episodes of Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai until they came out on Blu-Ray, pixel whore and High Definition junkie that I am, but the release of episode thirteen has seen me do a u-turn and check out the two bonus episodes now available, starting with this "true route" alternative version of episode twelve.

If you've seen the original, TV broadcast version of the episode then most of this instalment will hold no surprises for you - Kirino acts in a worryingly friendly manner towards her brother before requesting what she claims is her final act of life counselling for her, that being to queue up for a midnight launch of a new eroge title so that she can play it straight away.  Kyousuke duly does this, and even moves hell and high water (well, he rides an embarrassing bicycle) to get back to her with the game, and after making him sit through the completion of one of the game's routes she pulls out one final secret from her closet... no, not that game (cue one of the episode's funnier exchanges), but some mementos from her childhood.

It's here when things get very different from the TV broadcast episode - rather than changing her mind, Kirino does jet off to study in America, and what's more she doesn't even tell Kyousuke that she's departing, leaving him to lament her empty room.  Fast forward a little and Kyousuke is, by all accounts, a "changed man" (according to Manami), but whose this starting at his school as a new school year begins?  Needless to say, a very familiar face is about to become Kyousuke's junior...

There really isn't a lot I can add in terms of commentary to this episode - it is what it is to all intents and purposes; an episode with some great funny moments (not least Kyousuke and his friend's conversation in the queue for the midnight eroge launches), but with an ending designed to set up the bonus episodes to come.  Speaking of which, I'd better get onto episode thirteen, right?

Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai - Episode 12 (Completed)

So, here we are, at the end of what feels like the first of 752 planned endings to Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai... and what's this, a scene of normal, everyday family interaction, with Kirino at the head of it all?  Something is clearly amiss with this picture...

Needless to say, Kirino's friendly demeanour towards Kyousuke has him rather worried, to the point that he even asks Ayase about it when he bumps into her, but even that conversation leaves him none the wiser as to what's going on.  What should perhaps have been obvious from the very start is that Kirino is buttering up her brother for a favour - to attend the midnight launch of a new eroge and buy it for her.  Good brother that he is, Kyousuke duly agrees to this favour, lining up for the midnight launch and bumping into a surprising familiar face in the process - it seems that he isn't the only one with his particular set of problems.

Upon returning with this new game, Kirino forces him to stay up with her half the night playing it, which brings us to the big climax of this particular ending - Kirino has one last, big secret that she's kept from Kyousuke, and it's revelation leads to a violent row and thus a strange cementing of the relationship between big brother and little sister that has grown throughout the series.  So, all's well that ends well, and they all live happily every after... or something.

As endings go, I'll be the first to say that said revelation was a bit contrived and borderline nonsensical in places (would an entire family really not think to let Kyousuke into the loop on such a major decision, even if he is viewed as a black sheep?) but its sentiments were in the right place without veering into uncomfortable territory, which was a relief if nothing else.  While we now have to sit and wait to see what other "alternate" endings the series brings (hopefully with much more Kuroneko), this was a decent finale to what has been a thoroughly entertaining series - yes, it's had a couple of major missteps along the way and it's female lead is, let's face it, a bitch, but the series as a whole has been a success despite those issues.  It's been laugh out loud funny on numerous occasions with some sharp comedy and observations on otaku culture that rival Genshiken at their peak, and it was mostly delivered in a spirit of fun and with a dose of polish to make it an eminently watchable series.  I'm sure I wasn't the only one who picked up Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai in the expectation that it would give me something to mock and poke fun at for a few months, but it turns out that the only think I can really mock come the end of it all is my own unfounded prejudice for being stupid enough to judge a book by its cover.  I should have known better, and that lesson is duly learned - for now, anyway.

Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai - Episode 11

For someone who had no interest in it at the start, Kyousuke seems to have developed quite a taste for eroge these days judging by the start of this episode... not that I can particularly blame him, mind you.

Anyhow, with Kyousuke's parents away on his day off, he decides that this would be a perfect opportunity for him to invite childhood friend Manami over, although seemingly only with an eye towards getting some cooking and cleaning done, which perhaps isn't the most 21st century "new man" idea in the world.  Regardless of his intentions, Kirino treats Manami's arrival with disdain, acting as bitchily and rudely as usual to their guest despite being inwardly impressed by both Manami's cooking and cleaning.  Just when it looks as if Kirino has calmed down somewhat, Kyousuke soon finds that she's actually simply been looking forward to watching him fall into her trap, as he invites Manami into his room only to find her laptop running in mid-eroge session with porn mags strewn across his bed.  Manami takes this surprisingly well, but it's clearly something Kyousuke isn't going to be able to live down any time soon, especially given his preference for girls with glasses...

From here, the second half of the episode fast forwards to Kirino's "anime launch party" as arranged by Saori, which finds Kyousuke greeted with both an unexpected banner and some unexpected clothing choices from the fellow guests as those maid outfits from a couple of episodes ago finally get an airing.  Long story short, the whole party is little more than a ruse to cheer a despondent Kyousuke up a bit, and more importantly to give Kirino an opportunity to (quite rightly) thank her brother for everything that's he done to help her out of late.  It's all quite touching, and before the party is our Kyousuke is reduced to tears at his sister's sudden apologetic and grateful turn.  Awwwwww....

Ignoring that genuinely slightly touching finale for a moment, it's probably more important to note that much of this episode showed this series at its absolute comic best, proving to be frequently hilarious from Manami's reaction to the contents of Kyousuke's room through to the receptionist at the place where Kirino's party was held, with the latter in particular showcasing an expertly timed vein of visual comedy that could happily grace any show, anime or otherwise.  That aside, Kirino continues to blow as hot and cold as a faulty hand dryer, with her bitchiness early in the episode making her later apology feel a little sour; yet, somehow, it still moved me ever so slightly, with my emotions running away from my logical detestation of her behaviour in a way which probably explains how this show can be so enjoyable despite having an abhorrent main female character.  Oh, Ore no Imouto, sometimes even I don't understand why I like you quite so much, yet like you a lot I do.  I am towards this series what Kirino is towards her brother I suppose - what delicious irony...