Tuesday 6 August 2013

WATAMOTE ~No Matter How I Look at It, It’s You Guys Fault I’m Not Popular!~ - Episode 5

It's been three months now since her high school life began, and Tomoko still isn't popular.  What gives?

The solution to this problem comes to her while watching a Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya knock-off on TV - she needs a character trait, and in this case playing the emotionless, silent girl is sure to have people fawning over her in no time.  Of course, being the silent character is not only pretty much what Tomoko does every day anyhow, it also makes her even less noticeable to those around her.  Perhaps the other extreme, that of constant cheerfulness and a glowing smile, is the answer then?  With simply getting some "cute" photos taken for stickers proving to be an ordeal in itself, perhaps not.


So, with these extremes of personality out of the window, perhaps Tomoko just needs to learn some communication skills, and what better way to do that than become a hostess at a sleazy bar?  After spending the time required to perfect such skills as using a lighter and stirring a drink, Tomoko is ready to ply her trade - at least, she is until she sees the true extent of the less than salubrious hellhole she could end up in, which leaves her grateful at the thought of returning to the warmth of her family.

Although not as cringe-inducing as last week's episode to any degree (thank goodness), WATAMOTE is still a series that doesn't know what it wants to be.  Is it a comedy?  Well, it isn't all that great at being funny, and when Nichijou starts besting you at its delivery of skits you know you're in trouble.  So is it a study of social anxiety?  Surely it's way too wacky and ludicrous to even consider such a title.  It seems like no matter how much I want to like this show, it does little more than deliver a smile or two from me most episodes, which is little more than slim pickings in a surprisingly strong summer season.  Perhaps if this were the only good comedy of the season I'd be clinging to it like a limpet, but as it is "not as bad as Blood Lad" is about as glowing as my praise can be at this juncture.

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