life line by line

Yep, filler episode. Not a bad one but basically it was an excuse to get all the girls in swimsuits and wedding dresses.

Haru and Yurika get married while Shizuka moves into his old apartment next door to Ryo and Akane. The gang all gather together to head to the opening of a new mall where Ojo’s brother wants Ojo and Ryo as models for an wedding shot. Girls decide to hold an contest that entails swimsuits, cooking, acting cute, and wedding dresses. Episode ends with the brother’s “new” vision and slogan “hog the love” (or something like that) with all the girls in wedding dresses and Ryo in an tuxedo.

I guess not bad for an final fluff ending. A lot of cheese all around but worth it just to see the various girls in different states of (un-)dress. Overall, Final Approach was a decent mini-series to watch. Really nothing out of the norm in terms of ground breaking new fronts but just a “simple” love harem-ish story that’s worth an watch on an lazy day. It was a short ride, and while Final Approach will likely be forgotten among its better love comedy brethens, was fun to watch the ups and downs of Ryo’s and Shizuka’s budding relationship.

Ryou has become Shizuka’s bitch. Even though he misses her like crazy, he tries to play it off though no one believes him. Meanwhile, Shizuka is well-liked at her new school but everyone can tell she’s depressed. Eventually, Ryou wises up (after much guilt tripping by all his friends) and goes to Shizuka…. typical happy ending stuff.

Pretty cheesy episode but somewhat enjoyable to see the obvious ending of Ryou and Shizuka getting back together. Looks like there is one more episode left, which I figure will be some type of filler fluff episode. Hopefully it’ll showcase the lesser characters since we all know Shizuka and Ryou “live happily ever after.”

Pretty moving episode and has sort of made me a Shizuka fan. With the last day for Shizuka up front and center, Ryo and Shizuka spend some quality time alone (part in thanks to Akane) and we find out Shizuka’s true reasons for wanting to marry Ryo.

Originally to make her grandfather happy, Ryo and Akane are the grandchildren of the woman he originally loved but could not get married to due to class differences. Hoping to fulfill her grandfather’s wish, Shizuka goes after Ryo…. but now that’s all changed as she actually loves Ryo. With their last moments together, Shizuka spills it all leaving Ryo pretty shocked but she can’t get him to say the one thing she really wants to hear: “don’t go.”

Touching ending scene where Shizuka basically breaks down and ask Ryo what she’s missing for him to really really love her. The height of the scene comes when Shizuka tries to kiss Ryo in a tender moment but Ryo rejects her…. leaving Shizuka, in a sense totally scattered, and running out the apartment with tears shouting she hates Ryo.

I have to admit, it was sort of worth sticking it out with Final Approach. I wasn’t expecting much but with the end near, things are finally starting to get good. Odds are it’ll still be a predictable ending but the emotions Shizuka (and to a lower extent Ryo) are going through as the realization of the two breaking “up” is simply too good not to watch. I’m also starting to like Sakura Nogawa more and more as an seiyuu because of this. She did a good job as Nemu in Da Capo but the ending just left a bad taste in my mouth that I displaced partly on her. Her other roles have been good, but more comedy characters than anything else (Kaorin from Azumanga Daioh, Hina Ichigo from Rozen Maiden, and Shiho from Mai-HiME to name a few) so characters like Shizuka is a nice change (though Shizuka has her bouts of funny moments too). Hopefully she’ll have future roles that will be more “serious” as I’ll like to see her grow more as an voice actress and characters like Nemu and Shizuka are a good start

Final Approach takes a total 180 and becomes a serious series out of the blue. Shizuka’s father is back in town and he is none to happy about his daughter’s “games.” He wants her back home within a week, even going so far to bait her mentioning that her favorite grandfather has fallen ill. Now that’s evil!

Not much happens in this episode, and feels like yet another setup episode that will hopefully be concluded next time. Only two highlights were the fact this was a Shizuka-centered episode and the game her and Ryou play was pretty cute. I was disappointed that Ojo and Ryou basically went back to being “just friends,” thereby clearing the path for Shizuka’s automatic win. I reallly wanted an love-triangle to continue, and see the fun outcome of that… but I guess not. Hopefully things will pick up next episode. =/

Emiho’s brother puts a stop to Ryo and her budding relationship two fold: asks Ryo to stop seeing Emiho and ups her marriage meeting to within a few days! Ryo isn’t going to take this down without fighting, so with the help of Shizuka and her kick-ass army of black suit men they manage to save Emiho from her so-called “husband.” Too bad Ryo has to pay his end of the deal for getting Shizuka’s help… he has to give her a kiss! (and just when Ryo and Emiho were about to too!)

Highlights have to be seeing Shizuka in a 2 piece bathing suit (those kind of curves CANNOT be possible for a 15/16 year old girl) and combat gear (so cute). Also get to see Emiho in an dress… very hot stuff! Overall, it wasn’t a bad episode and it’s great to see a love triangle between Shizuka, Emiho, and Ryo. Let the fun continue!