Bartending skills being an anime? I had to watch this. It also opened in Japan during my birthday, which is another strange pull for me to watch it. Do note for this series, I am putting the summary at the bottom, as thoughts are more important for this show than what really happens.

Bar is simply nothing but a place for people to drink. It is but a perch to hold the table. However, with the addition of a tender touch, the bar becomes a place of feeling and the Bartender is born to serve and give comfort to the people that needs to hide out and find their solace in the bar.

It is a refreshing thought, one that treated wine with tender care and concern, rather than an alcohol that makes people go crazy until they got drunk. The man who says it is a special bartender and he stands in Eden Hall, a small little bar in the alleyway, waiting to welcome his next guest. This bartender is Ryuu Sasakura. He is known as the “God’s glass” for his ability to make a special drink for every single person and will fit that bill.

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Thoughts

What do I think about Bartender? It will definitely never be a crowd’s favorite series. It will never be a series that will gather a mass of audiences, simply because it is too strange, too unique and have that idyllic feeling that many people cannot understand. It is probably going to be gay for some people, totally bad and some others said that it’s downright bitchy. It in fact does not have a strong pull, because the theme of having bartenders as the focus of an anime is a daring attempt and probably might backfire. I can understand all that.

They had their points. Now this is mine.

I believe that Bartender will never be my top 10 series ever and be anyone’s else. A few bloggers such as Hung, Demian and Drm have mentioned that they liked the show. Some others are ambivalent to it. What does this show do for me?

The show is not exciting or keeps you glued to your seat. However, the feeling of the anime gives you this feeling of tranquility and I believe the usage of CG in 3D glory really worked, as it helped in the imagery of the story. The style of portrayal seemed to be an episodic manner, where a troubled person comes into the bar to understand and seek solace in this place, a hideout concealed by the thick and imposing door to keep others out of this place.

This is just that relaxing feeling that I like about this show. Nothing showy or fancy, simply a simple story to tell. It never assumes to be high class or even an anime for those who knows much about wine. I admit I have 0 knowledge of wine, but the fact that they explain what a grasshopper is and how to make it eventually at the end of the show was something interesting. It is almost like I am going for a class of wine appreciation.

That to me, is good stuff, because I am getting interested in drinking different kinds of wine, just to understand the emotional presence that is brought about by the wine. Different drinks are used in different purposes. Just like how this show attempts to style itself. The atmosphere and ambience of this show is an alternative twist compared to most of the shows out there.

It is just that there is something special about the whole atmosphere of the show. I usually appreciate originality in the show, and the fact that it is a pretty interesting slice of life show makes it even more intruiging. I am sure that I will not blog this regularly, or in fact be really keen on blogging this. However, I will be watching this show very keenly, because the relaxing atmosphere of the bar was brought forth very strongly in this show. Even though they are parallels, it gives that tranquil feeling that I feel when I watch Aria.

That is probably why I enjoy Bartender a lot. It does not impose. It does not force you to watch it. It is probably like what it portrays in the show. Wine is like something that needs tender care. Too much of it makes you feel like you want to puke. This show is great at small dosages, just like the wine that Bartender makes. It is made in small volumes to entice and warm your heart.

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Episode summary

This episode 1 deals with a man who hated bars and disliked bartenders because they simply made drinks that did not have that tender feeling in their hearts. It was due to a bad experience that he had when he was still a normal student. He was asked to make a bar in the hotel and he was in a lot of stress as he found all the bartenders he attempted to recruit to lack heart and that bars are simply detesting.

In the past, He had gone to a bar, totally embarrassing himself due to the fact that drinks cost a lot and he was trying to save some money by ordering beer. As he realized that his pocket had a hole and his money was gone, he tried to explain his way out but failed, leaving that blemished memory in him. However, the bartender gave him a normal whisky iced drink, with the ice made from the ice sculpture being broken in pieces to give that refreshing feeling due to the endless hours of work that the man had done.

It was simply by observing the man and the stained clothes to realize what the customer is feeling. The bartender used the analogy of a doctor and bartender being similiar in which the product which they give their customer can be good if treated properly. However, if you give the wrong drug, the customer suffers. It is but the same for bartending. Giving the wrong wine to a customer makes him feel even worse. However, with that observation and that keen need to serve, everything will go fine.

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Will I recommend you to watch it? Maybe.

This show is really hit or miss for most. Go have a look and tell me what you think about it.

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