The Mighty Bargain Hunter stalks his prey.

There are good fillers and there are bad fillers. Some build characters. Others build budget. Wagaya’s latest installment thankfully belongs to the former, pausing for a nice slice of life before the next story arc and giving new meaning to the expression ‘comic relief’. Kou-chan works overtime to make Episode 11 into an unforgettable lolfest, so I’ll forgive her for shattering a whole chinaset’s worth of dishes in a single day.

Episode 11 also grants some long overdue screen time to male Kuu-chan, nudges along Saku-chan’s budding relationship with Noboru-kun, and even squeezes in a few deeply touching Kou/Noboru moments. No battles, no backstory, no bawling, no boobs — just a whole lot of laughs. (I apologize ahead of time for the crappy image quality.)

You know, I was just thinking that it had been an awfully long time since Kou-chan broke something. T_T

Impressions:

Ya don’t say…

This episode is actually crafted around a rather serious premise, as the mamorime FINALLY takes a step back and reminisces on her klutziness. Quite ‘intriguing’ how a character capable of volume-management youkai ass-kicking can turn around and be so clumsy with minor tasks like washing dishes and cleaning clothes, don’t you think?

It’s pretty easy to be all manly when you aren’t running from demons, eh?

Even if we chalk it up to, “oh, she’s a fighter, not a seamstress” or somesuch, that does not explain why the ill-equipped Guardian Lady is squarepegged into the second-shift role of housewife-in-training. To me, the answer seems to be that Wagaya insists on having Kou-chan double as a warrior and a vulnerable female, as has been the case with many modern lady characters (Meryl from MGS, anyone? How about “Two-Hands”?). This is of course leaving aside the fact that the Mizuchi household is a strange beast (in what other household does the firstborn son get stuck managing the family finances while the father sits around and chuckles?)

…Just an observation; I’ll leave my rant at that ^^; And don’t get me wrong — Kou-chan is OFFICIALLY my favorite character in this anime!

“Strangelove”

Saku-chan is also back to her usual, spaztastic self, trying to calculate Noboru-kun’s every movement in her spare time. Now that Noboru-kun is aware of her feelings, things may move a bit more quickly between the two of them — that is, if he manages to make time for anything other than sale-hunting and bookkeeping.

I can see where this marriage is headed.

We also get to see another dimension of Sakura’s character developed, as a genuinely concerned friend of Kou-chan. She’s definitely growing closer to the Mizuchi troupe, but it’s still kind of hard to say whether or not she will ultimately ‘join the team’. I wouldn’t be surprised if, a little further into the series, she becomes involved in a slightly dangerous situation where it doesn’t make sense for Kuu-chan to MIB her again.

But in the meantime, the focus is on Kou-chan. Per Sakura’s suggestion to work part-time, the Guardian Lady gets her first arubaito with the hopes that she will be able to remunerate penny-pinching Noboru for the window damages and other past blunders.

Kou-chan: “I will bring mega-lulz this time… Even at the cost of my life.”

Of course, Tenko-dono gets in on the action too.

Anyone would be able to guess by now that Kou’s first employment experience winds up being a ridiculous disaster, but it is so hilarious that I completely forgot how annoyed I was at her for dropping dishes every two seconds. I call this episode, “Moushiwakegozaimasen!”, because that’s all the characters seem to know how to say for a good stretch of time.

Okay, let’s think about this for a minute. Kou-chan is clumsy. She breaks many, many dishes back at home. So to pay for it, she decides to get a part-time job that involves (::drumroll::) *even more dishes*. Hmm….

Oh yes, and finally, male Kuu-chan receives some much-needed character development. A little bit of screen time was all that was needed to make him feel more like another side of Kuu-chan rather than some random bishounen that appears every five episodes to appease the lady fans. I’m pleased, and really hoping to see some more of him in the future.

Mr. Kakkoii makes the fangirls swoon.

“Inconvenient,” you say? Don’t forget that you and your brother are probably still being targeted, Noboru-kun.

This ep ends on an emotional note. Even though Kou-chan’s attempts to earn some money back failed miserably, Noboru-kun convinces her not to move out of the house (i.e. into the tree in the backyard.) I’m equal parts touched and insulted, touched at the mamorime’s dedication to serve, but insulted that she was forced to endure so much humiliation. Oh well. I’m sure Kou-sama will return to her usual ass-kicking self in the coming episodes. Until then I will wait patiently.

So, not a whole lot to say, but definitely a lot to see. Episode 11 has too many lulz to round up here. If you haven’t seen it yet, go watch the rest and laugh.

Next Episode:

O-hisashiburi desu ne, Ba-chan! It appears that the Mizuchi brothers will be paying a visit to Youkai Baba. Knowing her, there will probably be more than a few surprises in store.

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