Wagaya no Oinari-sama, Episode 12 – Onsen-de genderbendering

I can hear the fangirls kyaaing already…

Funny thing when a supposedly plot-driven episode turns out to be a double dose of fanservice hiding in the bushes, don’t you think? Oh well, who couldn’t use a few extra laughs? Call me crazy, but Wagaya’s latest escapade struck me as a thinly veiled excuse to derail into a few fangirl-pandering bathhouse jokes for a change (and rightly so — for being a dual-sexed character, Kuu-chan owes the female audience big time.)

I jumped the gun last week when I assumed that Youkai-Baba would be a central figure in the latest sideplot, which she was, but she wasn’t the ’star of the show’ that I had in mind. You see, I was under the mistaken impression that Noboru and Tohru would be paying a visit to Youkai-baba. You know, at her house. Actually, a sneaky department store lottery was responsible for dictating the setting of this so-called “vacation” — a middle-of-nowhere hot springs resort town, where an equally nondescript conflict and resolution can lazily unfold. Youkai-baba just shows up out of the blue.

None of Wagaya’s cast managed to snag the spotlight for longer than a few seconds during this rather evenly matched battle royale of lulz. I say Youkai-Baba came out on top, but then again, you know how I feel about Youkai-Babas. Oh, and for those of you that are at their wit’s end anticipating this anime’s main arc, be patient, because the next episode’s preview offers ample reason to keep hope alive (more on this later.)

But I digress. Here I am carving out my own, self-prophesied grave cubbyhole as a plot-obsessed otaku when we have another scrumptious slice of life, courtesy of Oinari-sama. Nevermind the ridiculous premise, or the fact that Tohru-kun has officially morphed into a Level 54 Lemming. Let’s just sit back and enjoy the ride.

Impressions, Lulz, and All The Rest

So we start out at a depaato, and Kuu-chan being her usual, curious and ebullient self, tries her ‘Oinari-sama luck’ at a lottery. She wants the “Flavor of Fall Set,” whatever the hell that is, but her sledgehammer luck pulverizes this little game of chance on the first try and claims nothing less than first prize: a vacation getaway to a hot springs resort!!!

I usually rail about stills, but this one is simply gorgeous. Maybe it’s the colors…

Come on Kuugen, just do your Jedi mindtrick on her like you do everyone else!

Gimme!

That innocent/surprised act won’t fool me.

The whole gang winds up hopping on a train out to some random hot springs town, looneybird otou-san included. This being their first vacation together is due cause for papa to temporarily relinquish his busy schedule of managing the household finances doing whatever it is exactly that he does, to join his sons.

At first glance, I thought some random oji-san took it upon himself to talk to Noboru and his friends, but then I remembered it was Noboru’s father! Silly me. I’m so used to otou-san’s carefree giggle that this comparatively normal shot of him caught me off guard. Yea, I guess he’s coming along too ^_^.

ARGH, not again! Kou-sama’s honor shall be redeemed! Even at the cost of my life!

The party arrives at the hot springs. Much to Kuu-chan’s chagrin, guess who decides to tag along on the family vacation?

“Thanks and, uh… you… too?”

Good old otou-san decided to open his mouth about the trip and even invited Obaba-chan along without asking anyone else. Sure, he’s the adult of the house and all, but let’s keep in mind that he’s not the one that won the lottery. (But who can resist a smile like that?) I guess it didn’t occur to him that Youkai-baba and Kuu-chan have a mutual bone to pick, even though Kuu-chan made her latest vow to the Mizuchi brothers of her (his?) own accord. Really, I’m wondering if the old buzzard is going to try to seal Kuugen away again or something. But the thing is, we have not been given any clear indication as to when Tohru and Noboru will stop being harassed by youkai. So unless Youkai-baba is cooking up some secret plan to launch a counterattack against the youkai or intends to teach the brothers’ about their bloodline’s power (Mizu – water, Chi – blood?), I’ll begrudgingly admit that her presence does not serve much purpose for the time being.

No comment.

“Damn you, Zexcs!”

Meanwhile, Granny disciplines Kou-chan. About what, I’m not exactly sure. Frankly, I think she’s just venting her anxieties and frustrations about Kuu-chan, although we really can’t blame her, because she has had a very long history with Tenko Kuugen. She didn’t seal the fox away for no good reason. She must have sealed the fox away for a good reason.

Kou-sama’s honor shall be redeemed! Even at the cost of my life!

About this time, Episode 12 props up its flimsy little plot. Apparently Tohru-kun hasn’t yet learned from his hundreds of encounters with youkai, not to trust strange individuals and not to unwittingly hand over his Mana. This makes things rather convenient for the animators though. Just have Tohru-kun walk into another trap and they’ve got an entire episode prepared. I’ll be blunt — I don’t give a DAMN about the Zashiki-warashi conflict and for the stated reasons, I am simply going to skim over this week’s demon incident. What do I want? I want to see Kuu-chan and Kou-chan kick some youkai ass! Come on Wagaya, bring out the big guns!

Dude noooo

Strike two.

Strike three. Come on, Tohru! You should know better.

Everyone else *conveniently* decides to hit the town while Tohru stays behind. I really feel like slapping the entire family (sans Kou-chan, who seems to be the only one that keeps her wits about her in the midst of all this chaos) for leaving Tohru-kun behind, especially Youkai-baba, who spent all that time fussing about Kuu-chan while a REAL problem slipped beneath her radar.

“Cuz the boy-on-boy thing won’t work, Noboru-kuuuun.”

Saku-chan, you need to step it up!

If you got off Kuu-chan’s back for a second, you might realize that there’re more important things to worry about.

I suppose this next scene roughly translates to Youkai-baba and Kuu-chan resolving their grudge. Be that the case, it’s a tenuous truce at best. More importantly, Youkai-baba shows her skills.

(We all know what’s coming next.)

Baba no pwnage, part 1.

Baba no pwnage, part 2.

Baba no pwnage, part 3.

Awwwww!

The remainder cascades into another by-the-book monster encounter. Actually, it’s not even a battle. ‘Slap on the hand’ would be a better description. As expected, the nimble sound score gradually builds a horrifying aural mood only to dissolve the built-up tension when the party gets back to the resort and we realize that the demon is really nothing more than a little girl (notice the giant, ghostly toys.) I was a little bit disappointed that Tohru’s plight once again revealed itself to be a red herring. Wagaya’s talent for toying with the emotions, though no less skillful, felt a bit tedious here. On the bright side, Kou-chan manages to redeem herself TWICE before everything is finished, first by being the only one to notice that Tohru-kun is alone, and second, by, well… you’ll see. Those parts included, I’m just gonna cover the highlights from here on out.

THANK YOU, Kou-chan! I don’t care what Youkai-baba says, the mamorime is on top of her game!

Ayakashi.

Anyone else feeling the Akira vibes?

ANTI-MOE REDEMPTION!

They just HAD to go there. Avert your filthy eyes from Kou-sama’s holy countenance, you swine!

Of course, we wind up back at the men’s bath for a second round of nude-jokes.

IIIIIIYAAAAAA MINAIDEYO!

The fox bares her fangs for little Noboru-kun.

So blah blah blah, little Zashiki warashi-chan just wanted to play, so she innocently stole Tohru-kun’s soul, similar to what happened to Doumeki-kun in the first season of xxxHOLiC. After everything is resolved, the group decides to celebrate. What troubles me about this situation is that a supposedly “powerful demon” went undetected by Obaba-sama and Kuu-chan.

Party time. Here we have another beautiful scenery shot. This episode had a lot of those, like the picturesque still from the beginning.

At the afterparty.

Muhahaha, I bet you thought they wouldn’t break something this time. No episode of Wagaya is complete without something getting broken and Noboru-kun screaming about the damage fees.

Dude nooooo

Token boob-shot. Fanboys worry not! The great Oinari-sama hasn’t forgetten you!

Next Episode:

The next episode supposedly has something to do with Kuu-chan masquerading as a high-school girl. Saku-strangelove will be back in the game too, competing for Noboru-kun’s affection. Whatever. More than that, I’m really interested to see this grey-haired fox character that we get a significant preview of in the OP. When characters from the OP suddenly appear, it’s usually a safe bet that something interesting is about to happen.