The question in my mind: Why is a show about old men, food and some romance so darn good?
There are some shows out there that are great, and you know why they are great. FLCL is great because it has an insane level of energy and craziness that makes your heart pounding for more. On the other hand, Simoun is wonderful because it has a very intrinsic plot that never becomes predictable and the character development is intense. Saiunkoku Monogatari’s strong and interesting plot twists are perhaps the series’ biggest strength, and makes me want to watch it.
Now, here comes a very different series, Ristorante Paradiso. I am not going to say that this series will ever reach the giddy heights of those great anime. However, from the first three episodes, it has managed to evoke a feeling that only Aria could do to me: that tranquil feeling that calms you down. That says something about this anime.
Good Luciano, you grumpy old man!
The third episode has many scenes that are worthy of mention. One of us concerns the character that I adore the most: Luciano. Shown as merely a grumpy old man in the first episode, Luciano is probably the most sensitive man in the restaurant among all, and I do not mean it in a negative way. For all his grumpiness, this man is very gentle and treats Nicoletta very well in this episode. Yes, he complained and whined about everything under the sun, but that’s simply because he is just a “tsundere.” I probably misused the meaning of tsundere, but he is the type that doesn’t warm up unless it is required to step in. He is the only one that said something at the start of the episode to Claudio. He makes sure that Claudio either stops being overly kind to Nicoletta, if he is not going to give the poor girl a chance. Luciano, without a doubt, is the one that wants to keep harmony for all his grumpiness. He rocks.
He is perhaps the best “gentleman” in terms of quality because he fully respected every single being, and treats everyone with skepticism initially but will be the most loyal ally if you show your worth. That, to me, is pure chivalry at its best. I also smiled when he shook his head over everyone’s insensitivity over the “young wife-old husband” topic.
The main gist of the story involves Olga and Gabriella discussing about Gabriella’s past relationship with Claudio. Olga also revealed that Nicoletta is her child, and it is perhaps interesting how she also mentioned about the child’s love interest in Claudio. The discussion between these two women clearly showed that Gabriella has moved off from the past, and it is clear that she is enjoying her life to the maximum. On the other hand, Claudio continues to live in the past despite knowing that there is no way back for them.
Sadly, the next scene gave false hope to Nicoletta. The bunch were discussing about Vito’s relationship with his young wife. His young wife, merely an university student, met up when they were working in the same place. I thought that the boys were being rather insensitive to Nicoletta while giving her false hope that her obvious pursuit of Claudio might be successful one day. From their associations with Claudio, they should know better that Claudio is extremely stubborn despite being a horribly nice guy. To give a 21 year old innocent pure girl (other than her trying to jump on Claudio in episode 2) false hope is a very mean thing. I can totally understand why Luciano simply sighed.
Obviously from all the talk about older men and younger women, we have Gigi. Gigi is a very interesting entity because he hardly gets involved in the conversation. In fact, he has only said two entire lines for three episodes. Whoever is his voice actor is perhaps earning easy money! (HAH!) However, his relationship and the reason why he is in Ristorante Paradiso is particularly interesting, and I am pretty sure that a future episode will devote some time to him, particularly his friendship with Lorenzo.
The discussion between Olga and Nicoletta is particularly enlightening too. We see that Nicoletta is very straightforward and amusingly similar to Olga. Olga is not the perfect mother by any standards, but she does care about her daughter. Sadly, she did love Lorenzo too much that she has to hide Nicoletta. Is it selfish of her to pursue her love? Perhaps. Is it wrong? I do not have the answer.
At the end of the episode, we realize that Claudio and Gabriella separated because of Gabriella’s work commitments. Claudio realizes that Gabriella’s priority is in her work, and Claudio has to expect being second place in her life. Knowing that dragging the marriage will be painful for both of them, the good guy Claudio decides to pull out. He also told Nicoletta that she can always talk to him about problems if she wanted to. For Nicoletta, she revealed the secret about her and Olga to Claudio.
At the very end of this entry, I like to talk about Claudio. My girlfriend is totally in love with him because of his “gentleman” traits. I have to admit that I dislike Claudio for the same reason she likes him. I feel that his kindness toward all is something that is a major double-edged sword. You cannot be sure that he is kind because it is his way of treating everyone, or because you are a special entity to him. It is misleading and often causes pain. How can that be gentlemanly or chivalrous at all? I am not sure about you, the reader, but I find that Claudio’s treatment of people that way shows somewhat that he is not willing to get close to anyone. He is for everyone, but no one is for him. Isn’t that sad, painful or most of all, horrible to anyone associated with him?
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15 Comments
クラウーヂオのちんちん食べたい。。。
I actually like Claudio, but I also agree with your feelings on his kindness. It’s really misleading and makes it hard to tell how he truly feels about Nicoletta. I still think Claudio is a gentleman, at least going by the definition of the word. I don’t think he is intentionally trying to hurt and mislead women.
I love and hate Claudio because of that too. Well, I just can’t hate a guy like that (and I got the clear sense that it isn’t like he is trying to mislead anyone into thinking anything about him) however, being that kind of guys also makes it easy for women to fall for him yet hard to work things out with him. Since I haven’t read the manga, I have no idea how his relationship with Nicoletta will turn out, but I am seriously interested to follow it.
This ends up being the only anime that I follow in this season. It isn’t like I hate others, but after a hell of week and works, I only feel like watching this one. It is quite weird because I have never been into slight-of-life anime before, and Aria bored me to tears when I tried to watch it based on a friend’s recommendation a couple years ago. I honestly watched the first episode because I like gentlemanly middle age men, but that is no longer the solid reason why I am watching it now… Awww, hell, I want to see the forth one!
See, this is why Teo is my favorite. *cheeky little tsundere that he is* I don’t hate Claudio, but I have to say he’s my least favorite of all the Ristorante guys. Out of all of them Furio and Vito are probably the best catches (and naturally they’re the married ones), with Teo not far behind. Luciano is gold too, but damn, he’s just too old, with a grandkid and everything. But I bet he was too hot for words when he was young. And Gigi? Well, who knows what the hell Gigi is thinking?
But yeah, watching this show is like the equivalent of an afternoon nap. I relax, I feel refreshed, and I end it wanting more.
BTW. Gigi always remind me of a hamster… I don’t know why… May be the fact that he spent the first couple of episodes munching food with hardly any conversation at all. It is kind of cute in a weird way. I get the feeling that I can sit and watch him for hours without knowing what he is thinking.
It is kinda weird to find similarities between a 60 (or is he 61?) years old man and a hamster.
Heh, I will jump on Claudio if I ever get a chance like it. I’m gonna treat him so good, he’d NEVER gonna wanna let me go! KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!! I love him so much! As for Nicoletta, you go girl! You gotta tame that flame! I love Luciano second, then Furio third. I can’t help it. I’m weak and I fall for kind/good/nice/gentlemanly guys. Bad guys are never my type, it’s the saintly ones I adore… Oh, the things I can/want to do to them!
Sadly, I’m stuck with an evil incarnate. I’m so poor thing.
@Lelangir: ~(o_O)~
@Nellie: Well, the main problem I have with him is that he is not intentionally trying to hurt and mislead women, but eventually still do it without doing anything to stop it. I might be overly critical to him about this, but I find that the unconscious effort that eventually leads to a consequence, especially when it probably can be rectified, is equally if not more sinful than someone who is deliberately doing that.
That said, I can understand why women would like it. The absolute gentleman, who wouldn’t? That said, my girlfriend just said this to me which I find describes this scenario well. “funny though, that in Claudio, the phrase: The kindest thing to do is be cruel, and the cruelest thing to do is be kind, works.”
@Kaitune: Same here. Ristorante Paradiso is one of those series that makes it hard to define: why do I like this. It is extremely relaxing and I find myself rewatching the OP of this series. It’s just so nice, and it’s queer for me to be so interested in 2 women, a bunch of old man and a restaurant. The charm of this show is strange but effective.
Oh, about Gigi, you nailed it! I was thinking how I should describe Gigi, and he is really like a hamster. It will always be eating and then just sit there saying nothing. Sometimes, it will respond but it is really minimal. Gigi the 51 year old hamster huh? That’s a food for thought.
@L-chan: Teo? I don’t remember much of that man to be honest because his personality is not really distinct from the last three chapters. Oh, by the way, if you want to know more about them, you should go read the Gente manga (translated by me) or the livejournal rispara community for the first manga series. It’s an interesting read.
Luciano is definitely a little too old to date but he seems to be an absolute turner when he is young. I mean, his aloof character and his gentleman behavior is just so charming. He is hard to get, and he is clearly a challenge for all girls. I can imagine how he will be, and god I want to be like him!
Gigi is thinking of good food and wine. Ya.
@13sugars: You are with the best boyfriend ever. Don’t be a silly piglet.
I LOVED the 3rd ep. This show is like Zoku Natsume Yuujinchou for me last season, a spirit tranquilizer. At first I thought the whole old guy and young girl pairing would put me off, but I am actually enjoying this show more and more. “Love knows no age” (?)<-Not sure if that’s the correct quote. And I empathize w/ Nicoletta abt her feelings towards her mom. I’m also surrounded by ppl with “full” lives, and I can’t but help feel envious towards them.
This anime has been rlly awesome so far. I can’t wait for the nxt ep. xD!!
Because of the female lead? I reckon she’s strong willed, unlike that useless bag of manure named Nagisa.
@Yukino: I am actually not too concerned about the older guy and young girl relationship because it is portrayed in a soft way and not in a way that might look controversial at all. That is perhaps why it feels like it’s hard to reject the love between these two.
@Thingle: Nagisa who? Clannad? Didn’t really enjoy it too much to be honest. I am hardly your typical anime viewer after all.
What ? ARIA? This one?
Doesn’t really look like it… but I’ll bite. Hope it’s as good as you say.
Hmmm… I thought I wanted to watch this too. But the storyline seems uninteresting. Is it really that good?
Is the show on a break or something? No 4th episode has me concerned!
I really really love this show!
I feel that his kindness toward all is something that is a major double-edged sword.
I understand your point about how Claudio’s flawnessness could actually be a flaw. He probably needs someone to astually tell him it’s okay to be a bit more impulsive or carefree. Perhaps that’s why Nicoletta is there (to ease the gap in his heart or be a true friend…and more).
Hearing Nicoletta is like hearing Shirley all over, with Fumiko’s otome voice.