Customer Reviews for
Ai Yori Aoshi Enishi, Volume 1: Fate (Episodes 1-4)
The bonds that tie people to one another...
I accidentally saw the first eight episodes of Enishi, the second season of Ai Yori Aoshi, before backtracking to the first season. I was so enchanted with Aoi Sakuraba, the kindly soft-spoken landlady in the indigo kimono, I felt I made a new friend that day. Enishi lasted for twelve episodes. The second season's subtitle "enishi" harkens back to the first season, as the first episode was titled "Enishi."
Aoi tells the precocious and cute Chika Minazuki "Enishi means the bonds that tie people to one another. Everyone here is tied to one another by Enishi. That's why we all met, tied to each other by Enishi." There is a mystical and deterministic spiritual sense there, of how the various lines of fate intertwine to form those bonds, and yet it was meant to happen. Anyway, two years have passed since Kaoru Hanabishi and Aoi Sakuraba were united. The romantic mood is set by Aoi gazing at the cherry blossom petals drifting with the gentle breeze, highlighted by her savouring the mood, eyes closed, arms outstretched, remembering the anniversary.
We meet Chika Minazuki's two best friends at Fujimino High School for Girls, the lively Natsuki Komiya and shy but gentle Chizuru Aizawa, all three the most serious members of the swim team. When Natsuki discovers a photo of Chika and Kaoru, and the former says that they live together, Natsuki and Chizuru freak out big time, thinking she's gone to third base with Kaoru at so young an age. That demands a visit to the Sakuraba mansion on Sunday. However, Chika's nervousness at trying to keep her friends away from Kaoru so they won't ask him questions leads to all sorts of comedy, including a fight between Natsuki and Mayu.
When Chika needs help practicing tennis at high school, it turns into a tennis outing for the gang, with Miyabi-san being their coach. Aoi turns up with a very fetching outfit, a change from her usual kimono. But there's lots of mischief and ginger from Tina, who flips up tennis skirts, and in the showers, gets to fondle the other girls, all of which is overheard by Kaoru.
There are some salacious moments involving Aoi in a pink apron and nothing else. When Kaoru says he wants dinner first, she removes her kimono and says, "Please eat up." Yeah boy!
When Tina is freaked out on some strange noises from the attic at night, it's up to Taeko, who's a bit of an occult freak, to lead the gang to exorcise the ghost. Tina's a cowardly lion here, so clearly monsters are her Achilles heel. However, this is a throwaway episode, an excuse for all of them to cosplay in the Shinto priest robes a la Kikyo in Inuyasha.
The special Christmas episode, "Miyuki,"--beautiful snow in Japanese, is set before the first season. Kaoru is rewarded with a day with Santa when he finds the pendant without which she cannot return home. Santa suspiciously looks like a certain cute woman who habitually wears a blue kimono. A more preferable secular role for Santa is demonstrated. Santa Aoi says "The presents we give to children are not objects. We let them see pleasant and happy times in their dreams. ... Their joy, even if it's only an instant, is our joy." Less materialistic for sure. This was featured in the sixth manga, in which it was confirmed that some time after this, Kaoru and Aoi were reunited. However, a continuity question arises. Chika and Taeko clearly see Kaoru when he's with Santa Aoi, so why don't they remember him when they first meet? And why doesn't Mayu recognize Kaoru, having met him previously?
Finally, there is some idea of where Kaoru and friends live. Chika meets and later sees off her friends at Shiki Station. They are near Fujimi City in Saitama Prefecture, about 30 km away from Tokyo. Shiki and Fujimino, four stations away, are served by the Tobu Tojo line which runs from Ikebukuro in Tokyo to Yorii in Saitama.
Good start to the second season, let down by the silly poltergeist episode. Overall rating: 4.4, rounded down to 4. The limited edition of this comes with an Aoi Sakuraba capsule toy.Ai Yori Aoshi Enishi, Volume 1: Fate (Episodes 1-4)
They're Back
It is so good to see these characters again, I can somewhat forgive the lack of progress in Aoi and Kaoru's relationship. Two years have passed since the last series, Ai Yori Aoshi, ended. The harem is still living in the mansion, Kaoru is still going to school. Aoi and Kaoru are still keeping their relationship a secret. I know at least one big shake up is ahead, but "Fate" is all lightness and fluff.
There is a sweet, bonus Christmas episode, unrelated to the storyline. It takes place a few years before Kaoru met Aoi.
Episode 1 - Spring Blossoms - Chika queries everyone whether or not they "love Big Brother?" She hounds everyone 24/7. How can she be shut up without revealing the girls' true feelings?
Episode 2 - Friends - Chika's school friends find a picture of Kaoru in her wallet. They are shocked when Chika says she lives with him. Her friends come to the mansion to investigate. When they meet the whole gang, they get more than they bargained for.
Episode 3 - Tennis - Everyone dons cute tennis outfits (except Kaoru) and have at it on the courts. This is the first time we see Aoi being something other than a traditional Japanese housewife (even though she is not married).
Episode 4 - Phantom - Just in time for summer, we have a mandatory ghost episode. Like we learn something surprising about Aoi in Tennis, we learn something about Tae in this episode.
Bonus Episode - Sugary Christmas fluff. Aoi is Santa - the REAL Santa. Kaoru teaches her the true meaning of the Christmas spirit. This is a touching episode.
Ai Yori Aoshi Enishi, Volume 1: Fate (Episodes 1-4)
Enishi rocks! Aoi shines bright
The 2nd season of Ai Yori Aoshi started out good! Actually, so good in fact that it gives you that feeling of reuniting all the fun you had with the first season. Aoi's ukeness is still there. Chika's cuteness is still there. Miyabi's nagginess is still there. Hell, even Tina's booze drinking is still there! ^o^
This 13 episode season has some of the cutest moments, and I love seeing Aoi and Kaoru share intimate moments. It shows how strong love can be, even in the modern world of angst. Though is it just me, or does Enishi have lots more fan service than before? Very Love Hina like, well sorta! Tina Foster is so freaking hilarious, and hearing her in the dub is a treat. Who doesn't love a hyper american fondling boobs *o* She's my idol! LOL
The dubbing isint that bad either! They perfected Aoi's submissive tone, Taeko's clumsy tone and Tina's southern USA tone convinced me. Though some of the secondary characters sounded whacked. Both Pioneer(Geneon) ADV Films, etc. never had a perfect cast of VAs, but rarely get close.
I truely recommend it to those who loved the original season <3 Though I don't recommend it to Love Hina fans, don't expect Kaoru to get knocked 1,000 feet in the air and still survive @o@ Anyway The opening "Takaramono" and closing "I do" are wonderful! Yoko Ishida's Takaramono is just as memorable as Towa no Hana.
I'm a legend in the Otaku world, and I recommend this anime! Whoever doesn't thinks so, well too bad! Cliches are cliches, and Ai Yori Aoshi Enishi lives up to it's 24 episode original.Ai Yori Aoshi Enishi, Volume 1: Fate (Episodes 1-4)
I can't believe I watched the whole thing...
Ai Yori Aoshi, or True Blue Love, is an absolute joke of a series, and I know because I've (sadly) seen all of it. Have you ever eaten something that was really disgusting, but you still couldn't stop eating it? That's what this series is like, except once you've watched Ai Yori Aoshi, you can't just regurgitate it: it will haunt you for the rest of your life.
I must say, the show's beginnings are not that bad. The first, say, three and a half episodes were quite enjoyable, but the show has no depth. Try this drinking game out, and see how long it takes you to get smashed: watch this show, and whenever Aoi says "Kaoru-sama" or whenever Kaoru says "Aoi-chan" take a shot: you'll be hammered by episode three.
The truth is, the characters of Aoi and Kaoru are completely one-dimensional. Aoi is completely defined by her undying love for her "Kaoru-sama": she her character has nothing else, and I mean NOTHING ELSE, going for her. Kaoru isn't much better. He's an unrealistically nice and innocent guy with a sob story past. The humor in this anime is largely stale and predictable, and becomes less prevalent as the series progresses and inevitably becomes sticky pink mush anime. There are a few haw-haw moments (Suzuki's infatuation with trains gave me a chuckle) but this show is barely worth watching once, let alone owning and watching multiple times. If you can, rent it, but I wouldn't buy it.
Then again, this sort of thing just ain't my style. Some people like to sit there and go "Aww, how cute," for hours on end while Aoi and Kaoru have their first date, then their first kiss, then their first bath together then their first blah blah blah. Those people, however, are without exception forty-seven year olds with ice cube lenses, male-pattern baldness, potbellies, pit stains, and skin disorders. If you are one of these people, you're sure to enjoy this series. But, if you kick ass, like me, stick with Love Hina, Excel Saga, FLCL, etc. The Almatty has spoken.Ai Yori Aoshi Enishi, Volume 1: Fate (Episodes 1-4)
Overall, as Good as the First
Ai Yori Aoshi Enishi is a very well-written love story, continued from the first season. Although some of the translations are a bit literal, the story is very well-written (I would suggest watching it with Japanese audio and English subtitles). Overall, a very good Anime for the die-hard Anime fan. There are quite a few sexual innuendos, but what would be the fun without them?Ai Yori Aoshi Enishi, Volume 1: Fate (Episodes 1-4)
|
