Hi there of us, and welcome the heck again to Flawed Each Time. At this time I assumed we’d return to the trials of Rentaro and his soon-to-be hundred girlfriends, and see how the happiest harem in historical past is coming alongside. Having received over the diminutive Shizuka, tsundere Karane, and charmingly oversexed Hakari, Rentaro has clearly confirmed himself a lover past evaluate – so is it time now to undertake a fourth member of the flock, or are we off on another weird journey?
Regardless, our final episode served as a high quality demonstration of one of the vital necessary methods 100 Girlfriends distinguishes itself from different harems. First, as I’ve mentioned beforehand, it’s essential that Rentaro himself is profoundly likable – that he’s as a lot of a catch as any of his lovers, and thus truly, convincingly deserving of their love. However secondly, it’s additionally essential that Rentaro’s girlfriends are additionally one another’s girlfriends, that they admire and care about one another as a lot as they love their darling boy.
If these ladies have been solely bonded through their mutual love of Rentaro, he’d nonetheless have all the facility right here – and albeit, such a scenario would profoundly restrict the effectiveness of future drama, as many “everybody is aware of the hero, however barely know one another” tales have confirmed. For 100 Girlfriends to stay an enthralling ensemble drama, the girlfriends have to be part of one another’s lives as a lot as they’re part of Rentaro’s, and final episode’s getting-to-know-you shenanigans greater than demonstrated Rikito Nakamura’s dedication to fostering such bonds. With Nakamura’s sage understanding of harem dynamics confirmed as soon as extra, let’s see what awaits for Rentaro and his merry maidens!
Episode 5
“The Hyper-Environment friendly Lady.” Welp, looks like we’re onto the following girlfriend, and if character designs are something to go by this may possible be our kuudere – a frosty woman who hardly ever expresses her feelings, falling within the grand custom of Rei Ayanami’s descendants
Character design cliches are cliches as a result of they work; our minds are accustomed to associating brilliant, loud colours like orange with characters like Karane, and funky colours like blue or silver with equally cool personalities. Even hair size carries sure dramatic undertones; brief hair can convey both confidence or androgyny, whereas lengthy hair can convey both insecurity (like how Shizuka appears misplaced inside her floof) or conventional femininity
Our three present girlfriends have already settled into a cushty friendship, questioning if Rentaro has discovered his telephone whereas they look forward to examination outcomes to be posted
All are once more dazzled by Rentaro’s adoration. A tidy option to additional align them as soon as they’ve joined the group, by having them share in reactions to Rentaro’s habits
Returning to the classroom to retrieve his telephone, Rentaro finds himself alone with our cool magnificence, the silver-haired Eiai-san
“I do know I’ve the highest rating. Checking could be a waste of time.” Yep, as anticipated – no-nonsense angle, with a low and almost monotone voice
He once more invitations her to hitch him in checking the scores, and he or she declines. This one may not be really easy
Curiously, Rentaro locations the worst out of all his girlfriends. I admire that – he’s not good at the whole lot, he’s actually only a genius of being a thoughtful boyfriend, as his earnest admiration of their performances demonstrates
One other welcome side of this present’s common themes: you don’t must be the very best at something to seek out love, you simply must genuinely care about your companion, and present that concern in no matter methods you may
Eiai “pursues effectivity and precision in all issues”
Her given identify is “Nano,” applicable for a lady who’s framed as an AI
“I’m paired up with Eiai-san.” Environment friendly compelled cooperation as they pair up for biology class. You don’t must overthink your meet-cutes, there’s just about at all times some incidental option to pressure characters into cooperation
“Eiai-san is extra the elegant and delightful kind.” A transparent necessity for a well-balanced harem
Slightly than viewing cells by the microscope, Eiai is instantly copying the reply from the e-book, as a result of it’s “extra environment friendly.” Looks as if a simple theme for her adoption into the group – Eiai studying how lively expertise might be extra enriching than merely dashing to the reply
“Practicals are meaningless. Scientists already gave us the reply. Retracing their steps is a waste of time.” Yeah, we’re positively gonna be pushing in a “nothing can take the place of experiencing life/love for your self” path with Nano
Good comedy beat of her simply placing the textbook on the microscope at Rentaro’s request. Past its structural understanding of tips on how to make an emotionally compelling harem, 100 Girlfriends can be simply persistently ingenious in its humor, one other important power
We then take this “most effectivity” mantra within the horniest attainable path, with Nano utilizing the anti-microbial brokers in her saliva to disinfect his finger
We preserve reducing again to the prevailing girlfriend crew engaged on their very own biology task, which I assume was relegated to corner-of-panel shenanigans within the unique manga. I’ve seen a wide range of exhibits do their finest to resolve this elementary distinction between manga and anime storytelling; in manga, it’s attainable to create one thing like a “sidebar,” an inclusion of miniaturized, super-deformed commentary that exists parallel to a panel’s major drama. It is a privilege of manga and comics’ capability to convey time uniquely, as a kind of gradual development that each one exists inside a single panel. In distinction, you may solely actually have one speaker and one topic in a given second of animated time, so supplementary commentary should both be spotlighted like this or deserted altogether. I can see how these sidebars could be a particularly great tool for conserving all of the girlfriends engaged within the drama, so I’ll be enthusiastic about seeing how the present handles this as extra characters drop in, making the inclusion of full digressions to the peanut gallery like this extra temporally expensive
Rentaro hopes to repay Nano with a soda, considered one of his go-to strikes
“I’d say having a enjoyable chat is significant. Similar to time spent on holidays and hobbies.” As anticipated, Rentaro’s counter to her philosophy is the that means we are able to discover in idle issues. Pursuing complete effectivity robs us of a lot of what makes existence particular
“On this world, something that doesn’t enhance your future prospects is meaningless.” Frankly, even by her personal requirements she’s making large errors. Establishing snug friendships with others is essential early on, when the stakes are low. Later in life, should you can’t work together comfortably with coworkers, you’re unlikely to reach no matter discipline you select
“Having enjoyable is the that means of life!” Rentaro clearly a “work to stay” kind, like myself. The universe doesn’t complete up your productiveness rating and provide you with a prize on the day you die; life is the prize, so make of it no matter you may
Love Nano’s extraordinarily Nano-like room, with naked white partitions and no private results in any respect
Alone in her room, Nano can admit that sucking on Rentaro’s finger was maybe not essentially the most environment friendly of selections. Not even reciting digits of pi can get her thoughts proper
Having analyzed the scenario and are available to the conclusion of affection, Nano asks Rentaro out the following day, solely to say no his accepting response
“Romance solely results in matrimony and childbirth.” A grim prediction
Ahaha, love Rentaro utilizing his “energy of being rejected 100 instances” for good
“If I can’t win you over in someday, I promise I’ll hand over on you.” A wonderful arbitrary hurdle. Although I believe my one subject with this companion is that I’m not completely positive why Rentaro loves Nano; this one appears a bit extra “woman scorching” than the rising affection of his prior girlfriends, however I’m positive he’ll clarify himself ultimately
And thus Rentaro goes on his first-ever date with Nano, regardless of already having three girlfriends. Goddamn, my man
“Why does an amusement facility have a horse using simulator?” Alright, I’m starting to see Nano’s attraction
Rentaro then takes her to a haunted home, which is after all certain to disappoint
Nano can see solely insanity within the spinning teacups. Liking her extra by the second
“If solely people might give you self-driving. We might navigate these mazes and life with ease.” Nano’s personal phrases level to the lifeless finish of her philosophy: she hopes solely to move by the whole lot, by no means truly discovering achievement in life
We lastly attain an irrationality Nano can not deny: her worry of heights
And although there’s no clear “logic” to it, Rentaro’s hand in hers helps her really feel higher. There are occasions when logic alone can not maintain us, and in such instances, it helps to lean on the “irrational” assist of our family members
“However you’re actually having fun with your self on this one.” “Appropriate. How are you going to inform? Folks typically inform me I appear impassive.” Some extra prime shelf Rentaro right here, as he swiftly comes to know the nuances of expression that outline Nano’s emotions. A transparent indication of how carefully he’s observing her, how sympathetic to her moods he’s changing into, how a lot he desires to make her joyful
“It’s not arduous if I concentrate.” The important thing classes of affection
“No two folks share the identical expertise. I’m joyful you instructed me straight up what you thought as a substitute of mendacity about it.” And sincere communication! 100 Girlfriends goes to show its entire viewers to be a extra attentive lover, goddamnit!
However regardless of her phrases, she will’t let the day’s photographs be burned. “You possibly can’t lose what you don’t have. You gained one thing immediately, Eiai.”
“I wish to spend these significant instances that I by no means knew about with you.” Nice, that’s settled. Now time to introduce the prevailing crew
Luckily, they’re all simply mad they didn’t get to hitch the theme park date. Time for a pool date episode!
And Performed
Thus Rentaro’s harem expands to embody a fourth soulmate, the taciturn however finally charming Eiai Nano. It was fascinating seeing how Rentaro dealt with a soulmate who wasn’t truly into him proper from the beginning; few of the “I have to win her over” tropes truly translate to real, considerate romantic pursuits, so I used to be impressed to see 100 Girlfriends navigate that line with such grace. Rentaro’s personal needs have been nonetheless secondary – moderately than successful Nano for himself, he was largely involved with exhibiting her how idle time spent with associates possesses profound worth, no matter who these associates occur to be. As soon as once more, we’ve all realized somewhat one thing about love from essentially the most inconceivable of sources, with consideration to your companion’s wants, real concern for his or her emotions, and sincere communication of perspective successful the day. Good luck, soulmate squad!
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