Anime/Love Lab

MyAnimeList synopsis here.

So, what does everyone think of this show so far? Personally, I have high hopes for it; the first synopsis I heard was very inaccurate, so I was pretty much blown away by the amount of charm packed into the first episode.

I have to say, even if the series chickens out and keeps Riko and Maki's relationship at ship tease levels, it's charming enough so far for me to be alright with that.

The premise is uninteresting, and the jokes aren't really that funny, but it's very well-crafted so I so I don't think I can give it a bad review. But I may not watch it.

I quite liked it

Some of the things I hear about the manga are discouraging, but the studio is known to extensively rewrite these kind of shows for the better

Discouraging, huh? Maybe I should check out the trope page... in a plot sense, or in an execution sense?

Also, yeah, Kyo Ani had great success with reworking Chuunibyou last season. That might inspire more extensive reworks in the future, which is fine with me for works that have interesting premises but are executed poorly (as I hear Chuuni's novels are).

Plot sense, and kind of dependent on what you want to see. Apparently they both get boyfriends. I wouldn't expect this to happen in the anime, which is going out of it's way to give it yuri undertones

That would be actualy interesting. If anime doesn't cover it I will try manga (I might try it either way)

From what I heard that makes it boring because it undermines the premise that is the core of the jokes. It wouldn't be a bad thing taken on its own, but the author simply failed to replace the comedy with a different sort of comedy and the whole lessened as a result.

What a pity manga doesn't seems to be translated so I can't decide how much of it is true.

edited 7th Jul '13 10:56:24 PM by Tenzen12

@Hylarn: If that's the case, I can only hope they do change things severely for the anime. Hanasaku Iroha did something similar that is, introduced love interests halfway through and expected the readers to like them, but it depends, I guess. Is the manga finished?

They expected that correctly, I did.

Anyway if anime pull it correctly it can bring some interesting dynamic between characters.

edited 7th Jul '13 11:31:01 PM by Tenzen12

I'm interested in the boyfriend thing.

Re: episode 1 It was consistently amusing. Didn't expect it to be as done well as it was, really.

edited 8th Jul '13 12:17:11 AM by fillerdude

I dunno, I can't say I like the sound of it. I sincerely hope they'll be rewriting for the anime, then.

Introducing love interests suddenly is generally a bad idea. Strangled by the Red String and all

But again, every sign suggests that the anime isn't going to do this. No guys in the OP or ED (and I expect this is 1-cour), and they definitely seem to be setting up the yuri route. Though I suppose there's an outside chance that that last one is the result of following the manga. Would be nice to be able to compare them

Honestly, it's not like there is lack of full female shows with Yuri implications this season. A bit of deviation from it can't hurt.

Yes, but large-scale Bait-and-Switch sucks

First episode was suprisingly straight. I think only people who would get catched on bait would be these who intentionaly look for it.

Nope, this definitely doesn't count "Large scalle" bait. Bait-and-Switch lite at most.

Exactly

edited 8th Jul '13 12:52:17 AM by Tenzen12

Whether the love interests will be a good addition or not is really just a matter of execution.

@Tenzen: The show's premise is that two girls whose personalities compliment each other's well practice holding hands, staging romantic scenarios, and 'researching love' with each other. If that goes on for seven episodes of ship teasing before Tarou and Ryusuke, random high school boys, are introduced and suddenly steal the hearts of the main characters, then I'm calling bullshit.

Same reason I called bullshit on Hanasaku Iroha's second half. The best dynamic in the show is the one between Ohana and Minchi, and instead we're supposed to support her settling for Mr Cardboard Tokyo?

^Pretty much, yeah.

edited 8th Jul '13 12:58:02 AM by RedSavant

Sure, and Oregairu was mainstream Rom-com...

Not mention in Hanasaku Iroha was Ohana love interest introduced in very first episode and Minchi had own crush all along as well.

Interesting, that's first time I see someone with such yuri glasses without selfawerness.

edited 8th Jul '13 1:46:25 AM by Tenzen12

The premise is that these two girls want to get boyfriends. Why would it be surprising if they'd actually succeed? (The fact that the manga actually sticks with the premise and actually makes me mildly interested in it)

@Tenzen: Perhaps the problem was in execution, but the washcloth Sui hit Ohana with in the first episode had more personality than Kou did for the rest of the show.

It's not a question of plot, it's a question of execution. If they manage to make the love interests actually interesting and make sure the two leads have good dynamics with them, then I'd be fine with it. But you can't spend X episodes building up a relationship and then go 'no wait, we changed our minds'. Maybe that's how it works in real life, but real life often makes for shitty plotting.

But you still missing point, Ohana having good dynamic with Minko doesn't have anything to do with her good or bad one with Kou. In same manner it doesn't have anything to do with her relationship with her family members. All of this are different kind of relationship that aren't exclusive.

And if nothing else at least Minko x Tohru was well handled.

But don't worry, you still have chance for this show (Love lab of course) fit your liking.

edited 8th Jul '13 2:17:24 AM by Tenzen12

That's very true, and I do get what you're saying. I'm well aware that I have yuri goggles welded to my face, but even so. If a series is going to place heavy emphasis on a romantic relationship (that's being presented as a positive thing, mind, the happily ever after), it should be a strong dynamic that's capable of handling that sort of emphasis. The strength of Ohana's dynamic with Minchi, yuri goggles aside, is only relevant to this discussion in that it makes it painfully obvious how weak a dynamic Ohana has with Kou.

Anyway, please don't patronize me. I get where you're coming from and I understand what you're saying, so please afford me the same respect.

Patronising aside, I didn't find Cou interesting character myself, nor his dynamics with Ohana. Now when we came some superficial mutual understanding, is time to return to topic.

I think I'll actually be bowing out, to be honest. I'd much prefer to enjoy the anime how I decide to enjoy it, and I wouldn't want to cause friction.