Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu no is no longer about her Himitsu, and other issues with season 2
Speaking of Haruka and her secret, there have been some people (read: two) who have noticed that the second season of one of my favourite shows from last year is no longer about her secret. They also put forth that this is detrimental to the show. I will admit that the staff has kind of forgotten about Haruka’s secret after about an episode or two, but I’ve been enjoying the other episodes just as much, specifically episodes four and six. I think instead of referential fanservice, they staff is going more for overt “oh my god, Haruka fell on Yuuto in her underwear” fanservice, which is 100% fine by me.
If anything, though, I do think the show is falling into some patterns that I don’t quite like. These things were always present in the show, but they never bothered me. For example, in this current season, whenever Mika and her group of misfits wants to cause trouble, there’s always some outside force preventing them from doing so. Similarly, Haruka and Yuuto’s relationship is progressing at a pace of one step forward, two steps back. Like I said, things like this were present in the first season to some degree, but now they’re getting a bit tired, so I hope they spice things up a bit in further episodes.
What I liked about season one was that while Yuuto clearly had harem, the relationship between Haruka and him was more or less set in stone, and it was the focus of the show. As such, it was less of a harem show and more of a cute light romance, a genre which is–quite frankly–of short supply these days. The second season is falling back more on harem tradition, especially in the way it gives certain characters glamour episodes allowing them to activate flags with Yuuto. While this doesn’t bother me too much either (I did enjoy the episodes focusing on Tsundere-chan and Alice) it is distracting when Yuuto and Haruka are already a couple. The focus on Shiina is especially laughable, since I’m pretty sure they wrote her off as a love interest a few episodes ago. I mean, she is kind of cute, but doesn’t hold a candle to Haruka.
I do however think that the show’s highs make up for the lows, even if the highs are simple things like Haruka being naked or in cute outfits more often, but the writers should really bring the otaku angle back for a more balanced viewing experience. Yes, I like seeing Haruka’s nipples poking through a Santa outfit. That’s hot. But I also like seeing Haruka getting excited over whatever random anime she’s watching. I also enjoy focus on loli characters like Alice and Mika but… Actually, they can keep focusing on Mika for as long as they want, she’s my second favourite character.
But anyway, balance. That’s what it’s all about. I think this new season has lost the balance that made season one successful in my eyes. Maybe they should fall back on novel material for a change. I want to see Haruka and Yuuto in London!
>> simple things like Haruka being naked
[/bass guitar]
>> That’s what it’s all about.
[/riff]
Wait so do I get to be one of those two?
Regarding the “Maybe they should fall back on novel material for a change.” comment… I haven’t read the novels, but I was under the impression that a lot of what we’ve seen so far was based on the novels, though perhaps summarized significantly. Specifically, G’s Festival Anime seems to suggest that most of what we’ve seen so far comes from novels 5 through 8, with volume 9 being hinted at towards the ending.
Not that it’s that big of a deal by any means, but I am sort of curious now as to how the adaptation differs from the source material.
I heard it differs greatly from the book, but that’s just through word-of-mouth. I can’t be sure for myself.
I agree that they’ve been ignoring Haruka’s otakuism in favor of Yuuto’s harem. I personally didn’t like the episodes with Tsundere-chan and Shiina, though the one with Alice was cute. So far, we’ve had about thee episodes focusing on Haruka and Yuuto’s relationship, and three focusing on the other girls, even though, like you say, Haruka and Yuuto are already a couple. Half of me wants to drop the second season, while the other half is saying I might as well hang on for five more episodes.
I’m enjoying it. Hooray for shallow pandering otaku anime!!
wait, this anime has a plot?
Did I say it did?
>>Half of me wants to drop the second season, while the other half is saying I might as well hang on for five more episodes.
I’m still really enjoying it. The only episode that bothered me was Shiina’s, actually.
I find any scene with shiina involved annoying, she should have been written out. but beside shiina, this seaon is pretty cool
“more of a cute light romance, a genre which is–quite frankly–of short supply these days”
Have you seen Candy Boy? It definitely fits in that category, and is fairly recent.
I thought Candy Boy was yuri for some reason.
it’s more like shoujo-ai, there is (literally) no sexual stuff (except for verbal jokes, that sort of thign)