天下制覇

…Ugh… All I can think of are 80s movies references. I clearly need a nap.

Impressions:

While I’m glad that they gave Minorin a little more depth and some screen time in this episode, I still really don’t like her all that much and there’s approximately zero chemistry between her and Ryuuji whatsoever. She’s happy and cheerful and all, but she’s also totally oblivious of everything in world around her, which makes all interactions with her end with absolutely nothing accomplished. I have no problems with Taiga slapping Ryuuji around for leering at her best friend while all but drooling. She still at least gave them the chance for some alone time after Ryuuji volunteered them both to help out at ye olde liquor shoppe.

Otherwise… meh. I still don’t like Minori, even despite Horie Yui voicing her, and am still not convinced that she shouldn’t be shipped off to some other show. Or maybe Abu Dhabi. It’s just that compared to the development in Taiga and Ryuuji’s relationship, she’s the kid on the short bus, totally incapable of treating him like anything more than a head of cabbage. Show her rejecting some other guy. Show her actually maybe think about Ryuuji as a guy once. Do something to show that she is cognizant of the world that exists more than a foot in front of her face and maybe I’ll actually care about her.

Preview:

Taiga’s rival appears.