天下制覇

Koyasu is so underappreciated that it pains me.

Impressions:

Pure abject filler, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say that I also enjoyed almost all of it. A lot of that is helped by the entire focus of the episode being on Karian and Felli, and mostly the latter. The best gag by far was the opening bit. There’s something truly surreal in watching a shameless parade of cheesecake shots while Karian ‘seduces’ Layfon in the voice over. Nina’s waterpistol dite was also pretty silly, and I’m not sure Miffy could have or ever will make a stupider expression than this one. Karian also really was in rare form this episode. Only he would have the chops to take his sister to the pool, surround himself with beautiful women waiting on him hand and foot, watch anime on the giant screen TV, and then blow it all off to go have some alone time with Layfon.

It wasn’t all bathing suits and bath towels. There were some definite hiccups in the direction and writing. The jump to the Engrish segment was extremely abrupt and awkward at best, and they jumped back with the insinuation that it had just been a TV show that the guys were watching. Even from a joke standpoint, that doesn’t really make any sense. Felli also had a couple moments where she just wasn’t herself. Overwhelming violence, blushing over Layfon, and jealousy are par for the course, but throwing a whiny hissy fight because of Karian? Meh. The whole terrorist bit at the end also seemed completely and arbitrarily tacked on. They did do a few clever things, like tossing in an overly dramatic riff as Nina was diving, but by and large, it felt like the director just didn’t care about this one that much. Additionally, while it was usually fine, this show’s art has certainly seen better days.

Don’t get me wrong though, most of the episode was very silly and enjoyable, just about as vapid as your average Mouseketeer, and having about as much collective fashion sense as one as well.

Obligatory Summary:

Karian wants some time with Felli, so he drags her to the pool, but Team 17 ends up showing up anyway. Nina decides to teach Felli how to swim, and seeing Layfon teaching Mei, she accepts, although nearly drowns when Nina gets distracted by Mei’s natural floatation. Later, Felli passes out from the heat in the sauna as well. Great leadership, Nina. When she comes to, she hears Karian telling the others to lay off Felli, but thinks that it’s just a dream.

The next day, Felli refuses more lessons from Nina, but Sharnid offers up Layfon and she accepts. Karian seethes in the background until teaching/flirting time is over and then has his women take Layfon into a secluded chamber to accuse him of conspiring to get with the pure and innocent Felli and such. Reeducation is in order. Elsewhere, terrorists break in, but are soon taken down by Team 17. They all chat outside for a little bit until they realize that Karian and Layfon have been missing for quite a while. Felli realizes what happened and breaks into Karian’s reeducation chamber to deliver an atomic shin breaker.

Preview:

Hooray, drill hair girl. Maybe we’ll get the pistol witch soon too.