My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU

Genre: Comedy
Age Appropriate: Preteens
Emotional Response: mild amusement
Notable Features: high schoolers, awkward kids, social navigation
Language: Japanese
Length: 1 season, 13 episodes
Overall Recommendation: Decent

"I told you we can never be friends." - Yukinoshita

My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU is a high school drama/comedy focused on the school's Service Club. The main character is Hikigaya, a social outcast guy who seems to like being alone. He's forced to join the Service Club after turning in a smart-ass essay to his teacher. The club only has one member, another social outcast, Yukinoshita - a beautiful girl who thinks she's a little better than everyone else, and holds back nothing in conversation. The two realize that they have something moderately in common with their inability to related to others, but have a hard time reconciling that with each other as well. Enter Yui, the first person to ask for help from the Service Club, a pseudo-popular girl who only wants to fit in. After her request is completely, she attaches herself to Yukinoshita (dubbed Yukinon), and joins the Service Club. Despite the harshness owned by Hikki and Yukinon, Yui seems to find them better friends, in some respects, that the people she'd attached to in class. 

Other characters join in during each episode to help with whatever project comes up. The series itself primarily uses the service projects as the individual plots per episode, but the real storyline is about the relationship of the three new Service Club "friends," through the eyes of Hikigaya.  As a high school drama, the storyline is generally pretty standard, with some minor plot twists, and some relational issues that could reach out to an audience. 

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My only real fandom would be attached to the adorable Saika Totsuka. I was a little in love with him the whole time, and I adored Hikiyama's reaction to him every time he was in an episode. Of, if only this was shonen-ai. I think it would've been adorable to have more episodes so I could see the cute awkwardness. Still, the beginning on my review holds true. To add more really could've ruined the series as a whole. He's just so cute!

My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU was generally pretty fun to watch. I wanted a little more out of the story, but that really wouldn't have fit very well with the series. It suffered somewhat under my love for Say I Love You. It was enjoyable, though. A bit like Servant x Service, there wasn't anything particular of note in the series. I think it would only get a recommendation from me beacuse of Saika Totsuka, or for someone of a high school age looking for something like it. It certainly wasn't negative in any way.

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So Cute: Brothers Conflict

Aoi Sekai no Chushin de

Genre: Adventure
Age Appropriate: Teens
Emotional Response: well, that kinda sucks
Notable Features: video game references
Language: Japanese
Length: 3 episodes
Overall Recommendation: Decent

"...you've been defeated by a pervert with dirty jokes." - Tejirof

In the world of Console Wars, the two countries Segua and Ninteldo are in constant conflict. The story follows a new recruit who has finally come down from his mountain hiding place, with his sister. Gear is a young man who shows incredible strength and speed. In a test with the general, Ramses, he defeats the 50 best army members in the room when he arrives. Travelling with him is his younger "sister," Nel. She eventually discovers some interesting skills of her own. Gear, and Nel, become members of the Special Forces. They're joined by Opal, a skillful archer, and the mercenary Tejirof. Tejirof comes from the same school as the general, and agrees to train the new kids in the four days prior to their first mission. Their mission is to save General Alex, the Segua hero who has been captured by the enemy. With the pervy Teijrof's instructions, each character learns new skills and embark on their mission with a little more confidence. 

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It's hard to write a synopsis without giving too much away when the series is only 3 episodes long. There was a little room for more episodes later, maybe, but they probably wouldn't be necessary. All in all, it was pretty decent. I enjoyed the episodes that there were, but I feel like I missed out on a lot by not being as obsessed with old school video games. I think my older brother probably would've gotten a lot more out of the references. Some of them were really easy to see - Gear = Sonic! - and others I didn't understand until I did a little research.

I think this has some potential if they decide to expand, but I won't be looking for it. I think Tejirof was probably the highlight for me. Every naughty thing he says is terrible, but a few moments later he's describe what he actually meant, and it's not dirty at all. It's like playing that Dirty Minds game. He knows that he's doing, though. It's the best comic relief available. Otherwise, some of it is just plain sad, emotionally. I would recommend this to people that I think would enjoy figuring out the references, or maybe people who want something super short (like a car ride or something), but it's not the best thing out there.

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Zoom: Legend of Legendary Heroes