What’s going on? Wait, wait, wait- what? I mean, I knew the show had its ups and downs emotionally, and that Anju was an emo-trip, but what the hell? The show was mostly humor until now, or at least idiotic comedy. Now the angst level’s risen beyond ninensei Rosa Gigantea!

So Anju is growing up. Ok.
So Anju needs to suck blood. Ok.
So Anju has the hots for jealous blood. Ok.
So Maki is jealous of Karin getting along well with Kenta. Not ok. She’s got her sights set on the most lousy joke of a teenage boy ever. I hope that the seiyuu doesn’t actually sound like that in real life, and that Winner’s voice is itself a joke, or else dayum… sounds worse than I do.
So Anju wtfbites Maki. Ok.
So Anju goes all Itachi on Karin. … … … Not gonna comment.
So Karin acts like in a manner better suited to a shy, busty meganekko in an hgame. Ok.

… doubletake.

Karin acts like that after wtfslugging her cute little gothi-loli sister in the face?!

Something’s wrong.

A combination of Anju’s chest covered in blood, Ren acting cool, Kenta smiling while being stood up, and Karin crying out “daikirai~” simply doesn’t work. This episode didn’t work. And it got me going, too. Hearing Winner talk for the two seconds of flashback was just about the only good part (aside from the fact that it centered itself on Anju, and all the implied lilycest intent is very hot.)

In short, the show’s gone hyaku-pasento emo and it looks like it might get worse, what with the granny’s message for Karin. At least, for a little while, Maki might stop crying whilst unraveling sweaters in public. That’s just disgraceful.

now, for some of my hypotheses, since I’ve not talked about the show before…

Does Anju’s ability to put spirits into dolls evaporate with her coming of age? If this was ever explicitly mentioned, I must’ve missed it. Then again I watched the first ten episodes in a row while running on empty (from 12 AM onwards, after waking up. I’d gone to bed an hour prior.)

Now, is Karin really as stupid as she lets on? That seems too typical, and I guess that, at this point, what with the drama level in this show, I’m far too appreciative and am expecting more. Thing is, this series has something a lot of anime I’ve seen hasn’t, and while it’s not nearly as good as most of those that have it (Saikano, KGNE), it’s something I need to admire. I first became aware of it in Karin when Anju said “onee-chan, you’re the only one I’ve never thought of as dysfunctional.” What the show has, hidden amongst the odd OP, fanservice, and bad humor, is power. With that, I’m willing to hope, in my heart of hearts, that Karin isn’t going to turn out to be a female, vampiric, Jun’ichi. So, here’s to Karin being aware of what’s going on around her, and ending up in a threesome with her best friend and sister!

“Maki is in denial” – she rabus Kenta and was using Winner as an outlet.

“Anju is hot” – I’m not sure, non-biological asexuality and all. Can someone confirm this for me?

“Ren is gay” – no way in hell is Ren a man. Thus, Ren is gay.