Hyouka returns as amazingly dull as it has been – fantastic as the technical aspects of animation may be, the story, albeit classy to some extent, is simply operating on a repetitive whim powered by excess moeblob.
Through a series of convenient occurrences, the kotenbu find themselves being dragged by their moeblob to a sitting for a foreseeably lacking homemade film – the movie was made as per a class project of an acquaintance of the moeblob, and shortly prior to getting started, Oreki seems suspicious of the very purpose behind the screening. Unsurprisingly, after witnessing a horribly crude creation, the ulterior motive arises – the sempai who showed them the sub-par cinematic wants them to figure out the ending.
The movie, poorly done as it was, had a plot twist in which a crime occurs – the issue however is that their film is incomplete, their writer fell ill, meaning either they will have to deliver a half-baked movie, or, according to the sempai, the alternative option is to have the elite moeblob investigation unit known as “The Kotenbu” conjure up who the criminal would be based on clues provided within the remedial work of awful.
After the usual lazy character complaining, everyone else whining at him to put more effort, and the moeblob being a pest, the protagonist does the typical and falls to her desires – deciding to solve the mystery.
It was becoming a nuisance, or rather, it already was long ago – yet Hyouka’s formula has gotten far too hashed and dried. Eight episodes in now and the series still hasn’t gone anywhere – recycling the same turn of events over, again, and then some. Its become entirely repulsive – and the face of the moeblob is sickening to see. Nearly nothing in this series is operating as per any coherent reasoning – perhaps it was at one point, now it is simply the moeblob shoving her disgustingly overly emphasized visage into the camera then asserting how she’s curious.
While the moeblob first seemed like an airhead character, now one can hardly help but think that she’s more than that – she legitimately has some sort of mental deficiency as she struggles to understand basic concepts, all the while, becoming excited by simplistic functions of life, and forgetting seemingly everything but her own name, assuming she hasn’t forgotten that bit of information in this easily forgettable series.
There’s nothing further to say, Hyouka has gone from worthy of hype, to horrible.
Jun 10, 2012 @ 21:52 CDT
I watched like the first part – where they were all texting and stuff. However, watching from episode 1 – 7 was fantastic but as the story proceeds, I can’t believe Hyouka has gotten worse. I rather watch Aquarion Evol and Amnesia. They’re story sticks to a point to where it was intense, especially Aquarion Evol. On the other hand, Hyouka was good – it had a lot of mysteries and every episode was ironic and made it hilarious. But the story itself has gotten worse and made it boring.
Jun 10, 2012 @ 22:08 CDT
I’m still loving this show. Somehow, I get chills when other people don’t.
Jun 10, 2012 @ 22:34 CDT
Hyouka is good and had a lot of irony in it as well – but I don’t wanna watch it anymore. Story got horrible. But the OP and ED was epic though.
Jun 10, 2012 @ 22:49 CDT
The story of man motivated by moeblob was fine for the first episode, and maybe the second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh, at least it wasn’t repulsive enough to turn me away – yet at this point, no thank you.
Jun 10, 2012 @ 22:52 CDT
In addition – since Hyouka has gotten terrible, Kyoto Animation [Hyouka's Studio] are making ”Beyond the Boundary” By looking at the scans, it looks decent. I like the quality [similar to Hyouka's of course] and I know that this will be better than Hyouka.
Jun 10, 2012 @ 22:53 CDT
Beyond the Boundary is going to be a light novel – I’d not be surprised if they animate it however, I would assume that is the ultimate goal of having annexed it to begin with.
The PV was also pretty extravagant for a light novel promo clip.
Jun 10, 2012 @ 22:58 CDT
Well in that case, I might as well read the light novel then.
Jun 10, 2012 @ 22:51 CDT
I like Hyouka still. I was wondering who the heck the typing person was all through the start – *spoiler* quite a surprise that it was Chitanda *end spoiler*
But yeah, I still like this show. I find myself thinking “oh no” like the MC whenever chitanda says “i’m curious!” lol.
Jun 11, 2012 @ 9:08 CDT
I realized it was Chitanda typing in pink when I saw the misspelled words and obvious rage of excitement over nothing – her mental deficiency is easily spotted from a 100 mile radius.
Jun 11, 2012 @ 0:27 CDT
OKay this is just worse and more worse as the episodes progress…and they even have an ova planned..wow…just hope the writers know what they are doing..
Jun 11, 2012 @ 0:31 CDT
From the way the series has been playing out, I’d guess that the writers are about as certain in what they are doing as the moeblob is in what she’s doing. And that’s not very reassuring.
Jun 11, 2012 @ 2:05 CDT
Meanwhile, J.C. Staff are animating Little Busters. I wasn’t too fussed with KyoAni not taking on the role, but I sure hope they feel Hyouka was worth it.
Jun 11, 2012 @ 8:56 CDT
Kyoto Animation hasn’t done any major hit titles recently – before this, there was Nichijou, and while that definitely was spectacular, it unsurprisingly didn’t sell too well.
Then again, even this being as poor as it is, it will more than likely still sell easy with all the moeblob.
Jun 11, 2012 @ 3:56 CDT
What The Hell!!!! Oreki Houtaru is the culprit!
Jun 11, 2012 @ 9:10 CDT
In essence, he is – if only he wasn’t swayed by the same thing, over every episode, this series might not be as dreadful.
Jun 11, 2012 @ 4:47 CDT
Personally, I like Hyouka.
It’s a nice change of pace anime that is totally realistic and plausible.
Jun 11, 2012 @ 8:57 CDT
It’s also totally realistic to watch paint dry.
Jun 11, 2012 @ 6:20 CDT
I don’t think there is anything wrong with this episode, if this was horrible then at least 80% of this season’s anime are crap. I’m pretty sure most people thought this will be some kind of really interesting anime with complex mysteries. But this isn’t the anime’s fault, Hyouka is a coming of age/SoL/school life anime and this became obvious soon as the anime started. There wasn’t any kind false advertising that could made people to expect something more. Also, these little everyday stories are much better than some unbelievable and incoherent mysteries with full of plot holes.
Jun 11, 2012 @ 9:05 CDT
“if this was horrible then at least 80% of this season’s anime are crap”
They are.
The problem with Hyouka isn’t simple mysteries or “little everyday stories”, those work fine – what doesn’t work fine is having your little everyday story be propelled every episode by the same reason, and that reason was never valid to begin with. No matter if the moeblob forgets something she did herself, or if there’s just a random riddle to solve, she just shoves her face into Oreki’s – and then he decides he might as well solve the mystery. That wasn’t bad the first time, it was actually amusing as well – and then the second, third, and fourth times, it wasn’t too distasteful.
Now however, eight episodes in, this is merely repetitive – it’s like watching a mecha anime series which uses the same five-minute transformation sequence every episode, only there’s nothing epic or exciting about watching the moeblob whine like a child.
Jun 11, 2012 @ 9:07 CDT
And I forgot to mention, the transformation scene of a mech is a result of something significant which led to the transformation – on the other hand, the moeblob’s same method of complaining seen every episode is used as the very premise for why Oreki bothers to do solve anything.
Jun 11, 2012 @ 10:57 CDT
I’m just saying that our opinion differs, which has nothing to do with anime being good or bad. It’s not that either of us is right or wrong… it’s just an opinion and nothing more.
Except if you’re some kind of god who knows everything, then I humbly ask for your forgiveness and I promise I’ll build a shrine for you :D
Jun 11, 2012 @ 11:16 CDT
You haven’t said anything beyond what a hypothetical group of people think to be wrong to begin with – and I’m just sharing why Hyouka is repetitive, thereby making it, in my opinion, not a particularly good series.
Jun 11, 2012 @ 16:59 CDT
Well, I don’t think Chitanda’s “curiosity” makes the series repetitive, especially when she is the heart of the series that moves everything forward. Oreki needs her, because she seems to be the only person who can influence him. And she was even called “The Fool” in this episode which of course doesn’t make her the brightest person in the anime, but she is still a very important character. I think you know about the related symbolism.
Jun 11, 2012 @ 17:13 CDT
Curiosity doesn’t make the series repetitive, the method of presentation however does. It’s also not particularly favorable that this series started as if it had a grand story to it, only to trickle down to short episodic mysteries – although at least this latest one was multi-part.
I can certainly see why some would like Hyouka – and I believe it has the potential to be splendid, although if it’s not going to progress whatsoever, then it will not manage.
Earlier the series was showing Oreki’s character building up, and the moeblob’s curiosity mode was something new – thus it was wonderful, yet now Oreki’s development is at a pause for a mystery which is not particularly interesting, and the series has been recycling the same delivery into a problem for many an episode now. I wouldn’t be surprised if this series did improve, as eventually, Oreki’s character will have to unfold more – however as for now, Hyouka’s level of quality is simply sloshing around like muddy waters as it is repeating the same stuff over again.
Jun 12, 2012 @ 0:32 CDT
If you’re not particularly fond of it, why’d bother to review it? Just leave it like it is.
Jun 12, 2012 @ 0:36 CDT
If you disagree with the review, why bother reading and commenting?
A series with potential goes downhill, I don’t intend to simply pretend it doesn’t exist if I was watching it originally.
Jun 12, 2012 @ 14:02 CDT
I was under the impression that this is an anime news blog, so a review is kinda the territory a news blog with stomp around in. It is noteworthy when a big studio creates what is perceived to be a flop, and is worthy of being called out.
I don’t entirely agree with the perception; but I value the input none the less….
Jun 12, 2012 @ 16:00 CDT
If someone disagrees or is offended by an article here, they wouldn’t be the first – if someone wants to properly express their disagreement, that’s one of the possibilities provided by the comment system.
Alternatively, one can write their own review, and assuming it’s written in English, it may be published.
Jun 12, 2012 @ 15:59 CDT
That is the duty of a critic, that’s like saying Mass Effect 3 should never have been reviewed and swept under the carpet. Like with anime, there will be those which might have expectations, and fail to live up to them, or the complete contrary. So it’s almost duty to call out when an anime has highlight worthy moments like these.
For me, I heard a lot of negative things on Guilty Crown for example, yet I loved it. That, Mr.Anonymous, is what we call an “opinion”. Everyone has one, but not all of them will agree.
Jun 12, 2012 @ 1:29 CDT
A reasonable hypothesis on how this arc is starting out, but I think its best to judge the series at least after this arc concludes. There are signs from the previous episodes that Hotaro is moving away from his lazy self, so let see if Eru can drive this series up to the light, or plunge it off a cliff while saying “I’M CURIOUS!!!”
Jun 12, 2012 @ 5:29 CDT
^@Seven /Jun 11, 2012 @ 17:13 CDT/
Hm, what you said makes sense, so it’s not that I can’t accept it. I agree with liberator; lets wait and see, it’s still early to judge this series.
Btw, I think repetitiveness is prevalent in anime, you either like it, hate it or just don’t care and overlook it.
Jun 12, 2012 @ 12:16 CDT
It depends on the anime, in the case of Hyouka, repetitiveness is practically the core of the series.
Jun 12, 2012 @ 5:43 CDT
Hmm, not that I don’t see the OP’s point, but I still find the series enjoyable. While I do think a little creativity on the writer’s end could make things more interesting (especially in the area of Chitanda’s extreme ADD), I find it a refreshing break from the standard ecchi, harem, slice-of-life school comedies, which are getting farther and farther away from comedy and turning into a competition to see how closely they can copy each other before people start to catch on… And then kept going. The characters are at least unique, bringing with them both the good and bad of what that may imply, and I can feel something building in this series like a slow, pudgy bully: He might take a while to warm up, but he packs a hell of a punch.
But, I’m a mystery fan at heart, so I was in love with the series before it ever aired. The fact that they’ve been able to keep from making anything too overly contrived is wonderful, and being that we’ve yet to even hit the half way mark, I can hardly wait to see the surprises this series still has in store.
It may not be a pulse pounding thriller, but I wouldn’t trade this series for all the Guilty Crowns in the world.
Jun 12, 2012 @ 5:47 CDT
Are you implying that Guilty Crown is a good series?
Jun 12, 2012 @ 6:00 CDT
Quite the opposite.
Aug 20, 2012 @ 12:57 CDT
I don’t really know why you said it was a horrible episode. Uhm like… don’t you have a taste? Quite harsh huh.
Aug 20, 2012 @ 13:09 CDT
If you read the article, crazy as this may sound, it tells you why the episode is horrible.
The series as a whole however is different – there have been lower points, like this episode, yet there’s also been some portions like the festival arc, which is truly extraordinary.