Shoushimin Series

[neflight86]

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"Kobato decides to become an honest, humble citizen after enduring a bitter experience known as "wisdom work." He forms a pact with Osanai, his classmate with the same goal, and they plan to enter high school leading quiet lives. But for some reason, inexplicable events and disasters keep happening around them. Will Kobato and Osanai ever manage to live ordinary, peaceful lives?

Source: Crunchyroll"

Genre(s): Mystery

Research

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1-3

As soon as I heard this was an adaptation of another book from the author of Hyouka, I had to give it a try, and so far, this is hittin' the mystery spot. I was expecting a serious visual downgrade from the Kyotoani masterpiece, but this is... in the same league? Preposterous! Even the direction is top shelf making this a complete package.

Anyway, the mysteries are low stakes, but still interesting to guess at and see unravel. The hinting at the main pair's troubled pasts is intriguing as well, and Osanai herself came off as unhinged in her understandable desire for revenge. I wonder if that will be an ongoing side story? Don't sleep on this if you like mystery shows!

[neflight86]

4-7

This show really does make good content seem effortless. I can't speak for the re-watchability of this as a mystery series, but the first go through has continued to be gripping.

For how soft ball the mysteries have been, the escalation to potential kidnapping at the end of episode 7 has had a few hints dropped (crime rings, drug clubs). Is this going to go full dark?

[neflight86]

8

It's too bad that I get almost no tension out of a really traumatic episode. Kidnapping is no joke, much less attempted torture/murder, but both leads kinda just... play it off by the end and aren't even really shaken by the ordeal. At least Kobato acknowledges that getting excited over the mystery is inappropriate given the potential severity of what is happening, but Osanai really puzzles me. As mentioned in the show, her strange texting/wording last episode suggests she knew something like this was going to happen, but went along anyway. Also, if she could get a message out to Kobato, why the cryptic hint instead of a "I'm here at xxx"? Bizarre.

Funny that his buddy got hospitalized for fighting girls off screen, but it was 3-5 versus 1, depending on how many went after Kobato (his face also took some damage).

[neflight86]

11,12

I'm not too ashamed to admit I'm having trouble parsing the plot at this specific point in time since the sorta time jump from season one.

Osanai, I remember decided to 'try' dating the newspaper kid and now, apparently is using him or feeding intel about fires she may be starting to hide the evidence from last season's kidnapping setup? I think that is what's going on, but I admit many details are fuzzy and I'm lost in the sauce at this point. Kobato dating this new girl is also news to me, though I don't dislike her, I'm surprised he has simply cut off Osanai, as far as we can tell. On the other hand, I suppose she doesn't need to be watched as she's not doing anything outwardly nefarious currently. A strange standstill that I'm sure is building up to... something.

[neflight86]

13

So it looks like things are getting pieced together to possibly stop her plan, whatever that is. Also, bit of shocker if what that girl said about Kobato's girlfriend is true (her dating multiple guys at any given time).

[neflight86]

14

So, red head turning the newspaper club into a detective agency went about as well as expected...

I've determined that listening to Osanai mess with that kid over the phone is one of the most enjoyable parts of this season so far as I try to glean any hints I can from their conversations. I have a feeling this will be better on a re-watch, where I can notice the subtle details in a more complete context.

[neflight86]

16

Absolute murder by words. Savage. I'm surprised no violence came of this. Hope we get some more explanation next week as I'm just as surprised (and stupid, apparently) that Osanai isn't the culpret.

[neflight86]

17

Osanai is somehow even more twisted than I thought. Previously, her 'revenge' could be shrugged off somewhat as self defense, but this was just premeditated malice towards her own boyfriend for... trying to kiss her months ago.

Very off-putting, even after her conversation about how, while Kobato isn't necessarily the smartest person she'll ever date, he's smart enough for now and her 'best current match'.

The mystery was strong, yet Osani's Cheshire cat machinations again steal the show. Making someone feel wholly inadequate is such an evil thing to aspire to; and it wasn't to better newspaper-kun, because he will probably never know why she suddenly scorned him so- it was pure self gratification- like her obsession with sweets.