Oreimo

[Nadouku]

I liked how Kyōsuke tried to explain what a community was.

[Ryllharu]

I very much enjoyed this episode. He figured out what her problem was right away (no friends she can relate with about her hobby), though he did need help to find a solution. Saori too, was very concerned about making sure everyone in her circle wasn't left feeling isolated. She could tell the two were nervous and didn't want to gush about their particular interest with all those others who were hitting it off so well. I was glad that Kyousuke noticed Saori's attentiveness and insight too.

What really seems to set this series apart from a series like Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu is the tone they present. Otaku aren't generally respected in Japan, manga is one thing, but anime and especially eroge are another. While this series is a comedy, they don't always treat the issues lightly.

Kirino is popular at school, very mainstream, but she is intensely worried about her hobby. She was succumbing to the social pressures, and becoming isolated. She was even further isolated at the meet, because of her more mainstream interests. Essentially caught in the middle, she was lucky to have her brother and people like Saori. She sought her brother's help, and instead of it being a comedy about keeping it a secret, he was genuinely trying to help her. He found her some friends to connect to, he went along because she was nervous, he's been trying to play the games to understand her better, etc.

That doesn't mean there can't be comedic elements though. The argument between Kirino and Kuroneko was hilarious. It was like being here!


The series probably won't stay like this forever now that Kirino has a place to talk about her hobbies, and it may well transition into a clash between the two faces she presents with her brother caught in the middle, but I found this episode very pleasant.