Hanasaku Iroha

[Kraco]

Regarding the inn denying Ohana's offer the first time, I thought it had something to with disliking Kissuiso at first.

It was perfectly sensible and appropriate they refused her offer at first. As we later saw, they weren't at that point desperate enough to spoil a guest's vacation by having her work instead of relax. Ohana should have understood it from her own point of view as well: If a person visiting Kissuiso was forced, for example, to clean the bath themselves because no staff member had had time to do it, it would be a disaster to the inn professionally. Aside from such issues of pride, this was probably a jolly opportunity for her to experience how things work at bigger places, so it's not like she was only saving the hotel selflessly. But I do hope she at least got paid with a nice bonus!

[Ryllharu]

Regarding the inn denying Ohana's offer the first time, I thought it had something to with disliking Kissuiso at first.

It very likely did. Not in a negative manner, but how one tends to dislike their rivals. After the manager admitted to having been trained in Yunosagi (noticeably not mentioning which inn he was trained at), I figured it had more to do with Shijima Sui's intense adherence to the experience an innkeeper is expected to provide. I do however, think it has everything to do with pride.

If he trained somewhere other than Kissuisou (pretty much a guarantee), he would be in effect admitting that his methods are inferior to Shijima Sui's. Taking on one of her employees that happened to have the audacity to solicit her assistance while staying at a guest would be to admit failure. The idea that a larger, less traditional inn is a model that demands too much and fails to provide a satisfactory experience. Which it ultimately did. The students didn't mind after they saw all of Kissuisou's workers helping out, and especially Yuina even pitching in. But a reviewer or any normal guest would never want to come back if asked to do the same. Fukuyo lucked out with the reaction the rest of the students gave.

They ultimately accepted Ohana's help because there was absolutely no choice.

[MFauli]

Damn, ep 15 out already? Oh well, just watched ep 14.

What impressed me the most was actually Yuina. They've spent all this time building her up as a nonchalant, ignorant, flippant, ditz. Even down to her manner of speaking. Yet she's actually anything but a ditz. We've only seen her as someone who appears to have no interest in her family's inn's wellbeing, more eager to enjoy her own life. We're not wrong there. That's exactly what she is. However, she's far more perceptive and informed than we were led to believe. She knows about the workings of an inn and she seems to know a lot more about the management of one than the audience, Ohana, or Minko ever suspected.

I absolutely disagree with your positive evalutation of Yuina. Im not going to decide whether she´s dumb or not, but they way she acted towards her fiance was at best dumb, at worst ice cold. Assuming she´s not dumb, she knew how much effort this guy put into fullfilling "their" dreams. And when she reveals to him at the end of the episode that she doesnt want to work at an inn, she keeps up her permanent happy-go-luck attitude and smiles at him while telling him the most shocking, bitter news.

I didnt like Yuina before, and this episode certainly didnt make me like her any better.

Also, poor guy that was asking out Minchi. Actually, is that some kind of theme going on in this show? Girls never telling someone that they love him, and boys doing exactly the opposite but getting shot down by their love interest? Rather frustrating. Ko tells Ohana, BAMM. Boy tells Minchi, BAMM, fiance tells Yuina about their future, BAMM. Damn, girls, get it together!

[Ryllharu]

Actually, is that some kind of theme going on in this show? Girls never telling someone that they love him, and boys doing exactly the opposite but getting shot down by their love interest? Rather frustrating. Ko tells Ohana, BAMM. Boy tells Minchi, BAMM, fiance tells Yuina about their future, BAMM. Damn, girls, get it together!

How conveniently you forget the Tokyo bookstore girl. Completely the opposite.

[MFauli]

How conveniently you forget the Tokyo bookstore girl. Completely the opposite.

And afaik Ko told her that there was another girl - instead of running away or making up some excuse.

[Ryllharu]

And afaik Ko told her that there was another girl - instead of running away or making up some excuse.

Doesn't that prove my point? Let's look at it again:

...and [girls] doing exactly the opposite but getting shot down by their love interest?

Yup. Completely the opposite from what you originally had claimed.

[MFauli]

Sure, but it still shows how the boy (Ko) handled the situation a million times better than the other girls in the show.

Edit:
Just saw ep 15:

Besides reinforcing my negative opinion regarding Yuina: The animators of this series are true masters. Not showing any real nudity during Ohana´s and Minchi´s little fight in the bath was masterful (and a pitty lol).

[shinta|hikari]

An episode without Ko...

I just hope this does not spell the end of the pairing I'm shipping for.

[Kraco]

An episode without Ko...

I just hope this does not spell the end of the pairing I'm shipping for.

Ko left it completely in Ohana's hands when they parted in Tokyo (for the second time). And, seriously, Ohana can't spend even a school trip without working. Realistically speaking Ko is history unless he intends to wait until Ohana (possibly) hits the 30's crisis and suddenly starts to worry about not having a husband and kids. Although by that time they would be little better than strangers to each other anymore.

That being said, of course I still wish this anime would take an extra step to make something happen that would make Ohana miss Ko enough to contact him. But as long as it's just work work work for her, I don't see how that could happen.

[shinta|hikari]

I think Ko should just get off his ass and go to Ohana's place. He doesn't seem like the dreamer or ambitious type, so he should just live for romance.

[Buffalobiian]

HorribleSubs - Episode 16

[Kraco]

Frankly, I didn't like this episode. It's like everybody (or rather, the females) were on some drugs, behaving excessively elatedly and lightheadedly. To be point they forgot their work, despite the fact in all the previous eps they were so serious and proud of their jobs they couldn't even have a vacation without working. Maybe the best individual example was the fricking Strike Witches training of trying to fly with a broom... What the hell was that all about?

A most weird episode.

[David75]

Frankly, I didn't like this episode. It's like everybody (or rather, the females) were on some drugs, behaving excessively elatedly and lightheadedly. To be point they forgot their work, despite the fact in all the previous eps they were so serious and proud of their jobs they couldn't even have a vacation without working. Maybe the best individual example was the fricking Strike Witches training of trying to fly with a broom... What the hell was that all about?

A most weird episode.

Necessary Fanservice Ep but "Hanasaku Iroha" style

Talk about details: why have a crumbling Peugeot 205 CTI in Japan, just to be very original and have some kind of French touch for a Japanese film director?

[Kraco]

Talk about details: why have a crumbling Peugeot 205 CTI in Japan, just to be very original and have some kind of French touch for a Japanese film director?

Things like that only increase the feeling of realism. Small deviations, unexpected details, personality quirks... they are omnipresent in this world, so you must also include them in fiction if you want the audience to feel the setting is natural.

[MFauli]

Hm, I enjoyed that episode, but I agree with Kraco that everyone behaved quite differently.

Don´t know what else to say, since none of the main plot´s strings had been touched. Oh, definitely a wasted chance at some fan-service when Minchi got everyone wet. Come on, they´re wearing white tops. White clothing meets water =

Though, did they mention if the film studio rented the whole inn for the filming? Or how did they work out the situation for normal guests?

[Ryllharu]

Frankly, I didn't like this episode. It's like everybody (or rather, the females) were on some drugs, behaving excessively elatedly and lightheadedly.

That was the problem I had with the survivalist group, but here it made a great deal more sense. I thought it was a pretty good reaction for each of the respective characters. Maybe it doesn't happen that often where any of you are, but whenever Hollywood comes to a small town to do some filming, there is a local media frenzy, and everyone in whatever town it is happening in goes crazy. It was perfectly natural for all the waitresses to be freaking out about getting to star in it, and played nicely with Minko only wanting to play a chef (her own little dream). Others trying to take advantage of the visiting film crew. Even Beanman getting a little excited.

Magical girl training aside, it was the little touches that made the episode. They made a special point of the lead actress taking in every action Ohana's grandmother did when she entered with the tea. Absorbing it for future reference. A sign of a good actress. I'll admit I was worried it would turn out to be a scam when they were asking Jiro do write local scenes in for them, but they reversed that by arriving and doing all the real prep work. Doing screen tests and lighting checks, all the minor details were baked in.

Don´t know what else to say, since none of the main plot´s strings had been touched.

As for any of the "main plot's strings not getting touched," I would hazard to guess that one wasn't paying attention toward the end. This arc is pretty obviously some real character development for Enishi and Takako, as well as the first spoken line about Sui's successor. Satsuki probably could run the inn if she cared about it at all. The implication was made when she visited, but the subject wasn't actually brought up until now.

Enishi seems to have quite a bit of a sister-complex, but until this episode, he well grounded in his lack of confidence. Satsuki is ambitious and talented (even if she is incredibly selfish and lazy), and Enishi is normally only a follower. First his sister, now Takako. Instead of shooting the pair down, Sui finally gives her son's crazy schemes a chance, and one that may legitimately help Kissuisou out. In return, he takes charge and puts in a lot of effort to making sure it really is a success. Instead of leaning on Takako or hiding under the shadow of his sister and mother, he's showing some real determination.

Takako finally got to make a minor transition from a gag character to someone who actually is connected in the business world and seems to actually know her stuff. She had a few moments of serious conversation with Enishi, not her typical crazy, Engrish spouting nonsense. She got the ball rolling and proposed the idea to Enishi, who took it over while she backs him up. Judging from the preview, I'm guessing she'll get some more development next episode.

Though, did they mention if the film studio rented the whole inn for the filming? Or how did they work out the situation for normal guests?

Kissuisou doesn't exactly get a constant stream of business. They do what any film crew does. They rent the whole place out (for equipment storage space for sure, possible lodging as well), and if anyone had any reservations, the inn staff reschedule them (possibly even at a discount).

[shinta|hikari]

I don't think that Okami would reschedule other guests just to accommodate a film crew. I think they had no business at the time, so renting the whole place out was not only possible, but ideal for profit.

[Buffalobiian]

Don´t know what else to say, since none of the main plot´s strings had been touched.

Koh is going to see this movie.

[RyougaZell]

Heh... before the actual actresses arrived I was really sure it was a scam. And even after they did I had my doubts when they wanted to use Enishi as main character replacement only to use Ren at the end.

I actually laughed when Ohana and Nako where jumping around with the brooms.

[Buffalobiian]

HorribleSubs - Episode 17