The Terai-Dobashi Reversal, Or the Ayumi Axiom
Hatsukoi Limited is like a suite of thought experiments. Let’s look at Dobashi’s one-shot. [img src]
I picked this one out of the mixes of relationships from Hatsukoi Limited because of the contrast between the manga and the anime rendition. At this point, it might be safe to say that the anime adaptation of Hatsukoi Limited is very true to the manga (someone is doing a good job posting the chapter matches on Wikipedia). Still, when it comes to Terai and Dobashi, the anime actually changes things around for the better in subtle ways. Is it better? Why?
Boiling it down, Hatsukoi Limited is a play on stereotypes of first love stories. The Terai and Dobashi story is the gender reversal of the “athletic” sports stereotype–the girl is the athletic one, and the guy looks up to her for that reason (but also for others once they got to know each other better). It even has the “oh they’re just respecting me for my game, but deep down they don’t really care about me except for you <3 <3 <3″ plot thread, however thin. It’s a straight-up gender reversal.
The manga actually gets a little further than the anime in hammering home what made the Terai x Dobashi story works, and I think it’s a very important thing to remember when we talk about Hatsukoi Limited. Actually, that’s exactly the theme that threads all the love stories in Hatsukoi Limited. And I quote Ayumi (lol, soramimi subs):
And you can see the corresponding manga scanlated here and here. Those caps are slightly modified for easier-to-read-ness.
Well, back to Dobashi and Terai. Or maybe it’s better to point out that the above screen caps from “The Melancholy of the Chocolate Bomber” (episode 8) follows Dobashi’s “Let’s Kiss” (episode 7)? Do you really think that’s a coincident? Broadcast order matters! (And we all know this now, after May 2009, right?)
This theme repeats itself probably with every pair in the show. Even Enomoto and Kusuda work together because of how they feel about each other–it’s obviously that neither of them behave rationally and their actions are driven by feelings (hey, an accurate portrayal of teenagers zomg). And isn’t that really the essence of first loves? The focus of each plot thread, rather, deals with some of the bumps on the first love ride and takes Ayumi’s Axiom basically for granted.
Just like how real life works! Or at least in a shoujo-manga-reading boy’s mind.
And sadly, despite how enjoyable this romantic comedic romp was, Hatsukoi Limited will never achieve true mainstream greatness as it ultimately is a story in a genre niche–shounen/seinen romance. Well, to hell with that. I’m going to recommend it to people anyways, because there’s still something masterful in this relatively straightforward story.
The thematic construction via broadcast order is very interesting. I hadn’t noticed that at all.
I’m starting to see the depth of this piece. The characters actually go through a lot of inner thoughts, in the “why am I this way” form of self-reflections, and also more through other people’s comments. I like how everyone tries to pitch in something about each other, like Dobashi’s “I’m being told by Enomoto about relationships when she herself doesn’t have a boyfriend”. This is very realistic. We know how to advise another person’s love or life issues but oftentimes we don’t find the answer to our own love and life issues.
The show exaggerates those self-reflective moments a lot, but that’s par for the manga/anime course. It makes good contrast with episode 9, actually, as Nao doesn’t do much of that at all!
I haven’t seen the show, so I don’t understand the broadcast order bit. Can you explain that given my ignorance?
Basically the HL anime adaptation pick and choose different characters and insert their side stories from the manga in seemingly arbitrary order (see the wiki link in the post to see which chapters went with which episode). However it turns out that each episode builds up on the one before to make some general point. The point made in episode 8 by Ayumi is just to show the pairing in episode 7 didn’t have to satisfy any particular rational link besides that they like each other. And as well with each preceding couple including Watase/Takei, Enomoto/Kusuda, Ayumi/Beast, etc.
To some extent the same is true with episode 9, and how that kind of takes place outside that line of thought, and is an alternative take.
o…I thought you were making a reference to Haruhi (Kyon kisses Haruhi after some melancholy stuff happenz lulzorz)
I made a reference to Haruhi as well.
[…] duties as older brothers. [And all it needed was Yuu Enomoto…]I mentioned earlier about the gender role reversal that’s at the heart of this thought experiment. I think it’s partly why this show is so […]