Digging my own grave is what I call it, an act which is conducted despite the existence of preceding awareness that should have prevented said act from occuring.
Personally, Nogizaka Haruka No Himitsu is the weakest link in my To-Watch-List for Summer 2008. Meaning that it has a rather high chance of being dropped within the first few episodes. All based on speculations and first impressions of course. Expectations and personal tolerance are what aggregate one’s ability to appreciate a show, in fact they weigh significantly unless the show itself has some mad directing or AWESOME stuff going on. I felt kind of silly in placing certain expectations on this show despite it being obvious that I was not going to get what I want.
The first episode Nogizaka Haruka No Himitsu begins by introducing one of the main characters, Yuuto, as an average cool fellow who is currently a high school student. Wicked so let us move on. He happens to live with his elder sister. Not to forget the frequent overnight visits by one of the teachers of his high school who seems to be a close friend of the family. Just watch the show and you will figure out that the ladies are asking for it, seriously.
Moving on from that piece of informative start, we find Yuuto on his way to school while chatting with a bunch of unmemorable Horny High School Sidekick Boys™. But at least the show did not drag in introducing the second main character. Her name is Nogizaka Haruka, the belle of the school, and the reason for this story to exist.
While everything has been fine and just simply unimpressive, we find ourselves with the first fanservice scene of the show! Ah fanservice. It is a love-hate relationship and very often or not would I find myself finding a show losing value in watching when there is fanservice. Especially if the fanservice fails to please is just simply not appealing.
ARGH! NOT FANSERVICE!
Oh wait… That does not seem right…
Anyway, disappointment and fulfillment of expectations carries certain influence in the comments of fans. And since Nogizaka Haruka No Himitsu is not or has yet to suggest that it is somewhat like a Genshiken approach towards the Otaku culture *no shit. sherlock*, I was disappointed by the first episode because I did not get what I want. But there was a shimmer of hope when I realised that the show had begun with the OP song of an anime within the anime show itself.
By no means is NogiHaru a disaster; this is just the first episode! It has reasonable execution except that the development seemed rathing hasty at certain points. But unless it is crazily refreshing to watch, it will suffer the tragic but common fate of being labelled as one of the many shows out there. That is because too many have been there and done that. Prior to writing this post, I was attempting to rick roll at least twenty people on my MSN chat list and since most of them have not even heard of Rick Rolling, they were amused by the prank. But there was one bloke who was not impressed by Rick Astley because he has seen that shit too many times. So maybe if Naruto was one of the first few works from the Japanese manga industry, it might have been hailed as the Greatest Story Evar Told. Damn inflation! Sure is tough trying to impress kids these days.
So will I carry on watching this show? The answer for now is yes because although there are ‘meta-reasons’ behind dropping it, NogiHaru has yet to annoy me. Well… except for the fanservice.
So why was I upset about seeing fanservice? Was I that angry? Wait, allow me to use a certain tool to recall those specific emotions.
Oh yeah. Now I remember how I felt.
I facepalmed
But I shall carry on… this journey with NogiHaru and Moetan Aki-chan.
(Picture of Exia is obtained from Yet Another Anime News Blog)
I liked the “secret files” opening
Facepalm had me lol’ing.
The fanservice was very mild but I cannot understand why I was annoyed with it.