WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MY DOUJOU?!

When issa-sa doesn’t post for a few (week)days, you know that issa-sa is either:

a) In a Doujou-vegetable-like state; or

b) Struggling too much to write a post to do a show a justice and failing miserably at it. Hence I’ve been trying to run away from my obligation as a Toshokan Sensou fan/blogger.

No prize for guessing which excuse I’m using here. But I’m tired of second-guessing myself and trying to write an ‘objective’ review of a show that may have been ‘half baked‘ yet I looked forward to it every week and now that it’s over, I really haven’t picked up the mood to start sampling the Summer season. Shouldn’t it be enough that I love this show to bits?? But no, as a blogger who rants to be read by the public, I should at least think of a billion and one reasons why those of you who thought Toshokan Sensou wasn’t as good as it could’ve been/utter crap are wrong or why those who haven’t gotten around to watch its hould put this as their number one priority now.

But I fail at promoting shows, and I really do believe that we’re free to love/hate what we love/hate, so it looks like I’ve given up before I’ve tried. For what it’s worth, I shall now repeat over and over again that I LOVE TOSHOKAN SENSOU without any sort of justification whatsoever and you cynics can kiss my sorry ass!

So yea, for those who don’t already know (that means I’m spoiling this for you, but you’re already reading, so there), Doujou lives past the last episode. Only he’s preserved in some kind of doll-like state that is both unaware and unable to react to his surroundings.

It’s really worse than him dying, really. (T_T) Like both Iku and usagijen, it was quite unbearable to watch our THE Prince himself being dealt such a plot device card, but as expected from Toshokan Sensou, they don’t dwell on it until it bogs things down with needless emo. Instead, Iku picks herself up quickly and continues to work hard waiting for the day Doujou returns and sees her progress.

I loved Iku this episode, how she the strength of character she shows in light of Doujou’s condition… Oh god, I’m actually in no mood to continue in a semi-serious fashion right now. I think I’ll just divert into one of those lame comics now:

You know there’s a Chinese belief (or so I’ve been taught in my family) that if you sit/step on books, you’re a retard (or is it that you become one? Well, whatever)

“You’re under arrest for being a retard”

Iku GOOD JOB

Iku: “Well, I did learn from the best…”

Shibasaki: “ahem“

Iku: “Err, yea, you knew who I meant, hehe...”

Shibasaki: Fine, since I feel under-appreciated here, I’ll just drag my newest boy toy out of here since his creepy brother no longer seems interested.

Doujou: WTF, weren’t you here to visit me? oh shit, my cover’s been blown *goes back into vegetative state*

Iku: Doujou-kyoukan! You’re… wait, have you been pretending to be in a coma-like state all this while to make me all sappy and emo???” (well, it didn’t work, thankfully)

Doujou: …… *sneezes*

Shibasaki: *smacks forehead* Doujou, you idiot, you’re supposed to wait for us to leave the room before you ‘miraculously’ come alive again in time for your happy ending!

Iku: Genda-taichou, you’re ALIVE (too)?!

Genda: Yea well, we had to make sure to keep blissmo as displeased as possible or she’ll never churn out those vicious bunny comics anymore

Doujou: OI, this sad excuse for a diversion has no point, no climax, no meaning!

Ah well. I tried.

Old Doujou… Is no way as hot as new Doujou. Now I’ll only look forward to a spin-off series concerning old Doujou only if they give him his present awesome hair. (No wonder Tezuka looks up to him, they looked exactly the same -_-”)

Back to all seriousness: A few episodes back, I was impressed by how Iku tells Doujou that she has ‘graduated’ from her “Prince” chasing days and is all set to winning Doujou’s heart approval. This point was underlined in this episode when Iku confesses to Doujou (albeit still in his coma state) that though she knows now that Doujou and her Prince are one and the same, the one who is important to her is no longer that unknown figure of authority who saved her back in her school days, but the Doujou now who has been supporting her in his own tough way all this while in the Task Force. And that, is a ‘graduation speech’ I won’t be forgetting any time soon.

If you hate chamomiles, this episode isn’t for you.

I’ll be perfectly honest here, I may be shallow and totally biased when it comes to this show and Doujou (and Iku. Specifically Doujou with Iku). I’m fully prepared to love this show till the day I fall in a vegetative coma state from watching too much anime, and totally ignore the points that brought this show down as a more objective viewer probably should. psgels‘ review should serve as a warning though, expect too much of the book war premise, and you may find that it comes off as unsatisfying. But personally, I did enjoy everything the show offered though it would certainly have benefited with a longer episode count to have a chance at fleshing out the bits that caused people to find the premise ‘illogical’ or ‘wasted potential’. But given 3 thickass novels being compressed into 12 episodes, I’m certainly satisfied with what they rightly put the focus on in the story:

This scene does not need the words “Doujou X Iku” from me to spoil the moment.

So I’m a happy shipper camper right with how the series wraps up (besides the fact that it has wrapped up T_T), and I’m pretty sure the rest of us loyal fanatics feel the same. Viva the Toshokan Sensou love, Viva DOUJOU X IKU!!!

A salute to the best show this Spring season! Screw what everyone else says (well, I’m “SORRY” I didn’t manage to watch Kaiba/Macross F/Soul Eater -_-”), I’m hardly rational enough to separate weaknesses of a show from sheer enjoyment I get from watching it week to week!

I love this image. It’s really perfect in showing the developments in Doujou and Iku’s relationship past what the show could offer (Oh shi- it’s over!!) in a way that’s rather direct without well, being cheesy. Speaking of which…

Say CHEESE!

I’m really going to miss Toshokan Sensou… (So fine, I’ve come to terms with it ending, I guess the novels kind of assuage the pain now that I can actually read a measly 30% of the words) I really did enjoy this show and everything it did manage to offer even when they did compress 3 thickass novels (okay, the fact that they’re in moonrunes make them seem thicker than they are, but they certainly aren’t those nifty ‘light’ novels for sure) into 12 episodes, especially what the fans of this show have to agree upon – DOUJOU X IKU!!!! Shibasaki X Tezuka! (Or just Shibasaki =P)

Now what am I going to make my tutor watch from now on? I seriously doubt he’d be thrilled with the idea of Antique Bakery… -_-”