Remarks – Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu

Ah yes…it’s been quite a while since the last time I sat down to marathon a series that I actually got to finish without getting interrupted and/or distracted, not to mention how my last attempt to marathon was a total failure. For some reason, I just find it hard to be amused nowadays. I don’t know if the problem is mine, or the world’s or both…point is, I get bored easier and easier by the day. Fortunately, I did not suffer the same instances as my previous case when I started watching Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu. Boy, just reminiscing about how I felt after watching the first episode…it’s like ‘YESSS!!!! CRYSTAL METH IS THE SHIT!!!!!!!’ I guess what I really wanted to say was that I was very overjoyed to find yet another series that was going to coerce me to be attentive; and coerce me it did!

I have a couple of people (well, not really people; more like circumstances) to thank that ultimately lead to my watching of this series. While I don’t remember most of these people, I do remember how it is because of all their Haruka media (banners, wallpapers, scans and whatnots) that ignited my interest and curiosity…all of those plus the involvement of an individual by the name NotokawaiiyoNoto (Xak) whom I chat on Team Blue’s IRC channel, whose quit message mentioned something how Nogizaka Haruka is his waifu   .  I initially labeled that instance as fanboyism (if there’s ever such a word); but after taking another glimpse on Haruka, it all suddenly became apparent to me. I had to admit, she IS cute    …but it wasn’t like most what I’ve encountered before. Of course, I also had the fact this series has long been finished to thank, making it possible for me to marathon all the way. So there, I contemplated to watch it; but all that contemplation soon became a matter of urgent action when I found out a possibility of a second season airing this Summer (based on this thing I brought up in my earlier post that I found somewhere on the interweb).

Immediate Reactions

This is what I was watching when I got told to STFU laughing

Moving right along (and finally getting to the actual review part of the post ), the one immediate thing I enjoyed about the series was the LULZZZZ. Yes, I know everybody who has watched it ( a year or so) before me probably found it funny too; but when I say LULZZZZZ, I do mean laughing to the point where my sister had to come out of her room from the other side of the house to barge in my room just so that she can tell me STFU. Yes my sister is that fierce that’s how hard I was lolling. I really don’t know what came that made me laugh so hard when I watched Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu. To be quite honest, it’s beginning to bug me. Is it because of the slapstick (or slapchainsaw or slaphammer in that regard)? Nah, seen to many of those; does not make me laugh that hard. Maybe it’s because of implied humor? Maybe…but it still wouldn’t make me laugh THAT hard. Aha! it’s not because of those two (not by themselves at least); it’s all because of the comicality in misunderstandings among characters! Yes, that’s definitely it! It’s one thing to get a laugh; but it’s an entirely different thing when you know you’re going to get a laugh so that you start chuckling and escalate into cackling later. And the fastest way to attain this in this series? Three words: dramatic irony misunderstanding – something this show’s very abundant with.

Okay, so most of us can agree it’s hilarious, but that’s just one of the amusements. I also happen to enjoy the entire lovey dovey atmosphere. As much as I’d hate to admit it, I find the whole infatuation between Yūto and Haruka to be  uhm….what’s the word? 3D-ish? It’s as if you were part of the whole experience. Actually, now that I think about it, I can say the same thing for Shinna and Mika’s one-sided interest, as well as Yūto’s struggle to overcome the people who disdain him for his fandom and his middle-class status. I know it’s a bit of a cliche (well actually, too cliche), but either the intoxicating effect of cliches got to my head or it was something minor that I didn’t even bother minding.   If there’s any consolation, I was pleased how these lovebirds, regardless of their countless attempts, were never able to successfully kiss (at least not that we’re able to see anyway)…which means one less cliche! That aside, I feel like it would be a waste not mentioning how befitting the music pieces were throughout the entire series, (most notably the piano/violin ).

Harmony Between Two Polar Opposites

Behold the harmony between purity of body and the perversion of thought

Being a huge fan of all things symmetrical, neutral and balanced, I can’t help but notice that no matter where I stick my nose into the series, I always find two things that are complete opposites but seem to find harmony in each other. What’s even more surprising is how this harmony somewhat follows a hierarchy/order. You can say Haruka herself is the most obvious of this example, not to mention how her innocent demeanor is well contrasted with a physique that imposes everything but innocence among the guys, both from the anime and the audience . A little deviation and we’ll find that adding Yūto to Haruka  means that we have someone who is run by dirty thoughts (although Yūto does try very hard to dismiss them) and someone who’s rather pure-minded (and oblivious), thus the harmony between two opposites. And no, that doesn’t stop there…you can say the same thing for Mika who is not only everything that Haruka’s not, but also as someone’s attitude towards sexuality far exceeds her both in age and her physical stature. You might as well add Haruka’s parents to the list. Having a hot-headed irrational figure for a father and a very calm yet strict and rational figure for a mother…well, I guess opposites do really attract.

Guys Are This…Guys Are That...

The only other thing that most likely kept me from my seat aside from the laughs I got from this series is the intrigue it imposes. I’m not sure if anyone else noticed but I think the show’s quite fond of portraying the stereotypical male ranging from adolescence to that of a married status. Watching Yūto under the mercy of having to deal with this masculine urges  making it seem as if that’s all guys think of, while quite amusing, is actually somewhat deriding. Sure this is just fanservice just as are a lot more others; but there’s just too many subliminal messages here like the screencap after this paragraph. There’s also the generalization of the hotheaded unreasonable husband (Haruka’s father) who’s actually the cause of the series’ main problem (Haruka’s secrecy) to begin with. As savage as he is, we find out that he can be effortlessly be tamed by a mere glare from none other than Haruka’s mother. So does that make us savages?

Is...is that a Bu****?!

Closing Remarks

Like I said earlier, I am quite thankful I was able to find yet another series I’ve enjoyed until the last drop. Of course the series has its flaws (not to mention the excessive use of cliche themes), but compared the thrill it brought, I might as well disregard it happening. Sure Nogizaka Haruka No Himitsu is one of the few shows that were able to make me do things in one sitting (laugh, say awww, rage, LOLWUTTF, etc), but all these would have been in vain if I somehow got bored midway while watching the series – and I wasn’t. Since this show was able to do both, it will be my pleasure to add this to my list of favorite series for all time. With this, I can say I am eager to see the second season, which I hope will air this coming summer or some time this year.

By the way Xak, Haruka is MY WAIFU. Sorry to burst your bubble. Shit happens, you know .

Tagged as: AWESOME, Closing Remarks, Fanservice, loli, lolwut, Nosebleed, ROFL