Karin ep.8

December 22, 2005 | 5 Comments

First thing first, is it Winner or Wiener? I actually like Wiener better because it describes the character perfectly. But unfortunately the animators seem hell-bent on referring him as Winner. They even make a point of showing his badge several times to emphasise this very fact in this episode. Come to think of it, I don't really mind Winner either because it also has that double meaning of him always losing despite his name. But Wiener sounds funnier and the way his name is pronounced actually sounds like Wiener. Oh well, I guess in the end, it's up to how one wishes to pronounced it. But just to be on the safe side, I'll refer him as Winner since that's how it's shown in the badge.

The episode begins with Karin and Kenta walking together towards school where Karin thanks Kenta for once again taking care of him. Kenta tells her that it's not a problem since he's already got used to it. In return he asks her if she's okay and this makes Karin ponders about the fact that lately her blood increase seems to be faster than usual. In the middle of their conversation, however, Kenta is attacked by Winner. Winner tells Karin that it's fate he gets to meet Karin here and ignores whatever Karin has to say to the point that it pisses Kenta off. Thankfully, Winner then gets interrupted by his alarm that tells him he has to go on his vampire hunter patrol. After Winner left, Karin wonders if the reason her blood increases a bit lately is because Kenta is stressed out due to his fight with Winner. In that case then Karin feels guilty because she feels that she's the cause that fight.

Meanwhile, Winner is seen patrolling across the city looking for signs of vampires when he stumbles upon Karin's brother, Ren, trying to charm the pants off his next victim. But because Winner is an idiot, he simply passes Ren by even though he claims that he can sense that a vampire nearby. Maybe I should give more credit to his instinct because right behind him, Karin's father appear to ask him if the beautiful cross that fell on the ground belongs to Winner. Of course Winner is oblivious to the fact that Henry is a vampire as well. He even goes as far as thanking his luck for meeting such a nice person. The next day, Winner is seen brooding in the class, making Karin wonders what happened to him since he looked happy yesterday. Because of this, Karin and Maki decide to approach him. However, upon doing so, Karin is surprised to find depression emanating out of Winner's body and attracting her vampire impulse.

Apparently Winner feels powerless in his quest to protect the innocents because he can't find vampire the previous night. This draws laugh from Maki who finds it hard to believe that Winner is a vampire hunter. Winner doesn't mind that Maki laughs at him but tells her that he'll be the one to protect her and the others, causing Maki to blush. Upon hearing this, Karin tells Winner to do his best, causing Winner to become excited and her classmates to become jealous and depressed. This unfortunately, has the unfortunate effect of making Karin's blood level to increase. Thankfully before anything can happen, Kenta manages to drag Karin out of the classroom. This, however, serves to heighten Winner's jealousy even more. Meanwhile, Karin nosebleed her way outside the classroom but unfortunately her noise is heard by Winner and the other classmates, who immediately rush out of the class to check it out.

Upon checking the source of noise, however, they only find a large amount of blood on the floor. This creeps everyone out and Winner quickly makes an ass out of himself by telling the others that he'll protect them from vampire because he's THE vampire hunter. Moreover, he assumes that Kenta and Karin has become vampire's sacrifice. Will there be an end to his idiocy? Unfortunately, the situation only becomes worse because everyone believes Winner's BS and decides to back him up. Meanwhile, Karin and Kenta are seen outside the hallway trying to sneak in so they can clean up the blood. However, upon getting in, Karin notices a small white thread around the area and decides to touch it. Upon doing so, some kind of alarm system begins to function, alerting Winner and the others. Winner immediately accuses Kenta of being a Vampire so Kenta and Karin have no choice but to run away from them.

The two eventually stumble upon a staircase full of cross but Karin manages to pass them easily since they have no effect on her. Next, they encounter a hallway full of garlic strung on the ceiling so Karin decides to grab some to make lunch for Kenta tomorrow. The two also manage to get through the hallway flooded with Holy Water, pissing Winner off because he was hoping that Kenta wouldn’t be able to pass through it. Before he can do anything more, however, he gets scolded by the teacher for doing all of these stupid things in school just to find a vampire. Meanwhile, Kenta gets the idea to clean up the area with Karin's blood and spilling red paint in its place so no one will think that the substance they saw was actually paint. Unfortunately, Karin accidentally touches the line thread again, alerting Winner and the others. So Kenta and Karin have no choice but to hide in a closet. But because they are in such close proximity, Karin ends up nose bleeding again.

Her noise is immediately heard by Winner so Kenta has no choice but to take his shirt off and carries Karin out of the closet. This surprises everyone who thinks that the two has just done the deed inside the closet. Winner is especially devastated and even more so when the teacher informs him that the liquid on the floor is red paint and not blood. Because of this, she orders him and the others to clean up the hallway. Maki, who feels sorry for Winner, tells Winner that she's sorry that Winner can't find vampire in this school. Winner, however, doesn't seem to mind because everyone in this school is nice to him. Upon hearing this, Maki blushes again and realises that her hunch about Winner being nice guy is correct. Unfortunately for her, Winner can't seem to remember her name and instead keeps referring Maki as 'Karin's friend'. Ouch. Meanwhile, Kenta is seen taking Karin back home but unknown to him, he's been observed by a vampire specifically sent by Anju.

Impression:

The depth of Winner’s stupidity astounds me. But if it means we get more innuendo between Karin and Kenta, I'm fine with it. I mean, that look on everyone's face was priceless. And besides, I think the entire episode looks like an excuse to get Karin and Kenta on some kind of 'date' together. The shot of the two going through hallway full of Garlic looks kind of romantic in a twisted kind of sense. I was also amused to see Winner's classmate willingness to believe his words just because he's supposed to be a good-looking foreigner. I get the feeling that there is some kind of social commentary inserted in this particular scene but I can't come up with any at the moment. Finally, it looks like Maki's fascination with Winner continues in this episode. Although I don't see it being reciprocated soon, I think eventually, Winner will end up being paired with her.

© memento 2003