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ローゼンメイデン 
After the Widescreen version of episode 1 looking rather good, I decided to download the Widescreen version of the second episode just to see if it actually improves the rather lousy animation featured in the episode. Unfortunately, the answer is not really. The overall framing of the scenes are generally improved and this in effect, allows more colours to be included within a scene. The Widescreen framing, however, can't fix the bad and inconsistent character design that plagues the second episode. I suspect viewers will have to wait until the DVD version to see if this episode will get an upgrade in terms of character design. It seems to be the trend with the recent anime series so hopefully this will happen with xxxHOLiC as well. Anyway, this episode is basically a return of the first volume of the manga. And in case you're wondering, the crossover with Gouhou Drug/Lawful Drug remains intact.
The episode begins with Watanuki wanting to buy a medicine called Eki-Kyabe inside a drug store. Since the brown-haired guy can't figure out which one it is, he asks the guy with a black hair of its location. Upon hearing this, the guy with the black hair tells them that they have two types, the regular and the S-type. The first guy then asks Watanuki which one that he wants and since Watanuki hasn't been paying attention, he doesn't know which one to choose. Eventually, however, he comes home with one Eki-kyabe, which as it turns out, is able to cure hangover that Yuuko and Mokona are having at the moment. When Watanuki hands over the medicine, he realises that Yuuko seems to have a computer, Maru and Moro point out that it's used to surf the net but Watanuki doesn't seem to undererstand what it means. Once Yuuko cures her hangover, he tells Watanuki that she has to do some shopping now. Watanuki thinks that this means he can go home but unfortunately, Yuuko insists that he's coming with her.
Yuuko, however, is not planning to take any train despite the fact that the location that they're heading to is in Ginza. Instead, she has prepared a special portal to take the two of them to the place. Watanuki is freaked out to see the portal and even more so once he finds himself inside of it. Eventually, however, the two find themselves in Ginza so they continue their journey and end up in sports equipment shop. Yuuko then purchases a red metal baseball bat from the shop before heading towards a client's home. Yuuko proceeds to push the bell of an apartment and tell the woman who answers the door that she's here to grant the woman's wish. Once the two get inside, the woman wants to know if Yuuko is the "Kindo-chan" that she knows. Yuuko confirms this and asks the woman if she's "Hana-Hana". The other woman confirms this much to Watanuki's confusion because it sounds as if the two already know each other.
The two women then explain to Watanuki that "Kindo-chan" and "Hana-Hana" are the handle name that they use when they are on the net. Yuuko explains how "Kindo" is actually derived from a famous manga called Macaroni Houren-sou much to Watanuki's exasperation. The conversation then becomes serious when the topic change into the content of the woman's email. As it turns out, the woman wants to quit using the internet since she finds it to be on her mind whenever she does anything else such as when she does housework or watch TV. In addition to this, her kids are getting lonely and her husband insists that she quits this particular addiction. Unfortunately the woman hasn't been able to quit at all. She believes that this is because she wasn't ready to quit but she's quite ready to do it now. Upon hearing this, Yuuko tells the woman that if she wants to quit, she should think of the reason for quitting.
The woman doesn't seem to understand this so Yuuko asks her why she wants to quit using her computer. The woman explains that as she said before, her husband wanted her to. Yuuko, however, tells her that is not a good reason and asks if she'll quit doing anything if her husband asks her. The woman explains that her husband is not the kind who likes to order her around. In fact, this is the first time he asks her to quit something. The reason is because the woman tends to neglect her housework and often leave her children alone when she's on the net. Even though the woman loves her children, she can't seem to quit using the net. She believes that she always ends up going back to it for unknown reason. Yuuko doesn't believe this and tells the woman that if she wants to quit, she should be able to do it. Yuuko tells the woman that she can help her quit but it'll take a sacrifice from the woman. In order to give the woman some time to think about it, Yuuko and Watanuki decides to leave the house.
The two then decide to go to a cafe and Yuuko asks Watanuki to wait for a while. Back inside the woman's house, she tries her best not to use her computer by engaging in various housework. Eventually, however, she can't resist the temptation and begins to use the internet. Meanwhile, in the cafe, all of the computers suddenly shows the same desktop background that was seen on the woman's computer. At the same time, the woman starts to give various excuses to herself as to why she needs to use it from having to check her email to downloading software that she needs. She, however, is shocked when she gets caught red-handed using the computer by Yuuko. It looks like she and Watanuki climbs from the balcony. Yuuko then tells the woman that if she wants to quit, she has to quit completely. One can't say, "just a little bit more" or "just a moment" since it means the person is still doing the thing they are not supposed to be doing.
Yuuko then asks the woman what she really wants to do. The woman admits that she really wants to quit. Yuuko promises to help her quit if she can get the chair inside the woman's house. After the woman agrees, Yuuko takes the red bat that she bought at the shop and uses it to smash cut the woman's computer into two pieces. She then quotes a sentence from Lupin the 3rd: the Castle of Cagliostro by saying "once again, I cuts another worthless object". Yuuko then tells the woman that she now can't use the computer any longer. The rest, however, is up to her. After they leave the woman's house, Watanuki asks Yuuko if the woman can't use the internet again now that her computer is broken. Yuuko tells him that the woman can't use the internet on that computer but it doesn't mean she'll quit because she can get any other computer. She reminds him that the one who can quit is the person themselves. The episode then ends with the woman missing her computer but is reminded of her contract with Yuuko when her kid asks her where his chair has gone.
Impression:
It's unfortunate that the line that contains reference to Subaru and Hokuto has been cut off from this version. In the manga, Yuuko mentions that she knows of a medium who is a nice guy and has a close relationship with his sister. She wants to wish the guy a happiness but unfortunately there are many definitions of happiness. I believe this is actually a reference to Sumeragi Subaru and his twin sister, Sumeragi Hokuto from Tokyo Babylon. I always wonder why Tokyo Babylon/X never has a direct crossover with xxxHOLiC since both series deal with the same kind of theme that xxxHOLiC deals with, especially with the part about fate and inevitability. So I was hoping that at the very least they'll mention something about it here. But that doesn't seem to be the case. I also miss the little ducky puppet that Yuuko often uses to tease Watanuki with. I just realised now that it never got included in the anime. Speaking of reference, Eki-Kyabe, anyone?
Anyway, I find that the woman in this story to be very easy to relate. Sometimes I think I spend too much time on the internet. Although it is not to the point where it causes detriment to my social life, I often think that I should use the time that I spent on the internet to do something more productive. The problem is, I can't seem to quit the internet and if I think about it, I don't really want to quit. In addition to this, my job as a designer requires me to be constantly online because these days most client/designer interaction is done mostly online. In total, I probably spend 10 out of 24 hours using the internet. That leaves me with only 14 hours of non-internet related time. That sounds good except that out of those 14, I usually take around 7 hours to sleep, leaving me with only 7 hours of non-work, non-internet time. The thing is, is this healthy? If you don't mind, I'd like to know how many hours do you normally spend on the internet? And how many hours are too many?
Yay the GD references remained there *-* GREAT ! It's a bad thing that she didn't mention about the medium, though, that's definitely Subaru. But I can tell that that would be like meaningless for those who don't know TB. Too bad the ducky isn't here either. I thought he would since he first appeared here. But the GD Crossover is enough to make me shut up about everything else xDDDD
Thank you for the review !
When I first read the manga, I wasn't sure if the reference is actually about Subaru and Hokuto or some unknown characters. So I was wondering if many people immediately catch on the fact that it's a Tokyo Babylon reference.
I never figured out why Yuuko took the chair in the manga but I guess the anime kind of explained it a bit. It's a shame that some of the cross over stuff is getting cut out , it's weird too since series like Tsubasa has already been animated. Is it because the animators don't want to potentially spoil things in CLAMP's previously animated works?
As for how much time I'm on line, it's hard to give an exact number since my computer is right on my desk and I go online impulsively all the time when I'm at my desk. It hasn't come to a point where it's disturbing my social or academic life but I'll admit it is very hard to focus on something (especially things like homework) when the internet is so readily at hand.
Yeah I remember Yuko's reference to Subaru and Hokuto, and I remember her indirectly mentioning that he would have troubles.......SPOILER MAYBE I hope they keep Clow Reed references however I noticed that they have not pointed out Sakura's clow wand yet, or maybe I missed it. Anyway at least Legal Drug was kept in.
I think if you were on the internet like 20 out of 24 hours a day, it was interrupting your work, eating or sleeping habits then yes, that'd be unhealthy.
Myself I'm on the computer (sans internet) for about 3 - 4 hours a day at work, and then probably surfing online/drawing/watching anime for about 5 hours at night.
Don't worry Garten, I think I'm as much "addicted" to the internet. I probably spend around 8-9 hours a day in front of the PC screen for sure. I can surely relate to the poor woman... >_< Plus, it's started affecting my eyesight >_<
Well, since I quit college and don't have a job yet (being the massively lazy girl I am)... I spend a lot of my daytime on the net... from 12 until as late as 6, though I would spend longer if I didn't get kicked off by family...
The thing is, I spend 4-6 hours a day, every day.... and still never manage to finish everything i want to do!
Glad they kept at least ONE reference.... but It's a shame Yuuko neglected to mention Subaru... he needs all the love he can get.
I like to see Lawful Drug on anime, it's good! ^^
PS:I surf in the net a lot too, hehehe.
2 to 4 hours a day, everday. Sometimes more on weekends. Having a family can really cut in on internet time.
Everyone has hobbies or interests that will take a majority of their free time (including "internet-ing"). I say you are spending "too much" time on it if it intrudes on regular, required activity. Nearly everyone has responsibilities to do various duties in their lives, so as long as their hobbies do not exclude these requirements it's not unhealthy.
Arguably, they could lead more enriching lives if they diversified their interests, but lack of enrichment does not necessarily mean unhealthy. Thus, the only point of contention would lie with a hypothetical rich person who has no responsibilities and nothing they HAVE to do; at what point would use of the internet constitute unhealthiness for them?
2hrs ~more perday usually. I think as long as you do whatever you have to do, its okay. As for me, one of the reason why I screwed up my exams last week. After that, I decided not to leave my computer on when I'm studying.~_~ such a high price I had to pay...
When I'm not out with friends or at the university and I don't have anything in particular to do at home, I usually stay online since midday until late at night.. so I'd say almost 12 hours. But then again there are days when I only use the pc in the evening. I don't know wether it's healthy or not, but I'm fine this way.. XD
Garten-san. I just wondered...the woman having the obsession about the net -- isn't this kind of situation more like a reminder of the same situation regarding Miss Shimizu's husband who's been obsessed with his Persocom in the Chobits series? The only difference is that this one's more likely solved than that one in Chobits. When I've read the 1st few parts of your synopsis, I somehow realized -- "funny how CLAMP seems to interconnect and interrelate almost all of their series' characters and situations..."
One last thing -- why does Yuuko seem to be almost always asking for something in return for the things she does to help others? Does she get some sort of power or something from these things? Does this have a true meaning for the plot's movement? She's also like this in Tsubasa....do you know why, Garten-san?
hush, I agree this one does sound similar with the husband obsessed with the Persocom. CLAMP does like to re-use some of the themes they've used in other series (ie. fate, twins, etc)
Yuuko always asks for something in return to help others because she perform her job through magic. In this universe, magic is governed by the rule of equivalent exchange, which means that you have to give something in order to get something in return. I think CLAMP wants to suggests that nothing in this world is free even when it involves magic.
I have a question regarding the laptop; was it magically making her addicted in any way or was this just a "normal" additiction? It seemed magical when they were waiting in the cafe and everyone's computer screens were filled with her background image.
And I spend way too much time in front of the computer too...
No, it's just a normal laptop. Because if it had been a magical one, then getting rid of that would got rid of the woman's problem, wouldn't it? But the computer was not the problem. The woman simply has an addiction to the internet. That's why Yuuko said that now the woman can't browse the net using that laptop but that doesn't mean she can't go and find another computer.
The incident in the cafe was something that's just added to the anime. I'm not sure why or what it actually signifies. It's probably just a way for Yuuko to find out when the woman uses her computer again.
".....In this universe, magic is governed by the rule of equivalent exchange, which means that you have to give something in order to get something in return. I think CLAMP wants to suggests that nothing in this world is free even when it involves magic."
Thanks a lot for the reply and most expecially for this very wise and sound elucidation. So then, if CLAMP is using the Principle of Equivalent Exchange, then (hehehe...) that means they're now somehow interconnected with Full Metal Alchemist (lol XD!). CLAMP seems to present magic as a total equilibrium, don't you think? From what I've read though, Garten-san, the only main rule of magic is "Don't call up what you can't put down". Nah..maybe this one is like the "Charmed" series -- power of 3 X 3, comes back to me.....
Anyway, I'm so thankful and glad you're having xxxHOLiC here. I've been watching T.C. lately, and I've finally seen the whole of your wisdom when you said that it takes miles to lift the plot off. There's this Ep. 12 in w/c there's nothing but "memory rewinding" and "deep sea; talking to a 3-eyed whale adventure". And the next thing was...the end of the episode -- they move to the dimension underneath the water. Oh madness!!! It's really like "Sliders", as what you've said once.
I've never followed Sliders though; but I'll take my time on T.C. for now while waiting for xxxHOLiC to come and air here in my country.
Finally, thanks again for this and a whole lot more....Keep up the great work and May God bless you always.....
Oh, one last thing..."But the computer was not the problem..." -- just like in Chobits; the humans are the ones with the problem, & not the other way around." CLAMP sure does know a lot about the true meaning of Science's "Reduce, Re-use and Recycle". hahaha.....
i like this series. the themes are along the lines of FMA, but it's a very basic and logical idea to follow so there's no need to change it just for the sake of changing.
I gotta say I'm finding something interesting early on in this series that I hope develops into something, the hopeless romantic that I am. As far as I can remember Doumeki and Yuuko have only interacted a handful of times but she seems to show interest in him. It's very slight, and neither person would be overt in admitting anything, but I thought it was cute Yuuko threw a party upon meeting Doumeki and had previously only spoken to him through those fishhead earphones she made Watanuki wear.
I'm much more a fan of that kind of romance than the more traditional soap opera melodrama, so here's hoping they address it somewhere down the line ;)
First I didn't understand the last scene but after thinking about it, I think I now know why the boy was asking about the missing chair which somehow "effected" the woman. The chair is, in contrast to the computer, more useful. (actually...its not...at least to me.. well maybe for some people are chairs more useful than pcs) And upon hearing this, the woman realised the meaning of taking away the chair. And its just like yuuko said: "once again a needless thing less in the world".
Only my opinion though^_^
Did anyone wonder why she gives out a creepy smile in the end? I think that when her son asks where his chair goes, she was confused but realized that since the chair is gone, she has to buy a new one. Loosing the chair serves the purpose as breaking away from the bad habit, but when the chair returns, the agreement is broken and she can have her laptop back. That why she is smiling but in a creepy, weird way. What do you think?
In many ways, I understand this episode.
I am just a beginner in this series, despite the fact I ain;t much into the whole horror occult animes...this is actually one of the first ones that is dark but has meaning that I find both intreging and educational in human behavior.
As for the unhealthyness, I think it is slightly unhealthy in my oppion because you are just sitting and not moving much other than your fingers when you type or search the web, nor does it help with social status to those who are hooked to the internet. I have to admit I spend way to much time on the internet because I like find all sorts of stuff, clothes, CDs, DVDs. that type. But its just like watching TV, though its entertaining and makes us laugh, there is so much out there in the world we can make our own world into something more realistic and more to your being, as sense of accomplishments and fulfillments if you may. you can't really make anything happen if you sit all the time online.
in my oppion, thats what the episode is saying to me.
though I don't understand one thing from it....why would Yuuko want a childs chair?
unless she was planning on torturing Watanuki with it by making him sit in it whenever he misbehaved or talked back, I don't understand it.....what is the statement and moral to that? can anyone tell me?
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